Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi visited the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp (RDC) 2026 at Cariappa Parade Camp in Delhi Cantonment on Wednesday. During his visit, he interacted with cadets selected for the national event and, along with AWWA President Sunita Dwivedi, welcomed them at Army House. The Army Chief praised the NCC for promoting national unity and social cohesion, emphasizing discipline, perseverance, hard work, and leadership as key to character and excellence.

General Dwivedi also engaged with high-achieving cadets, sharing lessons from his own journey and encouraging them to embrace India’s timeless values. Cadets had the chance to meet gallantry awardees and sports personalities, including Subedar Major and Honorary Lieutenant Sanjay Kumar, Olympian Hokato Sema, and Olympian Jasminie, according to the Indian Army’s X post.

The month-long RDC, which began on December 30 with the traditional “Sarv Dham Pooja,” features competitions such as the Best Cadet Competition, Small Arms Firing, Flag Area Designing, and selection of the Republic Day Parade marching contingent. This year, the camp saw record participation with 2,406 cadets, including 898 girls, from 28 states and eight Union Territories, along with cadets and officers from 25 friendly foreign countries under the Youth Exchange Programme.

Director General NCC, Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, congratulated the cadets on their selection, urging them to uphold the highest standards of character, integrity, service, and teamwork, transcending religion, language, and caste. True to its motto, “Unity and Discipline,” the RDC provides cadets nationwide with training, cultural exchange, and opportunities to develop patriotism, leadership, and discipline.