What is 'Gainful Employment' for Territorial Army eligibility?

Gainful Employment means the candidate must already have a full-time stable job or be self-employed. Proofs like Income Tax Returns (ITR), Salary Slips, or Professional Certificates are mandatory. Students and serving regular army personnel are not eligible.

Is there negative marking in the TA Exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.33 marks for every wrong answer in the Computer Based Test.

Territorial Army Sample Question Paper 2026-27 (New Pattern)

Download the Territorial Army Sample Question Paper 2026 to help you prepare for the Territory Army Online Entrance Exam. For aspirants who are going to appear in this exam, preparing the right way is crucial, especially with the new Computer Based Test (CBT) pattern.

If you are willing to grab a good score, you must follow the Territorial Army Sample Question Papers we have provided below. We have provided direct links so students can download their Question papers and start preparation immediately.

Territorial Army Exam 2026 at a Glance!

Table of Contents

Name of Recruitment	Territorial Army Officer Recruitment
Recruiting Authority	Indian Army
Year of Recruitment	2026-27
Post Offered	Lieutenant (Non-Departmental)
Exam Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Vacancies	To be Notified
Official Website	www.jointerritorialarmy.gov.in

Important Eligibility Warning

Unlike regular army entries, Gainful Employment is Mandatory for the Territorial Army. You must be already employed (Self-employed/Private/Govt) to apply. Serving members of the Regular Army/Navy/Air Force are not eligible.

What is “Gainful Employment”? (Crucial for Eligibility)

The Territorial Army is a part-time concept for citizens who are already working. You must prove you have a stable job. Here is what is accepted:

Category	Required Proof / Documents
Self-Employed	Affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper & Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last 2 years.
Private Sector Employees	Salary certificate from employer, PF statement, and ITR.
Govt / Semi-Govt Employees	‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Head of Department.
Doctors / Lawyers / CA	Certificate of practice/membership from the respective association & ITR.

Note: Students and serving members of the Regular Army/Navy/Air Force are NOT eligible.

Territorial Army Sample Question Papers (PDF)

Below we have provided Army Sample Question Papers and Practice Tests to qualify for the Written Exam. These papers will help you understand the difficulty level of the forthcoming exam.

Territorial Army Previous Year Papers (Old Pattern 2012-2021)

Note: The papers below follow the old OMR pattern but are excellent for practicing the difficulty level of questions.

Territorial Army Written Exam 2026: New Important Points

The exam pattern has been updated significantly. Please draw your attention to these changes:

1. New Exam Structure (CBT)

The exam is now a Single Session computer-based test covering 4 subjects.

Section	Subject	No. of Questions	Marks
Part 1	Reasoning	25	25
Part 2	Elementary Mathematics	25	25
Part 3	General Knowledge	25	25
Part 4	English	25	25
Total	2 Hours Duration	100 Qs	100 Marks

2. Negative Marking Scheme

Be careful while guessing! There is a penalty for wrong answers. 0.33 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response.

3. Syllabus Standard

Elementary Mathematics: Matriculation (10th Class) Level.
Other Subjects: Graduation Level.

4. Qualifying Marks

To clear the TA written test, one must obtain a minimum of 40% in each part and a 50% overall average.

Detailed Territorial Army Syllabus 2026

Don’t just study blindly. Focus on these specific topics that appear frequently in the exam:

Part 1: Elementary Mathematics (Matriculation Level)

Arithmetic: Number System, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work.
Algebra: Basic Operations, LCM/HCF, Quadratic Equations.
Trigonometry: Simple Identities, Heights & Distances (Sin, Cos, Tan).
Geometry: Lines & Angles, Triangles, Circles.
Mensuration: Areas & Volumes of Squares, Rectangles, Cones, Cylinders.
Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode, Histograms.

Part 2: General Knowledge

Current Affairs (National & International)
History of India (Modern History focus)
Geography (Physical & Political)
Polity & Constitution
Defense & Military Exercises

Part 3: Reasoning

Pattern recognition, Sequencing, Coding-Decoding, Analogy, and Logical deduction.

Part 4: English

Synonyms/Antonyms, Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Spotting Errors, and Sentence Correction.

Watch: Full TA Army Exam Practice Set & Solution

Territorial Army Salary & Rank Structure

TA Officers hold the same rank and privileges as Regular Army Officers when embodied for training or service.

Rank	Pay Level	Pay Scale	Military Service Pay (MSP)
Lieutenant	Level 10	Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500	Rs. 15,500
Captain	Level 10B	Rs. 61,300 – 1,93,900	Rs. 15,500
Major	Level 11	Rs. 69,400 – 2,07,200	Rs. 15,500

Benefits of Solving Territorial Army Previous Year Papers

Here, we have covered in detail the benefits of solving Territorial Army previous year papers.

Understand New Pattern: Helps you adapt to the 100-question format vs. the old 200-question format.
Speed Management: Make sure to attempt these mock tests with a timer. You have only 120 minutes for 100 questions (approx. 1.2 mins per question).
Identify Weak Areas: Since you need 40% in each section, you cannot afford to ignore Maths or English. Mock papers highlight your weak sections.

Selection Procedure: The Road to Becoming an Officer

Screening (Written Exam): The CBT exam we discussed above.
PIB Interview: Qualifiers face the Preliminary Interview Board (PIB).
SSB Interview: Successful candidates undergo the 5-day Service Selection Board interview.
Medical Board: Final medical checkup for physical and mental fitness.
Merit List: Final selection based on marks and vacancies.