Context: 

The Ministry of Defence, Department of Military Affairs, has approved an amendment to existing cadre management provisions for Women Officers of the Territorial Army (TA).

About the News:

• Women Officers of the Territorial Army will now be posted with Engineer Regiments of the Territorial Army serving along the Line of Control.
• This progressive policy measure is aimed at enhancing the scope of employment of Women Officers as also meet their professional aspirations. 
• They will now serve and train under the same conditions as their male counterparts in a wider range of units and appointments including serving in challenging field conditions and in important staff appointments.
• Earlier, women officers were able to serve Ecological Task Force Units, TA Oil sector units and TA Railway Engineer Regiment.

Territorial Army:

• The Territorial Army was raised by the Britishers in 1920 through Indian Territorial Act of 1920.
• After independence, the Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948 and the Territorial Army was formally inaugurated.
• The Territorial Army is a part of the Regular Army that has been assigned the responsibility of relieving the Regular Army from static duties. 
  • Additionally, it assists the civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintaining essential services during situations that affect the communities’ life or threaten the country’s security. 
• The TA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations.
• The Territorial Army is based on a Citizen Soldiers’ army concept and officers undergo Annual Training on basic military skills while remaining gainfully employed in civilian life.
• Many industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities have been members of the TA.

News Source: pib

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