Territorial Army Commission 2026 Apply Online for 12 Officer Posts

Published: 8:28 am | 24 April 2026

The Indian Army’s Territorial Army Directorate has officially announced the Territorial Army Commission–2026, inviting applications from gainfully employed Indian citizens who wish to serve the nation in uniform without leaving their primary careers. This unique scheme allows motivated individuals to fulfill their patriotic duty as part-time soldiers — serving both as civilians and as commissioned officers in the Indian Army. With 12 vacancies available (11 Male + 1 Female), the Computer Based Test (CBT) is scheduled for 12 July 2026, and online applications are open from 20 April 2026 to 19 May 2026. Read on for a complete, step-by-step guide to eligibility, exam pattern, pay scale, and how to apply.

Territorial Army Directorate — Indian Army

Territorial Army Commission 2026 — Apply Online for Officer Posts (12 Vacancies)

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Important Dates

⇒ Application Start Date: 20 April 2026 (10:00 AM)
⇒ Last Date to Apply: 19 May 2026 (11:55 PM)
⇒ Computer Based Test (CBT) Date: 12 July 2026
⇒ Admit Card Download: 10 to 15 days before the exam date
⇒ Objection Management Window: Opens 72 hours after the exam; active for 3 days only
⇒ Note: The CBT date is provisional and subject to change at the discretion of the competent authority. Candidates must check www.indianarmy.nic.in regularly for updates.

Application Fee

⇒ All Candidates (Male & Female): ₹500/-
⇒ SC / ST / PwD: Not mentioned in notification
⇒ Fee is Non-Refundable
⇒ Payment Mode: As prescribed on the official website only
⇒ Important: Applications submitted without the prescribed fee or through any other payment mode will be summarily rejected. The fee cannot be transferred to any future examination.

Age Limit (As on 19 May 2026)

⇒ Minimum Age: 18 years
⇒ Maximum Age: 42 years
⇒ Age Reference Date: Last day of filing of application, i.e., 19 May 2026
⇒ Age Relaxation: Age relaxation norms are not separately specified in the notification. Candidates are advised to refer to the official website.
⇒ Note: Serving members of Regular Army / Navy / Air Force / Police / GREF / Para Military and like forces are NOT eligible.

Total Posts & Selection Process

⇒ Total Vacancies: 12 Posts (Male: 11 | Female: 01)
⇒ Selection Process:

Computer Based Test (CBT)
Stage-I SSB: Psychological Aptitude & Intelligence Test
Stage-II SSB: Personality & Interview Tests
Medical Examination
Final Merit-Based Selection

Total Vacancies — Gender-wise Breakdown

A total of 12 vacancies have been announced for Territorial Army Officer Commission 2026. Male and female candidates will be placed in separate merit lists. The vacancy details are as follows:

Category	Number of Vacancies
Male	11
Female	01
Total	12

Note: The final number of vacancies is subject to change based on organisational requirements. Final selection will be made strictly in order of merit, up to the number of vacancies available.

Eligibility Criteria — Territorial Army Officer Commission 2026

⇒ Nationality: Only Indian Citizens (Male and Female) are eligible.

⇒ Educational Qualification:

Must be a Graduate from any recognized university in India.
The standard of the examination is approximately that of an Indian university graduate.

⇒ Employment Condition:

Candidates must be gainfully employed at the time of application.
Serving members of the Regular Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, GREF, Para Military or any similar force are NOT eligible to apply.

⇒ Physical Standards:

Candidates must be physically and medically fit in all respects.
Detailed physical and medical guidelines are available in the document titled “Instructions to Candidates applying for Commission in The Territorial Army (Civilian Candidates)” on the official Indian Army website.

Exam Pattern — Computer Based Test (CBT)

The written examination consists of 100 questions across 3 subjects, to be completed in 2 hours. All papers are conducted in a single session. Details are as follows:

Paper	Subject	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Time Allotted
Part – 1	Reasoning	40	40	02 Hours (Single Session)
Part – 2	General Knowledge	30	30
Part – 3	English	30	30
Total	—	100	100	—

⇒ Negative Marking: 1/3 (0.33) marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. Questions marked for review will be treated as unattempted (no penalty).
⇒ Qualifying Marks: The Territorial Army Directorate has the discretion to set qualifying marks in any or all subjects.
⇒ Syllabus Highlights:

Reasoning: Sequence completion, logical conclusions, number/letter/figure patterns — no special study required.
General Knowledge: Current affairs, everyday science, History of India, Geography — answerable without specialist knowledge.
English: Language comprehension and practical use of words.

