Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the newly constructed NCC Academy Complex at Pasighat in East Siang district, calling for greater focus on discipline, leadership, physical fitness and a spirit of service among the state’s youth.
Speaking at the inauguration, Khandu said the NCC Academy, the Chief Minister’s Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme and an upcoming Indian Army-led mentorship programme would together create a stronger ecosystem to prepare Arunachal’s youth for leadership roles and careers in the Armed Forces.
He said the youth are the state’s greatest strength and stressed that education and employment opportunities must be accompanied by character-building and values of discipline, responsibility and service.
The Chief Minister said the Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme has been launched to encourage more Arunachali youth to join the Armed Forces as officers. Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided to students from Arunachal Pradesh studying at eight notified Sainik Schools and the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun.
He also announced that an Indian Army-led officer-level coaching-cum-mentorship programme for Arunachal students would begin soon. The programme will guide students aspiring to join Sainik and Military Schools and eventually pursue careers as officers in the Armed Forces.
Khandu said the three initiatives would complement each other by providing opportunities in military education, leadership development and national service.
Urging NCC cadets to look beyond conventional career choices, the Chief Minister encouraged them to aspire to leadership positions in the Armed Forces.
He said Arunachal Pradesh, as a strategically important frontier state, would particularly benefit from a stronger NCC network. He expressed confidence that the Pasighat academy would develop into a major training centre for NCC cadets from Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast.
Khandu also highlighted the need for responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media among young people.
He said AI could create significant opportunities in education, employment and communication, but its limitations must also be understood. He urged youngsters to use technology responsibly and social media positively while remaining alert to misinformation and cyber risks.
The Chief Minister stressed that NCC training, with its emphasis on discipline and critical thinking, was particularly relevant in the digital age. He said technology should help young people realise their potential rather than distract them from education, physical fitness, personal development and social responsibility.
Emphasising the role of youth in nation-building, Khandu said the development of a developed India was closely linked to the development of Arunachal Pradesh and its young population.
He said the state government would continue to expand opportunities for youth in education, sports, skill development, entrepreneurship and leadership, while encouraging them to explore careers in the Armed Forces and other national services.
Khandu congratulated the NCC authorities, government departments and agencies involved in establishing the academy and expressed confidence that it would emerge as a centre of excellence for youth development.
He also urged parents, educational institutions and society to encourage more young people to join the NCC and benefit from its training, discipline and values.
-PTI
