Lieutenant General Girish Kalia has officially assumed the role of Director General of the Territorial Army (TA), representing a notable leadership change within the Indian Army’s reserve force. He took command on December 1, 2025, during a formal ceremony at the TA Headquarters in New Delhi.
In a poignant gesture, one of Kalia’s first actions as Director General was to pay tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. Standing in reverence before the eternal flame signifying the sacrifices of India’s Bravehearts, Kalia honored their memory and contributions to the nation. The Indian Army shared images of this solemn tribute through their official X handle, featuring a photograph of General Kalia seated at his desk with the ceremonial baton, alongside another presenting him in reflection at the memorial.
Lieutenant General Kalia boasts a distinguished military career, having been commissioned into the Madras Regiment on December 14, 1991, from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. With over 30 years of operational and strategic experience, his career includes notable achievements such as commanding the elite Vajr Division in 2023 and serving as Defence Attaché in Egypt, where he played a crucial role in enhancing India’s military diplomacy. His commendations include the GOC-in-C Northern Command Commendation Card in 2001, the Southern Command Commendation Card in 2009, and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020 for exemplary leadership along the Line of Control.
In his new capacity, Lieutenant General Kalia will lead a volunteer reserve force of nearly 40,000 personnel. The TA is instrumental in various roles, including relieving regular Army units of static duties, supporting civil authorities during natural disasters, and providing additional operational capability to the Indian Army. Following a significant restructuring initiated in 2020 by the Chief of Defence Staff, the TA has seen an expansion in its responsibilities concerning operational readiness and intelligence support. This enhancement aims to improve the nation’s defense capabilities in the face of evolving regional security challenges, particularly highlighted during the China-India tensions from 2020 to 2022.
Kalia’s immediate homage at the National War Memorial signifies his commitment to the legacy of the TA, which has played a crucial role in major conflicts throughout India’s history, including the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971, and the Kargil War in 1999. The Indian Army, along with the broader defense community, has extended warm congratulations to Lieutenant General Kalia, with social media posts commending his leadership and dedicated service. As he takes command, expectations are high for strengthening operational effectiveness and fostering deeper integration of the TA within the nation’s defense infrastructure.
