Territorial Army's 'Know Your TA' seminar comes to Kolkata on Aug 27-28
Synopsis
For the first time, the Territorial Army is taking its outreach beyond barracks — a two-day seminar in Kolkata on 27-28 August 2026 will bring students, startups, and corporate leaders face-to-face with the Terriers, covering everything from border security to afforestation to AI-era military needs. It's a rare public window into a force that rarely makes headlines but quietly underpins India's national resilience.
Key Takeaways
The Territorial Army will host 'Know Your Territorial Army' , a two-day seminar, in Kolkata on 27-28 August 2026 .
The event is the first of its kind and will be held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium , open to all.
Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd) will deliver the keynote on the future of the Territorial Army.
Day one focuses on multidimensional resilience ; Day two covers ecological conservation , innovation, and recruitment.
The seminar will include MoU/MoA signings , startup tie-ups, panel discussions, and a film screening.
Invitees include students, academics, entrepreneurs, tech startups, corporate leaders, and environmentalists.
The Territorial Army will host a landmark two-day public outreach seminar titled 'Know Your Territorial Army' in Kolkata on 27-28 August 2026, marking the first initiative of its kind aimed at deepening civilian engagement with the citizen-soldier force. The event, open to all, will be held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium and is designed to bridge the gap between the armed forces and India's broader civil society.
What the Seminar Covers
The two-day programme will feature immersive sessions, panel discussions, keynote addresses, exhibitions, and cultural activities. Day one is themed 'Towards Multidimensional Resilience – from Borders to Bytes', exploring the Territorial Army's evolving role in nation-building beyond conventional warfare. It will also include visits to Territorial Army, cultural, and industry stalls, a screening of the 'Know Your Territorial Army' film, signing of MoUs and MoAs, and a motivational evening.
Day two will shift focus to ecological conservation, the future of the Territorial Army, innovation, recruitment, and the integration of civilian expertise into military capabilities.
Key Speakers and Discussions
A keynote address on 'Vision/Crystal Gazing on the Future of TA' will be delivered by Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd). Panel discussions are scheduled on two tracks: Eco Conservation and Sustainability, and Civilian Expertise to Military Capabilities: Unlocking India's National Talent Pool.
'It will provide a platform for meaningful interaction between serving personnel and representatives from industry, educational institutions, startups and civil society, with discussions centred on contemporary national-security requirements and the wider role of the Territorial Army,' the Army said in a statement.
Who It Targets
Invitees span a wide cross-section of society — students, academics, entrepreneurs, technology startups, corporate leaders, environmentalists, and members of civil society. The seminar specifically aims to reach the technology ecosystem and startup community, exploring how emerging technologies and entrepreneurial solutions can address modern military needs through institutional tie-ups.
Notably, the event will also spotlight the Territorial Army's lesser-known work in afforestation, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and environmental sustainability — a dimension of the Terriers' mandate that rarely receives mainstream attention.
The Bigger Picture
The Territorial Army, popularly known as the Terriers, operates on a distinctive citizen-soldier model, enabling professionals from civilian careers to contribute to national service. The seminar seeks to formalise strategic partnerships between the Army and industry to promote indigenous capabilities and innovation, and to examine the role of public-private partnerships and civil-military cooperation in strengthening national security.
This comes amid a broader national push to integrate civilian talent and technology into defence frameworks. With recruitment, innovation, and ecological roles all on the agenda, the Kolkata seminar signals an expanding vision for what the Territorial Army can be in a rapidly changing security environment.
Point of View
Invisible in peacetime. This Kolkata seminar is a deliberate course correction, and the choice of Bengal is strategic: a state with a large student and startup population but historically limited civil-military engagement. The inclusion of ecological and technology tracks is telling — the Terriers are signalling that their mandate has evolved well beyond emergency deployment. Whether the MoU signings translate into sustained partnerships, or remain ceremonial, will be the real measure of this initiative's impact.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Know Your Territorial Army' seminar in Kolkata?
It is a first-of-its-kind two-day public outreach seminar organised by the Territorial Army, scheduled for 27-28 August 2026 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. The event aims to connect the Territorial Army with students, startups, industry, and civil society.
Who can attend the Territorial Army seminar in Kolkata?
The event is open to all. Targeted invitees include students, academics, entrepreneurs, technology startups, corporate leaders, environmentalists, and members of civil society.
What will happen on each day of the seminar?
Day one focuses on the Territorial Army's evolving nation-building role under the theme 'Towards Multidimensional Resilience – from Borders to Bytes', with stall visits, a film screening, MoU signings, and a motivational evening. Day two covers ecological conservation, the future of the Territorial Army, innovation, and recruitment.
Who is the keynote speaker at the Kolkata Territorial Army seminar?
Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd) will deliver the keynote address on 'Vision/Crystal Gazing on the Future of TA' on Day two of the seminar.
Why is the Territorial Army holding this outreach event?
The seminar aims to strengthen civil-military ties, raise awareness of service opportunities, forge partnerships with industry and startups for indigenous innovation, and highlight the Territorial Army's roles in areas such as afforestation and environmental sustainability beyond traditional defence duties.
