Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has decided to fulfil the increasing demand for the NCC by educational institutes. He has approved three lakh vacancies further expanding it to 20 lakh cadets making it the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world.
This expansion will result in balanced distribution of vacancies across all states and union territories. The plan will lead to the establishment of two new NCC units with four new group headquarters.
The expansion plan not only will provide employment opportunities to ex-servicemen as NCC instructors but also ensure the quality training to the cadets through their skills and experience. The approval also intends to reduce the waiting list of institutions aspiring to include NCC and to create an environment where youth willingly contribute towards nation building. The step is dedicated to shaping the future of young leaders by introducing qualities of discipline, leadership and service within them.
The New Education Policy 2020 introduced NCC as an elective subject. By increasing the vacancies, the government has taken a step towards meeting the aspirations of the youth towards playing a pivotal role as future leaders of the nation. By expanding the NCC cadets, more youth will be able to be introduced to the training and curriculum which will help them to be patriotic individuals of the young generation (Amrit Peedhi). This will also contribute towards achieving the goal of developed India (Visit Bharat).
With just 20,000 cadets, NCC was established in 1948 aimed to provide basic tri-military training to the young youth of the nation. It is open to the students of school and college on a voluntary basis.