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The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has completed its expansion into border regions and coastal areas of the country— a proposal for which was announced by Prime Minister in his 2020 Independence Day speech — and has added a strength of over one lakh cadets from these areas, said Director General of the NCC, Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh on Monday.
The NCC chief was speaking on the sidelines of the All India Nau Sainik Camp (AINSC), an annual camp held by NCC for their Naval cadets from across India. This year the camp was held at INS Shivaji, the premier marine engineering training institute of the Indian Navy located in Lonavala.
“The expansion of NCC into the border and coastal area that was ordered, has been completed. We have filled all vacancies. Units and institutions were identified in border areas and coastal regions and additional vacancies were given to them. And to that end, we have already enrolled students from these areas and fulfilled the promise,” Lt Gen Singh said.
When asked about specific numbers, he said, “A strength of around one lakh cadets from border and coastal districts has been added. All schools and institutions in these areas were identified and existing units of NCC were upgraded to absorb these vacancies.”
In his 2020 Independence Day speech Prime Minister Modi had announced from the 173 coastal and border districts, one lakh cadets including one third of girls will be trained as part of the expansion initiative of the NCC.
“In border areas, the Army will train the cadets. In the coastal area, the Navy will train the cadets. And where there are air bases, the Air Force will undertake training activities. Border and coastal areas will get trained manpower to fight with disasters. The youths will acquire required skills for careers in the armed forces,” the PM had said in his speech.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that as part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units —Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10— will be upgraded to impart NCC training to cadets in border and coastal areas.
When asked about NCC cadets joining the Armed forces, the NCC chief said, “We are contributing in quite a few numbers. A record number of cadets have gotten enrolled as officers and Agniveers. 100 odd Army officers were enrolled from NCC, and around 22 per cent of Agniveers were from NCC.”
The NCC, which came into existence in 1948, has its roots in British era uniformed youth entities like University Corps or University Officer Training Corps. Currently the NCC has a strength of over 15 lakh cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force wings. It enrolls cadets at high school and college level and also awards certificates on completion of various phases. Headed by a Director General of three star military rank, the NCC falls under the purview of MoD and is led by serving officers from the Armed forces at various hierarchical positions. The NCC currently has 17 regional directorates which govern the NCC in units in various states or groups of states and UTs.
