Indian Army Celebrates 73rd Raising Day Of Territorial Army

The 73rd Raising Day of the Territorial Army was observed across the country on Sunday to commemorate its formation on this day in 1949 by the first Governor General, C Rajagopalachari.

Lieutenant General Preet Mohindera Singh, Director General of the Territorial Army (TA), laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour the Territorial Army's fallen heroes.

The celebration began on 7 October with a tree planting at Bhatti Mines in Delhi, where 10,000 saplings were planted. TA's ecological task forces have planted about 8.5 million trees across the country. 

On Saturday, the officers, families and Veer Naris of the Territorial Army met with President Droupadi Murmu, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In addition, all ranks and families volunteered at the 124 Infantry Battalion (TA) SIKH in Delhi for a blood donation camp.

Apart from "Home and Hearth" battalions based on the concept of "Sons of Soil," the Territorial Army has a number of Infantry and Engineer units attached to other regiments of the Indian Army.

The Territorial Army also has ten ecological battalions that work to restore the country's ecology by afforestation in difficult terrain, reviving wetlands, restoring water bodies and contributing to the Clean Ganga project. TA Battalions also execute specialised jobs as part of the Indian Railways and public sector undertakings in the oil sector.