Selection Process — Detailed Overview

Stage 1 — Computer Based Test (CBT)
Candidates with valid and correctly filled application forms who pass the CBT are shortlisted for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview.

Stage 2 — SSB Stage I (Day 1 at Selection Centre)
All shortlisted candidates appear for a Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test. Only those who qualify Stage I will proceed further.

Stage 3 — SSB Stage II
Remaining assessments and personality/interview tests are conducted for Stage I qualifiers. Stage I failures are returned without further testing.

Stage 4 — Merit List & Final Selection
Male and female candidates are placed in separate merit lists based on total marks secured in the CBT and SSB. Selection is made strictly in order of merit up to available vacancies.

Pay Scale & Allowances — 7th CPC

Officers commissioned in the Territorial Army receive the same pay, allowances, and privileges as Regular Army Officers when embodied for training or military service. Promotions up to Lt Colonel are on a time-scale basis; Colonel and Brigadier are by selection. The pay matrix is as follows:

Rank	Pay Level	Pay Matrix (₹)	Military Service Pay (₹)
Lieutenant	Level 10	56,100 – 1,77,500	15,500/-
Captain	Level 10A	61,300 – 1,93,900	15,500/-
Major	Level 11	69,400 – 2,07,200	15,500/-
Lieutenant Colonel	Level 12A	1,21,200 – 2,12,400	15,500/-
Colonel	Level 13	1,30,600 – 2,15,900	15,500/-
Brigadier	Level 13A	1,39,600 – 2,17,600	15,500/-

⇒ Commission Rank: All newly commissioned officers are granted the rank of Lieutenant.
⇒ Pension: Service in Territorial Army does not guarantee pension; it is subject to embodied service as per organisational requirements.
⇒ Career Nature: The Territorial Army is a part-time commitment with mandatory two months of training annually. It does not constitute a full-time career.

Training Details — Post-Selection

Training Phase	Duration & Details
Pre-Commission Training	Up to 6 months as per TA Rule 20A (amended vide SRO 65 dt 29 Apr 2023). Commission is granted only upon successful completion.
Post-Commission Leave	21 days of leave granted immediately after commissioning.
Rule-19 Training	30 days mandatory training carried out after post-commission leave is completed.
Annual Training Camp	Two months every year. Applicable if not embodied for more than six months in a training year (April to March).

Documents Required at SSB Interview Stage

Application Form IAF (TA)-9 (Revised) Part-2 — downloaded from www.indianarmy.nic.in and filled in candidate’s own handwriting
All educational qualification certificates from Matriculation onwards (originals + self-attested copies)
Photo identity proof — Voter ID / PAN Card / Passport / Driving Licence / Aadhaar, etc.
Proof of residential address
Age proof — Matric / Senior Secondary mark sheet and certificate
If name differs across documents — Gazette Notification (India/State) or notarized affidavit with newspaper cuttings
Latest income proof — from Income Tax Revenue Department / Magistrate / Employer
Copy of latest Income Tax Return (ITR) filed
Valid Admit Card
Self-employed candidates: Affidavit on Non-Judicial stamp paper (minimum value, notary-attested) stating nature of employment and annual income, along with PAN card copy and self-certified character certificate
Government/Semi-Govt/Private employed candidates: Service certificate authenticated by Head of Office + salary certificate + No Objection Certificate (NOC) in the prescribed format

Note: All documents must be produced in original along with self-attested photocopies at the time of the SSB interview.

How to Apply — Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Confirm that you are an Indian citizen, aged 18–42 years as on 19 May 2026, a graduate from a recognized university, and currently in gainful employment (not serving in Armed Forces / Police / Para Military).

Step 2: Visit the Official Website
Go to www.indianarmy.nic.in — this is the only authorized platform for submitting the application. No offline or other online modes are accepted.

