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The National Cadet Corps is the Indianmilitary cadet corps with its Headquarters at New Delhi. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis. National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens. The National Cadet Corps in India is a voluntary organization which recruits cadets from high schools, colleges andUniversities all over India. The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades. The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service once they complete their course but are given preference over normal candidates during selections based on the achievements in the corps.
History
NCC parade
NCC was 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 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 byPandit 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.[3]
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.[4]
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.
NCC Motto
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.
NCC Flag
In 1954 the existing tricolour flag was introduced. The three colours in the flag depict the three services in the Corps, red for Army, deep blue for Navy and light blue for the Air Force. The letters NCC and the NCC crest in gold in the middle of the flag encircled by a wreath of lotus, give the flag a colourful look and a distinct identity. Each lotus represents one NCC Directorate(Dte).
NCC Song
The desirability of composing a NCC song was considered in January 1956. An Official Song of the NCC titled "Kadam Mila Ke Chal" was adopted in 1963 and registered in 1969 with the approval of Ministry Of Defence. In 1974 it was felt that the NCC song has failed to catch the imagination of the youth and there was need for a change. In Oct 1982, it changed to the current NCC Song titled "Ham Sabh Bhartiya Hain" . "Ham Sabh Bhartiya Hain" - NCC song is written by [Haricharan Singh Parvana]
Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain, Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain Apni Manzil Ek Hai, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ek Hai, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ek Hai. Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain. Kashmir Ki Dharti Rani Hai, Sartaj Himalaya Hai, Saadiyon Se Humne Isko Apne Khoon Se Pala Hai Desh Ki Raksha Ki Khatir Hum Shamshir Utha Lenge, Hum Shamshir Utha Lenge. Bikhre Bikhre Taare Hain Hum Lekin Jhilmil Ek Hai, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ek Hai, Hum Sab Bharatiya Hai. Mandir Gurudwaare Bhi Hain Yahan, Aur Masjid Bhi Hai Yahan, Girija Ka Hai Ghadiyaal Kahin, Mullah ki Kahin Hai Ajaan, Ek Hee Apna Ram Hain, Ek hi Allah Taala Hai, Ek Hee Allah Taala Hain, Range Birange Deepak Hain Hum, lekin Jagmag Ek Hai, Ha Ha Ha Ek Hai, Ho Ho Ho Ek Hai. Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain, Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain.
Organization
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[5] located in the state capitals headed by an officer of the rank of a Maj Gen 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 Brigadier or equivalent known as Group Commander. Each NCC Group Headquarters control 5-7 units(Bns) commanded by Colonel/Lt.Col 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.
Directorates
Units
These 17 directorates are divided in total of 788 units divided in three service groups Army, Naval and Air. Out of those 667 are Army, 60 Naval and 61 Air units.[6]
Types of units and their numbers are given below:
Arms
- HQ: HQ NCC,DTE,Group HQ,BN & COYHQ
- ARMY: Technical(Engineers, Signals, Medical, EME, CTR),:Non Technical(Infantry, Armoured & ARTY)
- AIR: Flying & Technical
- NAVY: Unit, Naval Tech., Medical, DAS
- TRG: OTA- Gwalior & OTA- Kamptee[7]
Strength
- Army: Each battalion or unit of NCC consists of a number of platoons or coy. For senior division boys each platoon consists of 52 cadets and each coy consists 160 cadets. Each BN has 4 to 7 coys so each BN carries around 640 to 1120 cadets. A senior wing girls BN consists of 2 to 7 coy means a total of 320 to 1120 cadets. For junior division boys and junior wing girls each troop has 100 cadets and each BN has at least one troop.
- Navy: For senior division boys each BN or unit consists of 4 to 8 divisions and each division consists of 50 cadets. For senior wing girls similar arrangement exists as of senior division boys. For junior division boys and junior wing girls each BN has a troop of 100 cadets.
- Air: For senior division boys and senior wing girls each unit consists of at least 2 fleets each consists of 100 cadets. So each unit known as Squadron carries around 200 cadets. For junior wing girls and junior division boys each squadron has a troop consisted of 100 cadets.
However, each unit can have up to 24 troops of senior division boys expanding their strength to 2400 cadets but this is maximum limit.
Personnel
Cadet Ranks
JD boys and JW girls are given ranks up to Sergeant. Only SD boys and SW girls are given ranks above Sergeant.
Regular Officers
The NCC Directorates are headed by Service Officers of the rank Of Major General and equivalent,Group Headquarters are headed by Service Officers of the rank of Colonel and equivalent and Units are headed by Service Officers of the rank of Colonel(TS)/Lieutenant Colonel/Major or equivalent.They are responsible for proper training, planning and execution of NCC activities.
Whole Time Lady Officers
A cadre of Whole Time Lady Officers(WTLO) with cadre strength 110 officers has been sanctioned in 1995.They are to be commissioned partly through departmental channel and partly through UPSC in a phased manner.
Associate NCC Officer
ANO is an important link in the NCC organization between the BN and the cadets. As amatter of fact, ANO is the feeder node of NCC since he / she is the one who is in direct contact with the cadets all throughout the year. There are two training establishments namely Officers Training Academy, Kamptee and Women Officers Training Academy, Gwalior. These two institutions train the school and college teachers selected to head the company/troop. Courses in these institutions range from 21 days to 90 days in duration.
Associate NCC Officers are given following ranks according to their seniority and their training.
- For colleges(in charge of SD & SW):
- Major
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- For schools(in charge of JD & JW (equivalent commissioned Officer)):
- Chief Officer
- 1st Officer
- 2nd Officer
- 3rd Officer
Uniform
Ncc dress out
Army cadets wear khaki uniform. Naval cadets wear white uniform of Navy. Air Force cadets wear light blue grey (LBG) uniform. The uniform is compulsory on all the occasions.
Cadets from SD boys Army wing wear khaki full sleeve shirt and trousers & cadets from JD wear khaki shirt & khaki shorts. Girl cadets from SW & JW both wear khaki full sleeve shirt and trousers. Cadets from SD boys Naval wing wear white half sleeve shirt and white trousers & JD boys wear half sleeve white shirt and white shorts. Girls from Naval wing SW & JW wear white half sleeve shirt and trousers. Cadets from SD boys Air wing wear light blue half sleeve shirts and trousers & JD cadets wear light blue half sleeve shirts and trousers. Girls from SW and JW wear light blue half sleeve shirts and trouser.
In addition to these SW & JW cadets wear white salwar and kamiz during activities other than parade. Rifle green beret is compulsory for all the cadets except Sikh cadets who wear rifle green turban. For physical training cadets wear brown canvas shoes and for drills black leather shoes called D.M.S (Drill March Shoes). Woolen vests are compulsory in cold areas whose colour varies khaki for army, dark blue for navy, and black for air. (Even NCC cadets wear INDIAN ARMY uniforms sometimes.)