The details of the number of universities and other educational institutions, along with the number of students who are part of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in the country, State-wise are given in the Annexure-I.

The aim of NSS is to provide hands on experience to young students in delivering community service and gain exposure and experience which develops character and personality. The details of the activities for the students/volunteers under NSS are as follows;

    Regular activities: –

Each NSS unit in the college/school normally has 100 volunteers, which undertakes various programmes in the adopted villages, college/school campuses and urban slums. Some of the thrust areas for activities undertaken under NSS are as follows:

• Education
• Health, Family Welfare & Nutrition
• Environment Conservation, Social Service Programmes
• Programmes for improving status of Women
• Relief and Rehabilitation during Natural Calamities
• Production Oriented Programmes, etc.

2. Special Camping: –

Special Camp of 7 days duration is organized in the adopted Village/Slum Areas. It  provides unique opportunities to the students for group living, collective experience sharing and for constant interaction with community and also to experience their lifestyles, their problems/challenges and social limitations.

Besides, NSS volunteers are also pro-actively involved in various Government flagship programmes as given below:

• Cleanliness Drives under Swatch Bharat Abhiyan.
• Ujjwala Yojana.
• Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana.
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana.
• Work on Digital Literacy.
• Work on Cashless India, etc.

3. Other Activities/Programmes:-

• National Adventure Programme.
• National Integration Camp (NIC)
• National Youth Festival (NYF):
• Pre-Republic Day& Republic Day Parade Camp Camps.

NSS is a voluntary scheme and there is no proposal to make it mandatory.

This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) forYouth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd.) in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

******

YKB