#THE NATIONAL CADET CORPS ACT, 1948 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 
1. Short title, extent and application. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Constitution of the National Cadet Corps. 
4. Constitution and disbandment of units. 
5. Division of the Corps into Divisions. 
6. Enrolment. 
7. Central Government may raise other units. 
8. Discharge. 
9. Appointment of officers. 
10. Duties of persons subject to this Act. 
11. Punishment for offences under this Act. 
12. Power to appoint Advisory Committees. 
13. Power to make rules. 



#THE NATIONAL CADET CORPS ACT, 1948 

##ACT NO. 31 OF 1948
[^1]

[16th April, 1948.] 

An Act to provide for the constitution of a National Cadet Corps. 

  WHEREAS  it  is  expedient  to  provide  for  the  constitution  of  a  National  Cadet  Corps;  It  is  hereby 
enacted as follows:— 

1. **Short title, extent and application.**—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  National  Cadet  Corps 
Act, 1948. 

(2) It extends, to the whole of India and applies to all persons enrolled or appointed under this 
Act, wherever they may be. 

2. **Definitions.**—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 

  “corps” means the National Cadet Corps constituted under this Act; 

  “enrolled” means enrolled in the Corps under this Act; 

  “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

  “school” includes any institution recognised in this behalf by the Central Government or the State 
Government; 

  “university” means any university established by law in India and includes colleges affiliated to 
universities,  intermediate  colleges  and  such  technical  institutions  of  collegiate  status,  as  are 
recognised in this behalf by the Central Government or the State Government. 

3. **Constitution of the National Cadet Corps.**—There shall be raised and maintained in the manner 
hereinafter provided a Corps, to be designated the National Cadet Corps: 

  Provided that the Central Government may establish all or any of the units of the Corps as and when 
necessary. 

4. **Constitution and disbandment of units.**—The Central Government may constitute in any State 
one or more units of the Corps members of which shall be recruited from amongst the students of 
any university or school, and may disband or reconstitute any unit so constituted. 

5. **Division of the Corps into Divisions.**—There shall be three Divisions of the Corps, namely:— 

  (i) the Senior Division, recruitment to which shall be from amongst the students of the male sex 
of any university; 

  (ii) the Junior Division, recruitment to which shall be from amongst the students of the male sex 
of any school; and 

  (iii) the Junior Division, recruitment to which shall be from amongst the students of the female 
sex of any university or school. 

6. **Enrolment.**—(1) Any student of the male sex of any university may offer himself for enrolment as 
a  cadet  in  the  Senior  Division,  and  any  student  of  the  male  sex  of  any  school  may  offer  himself  for 
enrolment as a cadet in the Junior Division if he is of the prescribed age or over. 

(2) Any student of the female sex of any University or school may offer herself  for enrolment as a 
cadet in the Girls Division : 

  Provided that in the latter case she is of the prescribed age or over. 

[^1]. This Act has been extended to— 
  Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and the Schedule and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar 
  Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule (w.e.f. 1-7-1965). 
  Lakshadweep vide Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-10-1967). 
  Extended to the State of Arunachal Pradesh vide Act No. 44 of 1993, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-7-1994). 


 
7. **Central  Government  may  raise  other  units.**—Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, 
the Central Government may, by notification, provide for the constitution of any other units of the Corps 
in any place and prescribe the persons or class of persons who may be eligible for enrolment therein. 

8. **Discharge.**—Every person enrolled under this Act shall be entitled to receive his or her discharge 
from the Corps on the expiration of the period for which he or she was enrolled or on his or her ceasing to 
be borne on the roll of the university or school to which he or she may belong: 

  Provided  that  any  person  enrolled  may  be  discharged  at  any  time  by  such  authority  and  subject  to 
such conditions as may be prescribed. 

9. **Appointment of officers.**—The Central Government may provide for the appointment of officers 
in or for any unit of the Corps either from amongst members of the staff of any university or school or 
otherwise and may prescribe the duties, powers and functions of such officers. 

10. **Duties of persons subject to this Act.**—No person subject to this Act shall by virtue of being a 
member  of  the  Corps  be  liable  for  active  military  service,  but  subject  thereto  any  such  person  shall  be 
liable to perform such duties and discharge such obligations as may be prescribed. 

11. **Punishment for offences under this Act.**—Any person enrolled under this Act may be punished 
for the contravention of any rule made under this Act with fine which may extend to fifty rupees to be 
recovered in such manner and by such authority as may be prescribed. 

12. **Power to appoint Advisory Committees.**—(1) The Central Government may for the purpose of 
advising  it  on  all  matters  of  policy  connected  with  the  constitution  and  administration  of  the  Corps 
appoint a Central Advisory Committee consisting of the following persons, namely:— 

  (a) the Minister for Defence, who shall be the Chairman of the Committee; 

  (b) the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, *ex officio*; 

  (c) the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Education, *ex officio*; 

  (d) the Financial Advisor, Defence, *ex officio*; 

  (e) the Chief of the Army Staff, *ex officio*; 

  (f) the Chief of the Naval Staff, *ex officio*; 

  (g) the Chief of the Air Staff, *ex officio*;

  (h) five non-official members to be nominated by the Central Government; and 

[^2][(i) three Members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected by the House of the People and 
one by the Council of States.] 

[^3][(1A) A member elected under clause (i) of sub-section (1) shall hold office for a period of one 
year from the date of his election or until he ceases to be a Member of the House which elected him, 
whichever is earlier.] 

(2) The Central Government may also appoint, for the same purpose as is specified in sub-section (1), 
such State Advisory Committees as it may consider desirable from time to time and may prescribe 
their duties and functions. 

13. **Power to make rules.**—(1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the objects of 
this Act. 

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may— 

  (a) prescribe the conditions subject to which universities or schools shall be allowed to raise units 
under this Act; 

  (b) prescribe the persons or class of persons who may be eligible for enrolment under section 7; 

[^2]. Subs. by Act 50 of 1975, s. 2, for clause (i) (w.e.f. 16-8-1975). 
[^3]. Ins. by Act 50 of 1975, s. 2 (w.e.f. 16-8-1975). 



  (c) prescribe the manner in which, the period for which and the conditions subject to which  any 
person or class of persons may be enrolled under this Act; 

  (d) provide  for  the  medical  examination  of  persons  offering  themselves  for  enrolment  under 
this Act; 

  (e) prescribe  preliminary  and  periodical  military  training  for  any  person  or  class  of  persons 
subject to this Act; 

  (f) prescribe the military or other obligations to which members of the Corps shall be liable when 
undergoing  military  training  and  provide  generally  for  the  maintenance  of  discipline  amongst 
members of the Corps; 

  (g) prescribe the duties, powers and functions of officers appointed under this Act; 

  (h) prescribe the allowances or other remuneration payable to persons subject to this Act; 

  (i) provide for the removal or discharge of any person subject to this Act; 

  (j) prescribe the offences for which any person subject to this Act may be tried and provide for 
the trial thereof; 

  (k) prescribe the manner in which fines levied under this Act may be recovered; 

  (l) prescribe the duties, powers and functions of Central or State Advisory Committees; and 

  (m) provide for any other matter which under this Act is to be or may be prescribed. 

[^2][(3)  Every  rule  made  under  this  Act shall  be  laid,  as soon  as  may  be  after it is made,  before  each 
House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one 
session  or  in  two  or  more  successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.] 

[^2]. Ins. by Act 50 of 1975, s. 3 (w.e.f. 16-8-1975). 