President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that 658 youth have applied for the National Service Programme, demonstrating widespread enthusiasm for the initiative.

The President revealed this during the ratification ceremony of the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act, held at the President’s Office.

The Ministry of Defence opened applications to recruit youth for the National Service Programme on 1 May 2025.

Youth aged 16 to 28 are eligible to join the programme. Applicants under 18 must provide a parental consent form, and all participants must meet health requirements to qualify.

Providing further details on the programme, President Dr Muizzu stated that out of the 658 applicants, 538 are male and 120 are female. Of these, 316 applicants fall within the 16 to 18 age group.

The President emphasised that the National Service Programme aims to instill discipline, religious mindfulness, and a strong sense of national pride among the youth.

President Dr Muizzu further stated that upon completing the programme, participants will be better equipped to secure employment opportunities. He highlighted that they can choose to join the Maldives National Defence Force, the Maldives Police Service, or pursue careers in any other field of their interest.

Highlighting the programme’s goal to educate and nurture youth, President Dr Muizzu stated that it will help reduce the number of children involved in crime by guiding them to become responsible and valuable members of society.

Applications for the National Service Programme will remain open until the end of this month, with the Government planning to train 1,000 youth annually through the initiative.