NCC Republic Day Camp 2026 Kicks Off with a Grand Inauguration
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp (RDC) 2026 began on a festive and ceremonial note at the DG NCC Camp in Delhi Cantt. The camp this year has drawn an impressive crowd of 2,406 cadets, which includes 127 cadets from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, along with 131 participants from the North East Region. Additionally, cadets and officers from 25 friendly foreign nations will enrich the experience through the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP).
In a speech celebrating the NCC’s 77 years of dedicated service, Lt Gen Virendra Vats, the Director General of NCC, highlighted the significance of the Republic Day Camp as a crucial venue for cadets to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and traditions of India. This exposure includes participation in numerous events leading up to Republic Day in the National Capital.
Addressing the media, Gen Vats emphasized the increasing footprint of NCC units across more than 90% of the districts in the country. The number of NCC cadets has grown remarkably, expanding from 20,000 at its inception in 1948 to nearly 2 million today, with 40% of them being girls. He discussed how the NCC instills character and discipline among youth through various training camps, revealing that in 2025 alone, the NCC conducted 1,665 Annual Training Camps, 6 Special National Integration Camps, and 33 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Camps aimed at fostering unity among cadets from diverse regions.
Moreover, Gen Vats shared highlights of several significant programs and initiatives conducted by the NCC. These include a Special Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Everest and Operation Sindoor, which enlisted around 75,000 cadets to assist civil administration and provide medical support, including voluntary blood donation efforts. Their outreach also touched border areas under the Vibrant Villages Programme, where they planted 8 lakh trees as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ initiative and engaged over 4 lakh cadets in a youth leaders dialogue quiz.
In celebration of the International Day of Yoga, more than 8 lakh cadets participated in various activities. Other notable efforts included over 50,000 cadets joining the Swachhotsav, while 6 lakh cadets commemorated the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram.” The NCC has also introduced drone flying training through Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) and organized Skill Manthan workshops for 3,000 cadets.
Looking forward, Gen Vats announced ongoing expeditions, including a Special Sailing Expedition around 21 uninhabited islands of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, dedicated to Param Veer Chakra awardees. Two Cycling Expeditions are also underway, commemorating the legacies of social reformers Veer Birsa Munda and Peshwa Bajirao. The Ministry of Home Affairs has nominated approximately 94,400 NCC cadets from 315 districts to receive training in disaster management under the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme by March 2026.
The RDC 2026 is set to draw many dignitaries, including the Vice President, Defence Minister, Chief Minister of Delhi, and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces. The activities will culminate in the Prime Minister’s Rally scheduled for January 28, 2025.
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