NCC plans trained cyber, drone, disaster warriors
In a unique method to use manpower and human resources of the country, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has planned to train one lakh cadets as first responders - Yuva Apda Mitras -in the wake of natural disasters and also raise a unit of 'Cyber Warriors' to act as shield towards India's digital defence mechanism.
Not only this, NCC has simultaneously started work on raising four to five hubs across the country where select cadets can be trained on drone and counter-drone aspects. Announcing this initiative, Director General, NCC, Lt Gen Virendra Vats said these will be integrated with the national database. "The idea is to raise cadets who are disciplined, have leadership qualities and possess a spirit of adventure," Vats said during a press conference on the NCC's Republic Day Camp 2026 that began on December 30 at the Cariappa Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment.
Sources said the NCC is holding regular deliberations with the NDRF as well as with SDRF for better coordination for Yuva Apda Mitra and with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and its various arms like C-DAC, NIC and some of the private agencies related to working out a modus operandi for the Cyber Warriors. The NCC boss made a PowerPoint presentation outlining various future plans of the NCC.
In coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the NCC has planned to train as many as one lakh cadets as "first responders" in the wake of any natural disaster, he said. These cadets will be known as Yuva Apda Mitras, and they will be trained and linked with the national database, so that the services can be used by the nation in case of need in future, Lt Gen Vats said.
Furthermore, work is also in progress under a plan to raise 10,000 cadets as 'cyber warriors', "who can stand as a wall of digital defence, as today, the cyber domain is getting weaponised," he told reporters. Vats also announced that for the "first time, parade and contingent commanders of the NCC will march carrying a sword during the 2026 Republic Day Parade, "at par" with the members of military contingents.
A total of 2,406 NCC cadets, including 898 girls, from across the country are participating in the annual camp this year. More than 200 cadets from over 20 friendly foreign countries, including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malaysia, are also taking part.
Lt Gen Vats, in response to a query, said the NCC plans to increase its strength from 17 lakh to 20 lakh in a phased manner, and "we plan to achieve it by 2028". Girls cadets form 40 per cent of the total current strength, he added.
