Executive Summary:
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3265 addresses defence education in Indian educational institutions. The Ministry of Defence provides details on institutions offering defence education, the integration of defence education into the National Education Policy (NEP), the effectiveness of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), and potential policy interventions. The answer was provided on August 8, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Educational Institutions:**
* The Ministry of Defence oversees Sainik Schools, Rashtriya Military Schools (RMSs), and Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun, which follow the CBSE pattern of education to prepare cadets for the National Defence Academy (NDA).
* There are 33 functional Sainik Schools across various States and Union Territories.
* There are 5 Rashtriya Military Schools located in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
* There is 1 Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) located in Uttarakhand.
* **National Education Policy (NEP) Integration:**
* The NEP highlights the importance of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in Secondary and Higher Secondary schools.
* NCERT books include material about the role of armed forces in national security and nation building.
* The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued advisories to implement NCC as an elective subject for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
* **National Cadet Corps (NCC):**
* NCC programs effectively promote holistic development, character building, discipline, and leadership skills.
* Currently, 20 lakh NCC cadets are being trained in 21819 educational institutes.
* Training curricula include basic military and civil defence aspects.
* NCC is compulsory in schools under the Ministry of Defence.
* NCERT's Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) have included NCC in colleges and Demonstration Multipurpose Schools (DMS).
* **Policy Interventions:**
* There are no current proposals to introduce compulsory defence education for students in partnership with defence institutions or financial assistance for schools implementing such programs.
Impact Analysis:
* **Students:**
* *Impact:* Students benefit from holistic development, character building, discipline, and leadership skills through NCC programs. The inclusion of defence-related content in NCERT books enhances their awareness of national security.
* *Action Required:* Students should actively participate in NCC programs where available and engage with the defence-related content in their curriculum.
* **Educational Institutions (Schools and Higher Education Institutions):**
* *Impact:* Schools under the Ministry of Defence must continue to implement compulsory NCC programs. Higher Education Institutions are encouraged to implement NCC as an elective subject. NCERT’s Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) are already including NCC in colleges and Demonstration Multipurpose Schools (DMS).
* *Action Required:* HEIs should consider implementing NCC as an elective subject, as advised by the UGC. Schools under MoD must maintain compulsory NCC programs.
* **Ministry of Education:**
* *Impact:* The Ministry of Education, through NCERT, is responsible for integrating appropriate material about the armed forces into the curriculum.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and integrate relevant content into the NCERT books, highlighting the role of armed forces.
* **University Grants Commission (UGC):**
* *Impact:* UGC plays a crucial role in promoting NCC in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
* *Action Required:* UGC should continue to advise and support HEIs in implementing NCC as an elective subject.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP: A national level policy framework for education in India.
National Cadet Corps NCC: A youth development programme sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, aimed at fostering leadership, discipline, and national integration among students.
Ministry of Defence: The Indian government ministry responsible for overseeing the country's defense forces.
Rashtriya Military Schools RMSs: Military schools in India, established to provide quality education to the children of defence personnel and civilians.
Rashtriya Indian Military College RIMC, Dehradun: A military school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, preparing cadets for entry into the National Defence Academy.
Sainik Schools: Schools established to prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and other defence related careers.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body in India responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education.
SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: Member of Parliament who raised the question about defence education in educational institutions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3265
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08th AUGUST,2025
DEFENCE EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
3265. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of educational institutions in the country which offer defence education as part
of their curriculum, State/UT-wise and category-wise;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any assessments of the benefits of introducing
compulsory defence education at school and university levels, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Ministry of Education along with the Ministry of Defence has evaluated the
feasibility of integrating compulsory defence education into National Education Policy (NEP)
framework, if so, the findings thereof;
(d) whether the Government has data on the implementation and effectiveness of programmes
like the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in fostering defence awareness and preparedness among
students, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is considering policy interventions to introduce compulsory
defence education for students in partnerships with defence institutions or financial assistance
for schools implementing such programme and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) Under Ministry of Defence, Sainik Schools, Rashtriya Military Schools (RMSs) and
Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun which aim to prepare cadets
academically, physically and mentally for entry into National Defence Academy (NDA) follow
the CBSE pattern of education. Details of Sainik Schools, RMSs and RIMC, State/UT-wise are
given in Annexure-I and Annexure-II.
(b) & (c) National Education Policy (NEP) which is being implemented has highlighted
the importance of National Cadet Corps (NCC) and its inclusion in Secondary and Higher
Secondary schools. Appropriate material highlighting the role of armed forces in national
security and nation building has been added in the NCERT books.
…2/--2-
(d) NCC programmes have been highly effective in fostering holistic development amongst
youth and also in promoting character building, discipline and leadership skills. Currently, 20
lakh NCC cadets are being trained in 21819 educational institutes and training curricula include
special subjects covering basic military and civil defence aspects.
(e) No such proposal is under consideration. NCC is compulsory in the schools under MoD.
In addition, in line with NEP’s vision, NCERT’s Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) have
included NCC in both its colleges and in the Demonstration Multipurpose Schools (DMS).
Further, University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued advisories to implement NCC as an
elective subject for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
*****
…3/--3-
ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 3265 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025 REGARDING ‘DEFENCE
EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS’
State/UT-wise list of functional Sainik Schools across the country
Serial No. State/UT Number of functional Sainik
Schools (under erstwhile pattern)
1. Andhra Pradesh 2
2. Arunachal Pradesh 1
3. Assam 1
4. Bihar 2
5. Chhattisgarh 1
6. Gujarat 1
7. Haryana 2
8. Himachal Pradesh 1
9. Jammu (UT) 1
10. Jharkhand 1
11. Karnataka 2
12. Kerala 1
13. Madhya Pradesh 1
14. Maharashtra 2
15. Manipur 1
16. Mizoram 1
17. Nagaland 1
18. Odisha 2
19. Punjab 1
20. Rajasthan 2
21. Tamil Nadu 1
22. Uttarakhand 1
23. Uttar Pradesh 3
24. West Bengal 1
Total 33
*****
…4/--4-
ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 3265 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025 REGARDING’ DEFENCE
EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ‘
(i) State/UT-wise list of Rashtriya Military Schools across the country
Sr.No. State/UT Number of Rashtriya Military Schools
1. Himachal Pradesh 01
2. Karnataka 02
3. Rajasthan 02
Total 05
(ii) Details of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) across the country
Sr.No. State/UT Number of RIMC
1. Uttarakhand 01
Total 01
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