Territorial Army Recruitment Rally 2026

The 137 Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion (Territorial Army), 39 Gorkha Rifles, has announced a recruitment rally for ex-servicemen and former women employees of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and State Forest Departments. It is intended for pension-holding ex-servicemen and eligible former women employees, including premature retirees, who meet the stated service, age, medical and physical requirements.

The recruitment covers 74 vacancies across nine posts. Candidates must apply by reporting in person at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Prayagraj, during the rally period of 16–21 November 2026; no separate online application process is specified. The selection stages comprise physical tests, a medical examination and an interview by a Board of Officers.

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

The notification lists 74 positions in total. The largest share is for Soldier/General Duty, with the remaining vacancies distributed among a Junior Commissioned Officer post and several Soldier trades.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Educational qualifications are stated as being in accordance with Army standards. The notification does not provide a specific qualification for each post in the available details, so candidates should consult the detailed notification for the applicable Army standard and any post-specific requirements.

Eligible applicants must be Indian-domiciled ex-servicemen who receive a pension, or former women employees—including premature retirees—of MoEF&CC or a State Forest Department. Former women employees must have completed at least 20 years of service in MoEF&CC or a State Forest Department.

Age Limit

Junior Commissioned Officers may serve up to 55 years of age, while Other Ranks (OR) may serve up to 50 years. The notification also states that candidates should be enrolled within five years of their retirement date. These are service and enrolment conditions; the detailed notification should be checked for any additional age-related instructions.

Medical, Character and Physical Standards

Candidates must be in medical category Shape-1 and have an exemplary or very good character record. The stated height standard is 160 cm for the general category, reduced to 152 cm for Gorkhas, Garhwalis and Assamese; 152 cm is specified for former women employees of MoEF&CC and State Forest Departments. Minimum weight is 50 kg for men and 42 kg for women. Chest measurements are 77 cm for men and 75 cm for women, with at least 5 cm expansion in each case.

A 5 cm relaxation in height and weight, commensurate with reduced height, is stated for women from North Eastern and hill areas such as Gorkhas, Assamese and Garhwalis. Candidates should confirm how the relaxation applies to their circumstances in the detailed notification.

For male candidates, the listed qualifying physical tests are a one-mile run, pull-ups, an 8-foot-9-inch ditch and a 2-foot-9-inch balance beam. The physical efficiency test also includes a trade test for tradesmen. Former women candidates are to take tests relating to attestation and nursing management.

Application Fee

The notification details provided do not specify an application fee or payment method. It describes recruitment as a free service and warns candidates not to pay a bribe to anyone; this warning should not be taken as confirmation of any fee amount beyond what is expressly stated in the detailed notification.

How to Apply

1. Read the detailed recruitment notification and check that you meet the relevant service, age, educational, character, medical and physical standards for your category and post.
2. Prepare the required original documents: your Discharge Book, Pension Payment Order (PPO), education certificate and domicile certificate. Also bring a character certificate from the Village Sarpanch or Police Authority.
3. Bring eight recent, coloured passport-size photographs. Keep the original certificates available for verification and ensure that documents have not been altered or overwritten.
4. Report in person to Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Prayagraj, according to the rally schedule, which runs from 16 to 21 November 2026. The notification gives the reporting detail as “TAM on 16 November 2026”; check the official notice for clarification and any category-specific reporting instructions.
5. Attend the physical assessment and any applicable trade or women-candidate tests, and proceed to medical examination and interview if directed by the rally authorities.

The notification says accommodation will not be provided at the rally. Candidates should follow the reporting schedule and make their own arrangements. The authorities state that they will not be responsible for accidents or injuries sustained during the rally.

Salary & Pay Scale

Pay is determined by rank, and the notification does not give specific amounts. Junior Commissioned Officers are to be paid according to the rank of Nay Subedar or Subedar, while Other Ranks are to be paid as Sepoys. The listed benefits include basic pay and dearness allowance, children’s education allowance, composite allowance, house rent allowance, transport allowance, pension, increments, gratuity, canteen access and medical facilities. The notification also says that applicable allowances, including the listed education, composite, housing and transport allowances, will be admissible.

Enrolment in the CET FB (TA) is for two years from the date of enrolment and may be extended one year at a time, subject to satisfactory performance and suitability for continued service. Territorial Army service is described as voluntary and primarily part-time; personnel may be employed temporarily according to organisational requirements.

Selection Process

Selection proceeds through a physical test, medical examination and interview. The physical tests include the listed qualifying events for male candidates, with trade tests for tradesmen and tests relating to attestation and nursing management for former women candidates. Candidates who qualify in the physical tests undergo medical examination; the notification specifies medical category Shape-1. Candidates are interviewed by a Board of Officers, after which final selection is made.

Eligible candidates should verify the detailed notification and report at the specified rally venue and time within the scheduled period. The rally runs through 21 November 2026, but candidates should follow their applicable reporting instructions rather than assume that the final day is their individual reporting date.