Khushi Srivastava From Lucknow To Be Part Of NCC Contingent in Republic Day Parade

Khushi Srivastava from Lucknow will participate in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in Delhi on January 26. She is the only cadet from Lucknow to be selected to be a part of the 200 strong National Cadet Corps(NCC) contingent for the parade.

The cadets for the contingent are chosen from various parts of the country. A total of 13 cadets including nine girls and four boys are selected from the state of Uttar Pradesh.

"My dream is finally about to become a reality. It will be a great honour for me to represent Lucknow at the national level," Srivastava told Times Of India. She said that she had been trying for it for the last few years.

Khushi Srivastava is a B.Sc. final year student of Isabella Thoburn College. She is an Under Officer (UO) in the senior wing of girls NCC Cadets under the 19 UP Girls Battalion. 

After several attempts, her dreams have finally come true. " Consistent training and practice helped me pass the four stages of tough competition in the selection process," she proudly recalls.

She added that most of the credit for her success goes to her parents. " It was the consistent support from my parents which helped me pursue my goal and serve the country. They helped me to stay focused and achieve the accomplishment.," she said.

Her dream for the future is to join the armed forces as an officer. She did her schooling from the Chowk branch of the City Montessori School, Lucknow. 

Last year, Srivastava had participated in Thal Sainik Camp. This experience gave her exposure to the salient aspects of army training. Further, it generated a competitive spirit as well as cultivated a sense of discipline and leadership within her. 

She said that she had decided to apply for the Republic Day Camp since it's the most prestigious camp in NCC. However, she added that NCC is considered a tough choice for a girl in our society.

The UP Girls’ Contingent Officer Lt Reeta Nigam said that there are three girls from Agra, two from Bareilly and one each from Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Prayagraj among the nine girls from the state.

Republic Day Parade, 2021

Among one of the most prestigious ceremonies the nation hosts, the Republic Day Parade is definitely at the top. Despite the obstructions due to the pandemic, the parade is set to happen on January 26. But this year there are some changes.

The most highlighting feature is that unlike every year, there will be no Chief Guest. Also, a contingent of Bangladesh armed forces is set to join the parade. Read further details here.

Another proud act of the parade is that the Republic Day parade flypast will be lead by a woman, Swathi Rathore for the first time. In yet another historical event, India will witness its first female fighter pilot, Bhawana Kanth in the parade.