BATTA

an allowance which military officers in India receive in addition to their pay. It was origin a ally given only when the officers were under march or in the field, and not in cantonments, and was in of tended to enable them to provide for the additional expenditure to which, in the former case, they were nece arily subjected. It afterwards was paid under all circumstances, but in 1828 the original principle was resumed, and a considerable difference is now made between active and cantonment service.