The Ministry of Defence recently approved a proposal to extend the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to border and coastal districts. This announcement was initially made by the Prime Minister during his Independence Day speech. The reformation of the NCC was a crucial suggestion of the Committee of Experts (CoE) led by Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd) in 2016.
Understanding the Shekatkar Committee
In 2016, the Ministry of Defence, under the leadership of Lt. Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar, set up a committee to propose measures for improving combat ability and rebalancing the defence expenditure of the armed forces. The report was finally submitted in December 2016.
Among several recommendations made, some notable ones included the closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peaceful regions, enhancement in standards for recruiting clerical staff and drivers in the Army, and strategies for increasing the performance of the National Cadet Corps. The committee also suggested a roll-on defence budget to ensure sufficient capital expenditure for modernisation rather than surrendering unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year.
The Expansion Plan
With this expansion, a total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be enrolled into the NCC; a third of these will be girls. This plan will be conducted in collaboration with the States.
The Army will provide training and administrative assistance to the NCC units located in the border areas, while the Navy will cater to those in coastal areas and the Indian Air Force to those near the Air Force stations.
Potential Benefits of the Expansion
Expanding the NCC will provide trained manpower for disaster management and offer skill training to youth interested in pursuing careers in the armed forces. It will stimulate an interest in careers in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant shipping avenues among the youth. In border areas, trained cadets can also support the armed forces in numerous ways.
About the National Cadet Corps
The NCC was founded in 1948 following the recommendation of the H. N. Kunzru Committee-1946. The origins of the NCC can be traced back to British-era uniformed youth entities such as the University Corps or University Officer Training Corps.
Currently, the NCC has a strength of around 14 lakh cadets from the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings. It operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence and is led by a Director General of three-star military rank.
The NCC enrols cadets at both the high school and college levels and provides certificates upon completion of various phases. The cadets receive basic military training at different stages and also learn academic curriculum basics related to the functioning of the armed forces. Training camps, adventure activities, and military training camps form a vital part of the NCC training.
Significance of the NCC
NCC cadets have consistently been instrumental in relief efforts during various emergencies over the years. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, over 60,000 NCC cadets have volunteered for relief work in coordination with district and state authorities across the nation.
