Lucknow : Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Director General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), arrived in Lucknow on a two-day visit to review the activities of the Uttar Pradesh NCC Directorate and its units based in the city.
Accompanied by Major General Vikram Kumar, Additional Director General of the UP NCC Directorate, Lt Gen Singh visited the largest NCC directorate in the country. The UP Directorate comprises 11 NCC Groups and 110 NCC Battalions, covering all 76 districts of the state with an enrolled strength of approximately 1.64 lakh cadets.
Under the NCC Expansion Plan approved by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the UP Directorate is set to enroll an additional 28,703 cadets over the next two years, pushing the total cadet strength beyond 2 lakh.
Lt Gen Singh began his visit with a detailed briefing at the UP NCC Directorate Headquarters, where Major General Kumar presented a comprehensive overview of the activities and achievements of the directorate for the training year 2024-25.
The Director General praised the remarkable efforts of the UP NCC and acknowledged their role in organizing the “Sangram 1857” cycle rally—a 2,025 km ride commemorating the 76th Republic Day and aimed at spreading awareness about the First War of Independence of 1857.
He also lauded the directorate’s contributions in the special sailing expedition from Kanpur to Buxar and the support extended to civil administration during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
During his visit, Lt Gen Singh inaugurated the newly renovated Captain Manoj Pandey, PVC Hall, and paid homage at the memorial dedicated to the Param Vir Chakra awardee and distinguished UP NCC alumnus, Captain Manoj Pandey (posthumously).
In the afternoon, the DG NCC honored outstanding NCC officers and cadets by presenting two DG Commendation Certificates, six medals, and six plaques for exemplary performance. He also interacted with cadets and staff of the Lucknow NCC Group during a high tea session.
Lt Gen Singh is scheduled to visit the Lucknow NCC Group Headquarters and the 67 UP Battalion NCC tomorrow as part of the second day of his visit.
