INTRODUCTION

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) seeks to involve student youths of the country by constructively utilizing their energies. NCC is an important activity for young adults in which they get an opportunity to discover the power and potential of team work in situations which challenge their own abilities. The tasks and activities undertaken in NCC help youth to unleash its creative potential in human relations, while giving them an exposure to ground realities. Youth learns the key to co-operative and harmonious living while engaging in activities like camping, etc while at the same time they imbibe a sense of commitment and camaraderie as they work closely with the larger community. NCC draws out the potential of the youth as it works closely for community development in times of peace as well as natural or manmade exigencies. NCC gives tremendous opportunity to one and all for betterment, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or economic status and instils in them qualities like nationalism, patriotism, discipline and self-confidence. In addition, cadets of NCC also avail the opportunities for participation in various adventure activities, like Rock Climbing, Trekking, Cycle Expeditions, White Water Rafting, Para-trooping, Civil Defence, Self Defence, Aero Modelling and Horse Riding etc. At the same time trekking programme and organized annually to places in Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, Uttra Khand and Coastal trek in Goa.

Birth of the National Cadet Corps

The Kashmir War of 1948 taught a very important lesson to India, that freedom needs to be protected by strong Armed Forces. Its immediate manifestation was that the recommendations of Kunzuru committee were placed before the Constituent Assembly (Legislature) on 13 Mar 1948. A draft Bill was sent to the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) on 19 Mar 1948, which evoked great interest and enthusiasm amongst all members. After due deliberations and amendments, the Bill was passed by the Assembly on 08 Apr 1948. The Central Govt accepted the opinion of the Provincial Govts and the Standing Committee’s recommendations for the formation of a Cadet Corps which was to be named as “National Cadet Corps”, as recommended by the Kunzuru Committee. The Bill received the assent of the Governor General on 16 Apr 1948, and the National Cadet Corps came into being by an Act of the Parliament Act No. XXXI of 1948 designated ‘The National Cadet Corps Act 1948’. This Act with 13 clauses, prescribed the formation of the National Cadet Corps in India. The first step in the process of raising of the NCC was setting up of the NCC Secretariat now called Headquarters Directorate General NCC. In fact, even before the NCC Bill was passed by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative), the Ministry of Defence had set up the nucleus of the NCC Secretariat, with Col (later retired as Chief of Army Staff) Gopal Gurunath Bewoor as first Director of the NCC. He took over as Director of NCC on 31 Mar 1948