PMINDIA

The NCC has constantly inspired the youth of India towards nation-building: PM

India’s youth are a force for global good: PM

In the last 10 years, we have worked towards removing many obstacles faced by the youth in India, This has enhanced the potential of India’s youth: PM

In this Amrit Kaal, We have to keep only one goal in mind – Viksit Bharat, the criterion for every decision of ours, for every action of ours should be that of Viksit Bharat: PM

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) PM rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi. Shri Modi witnessed a cultural program and presented the Best Cadet Awards. Greeting the gathering on the occasion of NCC Day, the Prime Minister said there were around 150 cadets from the 18 friendly nations and welcomed them. He congratulated the youth from across India who had joined virtually through the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal.

“Being selected for the Republic Day Parade is an achievement in itself”, said the PM addressing the cadets. He added that this year’s Republic Day was special as India completed 75 years as a Republic. He further said that these memories will last a lifetime and the cadets would feel proud to have been a part of the momentous occasion. He congratulated the cadets who had won the awards. Remarking that he had the opportunity to flag off several campaigns of the NCC today, the Prime Minister said that such campaigns connect the heritage of India with the aspirations of the youth. He extended his best wishes to all the cadets involved in the campaigns.

Shri Modi noted that the NCC was established around the same time as India’s independence. He highlighted that the journey of the NCC began even before the country’s Constitution. Shri Modi said that over 75 years of the Republic, the Constitution has inspired democracy and emphasized the importance of civic duties. Similarly, the NCC has inspired the youth of India in nation-building and taught them the importance of discipline. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the government has worked extensively to expand the scope and responsibilities of the NCC in recent years. He noted that the NCC has been extended to border areas and coastal districts, with over 170 border talukas and nearly 100 coastal talukas now having NCC presence. Shri Modi congratulated the three armed forces for taking on the responsibility of specially training young NCC cadets in these districts. He highlighted that this initiative has benefited thousands of youth living in border areas. Noting that the reforms in the NCC are evident in the increased number of cadets, Shri Modi said that in 2014, there were approximately 14 lakh NCC cadets, and today the number has reached 20 lakh, with over 8 lakh girl cadets. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that NCC cadets play a crucial role in disaster management and are excelling in the world of sports. He expressed pride that the NCC is the largest uniformed youth organization in the world.

The Prime Minister remarked that the youth of India will determine the development of the country and the world in the 21st century. He emphasized that “Indian youth are not only contributing to India’s development but are also a force for global good”. Citing a recently published report in newspapers, which revealed that in the past decade, Indian youth have created 1.5 lakh startups and over 100 unicorns, the Prime Minister noted that more than 200 major global companies are led by people of Indian origin, contributing trillions of rupees to the global GDP and helping improve the lives of millions. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that Indian scientists, researchers, and teachers are accelerating global progress. He stated that in any sector, imagining the future of the world without the talent and strength of India’s youth is difficult and this is why he refers to them as a ‘force for global good’.

Underlining that the strength of an individual or a country increases when unnecessary obstacles are overcome, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that in the past 10 years, many barriers faced by the youth in India have been removed, enhancing the capabilities of both the youth and the nation. He noted that in 2014, many of the youth were around 10-12 years old and should ask their families about the conditions back then. The Prime Minister provided an example of document attestation, where previously, documents had to be attested by a gazetted officer for admissions, exams, and recruitments, causing significant hassle. He highlighted that the Government had resolved this issue, allowing self-attestation of documents now. He also mentioned the difficulties faced by youth in applying for and receiving scholarships, with many issues in the disbursement of scholarship funds. He highlighted that the introduction of a single-window system has eliminated these old problems. Pointing out another major issue related to subject selection, Shri Modi said that earlier, once a subject was chosen after board exams, changing it was difficult, however now the new National Education Policy provided the flexibility to change subjects as per one’s preference.

