Territorial Army Officer Examination — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Territorial Army (TA) offers a unique opportunity for gainfully employed civilians and ex-servicemen to serve the nation in uniform without giving up their primary profession. It is a citizen's army that supports the regular army. The selection process for TA officers involves a Written Examination, a Preliminary Interview Board (PIB), a final Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview, and a Medical Board.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit
A candidate must be between 18 and 42 years old on the date of application.
Educational Qualification
A graduate from any recognized university.
Employment Status
A candidate must be gainfully employed in a civilian profession or be self-employed.
Serving members of the Regular Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, GREF, Para Military, and other similar forces are not eligible to apply.
Physical Standards
A candidate must be physically and medically fit in all respects.
✍️ Selection Process & Syllabus
1. Written Examination
The first stage is a written test that acts as a screening exam.
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Reasoning & Elementary Mathematics | 50 each (Total 100) | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge & English | 50 each (Total 100) | 100 | 2 Hours |
Syllabus for Written Exam
- Reasoning: Tests the candidate's logical abilities. Topics include sequences, number series, coding-decoding, and other verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
- Elementary Mathematics: Standard of Matriculation (Class 10) level. Covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, and Mensuration.
- General Knowledge: General awareness including History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, General Science, and Current Affairs.
- English: Tests the candidate's understanding of English. Topics include Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Sentence Completion.
2. Preliminary Interview Board (PIB)
Candidates who clear the written examination are called for an interview conducted at one of the Territorial Army Group Headquarters.
3. Service Selection Board (SSB) Interview
Candidates recommended by the PIB undergo the standard five-day SSB interview process, which includes Stage-I (Screening) and Stage-II (Psychological Tests, GTO Tasks, and Personal Interview).
4. Medical Board
The final step for candidates recommended by the SSB is a thorough medical examination at a military hospital.
👉 Note
- The final selection is based on the candidate's performance in the SSB Interview, subject to being found medically fit.
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to Territorial Army Official website .
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.