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PCS ParikshanHaryana Switch to Hindi
Operation Shield
Why in News?
On 31st May, the Haryana authorities carried out a statewide civil defence exercise called “Operation Shield” to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
Key Points
- Simulated Emergency Scenarios: The mock drills included scenes of volunteers acting as injured victims, firefighting operations, and emergency evacuations.
- The drills focused on scenarios like air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime emergencies to test response mechanisms.
- The exercise witnessed seamless coordination among various departments including Fire and Emergency Services, Police Forces, Health Departments, Disaster Management Authorities, Civil Defence, along with trained volunteers from National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC).
National Service Scheme (NSS)
- The NSS is a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, launched in 1969 with the objective of developing the personality and character of student youth through voluntary community service.
- The ideology of NSS is inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. Its motto is “Not me but You.”
- The scheme provides opportunities for student youth in 11th and 12th classes at the +2 Board level, as well as students of technical institutions, undergraduate, and postgraduate colleges and universities across India to participate in various government-led community service activities and programmes.
National Cadet Corps (NCC)
- About: The NCC was formed in 1948 (on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee-1946), and has its roots in British era uniformed youth entities like University Corps or University Officer Training Corps.
- Its history can be traced back to the ‘University Corps’, which was created under the Indian Defence Act 1917 with an objective to make up for personnel shortage in the Indian Army.
- The NCC also expanded later on to include the Girls Division in 1949 to provide equal opportunities to women willing to serve the country's defences.
- NCC is the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world. It enrolls cadets at high school and college level and also awards certificates on completion of various phases.
- The NCC cadets receive basic military training at various levels and also have academic curriculum basics related to Armed forces and their functioning.
- Ministry: The NCC falls under the purview of the Ministry of Defence and is headed by a Director General of three-star military rank.
