My Journey to Becoming the All India Best Cadet – RDC 2026

SUO Tanu Bhan, 36 MH BN, Pune Group, Maharashtra Dte

Becoming the All India Best Cadet was one of the most challenging and enriching experiences of my NCC journey.

When I look back at the journey, I realise that the title was never about excelling in just one skill. It was about constantly working on myself and trying to become better in every aspect.

The Best Cadet Competition at RDC 2026 was a long and highly competitive process. The competition was challenging not only because of the limited opportunities but also because I had to prepare myself across multiple fronts simultaneously.

For me, the competition primarily involved five major components:

• Drill
• Written Examination
• Rifle Shooting
• Personal Interview
• Personality Assessment

Each component tested a different quality.

Drill tested my discipline, coordination and turnout. The written examination tested my knowledge and awareness. Rifle shooting required concentration and precision. The personal interview tested my confidence and clarity of thought, while the personality assessment focused greatly on communication, expression and my overall personality.

This made me realise very early that I could not prepare for only one aspect and expect to become the Best Cadet.

I had to work on myself as a complete cadet.

From Maharashtra to RDC 2026

I was fortunate to represent Maharashtra at RDC 2026.

Reaching Delhi was itself a proud moment for me, but I knew that the competition at the national level would be extremely tough.

I was now among some of the finest cadets from different parts of the country. Every cadet had their own strengths, achievements and experiences. Instead of constantly thinking about who was better than me, I decided to focus on one thing:

Give my best at every stage.

I did not want to spend my RDC experience worrying about the final result. I wanted to focus on the task in front of me, learn from every opportunity and keep improving.

That mindset helped me throughout the competition.

How I Prepared for the Written Examination

For the written examination, I primarily focused on the Common Subject Book and Special Subject Book.

I personally preferred using the official books published by DG NCC as my primary study material. I wanted to understand the subjects properly rather than simply collect multiple books and resources.

At the same time, I did not restrict my preparation only to what could appear in the question paper.

I also focused on Current Affairs and General Knowledge because I knew that these would be useful in other aspects of the competition as well.

They helped me during:

• Interviews
• Lecturettes
• Group discussions
• General conversations
• Speaking activities
• Communication-based assessments

My advice to cadets preparing for the Best Cadet Competition would be to choose one reliable source or a manageable set of resources and follow them consistently.

I don't think studying from ten different sources automatically makes preparation better. What matters is how well you understand and retain what you study.

My biggest lesson from preparation

There is no single formula for becoming an All India Best Cadet. Every cadet has different strengths and weaknesses.

I had my own strengths, but I also had areas where I needed improvement. Identifying those shortcomings and working on them consistently was an important part of my preparation.

Rifle Shooting: Building Concentration and Confidence

Rifle shooting was another important part of the competition. For me, consistent practice was extremely important.

I worked on my shooting through regular practice, along with dry practice, meditation and concentration exercises. These helped me improve my ability to remain focused and composed. I believe that confidence with a weapon comes from repeated and disciplined practice.

You cannot expect to suddenly become confident on the day of the competition. You have to build that confidence beforehand.

For me, shooting was not just about hitting the target. It was also about learning to control my mind, maintain concentration and perform under pressure.

Drill: Listen to Your Ustads

If I had to give one simple piece of advice to a cadet preparing for drill, it would be:

Listen to your ustads and give your absolute best.

Drill requires discipline, repetition and attention to detail.

There were times when I had to receive corrections and work on the same things repeatedly. But I gradually understood that every correction was actually an opportunity to improve.

Instead of thinking, “Why am I being corrected again?”, I learned to think:

“What can I do differently next time?”

The more effort you put into drill, the more you get back from it.

Good drill does not happen overnight. It comes from repetition, discipline and the willingness to keep improving.

Communication and Speaking Skills: Practice is the Only Way

One of the most important lessons I learned during this journey was that there is no shortcut to improving communication.

The answer is simple:

Practice.

Speak more. Prepare more. Participate more.

I tried to make use of every opportunity I had to speak in front of others. Lecturettes, group discussions, stage hosting and other speaking activities provide excellent opportunities to improve.

Initially, speaking in front of people can feel uncomfortable. But the more you do it, the more natural it becomes. I don't believe confidence and articulation suddenly appear one day. They develop gradually through repeated exposure and practice.

Personal Interview: Why I Believe Honesty Matters

The personal interview was another important part of the Best Cadet Competition.

