NCC Marks 77 Years of Service
Addressing the media, Director General NCC, Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, congratulated the NCC fraternity on completing 77 years of dedicated service to the nation. He described the Republic Day Camp as a unique platform that provides cadets exposure to India’s rich cultural heritage and national traditions during the Republic Day build-up in the national capital.
He highlighted that the NCC has steadily expanded its presence and now covers more than 90 percent of districts across the country, strengthening its role in youth development and nation-building.
Growing Strength and Role of NCC
Lt Gen Vats noted that the strength of NCC has grown exponentially since its inception in 1948, from just 20,000 cadets to nearly 20 lakh cadets today. He added that girls now constitute around 40 percent of the total cadet strength, underlining the organisation’s inclusive approach.
He emphasised the NCC’s role in inculcating discipline, character, leadership and a sense of service among the youth through structured training, camps and national-level activities.
Key Activities and Achievements in 2025
Highlighting activities undertaken in 2025, the DG NCC said the organisation conducted 1,665 Annual Training Camps, six Special National Integration Camps and 33 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Camps to promote national integration and cultural bonding.
NCC cadets also participated in several major initiatives, including a special mountaineering expedition to Mount Everest, assistance to civil administration during Operation Sindoor, extensive tree plantation under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, and large-scale participation in the International Day of Yoga and Swachhotsav.
Skill Development and Innovation
In line with modern requirements, NCC has focused on skill development and innovation. Cadets received drone flying training at four Remote Pilot Training Organisations, while over 3,000 cadets were trained through Skill Manthan workshops.
Additionally, 340 cadets worked on 85 startup ideas during the Idea and Innovation Competition, reflecting the organisation’s emphasis on creativity, entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
Ongoing Expeditions and Disaster Preparedness
Lt Gen Vats also spoke about ongoing expeditions, including a special sailing expedition around 21 uninhabited islands of Andaman and Nicobar, dedicated to Param Vir Chakra awardees. Two cycling expeditions are also underway to commemorate social reform movements and the legacy of national icons.
He added that around 94,400 NCC cadets from 315 districts have been nominated to receive disaster response training under the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority, with training scheduled to be completed by March 2026.
Dignitaries and Grand Finale
The Republic Day Camp 2026 will be visited by several high-profile dignitaries, including the Vice President of India, Raksha Mantri, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief Minister of Delhi, Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The month-long camp will culminate with the Prime Minister’s Rally on January 28, 2026, marking the grand finale of the NCC Republic Day Camp.
