The Ministry of Defence has issued an order allowing the Chief of the Army Staff to call Territorial Army officers and soldiers for active duty, as per Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rules, 1948. This decision comes amid rising tensions with Pakistan and the launch of India's Operation Sindoor.

As per the government notification issued on May 6, 2025, 14 out of the 32 existing Infantry Battalions of the Territorial Army have been officially approved for deployment. These units can now be stationed under various Army commands such as Southern, Eastern, Western, Central, Northern, South Western, Andaman and Nicobar, and the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), according to the Ministry. "The embodiment shall be ordered provided the funds are available in the budget or have been made available by re-appropriation of the internal savings in the budget. For units embodied at the behest of Ministries other than the Ministry of Defence, the cost will be debited to the respective Ministries and will not be included in the budget allocation of the Ministry of Defence," the notice added.

This order is considered effective starting from February 10, 2025, and will stay in force for three years, ending on February 9, 2028. On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, with the first strikes hitting nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which had killed 26 civilians. The Territorial Army is a part-time volunteer force that helps the Indian Army by taking care of non-combat tasks. It steps in during emergencies, supports disaster relief efforts, and helps maintain important services, allowing the regular Army to concentrate on frontline duties. The Territorial Army plays an important role in protecting the nation, helping during natural disasters, and working for the environment. It acts as strong support to India's armed forces.

According to its official website, the Territorial Army currently has about 50,000 members. This includes 65 departmental units, such as those from Railways, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and ONGC, as well as non-departmental units like infantry and engineer battalions. It also has special units, like the Ecological Task Forces, which take part in environmental efforts such as planting trees and supporting the Clean Ganga Mission.