Maharashtra SSC NCC & Sea Cadet Corps Grade cheat sheet

NCC was raised on 16 April 1948 under the National Cadet Corps Act, 1948, on the recommendation of the Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru Committee; the first Director General was Major General Mohan Singh.

The NCC motto is 'Ekta aur Anushasan' (Unity and Discipline), adopted in 1980; the earlier motto was 'Vishwas aur Sankalp'.

Three aims: (a) develop character, comradeship, discipline, leadership, secular outlook and the spirit of adventure, and ideals of selfless service among young citizens; (b) create a human resource of organised, trained and motivated youth to provide leadership in all walks of life and always be available for the nation; (c) provide a suitable environment to motivate youth to take up a career in the Armed Forces.

Three wings: Army, Navy and Air Force; girls are enrolled in all three wings and the Senior Wing (SW) and Senior Division (SD) are for colleges, Junior Wing (JW) and Junior Division (JD) for schools.

Directorate level is headed by a Director General (a Lieutenant General for the NCC Directorate); there are 17 State Directorates, and the organisation runs down through Group Headquarters, Battalion/Unit, Company and Platoon.

NCC cadets have taken part in Republic Day Camp (RDC), Prime Minister's Rally, Thal Sainik Camp, Nau Sainik Camp, Vayu Sainik Camp, All India Trekking Expedition and the Youth Exchange Programme.

Rank structure of cadets: Cadet, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, Junior Under Officer (JUO), Senior Under Officer (SUO); the Senior Wing equivalent includes Cadet, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, JUO, SUO.

The NCC flag has three vertical stripes - red, navy blue and light blue - representing the Army, Navy and Air Force respectively, with the NCC emblem (a lotus with the motto) in the centre.

The 1948 Act was amended in 1950 to make the NCC a part of the Ministry of Defence; the Girls' Division was introduced in 1950.

Words of command have two parts: the cautionary part (drawn out, tells the squad what to do) and the executive part (sharp, tells the squad when to do it), e.g. 'Squad - THAM' and 'Aage - BARH' in Hindi.

Common Hindi commands: 'Line Banao' (form line), 'Savdhan' (attention), 'Vishram' (stand at ease), 'Aaram Se' (stand easy), 'Dahine Mur' (right turn), 'Baaye Mur' (left turn), 'Peeche Mur' (about turn), 'Tez Chal' (quick march), 'Tham' (halt), 'Nishan Tirchha' (salute).

At 'Savdhan' the body is erect, heels together and toes apart at about 30 degrees, arms hanging straight with hands closed and thumbs along the seam of the trousers.

A squad is formed in three ranks; the right-hand man of the front rank is the marker, and the squad is dressed by the right at 'Line Banao'.

At 'Tez Chal' the pace is 120 steps per minute with a 30-inch (75 cm) step; at 'Dheere Chal' (slow march) the pace is 70 steps per minute with a 30-inch step.

On the march, the command 'Dahine Mur' is executed by turning 90 degrees to the right on the right heel and left toe; 'Peeche Mur' is a 180-degree turn executed on the ball of the right foot.

For a salute, the right hand is raised palm forward with the tip of the middle finger touching the right eyebrow, elbow raised at shoulder height, and the salute is held until the executive part of the next command.

Ceremonial drill includes the 'March Past' in column of threes at 120 paces per minute, the 'Slow March' at 70, and the 'Salute' taken by a reviewing officer; the National Flag is carried by the standard bearer at the head of the squad.

The INSAS 5.56 mm rifle is the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Army; it fires 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition from a 30-round magazine in single-shot or automatic mode.

The .22 Deluxe rifle is the standard NCC small-bore weapon for musketry practice; the .303 Lee-Enfield (7.7 mm) is used for full-bore training.

Four cardinal rules of safety: treat every weapon as loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep the finger off the trigger until ready to fire, and keep the weapon on 'safe' until the command to fire is given.

Range commands: 'Load', 'Ready', 'Fire', 'Stop', 'Unload'; the range officer's command 'STOP' is obeyed instantly by all firers and the weapon is made safe.

Basic firing principles: correct sight alignment (eye, backsight and foresight), correct aiming point, correct breathing (pause at natural respiratory pause), and smooth trigger squeeze without jerking.

The four positions in musketry are prone, sitting, kneeling and standing; the prone position is the most stable and is used for zeroing the weapon.

Zeroing means adjusting the sights so that the point of aim coincides with the point of impact; it is done at 25 metres for the .22 and at 100 metres for the INSAS.

The rifle is stripped into parts - bolt, magazine, body, barrel, spring - for cleaning; the bore is cleaned from the breech end and lightly oiled after firing.

