The National Service Scheme (NSS), which was introduced on September 24, 1969, by Dr. V.K. R.V. Rao, the education minister at the time, is an addition to the activities offered in India’s higher education system with the goal of enabling students to develop their personalities by performing community service while they are studying. The Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is responsible for protecting the program. Under the NSS, students are required to complete 2 years of service in addition to their academics. According to the program, students are required to complete 120 hours of community service annually and take part in at least one unique camp activity.

NSS was launched in 1969 in 37 Universities involving about 40,000 volunteers which has now spread over 657 Universities and 51 +2 Councils/Directorates, covering 20,669 Colleges/ Technical Institutions and 11,988 Senior Secondary School. Since inception , over 7.4 crore students have benefitted from NSS.

Benefits of National Service Scheme

Following are the benefits of the National Service Scheme

• Understanding the community in which they work is the organization’s key advantage.

• The organization supports community interactions as well.

• The organization must also identify the community’s needs and issues and include the community in problem-solving.

• Additionally, it aids in fostering a feeling of civic and social duty. It aids in applying information to find answers to issues affecting both individuals and communities.

• It also aids in establishing competence and responsibility sharing.

• By engaging in voluntary work, the organization will assist individuals in developing their abilities.

• Additionally, people will be able to develop their leadership skills. Natural calamities will be fought by the participants.

Major Activities

National Integration Camp (NIC):

The National Integration Camp (NIC) is organized every year and the duration of each camp is of 7 days with day-night boarding & lodging. These camps are held in different parts of the country. Each camp involves 200 NSS volunteers to undertake the scheduled activities.

Objectives of the National Integration Camp

Make the NSS volunteers aware of the following:

• Rich cultural diversity of India

• History of our diversified culture

• National pride through knowledge about India

• To integrate the nation through social service

Adventure Program:

The camps are held every year which are attended by approximately 1500 NSS volunteers with at least 50% of the volunteers being girl students. These camps are conducted in Himalayan Region in the North and Arunachal Pradesh in North East region. The adventure activities undertaken in these camps includes trekking of mountains, water rafting, Para-sailing and basic skiing.

Objectives of Adventure Program

• Promote various adventure activities among NSS volunteers

• Infuse the sense of love towards the various regions of India

• Enhance leadership qualities, fraternity, team spirit and risk taking capacity.

• Improvement of physical and mental strength

• Exposure to new vocational possibilities

NSS Republic Day Parade Camp:

The first Republic Day Camp of NSS Volunteers was held in 1988. The camp takes place in Delhi between 1st and 31st January every year with 200 NSS selected volunteers who are good in discipline, March-past and cultural activities.
A Contingent of selected NSS volunteers participates in the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi on 26th of January every year in accordance with the guidelines and requisition of the Ministry of Defence.

Objectives of NSS Republic Day Parade Camp

• Enable the volunteers to interact with fellow members hailing from various parts of India.

• Experience the tradition, custom, culture, language of all states of India.

• Provide a chance to develop overall personality of the Student volunteers.

• Constitute the bond of patriotism, national integration, brotherhood and communal harmony.

National Youth Festivals:

National Youth Festivals are organized every year from 12th to 16th January by the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in collaboration with the State Governments in different parts of the country. Eminent guests, speakers and youth icons are invited to address and interact with about 1500 participating NSS volunteers during the National Youth Festivals.

Objectives of National Youth Festivals

• Make the volunteers aware of the various festivals celebrated in the country

• Remind the volunteers of the cultural importance of festivals celebrated in our country

• Provide a chance to the NSS volunteers to interact with the resource person/speaker/youth icons