The 137 Composite Ecological Task Force (CETF) Battalion, 39 Gorkha Rifles (Territorial Army), has announced a recruitment rally for eligible ex-servicemen and ex-women employees of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the State Forest Department. The recruitment drive will be conducted on an All India basis from November 16 to November 21, 2026.
According to the recruitment notice, the rally is intended for pension-holding ex-servicemen and eligible former women employees, including those who retired prematurely, from MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department. Candidates who wish to participate must report for screening, physical tests and interviews at 7:00 AM on November 16, 2026.
The reporting venue is Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, New Cantt, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
A total of 74 vacancies have been listed across nine categories, including Junior Commissioned Officer, General Duty soldier and several support and tradesman positions. Applicants are advised to review the eligibility requirements, physical standards, documents and recruitment conditions before attending the rally.
Territorial Army Recruitment 2026: Important Dates and Venue
The recruitment schedule and reporting details mentioned in the notice are as follows:
- Recruiting unit: 137 Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion, 39 Gorkha Rifles (Territorial Army)
- Recruitment dates: November 16 to November 21, 2026
- Reporting date and time: November 16, 2026, at 7:00 AM
- Recruitment venue: Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, New Cantt, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
- Total vacancies: 74
- Eligible categories: Pension-holding ex-servicemen and eligible ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department, including premature retirees
The recruitment will be conducted on an All India basis. Eligible candidates volunteering to join are required to report at the specified venue for the screening process.
Vacancy Details: 74 Posts Available
The recruitment notice lists vacancies across nine categories. The post-wise distribution is provided below.
| S. No. | Post Name | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior Commissioned Officer (GD) | 04 |
| 2 | Soldier/General Duty | 61 |
| 3 | Soldier/Clerk (SD) | 02 |
| 4 | Soldier/Chef Community | 01 |
| 5 | Soldier/Housekeeper | 01 |
| 6 | Soldier/Washerman | 01 |
| 7 | Soldier/Dresser | 02 |
| 8 | Soldier/Tailor | 01 |
| 9 | Soldier/Steward | 01 |
| Total | All Posts | 74 |
The Soldier/General Duty category accounts for 61 of the 74 vacancies. The remaining vacancies are distributed among Junior Commissioned Officer (GD), Clerk (SD) and other support and tradesman categories.
Eligibility Criteria for Territorial Army Recruitment
Candidates must meet the eligibility conditions specified in the recruitment notice. These include requirements relating to retirement, service background, medical category and character.
Retirement and Age-Related Conditions
The notice states that eligible candidates should be enrolled within five years from the date of retirement. Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) can serve up to the age of 55 years, while Other Ranks (OR) can serve up to 50 years.
Medical Category
Candidates must belong to medical category SHAPE-1, as specified in the recruitment notice.
Character Requirements
Applicants must have an exemplary or very good character record.
Educational and Service Background
The notice specifies that eligible applicants must be ex-servicemen or ex-women employees, including premature retirees, of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department, with a minimum of 20 years of service in MoEF&CC or the State Forest Department.
The qualification condition is stated in the notice in connection with the specified former-service categories.
Physical Standards for Candidates
Candidates must satisfy the prescribed height, weight and chest measurements, wherever applicable.
Height Requirements
The minimum height requirements mentioned in the notice are:
- Male candidates: 160 cm.
- Gorkhas, Garhwalis and Assamese candidates: 152 cm.
- Ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department: 150 cm.
The notice also provides for a relaxation of 5 cm in height and weight commensurate with the reduced height for women from North-Eastern and hill areas, including Gorkhas, Assamese and Garhwalis.
Weight Requirements
The minimum weight requirements are:
- Male candidates: 50 kg.
- Female candidates: 42 kg.
Chest Measurement
For male candidates, the minimum chest measurement is 82 cm, with a minimum expansion of 5 cm.
Candidates should ensure that they satisfy the applicable physical requirements before reporting for recruitment screening.
Physical Tests and Recruitment Procedure
The recruitment process includes physical tests, proficiency testing where applicable, medical examination and an interview.
Physical Tests for Male Candidates
The notice specifies the following physical parameters for male candidates:
- One-mile run.
- Pull-ups.
- 8/9-foot ditch.
- Zig-zag balance beam.
Candidates must qualify in the prescribed physical tests to proceed to the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.
Proficiency Test
A proficiency test will include a trade test for tradesmen.
For ex-women candidates, the test will include subjects related to afforestation and nursery management, as mentioned in the recruitment notice.
