NSS Expands Youth Engagement Through Self-Funding Units and Community-Driven Development Initiatives

Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 5:49PM by PIB Delhi The provision of Self-Funding Units (SFUs) has been introduced to enhance participation in the National Service Scheme (NSS) across schools and colleges. Institutions establishing SFUs are responsible for mobilizing the financial resources required to operate NSS units independently. To sustain activities, institutions may levy a nominal fee for NSS programmes where necessary. Additionally, funding may be sourced through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and other legitimate channels. All such institutions are required to adhere strictly to the prescribed financial norms and accounting procedures applicable to NSS units. NSS community service initiatives are structured around key areas such as rural and slum development, environmental conservation, health awareness, and education. Volunteers are required to contribute a minimum of 120 hours of service annually, including participation in a mandatory seven-day special camp. Core activities include plantation drives, blood donation camps, literacy programmes, and cleanliness campaigns under the Swachh Bharat initiative. The thematic focus areas of NSS activities include: Environmental Conservation : Tree plantation, waste management, and plastic awareness campaigns. Health and Hygiene : Organization of blood donation camps, health check-ups, and awareness drives on AIDS, sanitation, and nutrition. Education and Literacy: Adult education initiatives, functional literacy programmes, and teaching support for underprivileged children. Community Development and Infrastructure : Adoption of villages or slums for development activities such as sanitation, cleaning, and basic infrastructure creation. Social Awareness: Conducting rallies and workshops on gender equality, voter awareness, drug abuse prevention, and road safety. The NSS aims to empower youth by fostering social responsibility, enhancing employability skills, and reducing educational disparities. Through institutional and community engagement platforms, the Department of Youth Affairs strives to ensure equitable access to opportunities for youth across diverse socio-economic and regional backgrounds. The primary beneficiaries of NSS initiatives include students and the broader community. NSS volunteers actively participate in a range of national and institutional programmes, including the Republic Day Parade Camp, Independence Day celebrations, Veer Bal Diwas, Sardar Patel 150th Birth Anniversary Unity March, Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra, Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, MY Bharat–NSS Awards, Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme, Constitution Day, International Day of Yoga, voter awareness campaigns, adventure camps, National Integration Camps, and the North East NSS Festival. The details of state-wise students currently enrolled under National Service Scheme (NSS) is attached at Annexure. Annexure THE STATE-WISE DETAILS OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED UNDER NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME (NSS) Sl. No. States/ UTs Students Currently Enrolled Colleges Schools A & N Islands 1350 650 Andhra Pradesh 217300 Nil Arunachal Pradesh 10000 7800 Assam 32100 32000 Bihar 61700 NIL Chandigarh 7246 11237 Chhattisgarh 65836 43891 Dadra & N. Haveli, Daman & Diu 400 2400 Delhi 18700 51500 Goa 11900 19000 Gujarat 129100 73800 Haryana 60500 61900 Himachal Pradesh 20503 74435 Jammu & Kashmir 34600 6800 Jharkhand 60300 12600 Karnataka 232000 89000 Kerala 137000 94300 Laddakh 600 0 Lakshadweep - 1400 Madhya Pradesh 134728 33682 Maharashtra 323200 33600 Manipur 14500 6400 Meghalaya 28700 8700 Mizoram 22000 8100 Nagaland 15600 2100 Odisha 93400 30700 Puducherry 15250 4350 Punjab 95467 81246 Rajasthan 124000 94900 Sikkim 15120 1280 Tamil Nadu 333900 97650 Telangana 150700 Nil Tripura 31230 3070 Uttar Pradesh 292100 28900 Uttarakhand 27500 33100 West Bengal 90100 19200 TOTAL 2908630 1069691 This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. ***** Pawan Singh Faujdar (Release ID: 2242604) Visitor Counter : 388 Read this release in: Gujarati , Urdu , हिन्दी Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports NSS Expands Youth Engagement Through Self-Funding Units and Community-Driven Development Initiatives Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 5:49PM by PIB Delhi The provision of Self-Funding Units (SFUs) has been introduced to enhance participation in the National Service Scheme (NSS) across schools and colleges. Institutions establishing SFUs are responsible for mobilizing the financial resources required to operate NSS units independently. To sustain activities, institutions may levy a nominal fee for NSS programmes where necessary. Additionally, funding may be sourced through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and other legitimate channels. All such institutions are required to adhere strictly to the prescribed financial norms and accounting procedures applicable to NSS units. NSS community service initiatives are structured around key areas such as rural and slum development, environmental conservation, health awareness, and education. Volunteers are required to contribute a minimum of 120 hours of service annually, including participation in a mandatory seven-day special camp. Core activities include plantation drives, blood donation camps, literacy programmes, and cleanliness campaigns under the Swachh Bharat initiative. The thematic focus areas of NSS activities include: Environmental Conservation : Tree plantation, waste management, and plastic awareness campaigns. Health and Hygiene : Organization of blood donation camps, health check-ups, and awareness drives on AIDS, sanitation, and nutrition. Education and Literacy: Adult education initiatives, functional literacy programmes, and teaching support for underprivileged children. Community Development and Infrastructure : Adoption of villages or slums for development activities such as sanitation, cleaning, and basic infrastructure creation. Social Awareness: Conducting rallies and workshops on gender equality, voter awareness, drug abuse prevention, and road safety. The NSS aims to empower youth by fostering social responsibility, enhancing employability skills, and reducing educational disparities. Through institutional and community engagement platforms, the Department of Youth Affairs strives to ensure equitable access to opportunities for youth across diverse socio-economic and regional backgrounds. The primary beneficiaries of NSS initiatives include students and the broader community. NSS volunteers actively participate in a range of national and institutional programmes, including the Republic Day Parade Camp, Independence Day celebrations, Veer Bal Diwas, Sardar Patel 150th Birth Anniversary Unity March, Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra, Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, MY Bharat–NSS Awards, Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme, Constitution Day, International Day of Yoga, voter awareness campaigns, adventure camps, National Integration Camps, and the North East NSS Festival. The details of state-wise students currently enrolled under National Service Scheme (NSS) is attached at Annexure. Annexure THE STATE-WISE DETAILS OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED UNDER NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME (NSS) Sl. No. States/ UTs Students Currently Enrolled Colleges Schools A & N Islands 1350 650 Andhra Pradesh 217300 Nil Arunachal Pradesh 10000 7800 Assam 32100 32000 Bihar 61700 NIL Chandigarh 7246 11237 Chhattisgarh 65836 43891 Dadra & N. Haveli, Daman & Diu 400 2400