Unlike celebrities like cricketers Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and actor Mohan Lal, who joined the force as Honorary Lieutenant Colonels, Pilot will be joining TA as a regular officer and will get prescribed salary and incentives for the period of his service, the sources said.

Those volunteering for TA, which is under the Indian Army, receive military training for a certain period of time every year and can continue to remain gainfully employed in any profession.

The purpose of the organisation is to take care of critical infrastructure such as railways, oil and natural gas, hospitals and telecommunications during times of military emergency. At present, TA has a strength of approximately 40,000 personnel.