Def minister pitches for pushing targeted strength of NCC; says more youth keen to join the corps

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday pitched for expanding the projected strength of the National Cadet Corps to beyond 15 lakh in a phased manner to make room for more boys and girls from across the country who are keen to join the NCC.

Interacting with reporters at the Republic Day NCC Camp in Delhi Cantonment, she also said, girls were "more keen" to join the Corps than boys.

The NCC strength is being expanded as part of a five-phase programme, which seeks to achieve a strength of 15 lakh by 2019-2020.

The plan is to increase the strength of the NCC, but the target need not be restricted and the final number should be increased, the Union minister said.

"We are moving smoothly to achieve the target of 15 lakh," she said.

Asked if there was any number she was looking at beyond the planned 15 lakh target, she said, "I don't want to speculate as to what extent it can be increased. All stakeholders in the NCC and administrators should sit together and plan. The intention is to expand more, but it should be done in a phased manner."
Asked abut the defence minister's pitch on Friday for taking the expansion target to beyond 15 lakh, he told PTI, "We will certainly look into it."