Pune: For a young girl from a remote district of Maharashtra, walking into a five-star hotel in Pune for a job interview seems more than an internship opportunity.Weeks later, she walked out with an internship offer, becoming one of the many young cadets selected in a pilot initiative that officials claim could redefine how India connects its youth to employment.The scheme’s camps, organised by the NCC Maharashtra Directorate in partnership with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, offered nearly 150 internship opportunities across Pune and Mumbai. Of the 183 candidates who participated, 64 secured internships in sectors ranging from hospitality, finance, sales, and front-office operations.Major General Vivek Tyagi, additional director general, NCC Maharashtra Directorate, said, “India’s challenge is not the absence of opportunities, but, ensuring that opportunities reach every young person. These cadets have got an opportunity to show their skills in professional set up.”“The Maharashtra pilot explored whether this network, could also serve as a trusted education-to-employment bridge,” added the NCC officials. With recruiters from hospitality majors saying, NCC candidates stand out for their discipline, and willingness to learn.Officials involved believe, Maharashtra model could emerge as a scalable blueprint. While modest in numbers, officials say the pilot demonstrated the potential of leveraging the National Cadet Corps’ vast grassroots network to expand the reach of national skilling and employment programmes, particularly among youth from rural, tribal and aspirational districts. With nearly 20 lakh cadets spread across more than 700 districts and around 40 % female participation, NCC represents one of India’s largest organised youth ecosystems.
