Bhubaneswar: Higher education minister Suryabanshi Surajon Sunday said students will be encouraged to prepare for entering the armed forces, central armed police forces, and police to serve the nation. The govt will strengthen the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and physical education curriculum in colleges and universities so that more youths can contribute to the nation’s safety and security.“Youths from the north and north-western states of the country have an interest in joining the Indian armed forces, and many of them are joining the defence services. Our youths are also interested, but they do not get access to the right infrastructure and counselling,” said the minister. Suraj said the NCC is a significant platform, and the state will strengthen it. “In the recently implementedOdisha Universities Amendment Act, 2024, we introduced physical education, fitness and NCC initiatives. We are taking necessary steps for the entry of students into the armed forces, central armed police forces, and police services,” Suraj said.The Odisha govt has developed a credit framework based on guidelines set by the UGC, under which students can involve themselves in skill development, internships, community service and extracurricular activities.There is a provision of credit points for NCC cadets and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers in the newly introduced NEP 2020 course. The higher education department has started giving credits to students taking part in NCC, NSS and sports education. These activities have been included under the choice-based credit system (CBCS).The minister further mentioned that Odia language, literature and culture department has coordinated the effort to safely bring students studying in Jammu and Kashmir’s institutions to Odisha. “Many of them reached home, and others are on their way to Odisha,” he added.