The Preamble to the Constitution declares India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic, securing Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity for all citizens.

Fundamental Rights are in Part III (Articles 12–35) and include the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

Fundamental Duties are in Article 51A (Part IVA), added by the 42nd Amendment (1976); there are eleven duties, including respecting the Constitution, the National Flag and the National Anthem.

The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and green in equal proportions, with the Ashoka Chakra (24 spokes) in navy blue in the centre; it was adopted on 22 July 1947.

The National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' (Rabindranath Tagore) was adopted on 24 January 1950; the National Song is 'Vande Mataram' (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee).

National Integration means a sense of oneness among all citizens irrespective of religion, region, language and caste; the NCC promotes it through camps, national events and the Youth Exchange Programme.

The National Cadet Corps Act, 1948 and the NCC Rules, 1948 govern the Corps; the NCC is administered by the Ministry of Defence.

The Constitution provides for a single citizenship (Indian citizenship) with no separate state citizenship, which is a key instrument of national integration.

The Sea Cadet Corps is the naval wing of the NCC; the NCC Naval Wing is organised into Naval Units at schools and colleges, grouped under Naval Group Headquarters and State Directorates.

NCC Naval cadets train in seamanship, boat work, navigation, signalling and naval history; the annual Nau Sainik Camp (NSC) is the naval equivalent of the Army's TSC.

Naval ranks: Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant; cadet ranks include Cadet, Leading Cadet and Petty Officer Cadet.

Naval traditions: the 'Crossing the Line' ceremony on crossing the Equator, 'Man and Cheer Ship' on entering harbour, sunset ceremonies, and the 'Colours' ceremony at 0800 and sunset.

Naval terms: port (left), starboard (right), bow (front), stern (rear), forecastle, quarterdeck, bridge, galley (kitchen), head (toilet), deck, bulkhead, hatch, mess, quarter, cable, knot.

Speed at sea is measured in knots (1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.852 km/h); distance at sea is in nautical miles (1 nm = 1.852 km).

The Indian Navy's motto is 'Sham No Varunah' (May the Lord of the Waters be auspicious to us); Navy Day is 4 December, commemorating the 1971 missile attack on Karachi.

The Indian Navy's ensign is the national flag with the naval crest; the Naval ensign is flown at the ensign staff at the stern when in harbour and at the mainmast at sea.

A knot is made in the end of a rope; a bend joins two ropes together; a hitch fastens a rope to an object such as a spar or ring.

Bowline makes a non-slip loop at the end of a rope; the rabbit comes out of the hole, round the tree and back down the hole.

Reef knot (square knot) joins two ropes of equal thickness; it is used for reefing sails and bandages, but should not be used for joining ropes of unequal size.

Clove hitch is used to secure a rope to a spar or post; it is quickly made and easily undone.

Sheet bend joins two ropes of unequal thickness; the thicker rope is bent to the bight of the thinner one.

Figure-of-eight knot is a stopper knot that prevents a rope from slipping through a block or a fairlead; it is easy to untie after loading.

Round turn and two half hitches secures a rope to a ring or post; the round turn takes the strain and the half hitches lock it.

Boat work terms: oars are 'feathered' when turned horizontal after the stroke; the coxswain steers and commands; 'oars' means hold oars horizontally, 'boat oars' means bring them inboard.

A lifebuoy, life jacket and the whistle are standard safety equipment in NCC boat work; the 'man overboard' drill is practiced with a lifebuoy and a look-out.

A magnetic compass needle points to magnetic north, not true north; the angle between true north and magnetic north is called variation (declination).

Deviation is the error caused by the ship's own magnetic field; variation plus deviation gives the total compass error.

A nautical chart shows depth in metres or fathoms, and symbols for rocks, wrecks, buoys and lights; the scale of a chart is the ratio of chart distance to actual distance.

Latitude is measured in degrees north or south of the Equator (0–90), longitude in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian (0–180).

One minute of latitude equals one nautical mile; one degree of latitude equals 60 nautical miles.

Bearings are measured clockwise from north from 000 to 360 degrees; a bearing is the direction of one object from another.

Meteorological terms: isobar (line of equal pressure), isotherm (line of equal temperature), anemometer (measures wind speed), barometer (measures pressure), hygrometer (measures humidity).

Beaufort scale describes wind force from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane); the monsoon in India is the seasonal reversal of winds, the southwest monsoon bringing rain from June to September.

A cyclone in the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea is a low-pressure system with winds rotating anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere; ports hoist signals I to XI to warn of approaching storms.

