The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi 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. 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.
He highlighted that the journey of the NCC began even before the country’s Constitution.
Shri Modi shared 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.
PM Modi Congratulates the Armed Forces
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 young men-women 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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
Shri Modi underscored that the 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 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. 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” (Five Pledges) 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.
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 Defense, 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 the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Director General of NCC, Lt. Gen. Gurbirpal Singh, and Defense Secretary, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh were present on the occasion among others.
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’.
Participation by 144 young cadets from 18 friendly foreign countries added fervor 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.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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