The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of
Youth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunity to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class of schools
at +2 Board level and student youth of Technical Institution, Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges
and University level of India to take part in various government led community service activities &
programmes.The sole aim of the NSS is to provide hands on experience to young students in
delivering community service.

After India became independent, the University Grants Commission (UGC) , headed by S.
Radhakrishnan, recommended the introduction of voluntary national service in academic
institutions. This idea was again considered by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) at its
meeting in January, 1950; after examining the idea and the experiences of other countries in this
field, the board recommended that students and teachers should devote time to voluntary manual
work. In 1958 Jawaharlal Nehru directed the Ministry of Education to formulate a suitable scheme
for the introduction of national service into academic institutions.

Launch of NSS

Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Gandhiji’s Centenary year in 1969. Aimed at
developing student’s personality through community service, NSS is a voluntary association of young
people in Colleges, Universities and at +2 level working for a campus-community (esp. Villages)
linkage.

NSS Badge:  Proud to Serve the Nation

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 the 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 i.e. for 24 hours.

Red colour in the badge signifies energy and spirit displayed by the NSS volunteers.

The Blue colour signifies the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.

Motto:

The motto of National Service Scheme is,  ‘NOT ME BUT YOU 39;

Benefits of Being a NSS Volunteer:

level or a senior secondary level student. Being an active member these student volunteers would
have the exposure and experience to be the following:

• an accomplished social leader
• an efficient administrator
• a person who understands human nature

Major Activities:

1. 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.

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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.
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 at ACAS

Al Shifa College of Arts and Science which started functioning in 2020 is granted an NSS (SF) in 2022
April. The Unit means to perform to honour the goals of the Nation-builders who envisioned it. The
NSS Unit at ACAS will strive to excel in serving the Nation through vigour and vision of the college
which underscores excellence and empowerment. Each academic year a Plan of Action (PoA) is
prepared by the Coordinator after due consultation with the stakeholders and considering the needs
of the communities around. The PoA after necessary approvals, is put into action overseen by the
committee formed for the purpose.

Coordinator:
The NSS activities at the college are coordinated by Mr Irshad K, Asst. Professor of Arabic.