National Service Scheme (NSS)
November 13, 2024 2024-11-16 9:53National Service Scheme (NSS)
The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunity to the students of 10+2 level and students of Technical Institution, Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges and University level of India to take part in various government led community service activities & programs.
The sole aim of the NSS is to provide hands on experience to young students in delivering community service. Since inception of the NSS in the year 1969, the number of students strength increased from 40,000 to over 4 million up to the end of 2021 students in various universities, colleges and Institutions of higher learning have volunteered to take part in various community service programs.
National Service Scheme (NSS) was introduced in 1969 with primary objective of developing the personality character of the student of youth through voluntary community service. Education through service is the purpose of the NSS. The ideological orientation of the NSS is the inspired by ideals of MAHATMA GANDHI. Very appropriately, the motto of NSS is “NOT ME BUT YOU”. An NSS volunteer places the community before self.
NOT ME BUT YOU.
स्वय से पहले आप | नाहंवभवान
Community service through education, Education through community service
Student personality development through community service.
Swami Vivekanand was proclaimed the idol personality of the youth by the Indian government in 1985, and he has regarded as a motivational figure for the NSS since then.
NSS focused on developing the following qualities/ competencies among the volunteers:
- To understand the community in which the NSS volunteers work and to understand themselves in relation to their
- To identify the needs and problems of the community and involve themselves in problem solving
- To develop among themselves a sense of social and civic
- To utilize their knowledge in finding practical solution to individual and community
- To gain skills in mobilizing community
- To acquire leadership qualities and democratic
- To develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural
- To Practice national integration and social
NSS attempts to establish meaningful linkages between “Campus and Community”, “College and Village” and “Knowledge and Action.
All the youth volunteers who opt to serve the nation through the NSS led community service wear the NSS badge with pride and a sense of responsibility towards helping needy.
- The Konark wheel in the NSS badge having 8 bars signifies the 24 hours of a the day, reminding the wearer to be ready for the service of the nation round the clock e. for 24 hours.
- Red colour in the badge signifies energy and spirit displayed by the NSS
- The Blue colour signifies the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the
An NSS volunteer who takes part in the community service program would either be a college level or a senior secondary level student. Being an active member these student volunteers would have the exposure and experience to be the following:
- It helps in acquiring leadership qualities and democratic attitude
- It provides diversified opportunity to students in colleges and universities to develop their personality through community
- It develops a sense of involvement in the task of nation
- Volunteer’s interaction with the slum dwellers and villagers expose them to the realities of life and bring about a change in their social
- It helps in developing positive attitude, self-confidence, courage and
- It helps in developing his/her skill to perform certain job, quality of an organizer, an administrator and development of personality as a
- He/She gets opportunities to see the community closely and thus gets an experience of human nature in relation to his/her
- Plantation
- Blood Donation Camp
- Cleanliness Drive
- Awareness Campaigns
- Rally’s
- Street Plays
- Literacy
- One Day Camps
- Health Check-up Camps
- Eye Checkup Camps
- Promotion of government schemes
- Plastic Free Campaign
- Webinars/Seminars in collaboration with various NGO’s and field experts
There are three certificates under NSS that one volunteer can get by doing community service
- A-Certificate :- At 10+2 level after working for 120 hours for each one
- B-Certificate :- At College/University level after working for 240 hours for two years.
- C-Certificate :-Working for one year on a particular subject and making a working report of at least 20-30
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India had instituted the National Service Scheme Awards to recognize the voluntary service rendered by NSS volunteers, Program Officers,
N.S.S. units and the university/senior secondary council. These awards were instituted in the year 1993- 1994. Since then, these awards are given away every year at various Levels. The details of these awards are as follows:-
| S.no. | Category | No. of awards | Value of each |
| 1 | University/+Council | 1 | Rs. 3,00,000/- |
| 2 | Upcoming University | 1 | Rs. 2,00,000/- |
| 3 | Program Officer | 10 | Rs. 70,000/- |
| 4 | NSS Unit | 10 | Rs. 1,00,000/- |
| 5 | NSS Volunteer | 30 | Rs. 50,000/- |
- To recognize outstanding contribution by NSS student volunteers, NSS Program Officers and the Program Coordinators in community service
- To encourage young NSS student volunteers to develop their personality through community
- To encourage the Program Officers and the Program Coordinators of NSS for catering the needs of National Service Scheme through the NSS
- To motivate NSS Volunteers for continuing their selfless service towards community
