Overview
- About 94,400 cadets from 315 districts are slated for Yuva Apda Mitra training by March 2026 in coordination with the NDMA.
- Work has begun to establish four to five hubs to train select cadets in drone and counter-drone operations, with instruction already underway at four Remote Pilot Training Organisations.
- The programme will raise 10,000 cadets as cyber specialists to reinforce digital defence, with their details integrated into a national database for mobilization.
- The 2026 Republic Day Camp is underway in Delhi with 2,406 participants, including 898 girls, and delegations from 25 friendly foreign countries.
- Vats cited the deployment of roughly 75,000 cadets during Operation Sindoor in 2025 as the operational basis for scaling these roles, and said parade and contingent commanders will carry swords in this year’s march.