First aid priorities: ABC - Airway, Breathing, Circulation; then control bleeding, treat for shock and arrange evacuation.

For a fracture, immobilise the limb with a splint and do not attempt to straighten it; for a burn, cool with running water for at least 10 minutes and do not apply oil or ghee.

For a snake bite, keep the victim still, immobilise the bitten limb below heart level and take the victim to hospital; do not cut, suck or apply a tourniquet.

For heat stroke, move the casualty to shade, loosen clothing, cool with wet cloths and give oral rehydration solution if conscious; for heat exhaustion the same plus rest.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths at 100–120 compressions per minute for adults; the depth is about 5 cm.

Field craft: the section is the basic tactical sub-unit, with a section commander and a light machine gun group; camouflage and concealment, field signals and section formations are core skills.

Camp craft: a tent is pitched on level ground with the door away from the wind; trenching and drainage prevent flooding; latrines are dug at least 30 metres from water sources.

Personal hygiene: daily bathing, brushing teeth twice a day, clean uniform, short nails and safe drinking water prevent most camp diseases; water is purified by boiling, chlorine tablets or filtering.

The universal donor blood group is O negative; the universal recipient is AB positive.

Adventure activities in the NCC include trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rappelling, parasailing, scuba diving, cycle and motorcycle expeditions, and the All India Trekking Expedition.

Physical fitness components: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition; the NCC physical test includes a 2.4 km run, sit-ups, push-ups and a shuttle run.

The 'Beep Test' (multi-stage fitness test) measures aerobic capacity; the Cooper test is a 12-minute run used to estimate VO2 max.

Social service activities: blood donation camps, tree plantation, cleanliness drives (Swachh Bharat), adult literacy, anti-drug awareness and disaster relief.

Community development: NCC cadets assist in pulse polio immunisation, election duty, traffic control, first aid posts at fairs and relief during floods and cyclones.

The NCC has adopted villages under the 'NCC Village Adoption' scheme and runs the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' and 'Save Water' campaigns.

Disaster management: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the apex body; the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the specialised response force.

Adventure training builds courage, endurance, teamwork and leadership; the NCC runs courses at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, and at various adventure camps.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the senior-most uniformed officer of the Indian Armed Forces; the post was created in 2019, and the first CDS was General Bipin Rawat.

The three services are the Indian Army (Army Day 15 January), the Indian Navy (Navy Day 4 December) and the Indian Air Force (Air Force Day 8 October).

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; the Ministry of Defence is headed by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister).

The National War Memorial, inaugurated in 2019 at India Gate, New Delhi, honours soldiers who died in post-independence conflicts.

The Indian Army's highest gallantry award is the Param Vir Chakra; the Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award; the Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are the next in order.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) develops defence technology; the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves capital acquisitions.

India's nuclear doctrine is 'No First Use' with credible minimum deterrence; the Strategic Forces Command manages nuclear assets.

The Agnipath scheme (2022) recruits Agniveers into the three services for a four-year tenure; the INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier.

The NCC's training is divided into 'institutional training' at the unit level and 'camp training' at the group, directorate and national level.

The NCC has a Central Advisory Committee and State Advisory Committees to guide its functioning; the Defence Minister is the Chairman of the Central Advisory Committee.

The NCC's emblem consists of three intersecting circles representing the three services, with the motto 'Ekta aur Anushasan' inscribed on a scroll.

The NCC Song 'Ham Sab Bhartiya Hain' was written by Sudarshan Faakir; it is sung at NCC functions.

The NCC's 'A' Certificate, 'B' Certificate and 'C' Certificate are the three levels of cadet certification; 'C' Certificate carries weightage in defence recruitment and in some state services.

The NCC was initially a male-only organisation; the Girls' Division was raised in 1950 and the Girls' Wing was renamed the Senior Wing in 1960.

The NCC's total strength is about 14 lakh cadets, making it one of the largest uniformed youth organisations in the world.

The NCC's motto 'Unity and Discipline' reflects its aim of building a disciplined, secular and united youth force.

The NCC's first contingent participated in the Republic Day Parade in 1950, and the Prime Minister's Rally is held at the end of the Republic Day Camp.

'Savdhan' (attention) is the position from which all drill movements start; the body is erect, heels together, toes apart at 30 degrees, arms straight down with thumbs along the seam.

On 'Vishram' the left foot is moved 12 inches to the left, hands are clasped in front with the right hand over the left, and the body is relaxed but not slouched.

On 'Aaram Se' the squad may move but must not speak; on 'Savdhan' they return to attention.

