National Service Scheme, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Govt. of India, popularly known as NSS was launched in the Honourable Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Centenary Year 1969, in 37 Universities involving 40,000 students with primary focus on the development of personality of students through community service. Today, NSS has more than 3.2 million student volunteers on its roll spread over 298 Universities and 42 (+2) Senior Secondary Councils and Directorate of Vocational Education all over the country. From its inception, more than 3.75 crores students from Universities, Colleges and Institutions of higher learning have benefited from the NSS activities, as student volunteers.

History About NSS

After independence the University Grants Commission, 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 the draft first Five-Year Plan adopted by the government in 1952, the need for social and labour service by Indian students for one year was stressed. In 1958 Jawaharlal Nehru, in a letter to the chief ministers, considered the idea of social service as a prerequisite for graduation. He directed the Ministry of Education to formulate a suitable scheme for the introduction of national service into academic institutions.

Following are few advantages:

1. You get a certificate from NSS saying you have were active and have worked with a couple NGOs.
2. Social work on your CV. Most companies prefer to have employees with extra curriculum activities, especially social work.
3. You work with different seniors, and they help you or guide you in NSS and also otherwise, academically.
4. They organised events throughout the year, at least 2.
5. By joining NSS you will opt for a journey to discover yourself.
6. You get to meet new people. 
7. You will learn about your strengths and weaknesses.
8. You will get exposure for your works and talents. Even for small contributions and achievements.
9. You will explore different cultures, mentality and actual situations/problems in different parts of the state, in villages, in different parts of country and even different nations through NSS special camps, state camps, National camps and International Exchange programs.
10. The work you do will provide you with self satisfaction which is worth of spending time in it. Believe me or not it is the one of the best extra – curricular activity to be a part of.