NCC Plans To Train 1 Lakh Cadets As First Responders For Natural Disasters
NCC DG, Lt-Gen Virendra Vats, said NCC is also working to raise 10,000 cadets as cyber warriors, as the cyber domain is getting weaponised.
Published : January 3, 2026 at 1:20 PM IST
New Delhi: The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has plans to train as many as 1 lakh cadets as first responders in the wake of natural disasters, NCC Director-General (DG), Lt-Gen Virendra Vats said on Saturday. The cadets will be known as Yuva Apda Mitras, and they will be trained and linked with the national database, so that the services can be used by the nation in case of need in future, Vats said while addressing a press conference at Delhi Cantonment.
The NCC has also started work on raising 4-5 hubs across the country, where select cadets can be trained on drone and counter-drone aspects, he said. Furthermore, work is also in progress under a plan to raise 10,000 cadets as 'cyber warriors', "who can stand as a wall of digital defence, as today, the cyber domain is getting weaponised", the NCC DG told reporters.
They will be integrated with the national database, too, Vats added. At the press conference, Vats also announced that for the first time, for the National Cadet Corps (NCC), its parade and contingent commanders will march carrying a sword during the 2026 Republic Day Parade.
Up to 2,406 NCC cadets, including 898 girls, from across the country are participating in the National Cadet Corps' Republic Day Camp 2026 that began on December 30 at the Cariappa Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment.
Experts React To NCC's Plans
Reacting to the development, former National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt-Gen Rajesh Pant told ETV Bharat that cyber operations today depend heavily on scale. The larger the number of trained cyber warriors, the stronger both cyber defence and cyber offence capabilities become. With millions of IP addresses to monitor, identify vulnerabilities and prevent attacks, manpower is critical.
"Equally important is cyber awareness, educating citizens on software updates, multi-factor authentication and data protection. A trained cyber warrior not only defends systems, but also spreads digital hygiene at the grassroots level. The NCC can play an important role in training such individuals, who after completing their training will become valuable assets to society in dealing with cyber warfare and cyber threats," said Pant.
Cyber expert Pawan Duggal said cybercrime has been steadily on the rise since the Covid years, and is now in its most dangerous phase. The scale, speed and sophistication of digital crimes have grown far beyond what we were prepared for. "To push back, we need more than just technology. We need people, and skilled, alert and trained human resources can be our strongest defence," he said.
'An Urgent National Necessity'
Duggal also said training young people through platforms like the NCC can play a decisive role. Echoing Pant, he said, "The more students and youth we equip with basic cyber awareness, discipline and technical skills, the stronger our collective response will be. This is not just about security; it is about building an empowered and responsible digital population. Given the scale of the challenge, this is no longer optional, but an urgent national necessity. The sooner such initiatives are rolled out, the faster their benefits will reach society at large," he added.
Duggal also said that it is equally important to update India’s legal framework. The country’s primary IT law, the Information Technology Act, 2000, is more than 25 years old, and no longer reflects today’s digital realities. "Cybercrime requires a dedicated and modern law that clearly defines offences, strengthens enforcement and keeps pace with evolving threats. Without timely legal reform, the ability to tackle such crimes will remain limited. Strengthening the law is essential if India is serious about protecting its citizens in an increasingly digital world," he added.
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