Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan was briefed on the functioning and expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Sainik Schools by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence at the Vice President’s House today.
The presentations highlighted the NCC’s growth into a nearly 20-lakh-strong youth organisation, its training programmes, nation-building initiatives, and the roadmap for expanding and strengthening the network of Sainik Schools across the country, including through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Appreciating the NCC’s contribution to nation-building, the Vice President described the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Camps as an excellent initiative for strengthening national integration. He also lauded the NCC’s community service initiatives, including the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and welcomed the establishment of the NCC Alumni Association.
“Strengthening the NCC is a shared national responsibility,” the Vice President said, calling for greater infrastructure development and enhanced coordination with State Governments on issues such as land availability and training infrastructure. He also assured all possible support in engaging with the States.
On Sainik Schools, the Vice President was briefed on the functioning of the existing institutions and the ongoing expansion through both government and PPP models. Referring to the growing demand from students and parents, he observed that each State could aim to have three to five Sainik Schools and suggested exploring the possibility of increasing the intake capacity of existing institutions.
The interaction focused on strengthening youth development and expanding access to quality military-oriented education through greater collaboration between the Centre and the States.
