Wishing you all on NCC Day

 GREETINGS TO ALL MY FRIENDS ON NATIONAL CADET CORPS DAY CELEBRATING 72nd ANNIVERSARY ON 29 NOVEMBER 2020

The NCC was formed on 15th July 1948. However, the NCC day is observed throughout the country, on the fourth Sunday of November, because, it was on that day in 1947 that the first units raised in Delhi.

NCC first started in 1666 in Germany. The NCC in India was formed with the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948. It was raised on 15 July 1948. The origin of NCC can be traced back to the ‘University Corps’, which was created under the Indian Defence Act 1917, with the objective to make up the shortage of the Army. In 1920, when the Indian Territorial Act was passed, the ‘University Corps’ was replaced by the University Training Corps (UTC). The aim was to raise the status of the UTC and make it more attractive to the youth. The UTC Officers and cadets dressed like the army. It was a significant step towards the Indianisation of armed forces. 

It is interesting to note that earlier Indian students were not allowed to join University Training Corps. A student of Calcutta University Subhash Chandra Bose fought against this injustice and it is because of his efforts Calcutta University ultimately allowed Indian students to join the University Training Corps. I think that I do not have to tell that who this Subhash Chandra Bose is.

It was rechristened in the form of UOTC so the National Cadet Corps can be considered as a successor of the University Officers Training Corps (UOTC) which was established by the British Government in 1942. During World War II, the UOTC never came up to the expectations set by the British. This led to the idea that some better schemes should be formed, which could train more young men in a better way, even during peace. 

A committee headed by Pandit H.N. Kunzru recommended a cadet organization to be established in schools and colleges at a national level. The National Cadet Corps Act was accepted by the Governor General and on 15 July 1948 the National Cadet Corps came into existence.

In 1949, the Girls Division was raised in order to give equal opportunities to school and college going girls. The NCC was given an inter-service image in 1950 when the Air Wing was added, followed by the Naval Wing in 1952. Same year, the NCC curriculum was extended to include community development/social service activities as a part of the NCC syllabus at the behest of Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who took keen interest in the growth of the NCC. 

Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, to meet the requirement of the Nation, the NCC training was made compulsory in 1963. In 1968, the Corps was again made voluntary.

During Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 & Bangladesh-Pakistani war of 1971 NCC cadets were second line of defence. They organized camp to assist ordnance factories, supplying arms and ammunition to the front and also were used as patrol parties to capture enemy paratroopers. The NCC cadets also worked hand in hand with the Civil defence authorities and actively took part in rescue works and traffic control.

After 1965 and 1971 wars NCC syllabus was revised. Rather than just being second line of defence, NCC syllabus laid greater stress on developing quality of leadership and officer like qualities. The military training which the NCC cadets received was reduced and greater importance was given to other areas like social service and youth management.

The motto of NCC is 'Unity & Discipline' which was adopted on 23 Dec 1957. In living up to its motto, the NCC strives to be and is one of the greatest cohesive forces of the nation, bringing together the youth hailing from different parts of the country and moulding them into united, secular and disciplined citizens of the nation.

At Headquarters level, the NCC is headed by a Director General with the rank of LIeutenant General. He is assisted by two Additional Director Generals (A and B) of two-star rank (major-general, rear-admiral or air vice-marshal). Five Brigadier level officers and other civil officials also assist him. The Headquarters is located in Delhi. There are 17 Directorates located in the state capitals headed by an officer of the rank of a Brigadier from the three Services. Depending upon the size of the state and growth of NCC in the states, Directorates have up to 14 Group Headquarters under them through which they exercise their command and control of the organisation in the state. Each group is headed by an officer of the rank of Colonel or equivalent known as Group Commander. Each NCC Group Headquarters control 5 - 7 units (Bns) commanded by Lt. Colonel/Major or equivalent. 

Each Battalion consists of companies which are commanded by the Associate NCC Officer (ANO) of the rank of lieutenant to major. In all there are 95 Group Headquarters in the country who exercise control over a network of 667 Army Wing Units (including technical and girls unit), 60 Naval Wing Units and 61 Air Squadrons. There are two training establishments namely Officers Training School, Kamptee (Nagpur, Maharashtra) and Women Officers Training School, Gwalior.

My friends who were my school mates and class mates in school may remember that our school Raisina Bengali School had the affiliation to NCC Air Wing. 

Our respected English teacher Shri Prabhat Kumar Mukherjee was the Officer-in-charge on behalf of the school. He was designated as 3rd Officer. I must say that he motivated me to join the school NCC. Our school was affiliated to 1-Delhi Air Squadron NCC.

I cleared my J-1 and J-2 (equivalent to A and B certificate) while in school) and my C certificate while in college.

ALWAYS FELT PROUD TO BE AN NCC CADET. 

Jai Hind.