For me, honesty was one of the most important qualities during an interview. Anyone preparing for SSB would understand this idea. An interview is not about giving rehearsed or artificially impressive answers. It is about understanding what you genuinely think and expressing it properly.

I believe a candidate should neither speak unnecessarily nor restrict themselves too much. The aim should simply be to:

Understand the question → Think clearly → Answer honestly → Communicate confidently.

I tried to remain genuine rather than trying to present a version of myself that I thought the interviewer wanted to see.

My Experience in Delhi During RDC 2026

The Best Cadet Competition was an important part of my RDC journey, but it was certainly not the only memorable part.

Once I reached Delhi, I consciously tried to make the most of every opportunity.

One of the most exciting experiences for me was getting the opportunity to work as a Master of Ceremonies (MC).

I was fortunate to host seven events, including events attended by several senior dignitaries.

These included the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh; Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta; Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh; Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla; the Defence Secretary, and other distinguished guests.

For me, stage hosting was particularly special because elocution and hosting are among my strongest skills.

I genuinely enjoyed being on stage and tried to give my best every time I was given the responsibility.

I was also the main flag-area briefer and got the opportunity to participate in the cultural event as an MC.

These experiences gave me opportunities to use my strengths, but more importantly, they helped me become more confident and comfortable in high-pressure situations.

I Tried Not to Think About the Final Result

One of the biggest things I consciously tried to do during RDC was not think constantly about the final result.

I knew why I was there. I knew that I wanted to perform well. But constantly thinking about “Will I become the Best Cadet?” would not improve my performance.

So, whenever I participated in an activity, I tried to focus on that activity itself. If it was drill, I focused on drill. If it was an interview, I focused on the interview. If I was hosting an event, I focused on hosting it well. If I was learning something new, I focused on learning.

I wanted to give my best, learn from every experience and live in the moment. Looking back, I believe this mindset was extremely important for me.

What I Learned From the Best Cadet Competition

My journey taught me that becoming a Best Cadet is not about being perfect.

It is about being willing to improve.

I learned that:

1. You have to be a complete cadet

Drill alone is not enough. Academics alone are not enough. Communication alone is not enough. You have to work on yourself across multiple areas.

2. Your weaknesses deserve as much attention as your strengths

It is easy to keep improving something you are already good at. The real growth comes when you work on the areas where you struggle.

3. Corrections are valuable

Whether it was drill or any other activity, corrections helped me understand where I needed to improve.

4. Communication requires practice

There is no shortcut. The more you speak, the more comfortable you become.

5. Preparation creates confidence

Whether it was shooting, academics or an interview, preparation gave me the confidence to perform.

6. Don't constantly compare yourself with others

At RDC, you will meet extremely talented cadets. Instead of constantly asking:

“Am I better than them?”

Ask yourself:

“Am I better than I was yesterday?”

Becoming the All India Best Cadet

When I started this journey, I knew that the competition would be difficult.

But I don't think I ever fully understood how much I would learn from it.

The title of All India Best Cadet – Army Wing (Senior Wing) is something I will always be proud of, but the journey towards it means even more to me.

The long hours of preparation, the corrections during drill, the concentration required during shooting, the pressure of interviews, the speaking opportunities and the experiences at RDC all contributed to my growth.

Looking back, I believe the biggest lesson is simple:

The Best Cadet is not created on the day the medal is awarded.

The medal is only the final recognition.

The real journey happens in the days, weeks and months of preparation before that moment.

For every cadet dreaming of reaching that stage, my message is:

Give your best, keep improving, accept your shortcomings, make the most of every opportunity and trust your preparation.

Don't just prepare to become the Best Cadet. Prepare to become a better cadet every single day.

That, for me, was the real journey to becoming the All India Best Cadet at RDC 2026.

My Advice to Future Best Cadet Aspirants

If you are preparing for the NCC Best Cadet Competition, my biggest advice is to start working on yourself early.

Don't wait until you know that you are going to RDC. Read regularly. Stay updated with current affairs. Practise drill. Improve your shooting. Speak in front of people. Participate in lecturettes and group discussions. Understand yourself before you enter an interview.

Most importantly, identify your weaknesses.You don't need to become someone else to become a Best Cadet. You need to become the best version of yourself. And when you finally reach RDC, don't spend every moment thinking about the medal or the title.

Give your best in every activity. Listen to your instructors. Accept corrections. Take up opportunities. Learn from your fellow cadets.

And most importantly, enjoy the journey.