NCC Air Wing inaugurated at IIT-Mandi and NIT-Hamirpur

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Air Wing has been officially inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mandi and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Hamirpur, marking a significant step toward integrating technical education with military ethos.

The newly established units will operate under the 1 HP Air Squadron NCC, Kullu, with a specialised focus on aeromodelling, drone technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and start-up innovation.

Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT-Mandi; HM Suryawanshi, Director, NIT-Hamirpur; and Wing Commander Kunal Sharma, Commanding Officer of 1 HP Air Squadron NCC, were among those present at the joint inauguration ceremony held recently in this regard.

The Wing Commander said the initiative sought to channel the ingenuity of the country’s brightest technical minds toward national development and the advancement of the armed forces. He expressed confidence that the programme would inspire a new generation of cadets, who embody both technological prowess and military discipline.

He said: “It was truly overwhelming to witness the enthusiasm and commitment of students from IITs and NITs toward joining the Air NCC. Their dedication to military training, national values, and service to the armed forces was deeply inspiring.” The innovative ideas and aspirations shared by cadets during the selection process reaffirmed that “our nation’s future lies in safe and intelligent hands”, he added.

The establishment of these NCC units is expected to significantly bolster the competitive standing of NCC Group Headquarters, Shimla, and the PHHP&C Directorate in upcoming national-level events such as the All India Vayu Sainik Camp (AIVSC) and the Republic Day Camp.