Pune: At Shivneri, Maharashtra NCC Pushes AI, Drone and Cyber Skills for Cadets
Junnar, 2nd October 2026: Shivneri Fort in Junnar witnessed a unique convergence of history, youth leadership and social responsibility on Gandhi Jayanti, as NCC cadets from across Junnar participated in cleanliness, social awareness and nation-building activities.
At the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the cadets paid tribute to the Maratha warrior king and drew inspiration from his legacy of courage, discipline, leadership and service to the nation.
The programme also marked the 12th anniversary of the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014. The cadets renewed their commitment to cleanliness and selfless service through a Swachh Bharat cleanliness and awareness campaign at the historic fort.
As part of the programme, the cadets staged Nukkad Nataks highlighting social issues such as tuberculosis (TB) awareness, the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign and responsible citizenship. The activities sought to reinforce Mahatma Gandhi’s message of cleanliness, service and collective responsibility.
Addressing the cadets and NCC staff, Major General Vivek Tyagi, Additional Director General (ADG), Maharashtra NCC Directorate, appreciated their enthusiasm, selfless service and commitment to the nation. He urged the cadets to prepare themselves for future leadership roles by developing physical fitness, mental resilience, discipline and technological skills.
“The battlefield of the future is changing, and our youth must be prepared for it. Along with the timeless values of courage, discipline and leadership, our cadets must be tech-savvy and future-ready,” Tyagi said.
He encouraged cadets to participate in the Directorate’s newly introduced Cyber Defender courses and Drone Pilot training.
Highlighting the Maharashtra NCC Directorate’s focus on emerging technologies, Tyagi said the Directorate is planning a major artificial intelligence (AI) orientation initiative, with an initial target of providing AI awareness and orientation to one lakh cadets.
The ADG, accompanied by the Pune Group Commander and Commanding Officer of 36 Maharashtra NCC Battalion, also visited educational institutions in remote and tribal areas of Junnar and interacted with cadets and faculty members.
Prof. (Dr) Mahadev Waghmare, Principal of Sri Shiv Chhatrapati College (SSCC), Junnar, appreciated the outreach and requested greater opportunities for cadets from remote areas to access advanced skilling and technical exposure.
Responding to the request, Tyagi said the Directorate’s objective was to ensure that geographical location did not become a barrier to opportunities, and that cadets from remote and tribal areas were integrated into Maharashtra NCC’s emerging skilling and technology initiatives.
The Shivneri visit came a day after the ADG received the Director General (DG) NCC during his visit to Maharashtra and accompanied him to the Pune NCC Group Headquarters. A comprehensive review of the functioning of the Group and cadet training was undertaken during the visit.
Issues related to the functioning of NCC units across Maharashtra, including civilian staffing requirements and infrastructure deficiencies, were highlighted during the review. The Directorate’s initiatives to modernise and strengthen cadet training were also discussed.
Tyagi reiterated that Maharashtra NCC was working towards developing young citizens who could contribute as change-makers and future leaders across different fields.
“Shivneri gave Maharashtra the inspiration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; today, our NCC cadets are carrying that spirit forward through service to society. On Gandhi Jayanti, the best tribute is not merely remembrance, but action — keeping our surroundings clean, serving society and preparing ourselves to build a stronger India,” he said.
He also stressed that physical fitness and mental conditioning remain fundamental to achievement and urged cadets to focus on holistic development as they prepare to take on leadership responsibilities in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The programme at Shivneri brought together the messages associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — cleanliness, service, courage, discipline and leadership — with NCC cadets taking part in activities aimed at translating these values into action.
