NEW DELHI, Jan 9: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday encouraged the youth to dream big and work towards becoming the “changemakers, innovators, and leaders” of tomorrow, during his address at the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantonment.
Reflecting on his own experience as an NCC cadet, Gen Dwivedi urged the cadets to embrace their time in the NCC as a life-shaping experience that would lay the foundation for their future achievements. “Being part of NCC is a way of life. The formative years as a cadet will forge a unique identity for each one of you,” he said.
Gen Dwivedi also expressed pride in the growing contribution of NCC cadets to the Indian Armed Forces, highlighting that in 2024, 100 boy cadets and 10 girl cadets joined the army’s pre-commissioning training academies through NCC’s entry schemes. More than 8,800 NCC cadets also joined as Agniveers. He acknowledged the cadets’ efforts in community service, blood donation, environmental conservation, and social awareness, urging them to continue contributing to nation-building.
The army chief also conveyed his best wishes to the NCC expedition team, which is preparing to scale Mount Everest later this year. “I am happy to note that they are currently training at the Army Mountaineering Institute in the Siachen Base Camp. I will eagerly look forward to seeing a glimpse of the NCC summit flag atop Mt Everest,” Gen Dwivedi said.
During his visit, Gen Dwivedi interacted with cadets, presented mementoes to those who delivered excellent briefings, and enjoyed cultural performances at the camp. He shared his nostalgia about his own time as an NCC cadet, recalling his NCC enrolment number and the lasting memories from his cadet days.
Gen Dwivedi also expressed pride in the strong relationship between the Indian Army and the NCC, citing the role of over 12,500 army personnel who have served in the NCC. He also highlighted the valuable training support provided to over 30,000 NCC cadets, including attachments with army units and military hospitals.
A total of 2,361 NCC cadets, including 917 girl cadets—the largest contingent to date—are participating in the month-long Republic Day camp, which will culminate in the Prime Minister’s Rally on January 27.