Step 3: Register Online
Complete the online registration process using your valid email ID and active mobile number. These will be used for all official communication throughout the recruitment process.

Step 4: Fill Application Form IAF (TA)-9 (Revised) Part-1
Enter all personal, educational, and employment-related details carefully. Refer to the brief instructions available on the website while filling the form.

Step 5: Select Your Examination Centre
Choose your preferred examination city from the Pan India list available on the website. No request for centre change will be entertained after submission.

Step 6: Pay the Application Fee
Pay the non-refundable fee of ₹500/- through the prescribed online payment mode only. Fee paid by any other method will be rejected.

Step 7: Review Before Final Submission
Carefully verify all entered details before submitting the form. Corrections may not be possible after submission.

Step 8: Submit and Save
Submit the application. Keep a printed copy of the submitted form for future reference — this is strongly advised.

Step 9: Download Admit Card
Admit card will be available online 10 to 15 days before the exam. You will also receive email and SMS alerts. The admit card will contain your photograph, signature, exam date/time, and centre details.

Important Links

Apply Online	Click Here
Download Official Notification	Click Here
Examination Centre List	Click Here
Physical Standards / Medical Guidelines	Click Here
Official Indian Army Website	www.indianarmy.nic.in

Territorial Army Commission 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the Territorial Army and is it a full-time career?
⇒ No. The Territorial Army (TA) is a part-time military commitment. It allows gainfully employed citizens to serve as officers in a military environment without leaving their civilian careers. There is a mandatory two-month annual training requirement, but it does not constitute a full-time job.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for Territorial Army Commission 2026?
⇒ The online application window closes on 19 May 2026 at 11:55 PM. Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline.

Q3. What is the total number of vacancies, and how many are for women?
⇒ There are 12 total vacancies — 11 for male candidates and 1 for female candidates. Male and female candidates are ranked in separate merit lists.

Q4. Is there negative marking in the CBT?
⇒ Yes. For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. Questions marked for review are treated as unanswered — no penalty applies.

Q5. Can a person serving in the Police or Paramilitary forces apply?
⇒ No. Serving members of the Regular Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, GREF, Para Military, and similar forces are explicitly NOT eligible to apply.

Q6. What rank is given upon commissioning in the Territorial Army?
⇒ All newly commissioned officers are granted the rank of Lieutenant. Promotions up to Lt Colonel are on a time-scale basis, while Colonel and Brigadier ranks are awarded by selection.

Q7. Is pension guaranteed for Territorial Army Officers?
⇒ No. Pension in the Territorial Army is not guaranteed. It is subject to the total embodied service completed, as per organisational requirements.

Q8. Can I change my examination centre after submitting the application?
⇒ No. The centre once selected at the time of application cannot be changed under any circumstances. Candidates should decide their preferred exam city carefully before submitting.

Q9. How long is the Pre-Commission Training?
⇒ Pre-Commission Training lasts up to 6 months. A commission is formally granted only after successfully completing this training. Post-commission, 21 days of leave are granted, followed by 30 days of Rule-19 training.

Q10. Where can I raise objections about exam questions or answer keys?
⇒ An Objection Management Link will be hosted on www.indianarmy.nic.in within 72 hours of the examination. The link remains active for only 3 days. The link will also be shared via the candidate’s registered email.

Territorial Army Commission 2026 — Conclusion

The Territorial Army Commission 2026 is a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity for employed graduates who dream of wearing the uniform of the Indian Army without giving up their professional careers. With a commissioned officer rank, army-equivalent pay and allowances during training, and the honour of serving the nation, this recruitment stands apart from any other. Whether you are a government employee, a private sector professional, or self-employed — if you are aged 18 to 42, hold a graduate degree, and have the drive to serve, this is your moment. Apply online at www.indianarmy.nic.in before the deadline of 19 May 2026 and take the first step towards becoming a Territorial Army Officer.

Disclaimer: All information provided in this article is based solely on the official Territorial Army Commission–2026 notification published by the Territorial Army Directorate, Indian Army. Vacancy numbers, dates, and other details are subject to change at the discretion of the competent authority. Candidates are advised to verify all information from the official website www.indianarmy.nic.in before applying. This website is not affiliated with the Indian Army or any government body.