Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighted the importance of enhancing the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and suggested that each state should aim to establish three to five Sainik Schools. He expressed support for engaging with states on issues like land and training infrastructure for the NCC. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth provided insights on the NCC and Sainik Schools during a briefing, emphasizing the need for infrastructure development and coordination with state governments.
Radhakrishnan commended the NCC’s role in nation-building and praised initiatives like the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Camps for promoting national integration. He also appreciated the NCC’s community service projects such as the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Vice President encouraged the establishment of the NCC Alumni Association and stressed that strengthening the NCC is a collective national duty, calling for increased infrastructure development and coordination with state governments.
Furthermore, discussions included the growth of the NCC as a youth organization with nearly 20 lakh members and the expansion plans for Sainik Schools nationwide. Radhakrishnan suggested addressing the rising demand by considering the establishment of three to five Sainik Schools in each state. He also proposed exploring options to enhance the intake capacity of existing Sainik Schools. Established in 1948 with 20,000 cadets, the NCC has evolved into the world’s largest uniformed youth organization with over 20 lakh cadets, witnessing significant growth in recent years.
