New Delhi: The scope of training at the National Cadet Corps (NCC) should be expanded to include space sciences, cyber expertise and drone applications, “to make cadets versatile”, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has said.
The committee, headed by BJP MP Jual Oram, presented its report titled ‘Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services)–New DPSUs, Defence Research and Development Organisation and National Cadet Corps’ in Parliament earlier this week.
In its report, the committee noted, “…in the opinion of the Committee, it is high time that the training module be expanded/modified to include cyber/computer expertise, laser expertise and space science.”
It also noted that cyber crimes are increasing in large proportions every year and trained cadets can be used for training the elderly and cyber illiterate population in proper use of cyber applications such as banking transactions etc.
“The IT skills should also include specific training on drone applications which is the need of the hour. It would not be out of place to recommend that if required, the NCC cadets should be attached with expert institutions to train them on all the new forms of training,” it added.
The panel asked the government to submit details of specific project/proposal, including details of additional funds that would be required for accomplishing this recommendation from next year onwards.
According to the report, during the year 2019-20, the total budgetary allocation for the NCC was Rs 1,631.92 crore while the actual expenditure was Rs 1,595.87 crore. Likewise, in 2020-21, as against the total outlay of Rs 1,688.60, the expenditure incurred was Rs 1,512.06.
“The committee note with glee that during the year 2021-22, the trend is reversed and NCC has spent Rs 1,685.63 crore, which is approximately Rs 35 crore more than the allocation of Rs 1,650.76 crore,” the report said.
The NCC — established under the NCC Act, 1948 — is the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world, with a cadet strength of 15,00,744 as of January 2023, the report noted. It has 17 state directorates covering 28 states and nine Union territories, and has 98 Group headquarters under which there are 825 units in the country, it added.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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