Defence Ministry Mobilises 14 Battalions of Territorial Army

The Union government has extended the temporary closure of 24 airports in northern and western parts of the country for civil aircraft operations by four days till May 15, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Friday, with the development coming amid major escalation in tension with Pakistan over the past few days.

- Vrinda Tulsian

NEW DELHI: The ministry of defence has authorised the mobilisation of 14 infantry battalions from its Territorial Army (TA) to support regular forces along active military commands, following heightened tensions with Pakistan.

The decision, issued in a gazette notification dated May 6 and published on Friday, comes amid heightened tensions at the India-Pakistan border. The defence ministry issued the order under Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rules, 1948, empowering the Army chief to deploy the units for "essential guard duties" or embodiment to supplement the regular army.

The order stated: "Out of the existing 32 Infantry Battalions (Territorial Army), embodiment of 14 Infantry Battalions (Territorial Army) [has been approved] for deployment in the areas of Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Army Training Command."

The order clarified that the embodiment will be carried out only if budgetary provisions exist or are made available through internal re-appropriations. In cases where the battalions are deployed at the request of ministries other than the ministry of defence, the respective ministries will bear the cost, it added.

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