Salem, Tamil Nadu, November 2, 2026: The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate North Eastern Region (NER) has finished on top at the Inter Directorate Drone Competition 2026, which was conducted in Salem, Tamil Nadu, from October 23 to November 2, 2026.
Strong showing across key events
The result is a notable achievement for the NCC North Eastern Region, whose cadets were praised for their technical proficiency, precision, innovation and flying skills in a contest centred on emerging drone technologies.
Across the competition, the NER contingent secured first place in two of the four major events: Drone Assembly and Flying Skills. These two wins were decisive in the Directorate’s overall championship finish.
The Drone Assembly event assessed the cadets’ technical understanding, practical engineering abilities and skill in putting drone systems together. The Flying Skills event examined how accurately and confidently they could operate drones, highlighting the value of practical training and technological competence.
Individual recognition for JUO Audrea P. Jyrwa
Among the individual honours, Junior Under Officer (JUO) Audrea P. Jyrwa of the North Eastern Region contingent won the Individual Medal for Best Senior Wing (SW) Overall in Flying.
Her award added to the Directorate’s success and reflected the flying ability and technical knowledge shown by the NER cadets during the event. It also pointed to the growing participation and achievement of women cadets in technology-oriented NCC activities.
Why the competition mattered
The competition offered NCC cadets from different directorates a platform to demonstrate their understanding and practical skills in drone technology, an area with expanding use in defence, surveillance, disaster management and civilian operations.
Unmanned aerial systems are increasingly important in modern military operations, making drone-related technical skills useful for young cadets interested in emerging technologies.
Through events such as drone assembly and flying, the NCC seeks to build practical engineering knowledge, problem-solving ability, teamwork and confidence in handling advanced technological systems.
The Directorate’s victory is also significant because it reflects the growing technical capability and competitive standard of cadets from the northeastern states of India.
Winning first place in two major events while also taking the overall title shows the contingent’s preparation, discipline and ability to perform successfully against cadets from other NCC directorates.
The outcome further underlines the NCC’s broader emphasis on combining discipline, leadership and teamwork with technological awareness and practical innovation.
For the North Eastern Region, the success of JUO Audrea P. Jyrwa adds another layer to the championship, bringing individual recognition alongside the Directorate’s collective result.
The performance at Salem stands as an important moment for the NCC North Eastern Region, reflecting the effort of its cadets, instructors and supporting personnel in a field tied to emerging technology.
By emerging as the Overall Champion of the Inter Directorate Drone Competition 2026, NCC Directorate NER has set a strong benchmark in technical proficiency, innovation and competition, while also highlighting the increasing role of drone technology in youth development.
