President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has congratulated the graduates of the second batch of the Maldives National Service programme, describing the initiative as an important step in building a responsible and resilient young generation.

The President conveyed his congratulations in a message shared on X following the graduation ceremony of participants who completed training under the programme. A total of 343 participants from 112 islands graduated from the latest batch, including 63 females and 280 males. Of the graduates, 113 participants were below the age of 18.

The key initiative was first launched in September 2025, and has since seen growing participation from youth across the country. More than 1,200 applicants competed for the initial intake, while this year’s programme received over 1,700 applications.

The Maldives National Service programme was introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen nationalism, discipline and civic responsibility among youth. Participants undergo training in areas including leadership, physical fitness, first aid, self-defence, responsible citizenship and disaster preparedness, alongside programmes aimed at promoting Islamic values, ethics and national identity.

The programme is intended to help develop capable and productive young citizens while also preparing participants for future opportunities, including careers linked to national service and security sectors. Minister of Defence and National Service Hassan Rasheed has also announced that two additional rounds of training involving 350 participants are scheduled to be conducted later this year.