Noting that a decade ago, it was difficult for young people to get bank loans easily as the banks would ask for guarantees before providing loans, Shri Modi said that when he became the Prime Minister in 2014, he assured that he would take responsibility for the youth of the country. He added that the government introduced the Mudra Yojana, which provided loans without bank guarantees. Delving further into the scheme, the Prime Minister noted that initially, loans up to ₹10 lakh were given without guarantees, and in the Government’s third term, this limit has been increased to ₹20 lakh. He highlighted that over the past 10 years, more than ₹40 lakh crore has been disbursed under the Mudra Yojana, helping millions of young people start their businesses.

Highlighting the importance of the electoral system for the future of the youth, Shri Modi noted that two days ago, National Voters Day was celebrated, and many young people became first-time voters. He added that the purpose of Voter’s Day was to encourage maximum voter participation. The Prime Minister highlighted that while India conducts the world’s largest elections, frequent elections every few months pose challenges. He explained that initially, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections were held together, but this pattern changed, causing significant issues for the country. Shri Modi underscored that frequent elections required updating voter lists and involved many tasks, often affecting teachers’ duties, studies, and exam preparations. He added that repeated elections also created governance difficulties and therefore, the country was currently debating the concept of “One Nation, One Election.” Prime Minister Modi urged the youth of India to actively participate in this debate, as it directly impacts their future. He mentioned that in countries like the United States, the date for forming a new government is fixed, and elections are held every four years. Similarly, he said, in colleges or schools, student council elections are completed in one go. He encouraged the youth to think about the impact of having elections every month on their studies and to engage in the “One Nation, One Election” debate.

Remarking that the 21st-century world is changing rapidly, and it is essential to keep pace with this change, Shri Modi emphasized the significant role of the youth in this transformation. He added that in every sector, be it art, research, or innovation, the youth must bring new energy through their innovative ideas and creativity. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of politics as another crucial field and encouraged the youth to enter politics with new suggestions and innovative ideas, stating that this is the need of the hour. He reiterated his call from the Red Fort for one lakh youth to join politics. Prime Minister Modi noted the strength of the youth, as seen during the “Viksit Bharat: Young Leaders Dialogue.” He mentioned that millions of young people across the country had provided invaluable suggestions and expressed their ideas for building a developed India.

The Prime Minister remarked that during the freedom struggle, people from every profession had a single goal – India’s independence. Similarly, he added that in this Amrit Kaal, our sole objective should be a developed India. He emphasized that every decision and action should be measured against this goal. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of remembering the Panch Pran: building a developed India, freeing ourselves from the mindset of slavery, taking pride in our heritage, working for the unity of India, and fulfilling our duties with honesty. He stated that these Panch Pran will guide and inspire every Indian. Shri Modi praised the cultural performance which he witnessed earlier at the event, noting that it reflected the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat”, which is a significant strength of the country. He mentioned that the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayag also symbolizes the unity of the nation, calling it a “Kumbh of Unity.” He emphasized that this unity is essential for the country’s progress.

Emphasizing the importance of always remembering one’s duties, the Prime Minister remarked that the foundation of a grand and divine developed India will be built on the basis of duties. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister recalled some lines he had written to motivate the cadets and youth of the nation and extended his heartfelt wishes for a bright future to everyone.

Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Director General of NCC, Lt. Gen. Gurbirpal Singh, and Defence Secretary, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh were present on the occasion among others.

Background

A total of 2361 NCC cadets participated in the Republic Day Camp this year which included 917 girl cadets, which was the highest ever participation by girls cadets. The participation of these cadets in the PM Rally will mark the successful culmination of the month-long NCC Republic Day Camp 2025 at New Delhi. Theme for this year’s NCC PM Rally is ‘Yuva Shakti, Viksit Bharat’.

A cultural programme by more than 800 cadets showcasing commitment of NCC towards nation building was performed on the day. Participation by 144 young cadets from 18 friendly foreign countries added fervour to this year’s Rally.

More than 650 volunteers from Mera Yuva (MY) Bharat, Education Ministry and Tribal Affairs from across the nation also attended the NCC PM Rally as special guests.