“Being honoured is not a small task. You have achieved one of the biggest achievements ever if you are honoured.” Getting honoured for something you have achieved is a great feeling, but yes it doesn’t define who you are and what you are or you are not capable of doing. But it sure does boost your confidence to achieve more, it motivates you to not just settle there but to keep moving.
NCC motivates its members (the cadets, the ANOs, the PI Staff and all other members of NCC) by awarding them based on their achievements in a particular field in NCC. The award winners are announced on NCC Day and they are awarded during the RDC Camp. There are basically four awards by which NCC personnel are honoured :-
Raksha Mantri Padak or Defence Minister’s Medal:-
This is the highest award in NCC and was first established in 1989 to award brave, devoted to duty and courageous NCC personnel including the cadets. It is awarded every year to the deserving NCC personnel by the Defence Minister of India. Awarding ceremony takes place during the Republic Day Camp at Delhi.
Two NCC personnel are selected every year for this award, who are also awarded with a prize money of Rs. 30,000 each which earlier was Rs. 20,000 each.
One extraordinary example of this award takes us back to a few years ago when it was awarded to 10 NCC Girl Cadets and one Girls Cadet instructor who had successfully summited Mount Everest.
Raksha Mantri Prashashna Patra or Defence Minister’s Commendation Card:-
This is the second highest award in NCC and it is awarded by The Defence Minister of India. This was awarded to the NCC personnel for their extraordinary leadership, bravery and devotion of duty. Awarding ceremony takes place during the Republic Day Camp at Delhi.
Four NCC personnel are selected every year for this honour, who are also awarded with the cash prize of Rs. 20,000 each which used to be Rs. 15,000 each.
Raksha Sachiv Prashashna Patra or Defence Secretary’s Commendation Card :-
As the name suggests, this award is awarded by The Defence Secretary of India.
To the NCC personnel for their extraordinary achievements in the field of sports, social and cultural activities.
Ten NCC personnel are selected every year for this award and are given a prize money worth Rs. 12,000 which was earlier Rs. 10,000.
NCC Mahanideshak Prashashna Patra or DG NCC Commendation Card:-
This award is given by the DG NCC to the most deserving NCC personnel and their extraordinary achievements in the field of adventure sports, cultural and social activities.
NCC Whole Time and Part Time Officers, UOIs, SMIs and NCC Cadets are eligible for this award. Apart from this Civilians of central and state Govt. posted in NCC are also eligible for this award based on their outstanding, distinguished, dedication and devotion to work for NCC in the period of five years.
Some new amendments in the number of awards and the cash prize has been approved by the current Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh.
- Number of awards given to cadets has been increased from 143 to 243.
- The Defence Minister has also approved 9 new Best Cadet Awards in various categories taking the total number of this award to 27.
- The incentive of increasing the number of awards and the prize money is to motivate more cadets to join the NCC.
| S. No. | Award | Existing Amount & Nos | Approved Amount & Nos | Existing Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raksha Mantri Padak | Rs.20, 000×1= Rs.20, 000. | Rs.30,000×2= Rs.60,000. | Two NCC Personnel |
| 2 | Raksha Mantri Commendation | Rs.15, 000×3= Rs.45, 000. | Rs.20,000×4= Rs.80,000. | Four NCC Personnel |
| 3 | Defence Secretary Commendation | Rs.10, 000×10= Rs.1,00,000. | Rs.12,000×10= Rs.1,20,000. | Ten NCC Personnel |
| 4 | DG’s Commendation | Rs.2000×102= Rs.2,04,000. | Rs.2500×200= Rs.5,00,000. | Two Hundred NCC Personnel |
| TOTAL | Rs.3,69,000. | Rs.7,60,000. |
“Jai Hind “
