• The Territorial Army (TA) of India is a part-time, voluntary military reserve force composed of civilians who receive military training to support and augment the regular Indian Army without giving up their primary civilian occupations.
• It was established officially by the Territorial Army Act of 1948 and inaugurated in 1949.
• The key role of the TA is to relieve the regular army from static duties, assist civil administration in managing natural calamities and essential services, and provide additional units for the regular army when required.
• The TA has around 50,000 personnel across 65 departmental and non-departmental units, including infantry battalions, ecological task forces focused on afforestation and environmental protection, and engineering regiments for operations like maintenance of border fencing.
• It is headed by a three-star officer and works under the Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence.

• Nationality: Only citizens of India (both male and female) are eligible.
• Age Limits: Candidates must be between 18 to 42 years of age as on the last date of filing the application. This means the minimum age is 18 years, and the maximum age allowed is 42 years. There is generally no age relaxation for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC), as this age bracket already accommodates working professionals. Ex-servicemen also have the upper age limit of 42 years.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates applying for the Officer post must be graduates from any recognized university. For soldier or clerk posts, educational requirements may differ, often requiring a minimum of class 12 for clerks.
• Employment Status: Candidates must be gainfully employed in a civil job or self-employed, as the TA is a part-time commitment.
• Physical and Medical Fitness: Candidates must be physically and medically fit to undertake military training and service, as certified through medical examinations.

• Relieving the Regular Army from static duties and guarding critical infrastructure.
• Assisting civil administration during natural calamities, tragedies, and in the maintenance of essential services.
• Providing units to the regular army as and when required.
• Counter-insurgency operations in regions like Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East.
• Ecological restoration through dedicated Ecological Battalions that engage in afforestation and soil conservation efforts. 

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