"National Service Scheme (NSS) is a main ‘out of the classroom’ student-centric activity where teachers provide only guidance and act as coordinators while the students are the main actors. Students contribute through service to the community and conservation of the physical environment. It also inculcates in students a sense of leadership and teamwork enabling them to identify and resolve community issues. Hence leadership, collectivism, social responsibility, activism and community participation are at work at the same time. All these attributes helps a student to become a complete citizen . This activity also brings them close to the social and environmental realities. In view of the importance of NSS in nation-building our endeavour is to strengthen NSS by increasing participation of students through widening the scope and increasing the number of events organised by us.

History of NSS

The National Service Scheme (NSS) was formally launched on 24th September, 1969, the birth centenary year of the father of the nation. Hence the idea of involving students in the task of national service dates back to the times of Mahatma Gandhi who tried to impress upon his student audience that they should always keep before them their supreme responsibility. The first duty of the students should be to prepare themselves for final dedication to the service of the community. It is also essential for the overall development of the personality of the students. Started with single unit, the NSS Unit of Rajiv Gandhi Government College Chaura Maidan, Shimla now has two units of NSS. The second unit of NSS started in the year 2019 as Self-Financing Unit (SFU). In the year 2023 it was recognised by Himachal Pradesh University Shimla. At present the NSS Unit of Rajiv Gandhi Government College Chaura Maidan, Shimla -4 has two units of NSS doing their selfless service. NSS provides students with opportunities to serve the community, nation, and society. It also provides an opportunity to interact with people around the campus creatively and constructively. Through NSS activities, volunteers are able to put their education to concrete social use. Hence, all should come forward to serve the nation with dedication and honesty.

Aims and Objectives:

The overall objective of the NSS is service to the community and the nation to awaken the social consciousness of the students. The objectives are sought to be achieved by enabling the students to :

• Understand the community in which they work;
• Understand themselves in relation to their community;
• Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility;
• Apply their education to finding solutions to individual and community problems;
• Develop competence required for responsibility sharing and group living;
• Acquire a democratic attitude, leadership qualities and practice national integrations.
• Develop the capacity to meet emergencies and natural disaster.

The Motto

The motto of NSS is “NOT ME BUT YOU”. This expresses the essence of democratic living, upholds the need for selfless service and appreciation of other man’s point of view.

The NSS Badge Proud to Serve the Nation:

NSS Day

24 September is celebrated every year as NSS Day with appropriate programmes and activities.

Kinds of Activities/Programme

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

National Service Scheme Award

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, Programme 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:-

Objectives of National Service Scheme Award

• To recognize outstanding contribution by NSS student volunteers, NSS Programme Officers and the Programme Coordinators in community service
• To encourage young NSS student volunteers to develop their personality through community service.
• To encourage the Programme Officers and the Programme Coordinators of NSS for catering the needs of National Service Scheme through the NSS volunteers.
• To motivate NSS Volunteers for continuing their selfless service towards community work.

NSS Students Volunteer and NSS Certificate

An NSS volunteer has to put in 120 hours of social work in one year or 240 hours in two years for different programmes/activities and special camping. He/She should be fully conversant with the objectives of the NSS. An NSS volunteer, after completing 240 hours of regular and special activities becomes entitled to an NSS Certificate.

Programme Officer

By and large Programme Officer plays the role of an organizer, an educator, a coordinator, a supervisor, an administrator and a public relations person to improve the quality and magnitude of the NSS programme in the college/institution.

National Service Scheme (NSS) is a main ‘out of the classroom’ student-centric activity where teachers provide only guidance and act as coordinators while the students are the main actors. Students contribute through service to the community and conservation of the physical environment. It also inculcates in students a sense of leadership and teamwork enabling them to identify and resolve community issues. Hence leadership, collectivism, social responsibility, activism and community participation are at work at the same time. All these attributes are what make a student a complete citizen. This activity also brings them close to the social and environmental realities. In view of the importance of NSS in nation-building our endeavour is to strengthen NSS by increasing participation of students through widening the scope and increasing the number of events organised by us.