As many as 2,406 cadets, including 898 girl cadets from 28 states and eight Union Territories, have gathered at the Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment, for the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp (RDC). The opening ceremony featured an all-religion prayer attended by NCC officials and student representatives, as per the Ministry of Defence.
Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, Director General NCC, welcomed the cadets during the ceremony and commended their selection for the esteemed Republic Day Camp. He encouraged them to embody virtues like character, integrity, selfless service, comradeship, and teamwork, emphasizing the ethos of ‘Nation First.’
The month-long camp will include various competitions and events such as the Best Cadet Competition, Small Arms Firing, and the Marching Contingent for the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path. This year’s participation of 2,406 cadets, including 898 girls, marks the highest turnout to date, with cadets and officers from 25 Friendly Foreign Countries also joining in under the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP).
Upholding its motto of ‘Unity and Discipline,’ the Republic Day Camp serves as a platform for NCC cadets nationwide to undergo training, engage in cultural exchanges, and develop a strong sense of patriotism, discipline, and leadership. The camp aims to instill these values while fostering unity among the cadets from diverse backgrounds.
