KATHMANDU, JULY 3
Tens of thousands of school students across Nepal could soon undergo structured military-style training as part of a revamped National Cadet Corps, under a new bill registered in the Federal Parliament by Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to replace the existing National Service Corps Act 2027 BS, would make school students from Class 8 to Class 12 eligible for NCC training, with the stated aim of building disciplined, patriotic and service-oriented youth who could be mobilised as volunteers during national emergencies.
Under the bill, training would be divided into two tiers. Students in Classes 8 to 10, between the ages of 13 and 18, would fall under the Junior Division, while students in Classes 11 and 12, between the ages of 16 and 21, would be enrolled in the Senior Division. Both groups would undergo a two-phase training programme, the first phase conducted at the student's own school by NCC instructors, and the second at a dedicated NCC training centre. Students who complete the full programme would receive a formal certificate.
Participation would require written consent from the student's parents or guardian as well as the school, and cadets would be required to take an oath before training begins. The bill also provides for the formation of alumni groups from among students who have completed training.
Instructors would be drawn from serving Nepal Army personnel deployed to the NCC for the duration of the training period, with provision for additional staff to be seconded from the civil service if needed. Cadets would wear uniforms in line with Nepal Army specifications and would receive rations and accommodation during the residential phase of training. Insurance coverage would also be provided.
The curriculum and training methods would be approved by a directive committee chaired by the Defence Minister, and updated periodically to remain relevant. The training is envisioned to cover areas including disaster management, public service, infrastructure development, environmental and cultural conservation, and sports, alongside discipline and leadership development.
Beyond the school programme, the bill contains a significant provision allowing the government to train and deploy any Nepali citizen as a volunteer for state service during national emergencies, including war or internal conflict, on the basis of a Cabinet decision. This effectively gives the NCC the legal authority to function as a civilian volunteer mobilisation mechanism during crises.
Cadets may be removed from training for disciplinary violations, physical or mental incapacity certified by a doctor, or involvement in a criminal investigation, but must be given an opportunity to respond before any removal. A cadet may also voluntarily withdraw from training by submitting a request to the training centre chief with valid reasons.
The government cited the constitutional directive under Article 51(a)(6), which requires the state to prepare citizens ready and capable of national service, as the primary justification for the legislation, noting that the existing 2027 BS Act was too limited to fulfil that mandate in its current form. India's National Cadet Corps Act of 1948 is referenced in the bill's explanatory note as an international model.
Priority in school selection for the programme would be given to community schools, institutions in remote and marginalised areas, and schools in security-sensitive regions, the bill states.