LEH: Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, Director General National Cadet Corps (DGNCC), continued his visit to UT of Ladakh, where he interacted with staff of 1 Ladakh NCC Bn and NCC cadets of Ladakh.

This visit marks a significant step towards strengthening the collaboration between the NCC and Ladakh University for the holistic development of cadets.

Lt Gen Gurbirpal was accompanied by Major Gen RK Sachdeva, the Additional Director General (ADG) of NCC Directorate JK&L.

The DGNCC's first stop was the 1 Ladakh NCC Battalion in Leh, where he was warmly received by Brigadier KS Kalsi, the NCC Group Commander of the NCC Group Srinagar, and Lieutenant Colonel HS Dhanoa, Commanding Officer of 1 Ladakh Battalion.

On his arrival, the DG NCC was greeted with an impressive guard of honour presented by selected NCC Cadets. Subsequently, Lt. Gen Gurbirpal received a detailed briefing from the Commanding Officer about the battalion's activities in Ladakh.

He expressed his satisfaction with the high standards of NCC training activities in the region and commended the dedication of the cadets and officers, especially in the challenging weather and highaltitude conditions.

The NCC DG also learned about NCC cadets selected for the Agnipath Scheme, expressing his encouragement for more cadets to benefit from this initiative. Later, Lt Gen Gurbirpal arrived at EJM College in Leh, where he was greeted by enthusiastic NCC cadets in a traditional style.

The cadets showcased an array of cultural dances from selected schools and colleges in Kargil and Leh. They also shared their experiences of how the NCC program has contributed to their personal growth, discipline, and confidence.

As a mark of recognition and motivation, commendation cards and medallions were presented to deserving cadets and Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) of Ladakh.

Later, in an interactive session, the DG NCC provided valuable insights on motivation, personal discipline, and national service to the cadets. The DG engaged in a discussion with ANOs and cadets on various NCC-related matters.

The event was graced by Ravinder Kumar, Secretary of the YSS Department, Government of UT Ladakh, and several school and college Principals.

Earlier, the NCC DG met with Prof SK Mehta, the Vice Chancellor of Ladakh University, to explore avenues for collaboration between the NCC and the university. The focus was on academic and leadership development programs for NCC cadets.