<span style="color: #222222;">Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today conferred Raksha Mantri Padak and Commendation Cards to NCC Cadets for their exemplary performance and devotion to duty. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Investiture ceremony was held at NCC Republic Parade camp 2019 at Delhi Cantt. Raksha Mantri Padak was instituted in 1989 and given to the most deserving cadets every year for exceptional service of highest order. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Addressing the gathering, the Minister said, since its inception in 1948, the NCC has grown phenomenal and today over 13.2 lakh are enrolled with NCC and the strength is increasing in phased- manner. She also said, the target of inducting students into NCC, is about 16 lakh. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr. Sitharaman said, the third phase of another recruitment of nearly 40 thousand students is under consideration. On the occasion, she complimented NCC for its exceptional work in Swachhata Abhiyan. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">She also complimented NCC for making an invaluable contribution towards national integration and nation building. She said, NCC is doing acommendable job in transforming youth into more responsible citizens of the nation.</span>