General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command Lt. Gen. SR Ghosh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, ADC today called on the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence today evening and presented him a rolling silver trophy ‘Western Command Trophy for Best Cadet’ on behalf of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution Mohali.It may be recalled that Lt. Gen. Ghosh had announced this trophy for the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution Mohali in month of March during a function to present Vijayanta Tank to the institute.Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed for making all out efforts to ensure that more and more youngsters from Punjab join the Armed forces as officers. Badal said that for this only the state government has set up Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution at Mohali to impart world class training to the youth so as to enable them to join the Armed forces. He said that the first batch of 45 cadets in the institute had been getting training from April 2011 and the second batch has also started getting training from April, 2012. He further said that to motivate our youth to join naval services, Punjab government was also setting up a Naval academy at Ropar. The Chief Minister further said that in another significant decision the state government had recently given 200 acres of prime land for the setting up of Service Selection Centre at Ropar and had even handed over its possession to the Army. Badal further said that he had also urged the Union Defense Minister AK Antony to lay its foundation stone at the earliest to enable Punjab-the Sword Arm of India, sending its sons to Armed Forces in conformity with its martial spirit as an age old tradition. He also informed the Army officer that in a unique initiative the state government has also set two NCC Nagars at Danewala (Muktsar) and Ropar at a total cost of Rs 16 crore. The Chief Minister also said that the state government was also making stupendous efforts to get the Eco Battalions allocated for the state from the Union government. Lauding the efforts made by the state government for preparing and motivating the students to join the Armed forces, Lt. Gen. Ghosh said that there was a lot of potential amongst the youngsters of the state which needs to be groomed in such institutions so as to enable them to join the forces. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KJS Cheema.