Arun Jasrotia
Udhampur :TDD, In a significant move towards youth empowerment and national integration, Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, presided over the inauguration of four new National Cadet Corps (NCC) units across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh on October 25, 2024. The ceremony, held in Udhampur, marked the establishment of the 6 J&K Battalion NCC and 1 Air Squadron NCC in Udhampur, 7 J&K Battalion NCC in Kupwara, and 2 Ladakh Battalion NCC in Kargil.
The event drew prominent civil administration officials, including Additional Secretary School Education Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Police Academy Director Garib Dass, Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai,SSP Udhampur Amod Ashok Nagpure . The ceremony featured an impressive Guard of Honour presented by NCC cadets, followed by the presentation of scrolls to the newly raised units, symbolizing their honor, pride, and responsibility.
During his address, Lt Gen Kumar emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion, highlighting the NCC’s crucial role in national integration. He particularly stressed how the organization’s training and discipline help shape youth perspectives and create proactive citizens. The establishment of an Air Squadron NCC unit represents a significant development, offering cadets opportunities to explore aviation alongside conventional training.
NCC Director General Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh shared impressive statistics about the organization’s growth, revealing plans to increase the overall cadet strength from the current 17 lakh to 20 lakh. The NCC currently operates through 825 units, spanning 6,500 schools and 4,500 colleges nationwide.
Major General Rajesh Kumar Sachdeva, Additional Director General of NCC Directorate Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, highlighted the directorate’s achievements, including 28 cadets becoming officers, 178 joining as Sub Inspectors in police, 799 as Agniveers, and 221 as constables.
The directorate celebrated several milestone achievements, including the selection of three cadets for NCC’s Mount Everest Expedition in 2025. Notably, the 1 Ladakh Battalion NCC received a unit citation from the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, while the NCC Directorate of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh earned a historic first-time Unit citation from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.
The expansion initiative represents a strategic step toward fostering unity, discipline, and national pride among youth in these border regions. The GOC-in-C acknowledged the vital support of civil administration in policy formation and logistics, ensuring the smooth operation of NCC activities across these strategically important areas.TDD