New Delhi: M M Pallam Raju, the Cabinet Minister of India for Human Resources Development (HRD), has announced that National Cadet Corps (NCC) will be counted as an elective subject with credit points in selected education institutions (autonomous colleges). The proposed elective subject would be made effective in such institutions from the upcoming academic year 2013-14. The announcement was made by the minister during the inaugural function of NCC workshop, recently held in the national capital.
In addition, he said that educational institution including professional colleges must offer credit to the students with NCC background during admission to their colleges. Considering NCC and sports a strong counter distraction for youth in campuses, he aksed apex educational bodies such as AICTE, UGC and CBSE to consider to include NCC in their curriculum as well. Presently, there are about 400 autonomous colleges and 700 universities in India.
Later, discussing about the significance of NCC training, he said that he was a cadet during his school and college time and it was the time when he learnt the values of bonding. Mentioning the importance of uniform, he added that a uniform brings values among the youth, specifically belonging to the rural areas. Thus, NCC should not only be considered as extra-curriculum activity but a process through which youth can imbibe values that are requisite for making a better society.
Adding more, Shri Ashok Thakur, the Secretary, Higher Education, who was also present at the event said that, NCC needs to be re-branded and should be main streamed with education system of India. Affirming HRD minister’s declaration, he further informed that NCC will be introduced as an elective subject in selected Autonomous Colleges in 2013-14, whereas, the same will be incepted in universities from 2014-15. Explaining the reason behind the one year delay he said that, in case of Universities, they need to get will be able to get required nod from their statutory bodies.
The NCC Workshop was attended by the concerned Principals of the Autonomous Colleges, Vice Chancellors of the affiliating universities, Higher Education Secretaries of the concerned State Government and the officers of UGC / Ministry of HRD and Defence.
