If you are searching for the Territorial Army CETF Recruitment Rally 2026, the first thing to know is that this rally is for a specific category of candidates and not for the general public. The recruitment is being conducted by 137 Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion (Territorial Army) 39 Gorkha Rifles for 161 vacancies across JCO, Soldier GD, Soldier Clerk, and a few tradesman posts. The rally is being held in three phases in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand during May 2026.
The notice makes it clear that eligible candidates must report physically at the venue as per the phase-wise schedule. There is no normal online application route for this rally. Candidates need to carry the required original documents and be ready for screening, physical tests, medical examination, interview, and proficiency test where applicable. Because this is a rally-based recruitment, reaching the correct venue on the correct date with complete documents is more important than anything else.
This article is structured to help you quickly check whether you are eligible, understand the post-wise vacancies, see the rally schedule, know what documents to carry, and avoid common mistakes on rally day. Where the latest recruitment notice itself gives the rule, this article follows that. Where no separate latest clarification is available on an official government domain, the point is stated carefully and not overstated.
Recruitment Overview
The 137 Composite Ecological Task Force Battalion (Territorial Army) 39 Gorkha Rifles has announced a recruitment rally for 2026 with 161 vacancies. The rally is being conducted in phases and candidates have to report physically at the venue as per the schedule.
This recruitment is tied to CETF service conditions and is intended for a defined pool of eligible former personnel, not for open civilian intake. The recruitment notice states that screening, document checking, medical examination of screened candidates, and interview-related processes will be held at the rally venue.
Rally Dates, Locations and Reporting Time
The rally is scheduled in three phases. Candidates should attend only as per the notified schedule and reach the venue on time with original documents.
| Phase | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 05 to 08 May 2026 | Bengdubi, West Bengal |
| Phase 2 | 13 to 16 May 2026 | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Phase 3 | 20 to 23 May 2026 | Dehradun, Uttarakhand |
The reporting time mentioned in the notice is 07:00 AM. Since this is a rally-based recruitment, late arrival can create avoidable problems even if you are otherwise eligible.
Post-wise Vacancy Details
The vacancy distribution notified for the 2026 CETF rally is as follows.
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| JCO (GD) | 07 |
| Soldier GD | 143 |
| Soldier Clerk (SD) | 03 |
| Chef | 02 |
| Tailor | 01 |
| Housekeeper | 03 |
| Washerman | 01 |
| Dresser | 01 |
| Total | 161 |
The notice uses ESM-based labeling for the posts, which indicates that the recruitment is structured around eligible ex-service categories rather than general fresh intake.
Who Can Attend This Rally
This rally is not open to all applicants. The eligibility stated in the notice is restricted to the following categories.
- Ex-Servicemen who are Indian domicile and pension holders.
- Ex-women employees, including premature retirees, of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and State Forest Departments, with minimum 20 years of service in MoEF&CC or State Forest Department.
The notice also requires candidates to be in medical category SHAPE-1 and to have character grading of EXEMPLARY or VERY GOOD. If you do not fall within the stated service background, this rally is not meant for you.
Age Limit, Medical and Physical Standards
The notice says candidates should get enrolled within 5 years from the date of retirement. It further states that JCOs can serve up to 55 years and Other Ranks can serve up to 50 years.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Medical Category | SHAPE-1 |
| Character | EXEMPLARY or VERY GOOD |
| Male Height | 160 cm; 152 cm for Gorkhas, Garhwalis and Assamese |
| Female Height | 150 cm |
| Male Weight | Minimum 50 kg |
| Female Weight | Minimum 42 kg |
| Male Chest | 82 cm with minimum 5 cm expansion |
| Female Chest | Minimum 5 cm expansion |
The notice also provides 5 cm relaxation in height and corresponding weight adjustment for women from North East and hill areas such as Gorkhas, Assamese and Garhwalis.
Selection Process
The recruitment rally is built around physical screening, document verification, medical examination, interview, and proficiency assessment where required.
- Physical parameters for male candidates include 1 mile run, pull up, ditch, and zig zag balance beam.
- Proficiency test applies for tradesmen posts.
- For ex-women candidates, the proficiency test includes work related to afforestation and nursery management.
- Candidates who clear the physical stage undergo medical examination.
- Candidates qualifying the physical stage are interviewed by the Board of Officers.
The notice does not describe a separate written examination for this rally. Candidates should therefore focus on fitness, service records, and document readiness.
Pay, Service Tenure and Employment Terms
The notice states that the period of enrollment will be 02 years from the date of enrollment and may be extended by 01 year at a time, subject to satisfactory performance, suitability, and continuation of the project.
Selected personnel will be entitled to the basic pay of the rank and service group in which they are employed in the unit, along with dearness allowance and admissible allowances. Other allowances mentioned include Children Education Allowance, Hill Compensatory Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and Road Mileage Allowance.
The notice also makes two important service points clear. First, Territorial Army here is treated as a voluntary and essentially part-time arrangement tied to government sanction and organisational requirement. Second, no pension, increment, or gratuity is admissible for service rendered in the CETF Battalion, while pension entitlement earned in previous service remains unaffected.
Documents Required at the Rally
Candidates should carry original documents along with one set of photocopies. The notice lists the following documents.
- Discharge Book in original
- Pension Payment Order in original
- 08 recent passport size colour photographs
- Character Certificate from Village Sarpanch or Police authority
- Education Certificate
- Domicile Certificate
If any certificate has mismatch in name, date, or service details, resolve it before the rally. The notice specifically warns against overwriting, tampering, fake documents, and false information.
How to Attend the Recruitment Rally
- Check whether you fall in the exact eligible category mentioned in the rally notice.
- Identify the correct phase and venue for reporting.
- Prepare all original documents and photocopies in one file.
- Keep passport photographs ready and make sure your identity and service records match your certificates.
- Report at 07:00 AM on the scheduled date at the notified venue.
- Complete screening, physical tests, medical examination, interview, and proficiency test if applicable.
There is no normal online application flow for this rally. Attendance at the venue with complete documents is the core application step.
Important Instructions Candidates Should Not Ignore
- Recruitment is a free service. Do not pay money to anyone.
- If a candidate is found to have paid a bribe, selection can be cancelled.
- No mobiles are allowed at the rally site.
- No messing or accommodation will be provided during the recruitment rally.
- The authorities conducting the rally will not be responsible for accidents or injuries sustained during the rally.
- Producing fake documents or giving false information can lead to punishment under law and termination of service.
These instructions matter because rally-based recruitments move quickly. A small avoidable mistake can block participation even before evaluation begins.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 161 vacancies in the 137 CETF Battalion TA 39 Gorkha Rifles recruitment rally.
No. The rally is meant for eligible Ex-Servicemen pension holders and certain Ex-women employees of MoEF&CC and State Forest Departments.
The rally is scheduled from 05 to 08 May 2026 at Bengdubi, 13 to 16 May 2026 at Varanasi, and 20 to 23 May 2026 at Dehradun.
No regular online application form is indicated for this rally. Eligible candidates have to report in person at the notified venue with documents.
Candidates should be enrolled within 5 years from the date of retirement. JCOs can serve up to 55 years and Other Ranks up to 50 years.
Candidates should carry the Discharge Book, PPO, photographs, character certificate, education certificate, and domicile certificate, along with photocopies.
No fee is indicated. The notice states that recruitment is a free service.
No pension, increment, or gratuity is admissible for service rendered in the CETF Battalion, though previous pension entitlement remains unaffected.