Territorial Army embodies the ‘citizen-soldier’, says Rajnath Singh

Published 7 August 2026 · india

The Territorial Army has emerged as an important force not only for augmenting the military during emergencies but also for disaster relief, environmental conservation, and

The Territorial Army has emerged as an important force not only for augmenting the military during emergencies but also for disaster relief, environmental conservation, and other nation-building activities, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday (August 6, 2026), describing the Territorial Army as a key contributor to the government’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision. Chairing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Singh said the Territorial Army embodied the “citizen-soldier”, with volunteers pursuing civilian careers while remaining available for military service whenever required, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Senior Defence Ministry officials briefed the committee on the Territorial Army’s mandate, operational role, and achievements, while members offered suggestions to strengthen the force and improve its effectiveness, the statement said. The Territorial Army provides surge capacity to the armed forces by maintaining a pool of trained personnel who can be mobilised at short notice during crises, Mr. Singh said, according to the Ministry. After completing their tenure, Territorial Army personnel continue to serve as a bridge between the military and civil society, the Minister said, encouraging young people to join the armed forces.

The Territorial Army currently has about 44,400 personnel organised into 59 units, the statement said. Highlighting its role beyond conventional military duties, Mr. Singh said the force played a significant part in relief and rescue operations during the Kerala floods, the Odisha cyclone, and the recent floods in Assam, according to the statement. He also highlighted the work of the Territorial Army’s Ecological Task Forces, which have planted nearly 10 crore saplings with a reported survival rate of 80%-85%, adding the initiative supports the government’s environmental goals, the Ministry said.

He further commended the force’s role in taking the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said. Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Finance) Vishvajit Sahay, and other senior Defence Ministry officials attended the meeting.