LUCKNOW, 25 NOV 2024
The Anniversary of Raising of NCC was celebrated at Lt Puneet Datt Auditorium in Lucknow Cantonment on 24 Nov 2024. Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command was the Chief Guest. On arrival, he was given the Guard of Honour by NCC cadets. This was followed by a cultural programme which brought out the unique national strength of “Unity in Diversity”.
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta felicitated the meritorious NCC Cadets and Staff of the State. Six cadets were awarded the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal and six other cadets were awarded the Chief Minister’s Silver Medal. Two ANOs (one male and one female) were awarded the Best ANO award. Col Punit Srivastav, Commanding Officer 67 UP NCC Battalion, Sub Maj Bhupender Singh of 64 UP NCC Battalion & Hav Shobh Nath Yadav of 67 UP NCC Battalion were awarded Central Command GOC-in-C Commendation Card for their contribution to NCC.
Maj Gen Vikram Kumar, Additional Director General of NCC Directorate, Uttar Pradesh then brought out the initiatives undertaken to take NCC to higher levels of excellence. He brought out that NCC is undergoing expansion. Under the immediate Expansion Plan, 7200 cadets are being enrolled in 10 Battalions of Uttar Pradesh Directorate. He also brought out that the UP Directorate plans to conduct a Mega Cyclothon titled SANGRAM-1857 from 01st Jan 2025 to 28th Jan 2025, to commemorate the “First War of Independence” which commenced on 10 May 1857. He highlighted the accomplishments of 72 Naval wing cadets of UP Directorate who participated in Special Sailing Expedition along river Ganga, covering a distance of 600 kms from Kanpur to Buxar in Bihar via Prayagraj and Varanasi.
It also emerged that over the years, NCC has played a stellar role in the development of the youth of our nation and is dedicated to the empowerment of the youth including girl child in our nation building. The yeoman service that it has performed in promoting qualities of character, discipline, leadership and secular outlook is indisputable.
Maj Gen Vikram Kumar also stressed on how the NCC is working and training the cadets with the aim of developing character, comradeship, discipline, leadership, secular outlook, spirit of adventure and the ideals of selfless service amongst the youth of the country. It endeavours to provide an environment to motivate the youth to take up a career in Armed Forces, create a human resource of organized, trained and motivated youth, to provide leadership in all walks of life and always be available in the service of the nation.
This was followed by an encouraging and heartwarming speech by Lt Gen A Sengupta, in which he acknowledged the steps being taken to promote expansion of NCC and assured continued support to the endeavours of the Uttar Pradesh Directorate. He also encouraged the youth to strive to achieve excellence and reminded them of their role in nation building.
A display of weapon, equipment, models of aircraft and ships was also held. The NCC Day celebrations then concluded with Group photographs leaving one all mesmerised with a feeling of joy, pride and nationalism.
NCC was raised in the year 1948 with the motto “Unity & Discipline”.
SHANTANU/DWARIKA/128/2024
