Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan has called for stronger support to the National Cadet Corps and Sainik Schools after a briefing by Defence Ministry officials at Uprashtrapati Bhavan.

The official release said Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth and senior Ministry of Defence officers briefed the Vice President on NCC and Sainik Schools. The discussion covered youth development, national unity and community service.

The Vice President appreciated the NCC's contribution and described Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat camps as useful for strengthening national integration. He also noted NCC participation in Nasha Mukt Bharat and Swachh Bharat activities.

The education value of NCC and Sainik Schools lies in their combination of discipline, public service, physical training, leadership exposure and civic identity. For students from smaller towns and rural backgrounds, these institutions can widen confidence and access to national-level opportunities.

The release also said the Vice President welcomed the NCC alumni association and described the strengthening of NCC as a shared national responsibility. He asked for better coordination with states on infrastructure and training land.

Delivery question

The main delivery question is whether expansion is matched by instructors, safe training grounds, equipment, accommodation and inclusive access for students who cannot afford extra costs. Youth programmes work best when they are not limited to ceremonial visibility.

For the education beat, the briefing matters because it places NCC and Sainik Schools inside a wider public policy question: how India prepares young people for service, leadership, discipline and citizenship without narrowing education to exams alone.

State governments have a direct role because land, local infrastructure and school-level coordination determine how far the programmes can reach. Without state support, national plans can remain limited to existing centres and already privileged students.

The alumni association can become useful if it supports mentoring, career guidance and community-service projects. Former cadets and Sainik School graduates can help younger students understand public service, defence careers and leadership beyond classroom lectures.

The quality of expansion should be judged by student outcomes: participation of girls, rural access, safety, trained instructors, physical fitness, scholarship support and whether the programmes build confidence without excluding academically weaker students.

Source: release dated 13 July 2026, Release ID 2284144.