Indian Army to Induct Women into Territorial Army for the First Time

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 18 November 2025

• For the first time, the Indian Army will induct women into Territorial Army battalions
• This is to bring women into expanding roles in the armed forces
• The first phase is expected to have women inducted into selected TA battalions, defence sources say

The Indian Army is making preparations to bring in women personnel into its Territorial Army (TA) battalions for the first time, starting with a pilot initiative. This is part of an effort to expand women's operational roles in the forces and to support existing initiatives for gender inclusion in defence.

Senior defence officials have said that the Army has finalised plans for the induction of women in designated TA battalions in the initial rollout.

The first roll out will only include recruitment for a few units, with consideration of expanding to additional units based on operational experience and administrative readiness.

The Territorial Army was created under the Territorial Army Act on August 18, 1948 and was inaugurated on October 9, 1949 by Governor General C. Rajagopalachari and was designed with the idea of creating a citizen-soldier force. The integration of women expands the opportunity for volunteers who are interested in serving the nation.

Former Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt stated in Rajya Sabha that the enlistment of women in combat roles is a work in progress.

Women are currently commissioned into 10 arms and services, including the Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch, and the Armed Forces Medical Services. The inclusion of women to TA battalions, including those who have Infantry roles, is a step further.

The Directorate General of Territorial Army has likewise announced additional component Occupational Specialty (OS) vacancies for 2025–2026 for 11 Infantry Battalions under the Home & Hearth (H & H) category.

Additional component opportunities for women in section-level roles will be available in several of the 11 H & H battalions—particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East; a section comprises 10 personnel.

Most of the H & H battalions consist of an average of 750-1000 local recruits, and this new category will structurally alter the battalion composition. Plans are to expand this in section-level positions across the rest of H & H battalions will be expanded.

Earlier this year, through Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Defence activated 14 of its 32 TA Infantry Battalions for deployment until February 2028. The Eco Task Force established under the Clean Ganga Mission, is continuing to undertake environmental projects.

Public figures, including Nana Patekar, Mohanlal, Kapil Dev, M. S, Dhoni, and Abhinav Bindra, also have or continue to hold honorary ranks in the TA and improve its visibility and legacy.

The expansion of women into TA battalions, including in Infantry, is an important step in the military context in India, and a matter of important significance.

It represents initiatives dates back several years to improve gender inclusion into national institutions with an eye towards operational needs, while increasingly looking towards levels of diversification in the workforce for the future.