A record 124 cadets from the 4 Himachal Pradesh NCC Battalion have joined the Indian armed forces this year, with more selections expected in the coming weeks, according to Battalion Commandant Col GP Singh.
Addressing mediapersons, Col Singh said that for the first time, 128 cadets of the battalion had been selected to join the defence services as Agniveers, while 13 cadets had secured commissions as officers in the armed forces.
He described the achievement as a significant milestone for the battalion, noting that only 27 cadets had been selected as Agniveers last year. The latest figures represent an increase of more than 400 per cent in selections.
Col Singh added that several cadets had also appeared for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) examinations, and further selections were anticipated.
He attributed the success to the strengthening of NCC activities in the region. The NCC unit, which was upgraded from a company to a full-fledged battalion only last year, has witnessed remarkable growth and increased participation since the expansion.
“This is the first time such a large number of cadets from the battalion have simultaneously entered the Indian armed forces,” he said.
Highlighting the role of the NCC, Col Singh said that units functioning in schools and colleges were helping to instil patriotism, discipline and leadership qualities among young people while preparing them to become responsible citizens.
Meanwhile, the commandant announced that a state-level NCC camp would commence at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Dungri, on June 4. More than 1,800 NCC cadets from across the state are expected to participate in the camp, which would be conducted in three phases.
The camp will see equal participation from boys and girls and will include training sessions on obstacle courses, firing practice, physical training, drill, sports, map reading and various aspects of military life. Cadets will also attend classroom lectures on subjects related to the Indian armed forces and leadership development, said Col Singh. — OC
