CAG Audit 2026: Decline in Military Recruitment Targets from NCC and Sainik Schools

A 2026 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicates a significant decrease in recruitment into the Indian Armed Forces from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Sainik Schools. The audit revealed that between 2019 and 2022, nearly 38% of positions reserved for NCC cadets were not filled, with only a small number of ‘C’ certificate holders ultimately becoming commissioned officers in the Army. The full report is available from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, tabled in Parliament in December 2025 and reported on in January 2026, flagged a significant shortfall in the intake of candidates from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Sainik Schools into the Armed Forces. Despite these institutions being key feeder systems for the military, they have consistently failed to meet their recruitment targets.

Key Findings on National Cadet Corps (NCC)

● Vacancies Unfilled : Between 2019 and 2022, 38% of vacancies reserved specifically for NCC cadets in the Armed Forces remained unfilled.

● Low SSB Participation : Although there is a “Special Entry Scheme” for NCC ‘C’ certificate holders, only 17.66% of eligible candidates appeared for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews during the 2019–2022 period.

● Success Rate : Of the 282,000 cadets who passed the ‘C’ certificate exam during this period, only 289 were eventually inducted as officers into the Indian Army.

● Regional Gaps : The performance shortfall was notably higher in the North-Eastern Region of the NCC.

Key Findings on Sainik Schools

● Downward Trend : Intake into the National Defence Academy (NDA) from Sainik Schools has declined despite an increasing number of Class XII students.

● Missed Targets : The overall NDA intake from 25 Sainik Schools dropped from 13.4% in 2019–20 to 10.57% in 2020–21, falling well short of the 20% annual target.Success Rate: Over a three-year period (2019–2022), these schools achieved only a 9.7% success rate for NDA entry.

● Regional Gaps : The East Zone of Sainik Schools showed the most significant performance gap.

Contributing Factors & Recommendations

● Funding Issues : The CAG noted that state governments have failed to provide regular and adequate funds, leading to the cancellation of 43.32% of NCC camps in regions like West Bengal and Sikkim.

● Infrastructure & Training : Shortages in trained manpower and deteriorating infrastructure in Sainik Schools were cited as major hurdles.

● CAG Recommendations : The report suggests increasing funding, improving the utilization of existing resources, enhancing training camp participation, and resolving manpower issues to restore these institutions’ roles as effective feeder channels for the Armed Forces.

The CAG Report 2026: Analyzing the Critical Shortfall in Armed Forces Intake from NCC and Sainik Schools

The January 2026 release of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report has sparked a national debate regarding the efficacy of India’s premier youth training institutions. The audit, tabled in Parliament, reveals a troubling disconnect between the mandate of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Sainik Schools and their actual output into the Indian Armed Forces. Despite significant public expenditure, both institutions are failing to meet their primary objectives as feeder channels for the military.

The Mandate and the Crisis

Established in 1948, the NCC was designed to foster military-oriented values and provide a steady stream of motivated youth for the defense services. Similarly, Sainik Schools, founded in 1961, were specifically tasked with preparing students for the National Defence Academy (NDA).The 2026 audit indicates that these goals are increasingly out of reach. Over the period of 2019 to 2022, the report highlights a systematic failure to fill reserved vacancies and a declining trend in officer-level inductions.

Findings: Sainik Schools and National Cadet Corps (NCC)

A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report highlighted a significant decline in the intake of candidates from Sainik Schools and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) into the Armed Forces in late 2025. The report noted that despite being primary feeder systems, these institutions missed recruitment targets due to funding issues and structural inefficiencies. You can read the full report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

Root Causes of the Shortfall

The CAG report identifies several systemic issues contributing to this decline, ranging from financial mismanagement to infrastructure decay.

● Financial Negligence by State Governments : The audit observed that state governments frequently failed to allot adequate funds against projections. For instance, in West Bengal and Sikkim, 43.32% of NCC camps were canceled due to a lack of funds.

● Infrastructure and Manpower Shortages : Sainik Schools suffer from a lack of regular funding for basic infrastructure maintenance and meeting pension liabilities for retiring employees. Furthermore, a shortage of trained manpower to prepare cadets for the competitive SSB process has been a major hurdle.

● Lack of Specialized Training : A 2023-24 report by the Standing Committee on Defence, echoed by the CAG, noted that the NCC has not given “due weightage” to training cadets specifically to become officers, focusing instead on broader youth engagement.

● Inconsistent Scholarship Scales : State and Union Territory governments have not followed uniform scholarship scales for Sainik School students, leading to financial disparities for students studying outside their home states.

Financial Expenditure vs. Results

The combined expenditure on NCC and Sainik Schools over a five-year period amounted to ₹10,043.66 crore. The CAG has questioned the value of this investment given the consistent failure to meet recruitment targets. While the Ministry of Defence noted a long-term increase in selections compared to 2010, the CAG maintained that these improvements do not negate the massive current gaps.

CAG Recommendations for 2026 and Beyond

To rectify these issues, the CAG has proposed several critical reforms :

● Stabilizing Funding : Ensuring a regular flow of funds from both central and state governments to prevent the cancellation of training camps and ensure the maintenance of school infrastructure.

● Enhancing Training Participation : Improving the quality and frequency of training camps to better prepare cadets for the SSB and NDA examinations.

● Uniform Scholarship Policies : Standardizing scholarship scales across all states to ensure equitable support for all students.

● Strategic Recruitment Focus : Revamping the curriculum to give more weight to officer-level training and resolving manpower shortages in training units.

The 2026 CAG report serves as a critical warning for India’s defense establishment. Without immediate intervention to address funding and training deficiencies, the institutions meant to be the backbone of military recruitment risk becoming obsolete in their primary mission.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Ques 1 : What was the vacancy shortfall for NCC cadets ?

Ans : Between 2019 and 2022, approximately 38% of the vacancies reserved specifically for NCC cadets in the Armed Forces remained unfilled.

Ques 2 : Why were a high percentage of NCC training camps cancelled ?

Ans : In regions like West Bengal and Sikkim, 43.32% of camps were cancelled due to state governments failing to provide adequate and timely funding.

Ques 3 : How did Sainik Schools perform against their NDA intake targets ?

Ams : Sainik Schools achieved an intake rate of only 10.57% in 2020–21, failing to meet the Ministry of Defence’s annual target of 20%.

Ques 4 : What is the “Special Entry Scheme” participation rate for NCC ‘C’ certificate holders ?

Ans : Only 17.66% of eligible candidates utilized the scheme to appear for Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews during the audit period.

Ques 5 : Which geographical regions showed the most significant performance gaps ?

Ams : The report flagged the North-Eastern Region for the NCC and the East Zone for Sainik Schools as areas with the most critical recruitment shortfalls.