How to use this list
These questions recur — sometimes verbatim, sometimes paraphrased — across NCC certificate papers. Memorise the model answer in your own words. Don’t reproduce them verbatim; examiners notice copy-paste from the obvious sources. Treat the answers below as the structure you should hit, not the wording.
Question difficulty rises from A to B to C. The questions below are weighted toward B/C; the A versions of the same topics are simpler.
NCC general (Q1–Q10)
1. When was the NCC raised? Under which Act?
The NCC was raised on 16 April 1948 under the National Cadet Corps Act, 1948 (Act XXXI of 1948). The first units stood up on 15 July 1948.
2. What is the motto of the NCC?
"Ekta aur Anushasan" — Unity and Discipline.
3. Who is the Director General NCC?
The head of the NCC is a serving officer of the rank of Lieutenant General. The post is held by a serving Indian Army officer. Specific names change with each posting; do not memorise a specific name unless the paper asks for the current incumbent.
4. What is the structure of NCC at the national level?
DG NCC at the apex, supported by Additional DGs (A, B, P&C) at HQ; 17 Directorates across states/UTs each headed by a state-level officer; group HQs under each Directorate; unit-level NCC units in schools and colleges, run by Associate NCC Officers (ANOs).
5. Differentiate Junior Division and Senior Division.
Junior Division (JD/JW) is for school-level cadets, typically classes 8–10 or 8–12. Senior Division (SD/SW) is for college / university cadets. The A Certificate is for JD/JW; the B and C are for SD/SW.
6. Name the wings of the NCC.
Army Wing, Naval Wing and Air Wing. Most units are Army Wing.
Be aware of a fourth specialisation: cadets in the NCC's R&V (Remount & Veterinary) units sit RVC as their specialised subject instead of the standard Army syllabus, and the examination order lists it alongside Army, Navy and Air. See What Is the RVC Wing?.
7. What are the aims of the NCC?
The three stated aims: (a) develop character, comradeship, discipline, secular outlook, spirit of adventure, ideals of selfless service; (b) create a pool of organised, trained, motivated youth available for service to the nation; (c) provide an environment to motivate youth to choose a career in the Armed Forces.
8. What is meant by NCC Song?
The NCC Song is "Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain", the official anthem of the corps. Cadets are expected to know the opening lines and stand to attention while it is sung.
9. What is the NCC pledge?
The cadet pledge committing to unity, discipline, secular outlook, and service to the nation. Memorise the standard text from your Cadet Handbook.
10. What does the NCC flag depict?
The NCC flag has three colours (red, dark blue, light blue) representing the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings respectively, with the NCC crest and motto in the centre.
National integration (Q11–Q18)
11. What is national integration?
The sense of unity, common identity, and shared belonging that binds the people of India together despite linguistic, religious, regional, and cultural diversity.
12. Name five threats to national integration.
Communalism, regionalism, casteism, linguistic differences, and secessionist movements. Add: terrorism and political extremism.
13. Name the youth-related programmes that promote national integration.
NCC, NSS (National Service Scheme), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Bharat Scouts and Guides.
14. Name India’s national symbols.
National flag (Tiranga), national anthem (Jana Gana Mana), national song (Vande Mataram), national emblem (Lion Capital of Ashoka), national animal (Tiger), national bird (Peacock), national flower (Lotus), national tree (Banyan), national fruit (Mango).
15. What is the role of the NCC in national integration?
NCC cadets train alongside peers from different states, religions, languages, and backgrounds during camps and parades. The shared discipline, common uniform, and joint training experience build a tangible sense of national community.
16. Name the four Vedas.
Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda.
17. Name India’s Father of the Nation. Where and when was he born?
Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), born 2 October 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat.
18. Who wrote the Indian Constitution? When was it adopted?
Drafted by the Constituent Assembly led by Dr B. R. Ambedkar as Chairman of the Drafting Committee. Adopted on 26 November 1949, came into force on 26 January 1950.
Drill (Q19–Q24)
19. What are the basic drill commands? (Hindi terms)
- Savdhan — Attention
- Vishram — Stand at Ease
- Aaram Se — Stand Easy
- Daine Mur — Right Turn
- Baen Mur — Left Turn
- Peeche Mur — About Turn
- Tej Chal — Quick March
- Dheere Chal — Slow March
- Tham — Halt
20. What is the aim of drill?
To instil discipline, build smartness and bearing, develop a sense of teamwork, and train cadets to respond instantly to commands.
21. What is the difference between savdhan and vishram positions?
Savdhan — heels together, body upright, arms by the side, eyes forward; the position of readiness. Vishram — left foot to the side by ~30 cm, hands clasped behind back; the standing-at-ease position.
22. What is the standard length of pace in quick march and slow march?
Quick march: 30 inches (~75 cm) at 116 paces per minute. Slow march: 30 inches at 65 paces per minute.
23. What are the types of salutes in drill?
Salaami-shastra (salute with arms), savdhan salaami (salute at attention without arms), and the funeral / reverse-arms salute.
24. What is dressing in drill?
Dressing is the lateral alignment of cadets in a squad so that each cadet’s shoulder is in line with the next.
