Govt plans raising NCC strength

Govt plans raising NCC strength

BS Reporter / New Delhi November 26, 2007

The centre is likely to raise the strength of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the world's largest uniformed youth organisation comprising about over 1 million school and college going students.

Making this announcement on the 59th foundation day of the NCC on Sunday, defence minister A K Antony said the government was considering a proposal to enhance the numerical strength of NCC in a phased manner.

At present only 4% of the students in the country are voluntarily learning the military skills in the NCC. This year the defence ministry is planning to restructure the training of the cadets to accommodate 100,000 additional volunteers.

Besides, 20% of the seats for women officers at the Officers Training Academy that trains officers for the short service commission services in the army, would be reserved for senior girl cadets of the NCC, Antony said.

The NCC comprises about 1.3 million boys and girls belonging to 13,661 educational institutions across the country.

Antony said government