The National Cadet Corps (Hindi: राष्ट्रीय कैडेट कोर) is the Indian military cadet corps with its head Quarters at New Delhi. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis. The National Cadet Corps in India is a voluntary organization which recruits cadets from high schools, colleges and Universities all over India. The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and para
des. 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. The NCC in India was formed with the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948. 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 times. A committee headed by Pandit 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. During the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, NCC cadets were the second line of defense. They organized camps to assist the ordnance factories, supplying arms and ammunition to the front, and also were used as patrol parties to capture the enemy paratroopers. The N.C.C cadets also worked hand in hand with the Civil Defense authorities and actively took part in rescue work and traffic control. After the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars the N.C.C syllabus was revised. Rather than just being the second line of defense, N.C.C syllabus laid a greater stress on developing qualities 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.
