National Cadet Corps (NCC) is one of the Flagship programmes under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It is a Tri-Services Organisation comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth - ‘The Leaders of Tomorrow’ - into disciplined and patriotic citizens. Genesis The genesis of the NCC can be traced back to the First World War when the Britishers created the University Corps as the second line of defense and to have a large pool of trained youth available for employment into the Armed Forces. After independence the present day NCC under the Ministry of Defence came into existence on 16 Apr 1948 through NCC act XXXI, 1948. NCC was formally inaugurated on 15 Jul 1948 as soon as the schools and colleges reopened after summer vacation. The Girls Division of the NCC was started in Jul 1949. In 1950 Air Wing was added on 01 Apr with one Air squadron each at Bombay and Kolkata. The Naval Wing of the NCC was raised in Jul 1952, thus completing the true representation of all services in the Corps. Aim To Create a Human Resource of Organized, Trained and Motivated Youth, To Provide Leadership in all Walks of life and be Always Available for the Service of the Nation. To Provide a Suitable Environment to Motivate the Youth to Take Up a Career in the Armed Forces. To Develop Character, Comradeship, Discipline, Leadership, Secular Outlook, Spirit of Adventure, and Ideals of Selfless Service amongst the Youth of the Country. NCC Organisation in brief The National Cadet Corpos is headed by a Director General, an Army Officer of the rank of Lieutanant General, who is responsible for the functioning of the National Cadet Corps in the country through the National Cadet Corps Headquarters situated at Delhi. At the State Level, the country has been divided into 16 Directorates covering all States and Union Territories. Each of the State National Cadet Corps Directorate Headquarters controls two to fourteen Group Headquarters. While Directorates are commanded by Brigadiers or their equivalents, the Groups are commanded by Colonels or equivalents from the Air Force and the Navy, NCC Units are commanded by Major/Lieutenant Colonel or their equivalents. Civilian Staff in NCC There are 91 Group HQs and 754 NCC Units spread all over India. The supporting Civilian Staff in various grades in these Group Headquarters and Units are provided by the respective State Governments. Enrollment in NCC Induction into the NCC is on the voluntary basis and students (both Boys and Girls) can join immediately on termination of the summer holidays. As per NCC Act and Rules, only citizen of India or subject of Nepal can be enrolled in the NCC. The age/Qualitative Requirement for Junior (Boys and Girls) and Senior (Boys and Girls) is as under:- Junior Boys and Girls should be between the age of 13 years to 18 and a half years-Class VIII to X. Senior Boys and Girls enrollment is carried out in Class X and 1st year of Graduation. The maximum age upto which a student can serve in NCC is up to 26 years. While elementary military training is given to school students (cadets of Junior Division), college students (cadets of the Senior Division) are trained as potential officers of the Army. Source : NCC portal