Joining hands with the Indian Army, the University of Kashmir on Tuesday issued notification to introduce “NCC as a General Elective Credit Course under the Choice Based Credit System” based on Guidelines issued by University Grants Commission (UGC).

This single step would directly benefit the growing Army of NCC cadets enrolled across 24 colleges affiliated with the University of Kashmir. 

More than  1,800 youth are enrolled as NCC cadets in different colleges of Kashmir valley.

This is seen as a major development  not at a policy level but is also going to yield fruitful results as regards countering the propaganda of the Pakistan based handlers who utilise every single opportunity to rope in vulnerable students in the ranks of terrorist outfits to keep the terror pot boiling.

According to Defence spokesman Lt-Col Devender Anand, "the Issue of notification  was a result of joint efforts put in by Brigadier Kapil Sood, Group Commander, NCC Group Headquarter, Srinagar and Col P Bhowmik, Commanding Officer, 1 J&K Girls Battalion NCC, Srinagar under overall guidance of Maj Gen Ranjan Mahajan, Additional Director General, NCC JK&L Directorate, Dr Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of University of Kashmir and Dean Academics, Prof Shabir Ahmad Bhat".

Lt Col Anand said, "this notification is great news for 1860 NCC Cadets of 24 Colleges under University of Kashmir who apart from Nation building will also be benefited with NCC as an Elective Course. In future it will also greatly impact students of various colleges under the University of Kashmir who opt for NCC".

"NCC as a Credit Course is designed with an intent to transform NCC training into a curricular activity from an extra–curricular activity, thereby providing academic credits to students undergoing NCC Training. Syllabus of NCC adopted by University of Kashmir for Senior Division will be covered in 300 periods over three over three year duration plus two camps of 10 days each", defence spokesman explained.

Lt Col Devender Anand, "NCC Dte JK&L is also in touch with other Universities in the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Regions to introduce this scheme to benefit the youths of three regions".

"Maj Gen Ranjan Mahajan, Additional Director General, NCC Directorate JK&L has expressed his gratitude to Dr Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of University of Kashmir and Dean Academics, Prof Shabir Ahmad Bhat and is also looking forward for similar positive response from other universities of UTs of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh", Defence spokesman added.