The 'Dahine Mur' (right turn) is executed on the right heel and left toe; the 'Baaye Mur' (left turn) on the left heel and right toe; 'Peeche Mur' (about turn) on the right heel and left toe.

The 'Nishan Tirchha' (salute) is given with the right hand, palm forward, fingers straight, the tip of the middle finger touching the right eyebrow, elbow at shoulder height.

The 'March Past' is done in column of threes at 120 paces per minute; the squad leader gives 'Eyes Right' and the salute is held until the reviewing officer is passed.

The 'Slow March' is at 70 paces per minute and is used at ceremonial parades and funerals.

The 'Saluting dais' is where the reviewing officer stands; the squad salutes the dais and the National Flag when passing.

The 'Guard of Honour' is a ceremonial body of troops that salutes a visiting dignitary; it is drawn from the unit and is commanded by a guard commander.

The INSAS rifle is gas-operated, magazine-fed, with a cyclic rate of about 600–650 rounds per minute; the effective range is about 400 metres.

The .22 Deluxe rifle is a bolt-action, single-shot weapon; the .22 Long Rifle cartridge is used for small-bore practice.

The 'safety catch' on the INSAS has three positions: 'S' (safe), '1' (single shot) and 'A' (automatic).

The 'sight setting' on the INSAS is graduated from 200 to 600 metres; the 'zero' is set at 200 metres for the battle sight.

The 'trigger squeeze' is a steady, increasing pressure applied straight back; the 'trigger pull' is a sudden jerk that throws the shot off the aim.

The 'breathing pause' is the natural pause between exhaling and inhaling; the shot is fired during this pause to avoid movement.

The 'four positions' of firing are prone, sitting, kneeling and standing; the 'prone' position is the most stable and is used for zeroing.

The 'range' is the distance from the firing point to the target; the 'danger area' is the area behind the target that must be cleared before firing.

The 'musketry' rules require the weapon to be inspected by the range officer before and after firing; the 'unload' command is followed by showing the empty chamber to the range officer.

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950; it is the longest written constitution in the world.

The Constituent Assembly was chaired by Dr Rajendra Prasad; the Drafting Committee was chaired by Dr B R Ambedkar.

The Constitution has 395 articles (originally), 22 parts and 8 schedules (originally); the Fundamental Rights are in Part III and the Directive Principles in Part IV.

The Right to Education (Article 21A) was added by the 86th Amendment (2002) and makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children aged 6–14.

The National Flag is hoisted on Independence Day (15 August) and the National Anthem is sung on Republic Day (26 January); the Flag Code of India, 2002 governs its use.

The National Integration Council was set up in 1961 to promote communal harmony and national integration; it is chaired by the Prime Minister.

The NCC's role in national integration is through mixed camps, national integration camps (NIC) and the Youth Exchange Programme with foreign countries.

The Preamble was amended by the 42nd Amendment (1976) to add the words 'Socialist', 'Secular' and 'Integrity'.

The NCC Naval Wing is organised into Naval Units at schools and colleges; each unit is commanded by a Commanding Officer (CO) with a naval instructor.

The Nau Sainik Camp (NSC) is held annually at a naval station; cadets compete in seamanship, boat pulling, sailing and drill.

Naval ranks of cadets: Cadet, Leading Cadet, Petty Officer Cadet and Senior Cadet; the equivalent of the Army's SUO is the Senior Cadet.

Naval traditions: 'Colours' at 0800 and sunset, 'Sunset' ceremony, 'Man and Cheer Ship', 'Crossing the Line' and the 'Wetting of the Admiral's Pennant'.

Naval terms: 'ahoy' (call), 'aye aye' (I understand and will comply), 'belay' (stop), 'bight' (loop of rope), 'bitter end' (end of rope), 'bosun' (boatswain), 'bridge' (command centre), 'galley' (kitchen).

The Indian Navy's rank of Admiral is the highest; the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) holds the rank of Admiral.

Navy Day (4 December) commemorates Operation Trident, the 1971 missile attack on Karachi harbour by the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy's submarine arm is the 'silent service'; India operates nuclear-powered and conventional submarines.

The 'Navy Ball' and 'Navy Week' are celebrated in the first week of December; the President's Fleet Review is held periodically at Mumbai or Visakhapatnam.

A 'bight' is a loop in a rope; a 'turn' is one round of a rope around an object; a 'round turn' is two turns around an object.

The 'overhand knot' is the simplest stopper knot; the 'figure-of-eight' is a better stopper because it is easier to untie.

The 'sheepshank' shortens a rope without cutting it; the 'timber hitch' is used to drag a log or spar.

