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New Delhi: On the eve of the 78th Raising Day of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) on Sunday, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh lauded the contribution of the youth organization in several areas including drones and Aapda Mitra disaster-response training and national service.
Addressing a gathering, the Defense Secretary highlighted the key initiatives of the NCC to train youth in national service and conduct Mount Everest expeditions and include drone and cyber training in the curriculum.
Earlier, Singh and NCC Director General Lieutenant General Virendra Vats attended the wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, an official said.
The ceremony created a nationwide festive atmosphere which highlighted the steadfast role of NCC in nation building and youth development.
Three NCC girl cadets from the tri-services also laid wreath and paid homage to the martyred heroes, joining the senior leadership in honoring the bravehearts of the country.
After the ceremony, the Defense Secretary, DG NCC and the gathering witnessed the band performance of NCC cadets from various schools of Delhi, adding a ceremonial touch to the commemoration.
From its inception in 1948 with only 20,000 cadets, NCC has grown to be the world’s largest uniformed youth organization with 20 lakh cadets, with a growth of 6 lakh cadets between 2014 and 2025. Today, its footprint extends to 713 out of 780 districts of India, making it one of the most widely represented youth institutions in the country.
Across states and union territories, cadets celebrated the day through a series of public-service initiatives such as blood donation drives, tree plantation activities, anti-drug awareness programs under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign and Nasha Mukti Abhiyan.
These efforts demonstrate the organization’s continued focus on community engagement, environmental protection and social responsibility.
As NCC celebrates its 77th anniversary, it is evolving into a vibrant and future-ready organization, producing disciplined, socially conscious and technically skilled youth committed to strengthening a developed India.
–IANS