Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: A contingent of 127 NCC cadets from Odisha have been selected to participate in the Republic Day Camp (RDC) in New Delhi, scheduled from December 27, 2025, to January 29, 2026. The cadets will represent the state at the Republic Day Parade and the NCC Prime Minister’s Rally, officials said on Saturday.

Selection and Composition
The contingent was chosen from nearly 64,000 NCC cadets across Odisha. Of the 127 selected, 80 are boys and 47 are girls. The majority—112 cadets—belong to the college NCC wing, while 15 cadets represent the school wing. The group, accompanied by 10 supporting staff, departed for New Delhi after completing a month-long intensive training camp at Nabarangpur.

Minister’s Encouragement
Before their departure, the cadets interacted with Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who lauded their discipline, dedication, and commitment to national unity. He expressed pride that Odisha’s cadets would showcase the state’s spirit at a national platform and hoped the RDC experience would be enriching and memorable. Suraj also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand NCC participation in Odisha, particularly by enhancing women’s involvement and establishing dedicated women’s battalions.

NCC Leadership’s Perspective
Deputy Director General of Odisha NCC Directorate, Commodore Vikram Singh, presented an overview of NCC activities in the state and acknowledged the Higher Education Department’s initiatives to strengthen the organisation. He emphasised the importance of motivating cadets to contribute to national integrity and leadership.

The event was attended by Director of Higher Education Department Kali Prasanna Mahapatra, Utkal University Vice-Chancellor Yajneshwar Dandapat, and Group Captain Debashish Mangaraj.