The Indian Territorial Army is celebrating its 67th anniversary on October 9. The Indian Territorial Army was formally raised by the first Indian Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on 09 Oct 1949. Many industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities from Bollywood and the sporting arena have been conferred with the honorary rank in the TA.
Former Indian Test captain Kapil Dev was commissioned as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army on September 24, 2008.
On November 1, 2011, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Abhinav Bindra were awarded the rank of Lt Colonel in the Territorial Army for their respective contributions in the field of cricket and shooting.
BCCI President Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat was commissioned to the rank of a lieutenant on July 29, 2016 in the Territorial Army.
Malayalam cine star Mohanlal was conferred the honorary rank of a Lieutenant Colonel on July 9, 2009. He was the first and only actor to have been conferred with this title.