Should NCC Training be Mandatory for Students?

The Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in a written reply to Bhudeo Choudhary and others in Lok Sabha said that the Government has received representations from different quarters including the parliamentarians for making NCC/military training mandatory for all the students in order to strengthen the NCC cadre in the country.

NCC training is entirely a voluntary programme and it is up to each school/college to opt for it. NCC/military training mandatory for all the students is not under the consideration of the Government.

Opportunities are available to the young men and women of the country to receive military training through NCC in schools and colleges, and subsequent through the Territorial Army.

A large number of civilians also undergo training under the various programmes of the Home Scouts, Home Guards, Central Police Organisations, Para Military Forces, Village Defence Committees etc.

The enrolled NCC cadet strength is 12,41,327 candidates.

The Ministry of Defence is not aware of the practice of giving bonus marks to the NCC cadets in Civil Services Examinations.

To NCC 'C` certificate holders, Government provides reservation in recruitment to the Armed Forces and a certain weightage of marks in Para Military Organizations.

84 vacancies in IMA, Dehradun, 100 vacancies in Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, 12 vacancies in Naval Academy, Ezhimala and 10 vacancies in Air Force Academy, Dundigal are reserved per year for NCC `C` Certificate holders.

Further, for entry into OTA Chennai, Naval Academy, Ezhimala and Air Force Academy, Dundlgal, NCC `C' Certificate holders are exempt from the written examination.

To motivate the cadets to join the Defence Services, the Government has taken various steps like conducting Group Discussions during various NCC Camps, identifying cadets with potential to pass SSB (Services Selection Board), Increasing seats in SSB Coaching Capsules at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Kamptee, increasing frequency of courses run by OTA, Gwalior, and conducting Orientation Programmes on SSB Capsules for Associate NCC Officers (ANOs).

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