The 'rolling hitch' takes the strain off a jammed rope; the 'clove hitch' is used to secure a rope to a spar or post.

The 'bowline' is used for a non-slip loop; the 'bowline on a bight' makes two loops in the middle of a rope.

The 'sheet bend' joins two ropes of unequal thickness; the 'double sheet bend' is more secure for ropes of very unequal size.

Boat work: 'oars' means hold the oars horizontally, 'boat oars' means bring them inboard, 'toss oars' means raise them vertically as a salute.

The 'coxswain' steers and commands the boat; the 'bowman' looks out and handles the bow rope; the 'stroke' sets the pace for the crew.

Safety in boat work: wear a life jacket, check the boat for leaks, know the 'man overboard' drill and never stand up in a small boat.

The magnetic compass has a needle that aligns with the Earth's magnetic field; the 'compass rose' is marked in degrees from 000 to 360.

The 'variation' is the angle between true north and magnetic north; it is east or west and is shown on the chart as a note with its annual rate of change.

The 'deviation' is the error caused by the ship's own magnetism; it is found from a 'deviation table' and is different on different headings.

The 'compass error' is the algebraic sum of variation and deviation; 'true bearing = compass bearing + easterly error − westerly error'.

A 'nautical mile' is 1,852 metres; a 'knot' is one nautical mile per hour; a 'cable' is one-tenth of a nautical mile (185.2 metres).

The 'Prime Meridian' passes through Greenwich; the 'International Date Line' roughly follows the 180-degree meridian.

Meteorological instruments: barometer (pressure), thermometer (temperature), anemometer (wind speed), wind vane (wind direction), hygrometer (humidity), rain gauge (rainfall).

The 'Beaufort scale' runs from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane); the 'Saffir-Simpson scale' classifies tropical cyclones from Category 1 to 5.

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow anticlockwise around a low-pressure system and clockwise around a high-pressure system.

First aid is the immediate help given to a casualty before medical treatment; the aims are to preserve life, prevent worsening and promote recovery.

The 'recovery position' is used for an unconscious casualty who is breathing; it keeps the airway open and prevents choking.

For bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth, elevate the limb and, if necessary, apply a pressure bandage; do not use a tourniquet unless trained.

For a sprain, use RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation; for a fracture, immobilise with a splint and do not straighten the limb.

For burns: cool with running water for at least 10 minutes, cover with a clean non-stick dressing, and do not apply oil, ghee or toothpaste.

Field craft: the section is the smallest tactical sub-unit; the 'section formation' includes single file, arrowhead, extended line and diamond.

Camp craft: pitch tents on level ground, dig a trench around the tent for drainage, and locate latrines at least 30 metres from water sources.

Water purification: boiling for at least 10 minutes, chlorine tablets (one tablet per litre), or filtering; never drink untreated water in camp.

Personal hygiene: daily bath, clean uniform, short nails, brushing teeth twice a day, and washing hands before meals prevent most camp diseases.

Adventure training in the NCC includes trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rappelling, parasailing, scuba diving, cycle and motorcycle expeditions.

Physical fitness components: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition.

The NCC physical test includes a 2.4 km run, sit-ups, push-ups and a shuttle run; the 'beep test' measures aerobic capacity.

Social service activities: blood donation camps, tree plantation, cleanliness drives, adult literacy, anti-drug awareness and disaster relief.

Community development: NCC cadets assist in pulse polio immunisation, election duty, traffic control, first aid posts at fairs and relief during floods and cyclones.

The NCC has adopted villages under the 'NCC Village Adoption' scheme and runs the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' and 'Save Water' campaigns.

Disaster management: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the apex body; the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the specialised response force.

Adventure training builds courage, endurance, teamwork and leadership; the NCC runs courses at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, and at various adventure camps.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the senior-most uniformed officer of the Indian Armed Forces; the post was created in 2019, and the first CDS was General Bipin Rawat.

The three services are the Indian Army (Army Day 15 January), the Indian Navy (Navy Day 4 December) and the Indian Air Force (Air Force Day 8 October).

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; the Ministry of Defence is headed by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister).

The National War Memorial, inaugurated in 2019 at India Gate, New Delhi, honours soldiers who died in post-independence conflicts.

The Indian Army's highest gallantry award is the Param Vir Chakra; the Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award; the Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are the next in order.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) develops defence technology; the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves capital acquisitions.

India's nuclear doctrine is 'No First Use' with credible minimum deterrence; the Strategic Forces Command manages nuclear assets.

The Agnipath scheme (2022) recruits Agniveers into the three services for a four-year tenure; the INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier.