Thirty-six cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA) visited the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) in Belagavi from September 12 to 15, 2026, gaining an insight into the Centre’s regimental heritage, traditions and training ethos.
The four-day visit provided the NDA cadets with an opportunity to experience the institutional environment of one of the Indian Army’s regimental training establishments and interact with personnel associated with the Maratha Light Infantry.
During their stay, the cadets also participated in an interaction with the Officiating Commandant of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre. The interaction provided an opportunity for the young cadets to gain perspectives on military life, regimental traditions and the responsibilities associated with a career in the Armed Forces.
The interaction with the Officiating Commandant served as an important motivational component of the visit, exposing the NDA cadets to the experiences and institutional values associated with military service.
The visit was not restricted to classroom or institutional exposure. The cadets also undertook white-water rafting at Dandeli, adding an element of adventure training to the programme.
White-water rafting requires participants to coordinate closely with one another while responding to changing conditions on the river. For military cadets, such activities can provide an environment for developing teamwork, communication, confidence and camaraderie alongside physical adventure.
The Dandeli activity therefore complemented the regimental exposure at MLIRC by giving the cadets an opportunity to participate in an outdoor activity requiring collective effort and coordination.
The National Defence Academy is India’s tri-services pre-commissioning training institution, where cadets destined for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force undergo joint training before moving on to service-specific training establishments.
Visits to operational, training and regimental institutions form an important part of the broader exposure available to cadets during their training. Such engagements allow cadets to understand the traditions, functioning and professional ethos of different components of the Armed Forces.
For the 36 NDA cadets visiting MLIRC, the programme provided direct exposure to the regimental environment of the Maratha Light Infantry. The interaction with the Centre’s leadership further enabled them to connect their academy training with the experiences and traditions of serving soldiers.
Regimental heritage remains an important element of the Indian Army’s institutional culture. Regiments preserve traditions, battle honours and customs that contribute to unit identity and cohesion. Exposure to these traditions at the training stage can help cadets understand the historical and cultural dimensions of military service.
The combination of heritage exposure, leadership interaction and adventure activity also made the visit a broader learning experience. While the interaction at the Regimental Centre focused on military ethos and motivation, the rafting activity at Dandeli provided an opportunity for the cadets to work together in an unfamiliar and physically demanding environment.
Team spirit and camaraderie are particularly relevant to future military officers, who will eventually be responsible for leading personnel and operating as part of larger formations. Activities requiring mutual trust and coordinated action can provide practical experiences that complement formal training.
The four-day programme at Belagavi thus brought together elements of military education, regimental culture and adventure training. It provided the NDA cadets with an opportunity to observe the traditions of the Indian Army while participating in activities designed to encourage teamwork and collective engagement.
The visit also strengthened the connection between the National Defence Academy and the Army’s regimental institutions. Such interactions expose cadets to the diverse professional environments they may encounter during their future military careers.
The programme concluded on September 15 after the cadets had experienced the regimental heritage of MLIRC and participated in the Dandeli rafting activity. The visit added another layer of practical and institutional exposure to their ongoing training at the NDA.
For the young cadets, the engagement with the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre and the adventure activity at Dandeli offered lessons extending beyond conventional academics. Regimental heritage provided an understanding of military tradition, leadership interaction offered motivation and perspective, while white-water rafting reinforced the importance of teamwork and camaraderie.
The four-day visit to Belagavi and Dandeli therefore served as a combination of military exposure and experiential learning, contributing to the development of NDA cadets as they continue their journey towards becoming future officers of the Indian Armed Forces.
