Territorial Army gets its first official song, 77 years after raising
Synopsis
Seventy-seven years after it was raised, the Territorial Army finally has an official song — a symbolic milestone that puts it on par with the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The release, at a Kolkata symposium on 28 August, caps a two-day push to modernise and raise awareness of a force that guards vital installations yet has long operated in relative public obscurity.
Key Takeaways
The Territorial Army , raised in 1949 , received its first official song on 28 August 2025 in Kolkata .
The song was released at the KYTA Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium , a two-day event.
Maj Gen Sujeet Shivaji Patil , ADG Territorial Army, exchanged MoUs with seven partner institutions at the event.
Lt Gen Gambhir Singh , Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, delivered the valedictory address.
Panel discussions covered talent development, sustainability, and the future of the Territorial Army, with experts from IIT Kharagpur , Zoological Survey of India , and Genrobotics , among others.
The Territorial Army, established in 1949, finally received its official song on Friday, 28 August 2025, during the concluding session of the two-day 'Know Your Territorial Army' (KYTA) Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium held in Kolkata. The release marks a historic milestone for a force that had operated for over seven decades without a formal anthem of its own.
A Long-Overdue Identity Milestone
Every major branch of the Indian armed forces — the Army, Air Force, and Navy — has long carried an official song as a symbol of institutional identity and esprit de corps. The Territorial Army, despite comprising dedicated men and women who serve part of the year as soldiers guarding vital installations and protecting the environment in demanding conditions, had remained the sole exception. That gap was formally closed at the Kolkata symposium.
Key Proceedings at the Symposium
The day's agenda was wide-ranging. Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, delivered the valedictory address, while Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd), former Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Information Systems and Coordination), presided over the opening proceedings and delivered the keynote address on the theme 'Vision/Crystal Gazing on the Future of TA', outlining a technology-enabled roadmap for the force.
Maj Gen Sujeet Shivaji Patil, ADG, Territorial Army, formally exchanged Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with seven partner institutions — agreements that had been signed on Day 1 of the event. The MoU exchange preceded the official release of the Territorial Army Song.
Panel Discussions and Expert Voices
Two panel discussions anchored the day's intellectual programme. The first, on 'Unlocking India's National Talent Pool', featured Prof Basab Chakraborty from IIT Kharagpur, Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India, Fr K.S. Casamir, Vice Chancellor of XIM University, Bhubaneswar, and Vimal Govind M.K., CEO of Genrobotics Innovation Private Limited. The session was moderated by Brig Amit Pandey, Brigadier, Infantry (Territorial Army).
The second panel, focused on environment and sustainability, included C.P. Marak, IFS (Retd), Chairperson of the Meghalaya Lokayukta, alongside Dhriti Banerjee and Shruti Sharma Rana, a sustainability and ESG professional formerly with TERI School of Advanced Studies. That session was moderated by Col Prakash Tiwari (Retd), a member of the Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Strategic analyst and defence commentator Nitin A. Gokhale also addressed the symposium on the future evolution of the Territorial Army.
Public Outreach and Cultural Events
Beyond the formal proceedings, outdoor KYTA exhibition stalls and cultural performances by Territorial Army troupes remained open to the public throughout the day. A steady stream of civilians, school students, and NCC cadets visited the displays, reflecting the event's broader aim of raising civilian awareness about the force's role and recruitment pathways.
With its first official song now in place, the Territorial Army enters a new chapter — one that organisers hope will strengthen both its public identity and its recruitment appeal among India's youth.
Point of View
Unglamorous work guarding installations and restoring degraded forests. The KYTA Seminar's dual emphasis on a symbolic song and concrete MoUs with institutions suggests a deliberate rebranding effort. Whether it translates into stronger recruitment and public recognition, or remains a ceremonial moment, will depend on sustained outreach beyond a single Kolkata event.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Territorial Army get its official song?
The Territorial Army received its official song on 28 August 2025, during the concluding day of the KYTA Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium in Kolkata. The force had been operational since 1949 without a formal anthem.
What is the Territorial Army and what does it do?
The Territorial Army is a part-time component of the Indian Army, established in 1949, comprising civilians who serve as soldiers for part of the year. Its members guard vital installations and undertake environmental protection duties in challenging conditions.
What was the KYTA Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium?
It was a two-day event held in Kolkata to raise public awareness about the Territorial Army, discuss its future direction, and formalise institutional partnerships. The symposium included panel discussions, MoU signings, a keynote address, and the release of the official Territorial Army Song.
Which institutions signed MoUs with the Territorial Army at the event?
Seven partner institutions signed MoUs with the Territorial Army, represented by Maj Gen Sujeet Shivaji Patil, ADG Territorial Army. The specific names of all seven institutions were not disclosed in available reports.
Why did the Territorial Army not have an official song until now?
No official explanation has been provided for the delay. The Army, Air Force, and Navy each have long-established songs, making the Territorial Army the only major Indian defence force without one until 28 August 2025.