Medical Examination
Candidates who qualify in the physical tests will undergo a medical examination. The notice states that all candidates who pass the physical tests will be subjected to medical examination.
Interview
Candidates who qualify in the physical tests will be interviewed by a Board of Officers.
The recruitment process therefore requires eligible candidates to complete the relevant screening, physical assessment, proficiency testing where applicable, medical examination and interview.
Documents Required for the Recruitment Rally
Candidates must carry the documents specified in the notice for verification during the recruitment process.
The required documents include:
- Original discharge book.
- Original Pension Payment Order (PPO).
- Eight recent passport-size coloured photographs.
- Character certificate issued by the Village Sarpanch or Police Authority.
- Education certificate.
- Domicile certificate.
Candidates should ensure that the required original documents and photographs are available when they report for the rally.
Important Service Conditions for Selected Candidates
The recruitment notice outlines several service conditions that applicants should understand before volunteering for enrolment.
Enrolment and Rank
Eligible ex-servicemen and ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department, except Junior Commissioned Officers on retirement, will be enrolled as Sepoys.
Retired Ex-Junior Commissioned Officers and Class II or equivalent ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department will be enrolled in the rank of Naib Subedar.
Promotion to the rank of Subedar in the case of JCOs and Havildar in the case of OR may be granted, subject to fulfilment of the applicable terms and conditions.
Duration of Enrolment
The period of enrolment for personnel of the CETF Battalion will be two years from the date of enrolment for service. This period may be extended by one year at a time, subject to satisfactory performance and suitability for further retention.
Continuation of service will depend on the requirements of the project undertaken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The notice states that unsuitable or undesirable enrolled personnel may be discharged from service if found unsuitable by the unit board of officers.
Nature of Employment
The Territorial Army is described in the notice as a voluntary organisation offering essentially part-time employment. Personnel will be employed temporarily according to government sanction and organisational requirements.
The organisation does not provide or promise permanent employment.
Service Age
According to the notice, JCOs can serve up to 55 years of age, while OR personnel can serve up to 50 years.
Pay, Allowances and Other Benefits
The notice provides information about basic pay, allowances and other service-related benefits available to enrolled personnel.
Basic Pay and Dearness Allowance
Enrolled personnel will receive basic pay according to their rank and the service group in which they are employed in the unit. Dearness allowance will be admissible from time to time.
The notice states that annual increments will not be admissible.
Other Allowances
Other allowances may include:
- Children Education Allowance.
- Hill Compensatory Allowance.
- House Rent Allowance.
- Road Mileage Allowance.
These allowances will be admissible as specified in the recruitment notice.
Pension, Increment and Gratuity
The notice states that pension, increment and gratuity will not be admissible to ex-servicemen and ex-women employees, including premature retirees, for the service rendered in the CETF Battalion (Territorial Army).
Pension entitlement earned during previous service will remain unaffected and will not be considered when fixing pay and allowances for the new service.
Canteen and Medical Facilities
Personnel enrolled in the CETF Battalion (Territorial Army) will be entitled to canteen and medical facilities, as applicable to other units.
Important Instructions for Candidates
The recruitment notice contains several instructions and warnings for candidates attending the rally.
Recruitment is free of charge. Candidates are advised not to pay any person a bribe in connection with the recruitment process. If a candidate is found to have paid a bribe, their selection will be cancelled.
Overwriting or tampering with certificates and documents will not be accepted. The notice further warns that producing fake documents or providing false information may result in individual liability for punishment under applicable law and termination of service, irrespective of the number of years served.
Candidates must not bring mobile phones to the recruitment rally site.
The authorities conducting the rally will not be responsible for accidents or injuries sustained by candidates during the recruitment process.
The notice also states that no messing or accommodation will be provided during the recruitment rally. Candidates should therefore take note of this condition before travelling to the venue.
Contact Details for Recruitment Enquiries
Candidates seeking further information about the recruitment rally can contact the numbers provided in the notice:
- Landline: 05322441904
- Mobile: 7309677687
Notice reference: CBC 10622/11/0058/2627
Conclusion
The 137 Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion, 39 Gorkha Rifles (Territorial Army), has announced 74 vacancies for eligible ex-servicemen and ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and the State Forest Department. The recruitment rally is scheduled for November 16–21, 2026, with candidates required to report at 7:00 AM on November 16 at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, New Cantt, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Eligible candidates should carefully review the post-wise vacancy details, service conditions, physical standards and document requirements before attending. Applicants are also advised to follow the instructions in the recruitment notice and avoid paying money to anyone in connection with the recruitment process.