Taking a cue from Gujarat, the Centre will introduce National Cadet Corps (NCC) as an elective subject in university education from the academic year 2013-14. So far NCC is an extracurricular activity in schools and colleges.
In order to to inculcate discipline among students, the authorities have now decided to allow them to opt for NCC as a separate subject just like Math, Physics, History or Home Science. NCC will be introduced as an elective subject with credit points at selected educational institutions and autonomous colleges across the country.
HRD Ministry has taken note of the success of the NCC education at Sardar Patel University ( Gujarat) and decided to include it as a serious educational subject in colleges.
Initially NCC as a subject will be introduced at 420 autonomous institutions and at least 30 UGC recognized universities. The course has been undertaken by the joint efforts of HRD Ministry and Home Ministry through the Director General NCC. The UGC, State Higher Education Secretaries, autonomous and affiliated colleges, the Vice-Chancellors of universities and principals of several colleges have been informed already by the HRD Ministry and they have committed to introduce NCC in their course curricula from the forthcoming academic year.
“We have got a positive feedback from Sardar Patel University in Gujarat. They introduced NCC in their syllabus three years ago. In fact, a college under Madurai Kamraj University too introduced this as an elective subject. The university and students are happy to opt this as a serious elective subject,” added the official.
The HRD Ministry aims to create an ambience with focus on citizenship, patriotism and much needed social and moral obligation of a person coupled with a sense of responsibility to address the need of the nation and public and private property of the nation. The syllabi is likely content lessons on arms and ammunition training, environment and ecology, conventional energy resources, etc and last but not least physical education which will be taught/trained during the college hours rather than on extra time or on weekends.