Weapon training (Q25–Q30)
25. Name the main rifle used in NCC training. State its calibre.
The 5.56 mm INSAS rifle (in recent training cycles; older syllabi reference the 7.62 mm SLR). Calibre 5.56 mm.
26. What are the main parts of the rifle?
Barrel, bolt, magazine, butt, trigger mechanism, sights, hand-guard. Refer to your Cadet Handbook diagram for the exact list per syllabus year.
27. What are the four cardinal rules of weapon safety?
(a) Treat every weapon as if loaded. (b) Never point the muzzle at anything you do not intend to shoot. (c) Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire. (d) Identify your target and what is beyond it.
28. What is the aiming triangle?
The alignment of the back sight, foresight, and target so that the foresight is centred in the U-notch of the back sight and the top of the foresight is in line with the centre of the target.
29. What is "GRIT" in fire-control orders?
A mnemonic for the components of a fire-control order: Group, Range, Indication, Type of fire.
30. What are the three positions of firing?
Standing, kneeling, prone (lying down).
Map reading (Q31–Q36)
31. What is a map?
A map is a representation of a portion of the Earth’s surface on a flat sheet, drawn to scale and using conventional signs.
32. What is a grid reference?
A coordinate system used on military maps to identify a specific point. A 4-figure grid reference identifies a 1 km square; a 6-figure grid reference identifies a 100 m square. Read eastings first, then northings.
33. What are conventional signs?
Standardised symbols used on maps to represent natural and man-made features — rivers, roads, railway lines, settlements, vegetation, etc.
34. What is a contour line?
A line on a map joining points of equal elevation above mean sea level. The vertical interval between two contour lines is called the contour interval.
35. What is the difference between bearing and back-bearing?
Bearing is the angle measured clockwise from north to a target. Back-bearing is the bearing taken from the target back to the observer — it differs from the original bearing by 180°.
36. Name the parts of a prismatic compass.
Compass card, needle, prism, sighting slit, lid with hairline, base plate. Used to take accurate bearings.
Field craft & battle craft (Q37–Q40)
37. What is field craft?
The art of moving and operating in the field with stealth, using cover, ground, and terrain to advantage. Includes camouflage, concealment, judging distance, observation.
38. What are the principles of camouflage?
Shape, shine, silhouette, shadow, spacing, smoke (the "six S’s"). A camouflaged soldier breaks up these visual signatures.
39. What are the methods of judging distance?
Unit-of-measure method (e.g. lengths of 100 m), appearance-of-objects method, bracketing method, halving method, key-range method.
40. What is fire and movement?
A tactical sequence in which part of a team fires to keep the enemy’s head down while the rest moves forward, then they alternate roles. The basis of small-team infantry tactics.
Personality development & leadership (Q41–Q44)
41. What is leadership?
The ability to influence a group of people to work toward a common goal. NCC training stresses leadership by example, courage, integrity, and care for those led.
42. Name the qualities of a good leader.
Integrity, courage, decisiveness, self-discipline, ability to communicate, sense of responsibility, willingness to take initiative, fairness, empathy.
43. What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
A leader inspires direction; a manager organises execution. Both are needed. NCC trains cadets to be both.
44. What is time management?
Planning and exercising deliberate control over how you spend your time on specific activities, prioritising what’s important over what’s urgent.
Adventure / social service / health (Q45–Q50)
45. Name three adventure activities organised by the NCC.
Trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, parasailing, sailing, scuba diving, white-water rafting — selection depends on directorate and cadet level.
46. What is first aid? Name three priorities.
Immediate care given to an injured or ill person before professional medical help arrives. Priorities (the ABC): Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
47. What is the recovery position?
The lateral position used for an unconscious but breathing casualty — lying on the side, head tilted back, arm under the head, opposite leg bent forward to stabilise the body. Keeps the airway clear.
48. Name five communicable diseases.
Tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, hepatitis (A/B/C), HIV/AIDS, influenza, COVID-19, typhoid, cholera. Examiners typically expect 3–5.
49. What is the role of the NCC in social service?
Cadets participate in cleanliness drives, blood donation camps, traffic awareness, plantation, disaster relief, and awareness campaigns on health, hygiene, and the environment.
50. Name the seven Yoga Pranayama / Asana practices commonly taught in NCC physical training.
Surya Namaskar, Padmasana, Vajrasana, Bhujangasana, Tadasana, Trikonasana, Shavasana, plus Pranayama (Anulom Vilom, Kapalbhati). Lists vary by year.
How to revise this list
- Read once, then close this page.
- Write out each answer in your own words, in 2–3 sentences. Don’t copy.
- Cross-check against this page; mark gaps.
- Repeat at intervals — day 1, day 3, day 7, day 14. This is the spaced-repetition curve.
By exam week your answers will be tight, accurate, and your own.
This article is general guidance based on publicly available material from the Directorate General NCC, the National Cadet Corps Act 1948, the NCC Cadet Handbook, and standard NCC training literature. Specific eligibility, syllabus, camp counts, exam patterns, and recruitment rules change with each training directive and each recruitment notification — always confirm current specifics with your unit Associate NCC Officer (ANO) and the official portal of the relevant recruiting body. VSVSV is a private learning platform; it is not affiliated with the National Cadet Corps, the Directorate General NCC, the Ministry of Defence, or any government body.