1.      Consequent to the NCC coming into being through the XXXI Act of Parliament in 1948 the Girls Division was raised in August 1949. The first batch of nine ladies was trained at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, Delhi Cantt, from 25 Apr to 24 Jul 1949 and commissioned at an impressive passing out parade reviewed by Maj Gen Kulwant Singh, CGS, Army. Subsequent training for NCC Lady Officers was conducted at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, 14 Gorkha Training Centre and the Kumaon Regimental Centre between 1949 and 1959.  Later, a Women’s Wing at NCC OTA, Kamptee, was established in 1959 for training women officers. The commissioning & refresher course including NCC Rifle course was conducted here along with male officers till 1964.

2.      The increase in the strength of girl cadets over the years, particularly with inclusion of NCC Rifles in 1962, necessitated requirement of more lady officers to impart training.  As the Women’s Wing at NCC OTA, Kamptee, could not cope with both the increased training and administrative commitments of the lady officers, the need for setting up a separate training establishment for ladies was further strengthened with the induction of Whole Time Lady Officers (WTLOs) and Girl Cadet Instructors (GCIs) in the NCC, in 1962 and 1963 respectively. Numerous locations were considered and finally, the NCC College for Women was established at Gwalior in October 1964.   

3.      The three storied building currently housing the NCC Officers Training Academy was constructed in 1889 by the late Madho Rao Scindia, the then ruler of Gwalior, as a Guest House for his polo playing friends. Built in a campus measuring 16.739 Acres, this magnificent building has 66 rooms (22 on each floor), four halls and 10 annexes.  During the Second World War, this building was used by HQ South East Asia Command under Lord Mountbatten, HQ 17 Infantry Division and by the Chindit Brigade.  After World War II, it was put to use as the Grand Hotel till it was acquired in 1964 by the MOD at a cost of Rs 19.57 Lakhs to be utilised as the NCC College for Women.

4.      NCC Officers’ Training Academy, Gwalior, housed in the erstwhile Royal Guest House of the Scindia’s, is the premier training institution harnessing Women Power in the NCC. This is the only Academy of its kind in India and is the Alma Mater of all Whole Time Lady Officers, Associate NCC Officers and Girl Cadet Instructors.

5.      Maj Gen Virendra Singh, then Director General of NCC visited the College in January 1965, and having approved of the effort put in by the first batch of officers posted to the institution, decided that the College was ready to commence training. The first course of 43 Junior Wing and 45 Senior Wing ANOs commenced on 12 April 1965. The Junior Wing course (7th Course) of two months duration terminated on 12 Jun 1965 with the Passing Out Parade being reviewed by Commander SD Kale, DDG NCC, MP Directorate. A month later, the three month pre-commission training course for Senior Wing (9th Course) terminated on 10 July 1965, with the Passing Out Parade being reviewed by Shri YB Chavan, then Defence Minister.

6.       The Defence Minister formally inaugurated the College on 10 Jul 1965. Speaking on the occasion, he laid stress on the need for imparting NCC training to women as they would be a source of great inspiration to their families and an asset to Indian society. He stated that Gwalior was an ideal location for such an institution because of its geographical, historical and traditional settings. He asked the College to train 500 cadets and officers every year with the aim of carrying the message of ‘Unity and Discipline’ to all corners of India.  A marble plaque at the entrance to the Ashoka Hall commemorates his historic visit. In 1982, the college was rechristened as NCC Women Officers Training School (WOTS) and again in 2002 was re-designated as NCC Officers Training Academy (OTA

BRIG VINAY MOHAN SHARMA COMMANDANT NCC OTA GWALIOR

Additional Director General

Brigadier Vinay Mohan Sharma did his initial schooling from Sainik School, Sujanpur Tihra (HP) and joined National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla in Jan 1986  and joined Indian Military Academy in Jan 1989.  The gentleman officer passed out from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun on 16 Dec 1989 and was commissioned in 3 JAT Regiment which he later had the honour to command. Commencing his Army Career from  North East sector, the officer has a unique distinction of operating in Jammu & Kashmir, North East, Plains of Punjab, Deserts of Rajasthan, High Altitude and Insurgency environment.  Graduate from Defence Services Staff College Wellington, officer has tenated various staff and command appointments.  He commanded his battalion in super high altitude and later in deserts of Rajasthan and commanded Infantry Brigade as part of strike formation.  He also had the distinction of having been an instructor in prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Deputy Commandant & Chief Instructor at  JAT Regiment Training Centre, Bareilly.  He also had an opportunity to be Staff Officer to Military Secretary at Army HQs.  He has held the coveted appointment of Deputy Director General Recruiting North Eastern States with six AROs under his command looking after recruitment in all seven states of North East.  Before taking over his present assignment as Commandant NCC Officers Training Academy, the officer was Group Commander NCC, Gwalior, looking after NCC training activities in eight districts of Northern MP.  A keen sportsman, Brigadier Vinay Mohan Sharma keeps himself fit with actively participating in Basketball, Tennis, and Golf.