The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms under the state government in a new report has recommended measures to strengthen the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in North Kerala and Idukki districts.
For North Kerala, the department’s 2026 working study on the NCC recommended new NCC battalions for Malappuram and Kasaragod districts and a new group headquarters in Kannur. The report also recommends the formation of a new battalion of NCC in Idukki district.
The proposals are focused on the needs of higher vocational schools with regard to NKC in these districts. It takes into account the increasing demand for NCCs in these districts and the need to lighten the workload of the existing battalions.
It noted that only Thenhipalam 29 (K) battalion satisfies the requirements of NCC of Malappuram district. Nearly 3,281 cadets come under this battalion which serves 23 schools and 17 colleges. It also supplies two schools and one college in the neighboring district of Kozhikode. In the district, 40 new units are waiting to be processed. “Malappuram district, which ranks first in the number of students in the state, has only one battalion for NCC activities,” he noted.
Kasaragod, which has two educational districts, currently does not have an NCC battalion. The NCC requirements are currently being handled through Payyannur 32 (K) Battalion. NCC units in 14 schools and four colleges under this banner are operating in Kasaragod district. In addition, applications for eight new units are currently pending, the report said.
In the case of Idukki, the 2026 work study report found that applications are pending for eight new NCC units under the Nedumkandam 33 (K) banner. Given the size and geographical peculiarities of Idukki district, allowing new undts under the existing banner would only add to the workload and adversely affect operations.
The NCC is a joint effort of the Ministry of Defence, school and college teachers and officials of the Central and State Governments. The Directorate of NCC (Kerala and Lakshadweep) is under an officer of the rank of Major General. At the state level, matters related to the NKC are dealt with by the Department of State Higher Education.
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms further recommended the new NCC Group Headquarters at Kannur considering the area, population and number of educational institutions in the six northern districts of Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod.
The headquarters of the group was proposed to attract more youth to the NCC in north Kerala, the report said.
Currently, the NCC has five group headquarters in Kerala – in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode – and 42 battalions under them.
Published – 7 Feb 2026 19:50 IST