• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) celebrated its 76th raising day on November 24.

• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said that NCC has made commendable efforts in increasing the strength of cadets by three lakh and will be touching the strength of 20 lakh in coming years.

• NCC Day is celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday in the month of November.

National Cadet Corps

• National Cadet Corps (NCC) was established under the NCC Act, 1948. It is a tri-service organisation comprising the Army, Naval and Air wings.

• According to the government, NCC is the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world.

• From just 20,000 cadets in 1948, the NCC now has a sanctioned strength of 20 lakh cadets.

• The NCC strives to provide the youth of the country opportunities for all round development with a sense of commitment, dedication, self-discipline and moral values, so that they become responsible citizens of tomorrow.

• The motto of NCC is “Unity and Discipline”.

• It has been engaged in conducting various social service and community development activities. The cadets have been contributing to the national cause during natural calamities like floods, cyclones, etc since its inception.

• The defence ministry has taken several steps to encourage the students at high school and college level to join NCC and work in a devoted manner for the betterment of the country. 

• Cadets are given basic military and weapons training by serving officers of the armed forces. Their proficiency and dexterity is periodically tested, only after which, they are awarded the certificates.

• The ‘A’ certificate is awarded on passing the first level and ‘B’ certificate is awarded on passing the second level. Only those cadets who have a ‘B’ certificate are eligible to get the ‘C’ certificate, the highest certificate given to NCC cadets, after passing tough training and examination.

• Directorate General NCC in New Delhi is the headquarters and it is headed by the Director General (DG), an Army officer of the rank of Lieutenant General. 

• There are 17 Directorates, in which each state or group of states forms a Directorate.

• The Directorates are divided into Groups, which varies according to the size of the state. The Groups are further divided into Battalions.

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