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India Today
19-05-2025
- General
- India Today
Signals of strength: Meet woman officer who led from the front during Op Sindoor
Amid shots of gunfire and the launch of missiles during 'Operation Sindoor', the women officers of the Indian Army fought shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts in countering the Pak offensive. They showcased not only an indomitable spirit but also an immense display of courage and valour in inflicting tremendous damage to the enemy across the line of exclusively to India Today's Gaurav Sawant from the frontlines, a woman officer from the Signals regiment recalled her experiences from the conflict, during which she and her team handled communication, not only on the ground, but also in the is a vital bone of any battlefield. I am proud to be a part of this operation. During the operation, we remained deployed on the ground and completed all our tasks with full responsibility," said the woman officer."We took care of all aspects of communication, whether on the ground, in the air or video graphing the conflict," she further said that both men and women receive equal and the same treatment on the frontlines and there are no special provisions for women officers."We don't want any special treatment for being a woman as we are protecting our country just like any other soldier from other branches of the army," she also shared how her husband, also a Signals officer, was martyred in Arunachal Pradesh during Operation Rhino and revealed what inspired her to join the Indian husband was part of the Signals Corps of the Indian Army. I always thought that if I joined the Army he would always be close to me. I also wanted to give my son a live example of what his father was," she also shared the future aspirations of her son, who also wishes to join the defence forces."My son also wants to join the defence forces. If I had been a homemaker, I wouldn't have been able to give my son this experience of living a soldier's life," she proudly launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 tourists lost their lives while enjoying a holiday in the picturesque Baisaran part of the operation, India conducted precision strikes on terrorist camps at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from where the terrorist attacks against India were being planned and InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Operation Sindoor#India-Pakistan
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
India Mobilises The "Terriers": What Is Territorial Army
New Delhi: The Indian Army chief has been given the go-ahead by the government to activate the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard or in a support role to the regular army. The government's decision comes amid the conflict with Pakistan. Here's a 10-point explainer on the Territorial Army (TA) There are 32 Infantry Battalions of the Territorial Army. Of this, 14 Infantry Battalions (TA) or approximately 14,000 soldiers can be deployed in areas under the Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command, and Army Training Command, the government said. The Territorial Army was inaugurated by India's first Governor General C Rajagopalachari on October 9, 1949. This day is celebrated as 'TA Day' every year in honour of the 'Citizens Army', and the first TA week was celebrated from November 8 to 15, 1952. The TA began with various types of units such as Infantry Battalion (TA), Air Defence (TA), Medical Regiment (TA), Engineers Field Park Company (TA), Signal Regiment (TA), etc. However, these units were disbanded or converted into the regular army by 1972, except for Infantry Battalion (TA). TA units have been part of operations in 1962, 1965, and 1971. The 'Terriers' also went to Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Rakshak, and the north-east region during Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang. In its present role, the TA is essentially a part of the regular army. The TA can provide units for the regular army as and when needed if the country is threatened. The TA can also relieve the regular army from static duties and help the civil administration in dealing with natural disasters and maintaining essential services during national emergency situations such as outbreak of hostilities with an enemy nation. The TA has 10 ecological battalions sponsored by state governments. These Ecological Task Force Battalions (TA) use the technical expertise of the respective state forest department for afforestation-linked activities, and soil conservation. By virtue of their task and role, the Ecological Territorial Army units are contributing immensely by ecological activities towards disaster mitigation and also be part of nation-building efforts of the Indian Army. There are also departmental TA regiments for oil and natural gas installations and the railways. The Assam agitation of 1980 led to a massive loss in oil production, estimated at over Rs 5,000 crore. Combat Engineer Regiments were deployed to take over oil and gas installations for maintaining production. So, the raising of the oil sector TA units was the result of the lessons learnt during this period. Civilians can apply to become TA officers. In this way, the TA says people can serve the nation in two capacities - as a civilian, and as a soldier. The eligibility conditions include Indian citizenship, age range between 18 and 42 years, graduation from a recognised university, physically and mentally fit, and gainfully employed. Serving members of the regular armed forces and not eligible to apply as officers in the TA.
