NCC, World's Largest Uniformed Youth Body, Expands Further With 3 Lakh Cadets

From just 20,000 cadets in 1948, the NCC will now have a sanctioned strength of 20 lakh cadets in its roles making it the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to expand the National Cadet Corps (NCC) by 3,00,000 cadets. The expansion is expected to meet the rising demand for the NCC from educational institutions across the country, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for expansion of the National Cadet Corps with the addition of three lakh cadet vacancies," the statement said.

From just 20,000 cadets in 1948, the NCC will now have a sanctioned strength of 20 lakh cadets in its roles making it the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world. 

"From just 20,000 cadets in 1948, the NCC will now have a sanctioned strength of 20 lakh cadets on its roles making it the largest uniformed youth organisation of the world," the ministry said in a press release.

It stated that the expansion plan includes the creation of four new "Group Headquarters" and the addition of two new NCC units.

"With NCC being offered as an elective subject as per the National Education Policy 2020, the expansion will be a step towards meeting the aspirations of the youth towards playing a pivotal role as future leaders of the nation," the ministry said in a statement.

"The far reaching impact of this expansion will lead to proportionate distribution of vacancies across all States and Union Territories and would reduce the waiting list of institutions aspiring for the NCC," the statement said.

An important aspect of the expansion plan is the proposal to hire ex-servicemen as NCC instructors to capitalise on their skills and extensive experience.

"This noble initiative will ensure quality training to the NCC cadets and would generate employment opportunities for the veterans," the ministry said in a statement.

It stated that the expansion represents a commitment to developing future leaders who exemplify discipline, leadership, and service.

"The NCC aims to make a transformative impact, fostering an environment where youth meaningfully contribute towards nation building," according to the statement.