Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the NCC Academy Complex here, describing it as a major investment in character-building, leadership development, and national service for the youth of Arunachal Pradesh.Addressing the gathering, Khandu said the academy will serve as an institutional platform to instil discipline, patriotism, physical fitness, and leadership among young cadets, while inspiring them to pursue officer-level careers in the Indian Armed Forces.“The youth are the greatest strength of Arunachal Pradesh. Our responsibility is not merely to provide them education and employment opportunities, but also to build their character and instill in them the values of discipline, responsibility, and service,” the chief minister said.Khandu highlighted the ‘Chief Minister’s Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme’. The program provides financial support to Arunachali students studying in eight notified Sainik Schools and the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun.“I see the NCC Academy, the Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme, and the Indian Army-led mentorship programme as complementary initiatives that together create a stronger ecosystem for military education and national service,” Khandu noted, expressing confidence that the Pasighat facility will evolve into a regional center of excellence for cadets across the Northeast.Cautioning cadets on the rapid proliferation of technology, Khandu highlighted the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media. While acknowledging AI’s potential to revolutionize education and employment, he urged the youth to leverage emerging tools responsibly and cultivate critical thinking to avoid misinformation and cyber vulnerabilities. Technology, he remarked, should enhance human potential rather than distract from physical fitness and personal growth.
