National Service Scheme (NSS) was launched on 24 September 1969 by Dr. V.K. R.V. Rao. He was the Educational Minister at that time. NSS is an addition of activities in the higher education system of India to enable students to develop their personalities by giving community service while they are studying. The NSS comes under the protection of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.
Students who come under the NSS should have 2 years of services along with their studies. In this scheme, students must contribute 120 hours of service every year. And also, participate in at least one special camp program. The purpose of the National Service Scheme is education by community service.
The overall purpose is education which provides the service to the community is the activity through which this objective is attained. Special camping programs and regular activities are the two main activities of this scheme. The NSS headquarters is situated in New Delhi. The National Head who manages the scheme is the Programme Advisor, of NSS. The motto of this scheme is “Not me But You”.
History of NSS
S. Radhakrishnan started the National Service Scheme as a voluntary national service in academic institutions. This began after the independence of the University Grants Commission only. After that, in January 1950, the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) again reviewed the decision in a meeting. In the meeting, the board had considered other country’s experiences that adopted the same Scheme in the same field. Therefore, the board came up with the concept that students and teachers must devote some of their precious time to voluntary social work.
Even the first five year Draft adopted by the Government in 1952 saw the need for learning labor and social service by India’s students. There was a trial of the Scheme for one year. A letter was sent to the chief ministers by Jawaharlal Nehru that considered the concept of this voluntary Social Service as an essential consideration or requirement for graduation, in the year 1958. Then he recommended the Ministry of Education make a suitable scheme for introducing the need for national service into educational institutions.
Objectives and Aims of NSS
Objectives and aims of the National Service Scheme are mentions below:
- To aid students to develop a democratic attitude and leadership qualities.
- Serving students share responsibilities and develop skills towards group living.
- To aid develop civic and social responsibilities.
- To aid students to understand their roles in the community.
- Assisting students to develop a capacity to handle emergencies and natural disasters.
- Help gain skills for organizing participation in the community.
- To assist students to make use of their abilities and knowledge to find practical solutions to community and individual problems.
- To point out the problems and requirements of the community and assist in solving them in case any problem arises.
- To identify the type of community they work in.
- To help students practice national interrogation and social harmony.
Benefits of Joining NSS
The main benefits of joining the NSS are:
- 5% reservation in admission or as chosen by the institute.
- The NSS gives an excellent opportunity to use a part of spare time to understand and help the poor and the underprivileged fellow countrymen living in slums and villages.
- It allows the volunteers to train themselves as the future leaders and decision-makers of the country.
- It gives the training to equip the volunteers with the minimum required skills to carry out programs.
- It gives opportunities to take part in inter-collegiate / inter-university / inter-state camps and exchange views with students from other colleges/universities/states.
National Service Scheme (NSS) Activities
The main activities of the NSS are mentioned below:
- Adventure programs
- Plantation
- Blood donation
- National Integration Camp
- Disaster Management
- Immunisation
- Shramdaan
How to Join NSS?
The following steps to join NSS are :
- To join the NSS, the students will have to register
- And, the students must be from a bona fide University or College or School
- Any student who has passed class 10 can join NSS as a volunteer
- All the volunteers receive a certificate of service under the National Service Scheme after they complete it
- For the students, there is no enrolment fee to join as a volunteer
- The students can also avail themselves of a lot of other benefits.
NSS Certificate
NSS recommends students to only get their NSS certificate only through the NSS Certificate delivery portal. Follow the steps mention below to order for the delivery of your Certificate.
How to Order for your NSS Certificate?
The Service needs you to fill the following in other to get your National Service certificate delivered to you;
- Students must have successfully completed their mandatory one 1 year (i.e. 12 months) National service.
- Students must have had their annual assessment form filled with a fair assessment of their performance by their immediate supervisor of Head of the User Agency where served.
- Assessment forms must have been submitted at the several District offices of the scheme where the Agency is established
- Submit your NSS Number for verification
- Submit your Means of Identification
- Fill the required details in the request form displayed
- Make payment for delivery using the various possible options available.
Visit the NSS Certificate Delivery Portal to order your Certificate. In case, if you entered details that do not match or wrong details, then click on ‘Wrong details’ Request Correction’ and submit your reasons on the page displayed.
Wrapping Up
The purpose of this scheme is to introduce the concept of social welfare in students and to give service to society without bias. NSS volunteers assist to ensure that everyone who is needy gets help to improve their standard of living and start a life of dignity. Volunteers learn from people in villages how to lead a good life despite a lack of resources. It also provides help in natural and man-made disasters by giving food, clothing, and first aid to the disaster’s victims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. In which city does the National Service Scheme (NSS) have its headquarters?
Ans. The National Service Scheme (NSS) has its headquarters in New Delhi, India.
Q2. What is an NSS unit?
Ans. A specific group of NSS volunteers working under the Programme Officer in a school, college, or university with a total of volunteers of 100 or 50.
Q3. How many regional centers of the National Service Scheme (NSS) does India have?
Ans. There are a total of 15 regional centers of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in India.
Q4. What is the Motto of NSS?
Ans. The Motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is ‘NOT ME BUT YOU’.
Q5. What are the principal elements of NSS?
Ans. There are four principal elements in the NSS program process; they are Students, Teachers, Community, and the program.
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