Recognising the voluntary services rendered by NSS Volunteers, Programme Officers, NSS Units and the Universities NSS cell, Government of India has instituted NSS Awards to provide suitable incentives / awards to the field functionaries.

•  To recognise outstanding contribution of University NSS Cells, Programme Officers, College / +2 NSS units and NSS student volunteers in community service.

•   To encourage young NSS students volunteers to develop their personality through community service and acquire positive social attitudes and values.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AWARD

University/+2 Council :

• The University/ +2 Council which has been operating NSS programme continuously for the last five years only shall be considered.

• The minimum volunteers strength of such institution should not be less than 1,000.

• The institution must be very regular and punctual in submitting its programme reports and financial returns.

• The actual enrolment and special camping targets should have been achieved fully and consistently for at least three years preceding the year in which NSS Award is to be considered.

• All the NSS units should have adopted villages/slums/localities for all round development and total literacy.

• No vigilance case/enquiries should be pending against the NSS Cell.

• The NSS Unit should have been in existence continuously for a period of five years preceding the year for which the award is considered.

• The Unit(s) should have achieved its enrolment and special camping targets continuously for the last three years.

• Colleges / Schools where there are more than one NSS units, such units should have achieved their enrolment and camping targets fully and consistently.

• Each NSS Unit should have adopted village / Slum / localities and carrying on their activities continuously.

• The NSS Unit should have created durable assets and achievements in the adopted village/ urban slum / community.

• The Programme Officers for all the NSS Units should have been selected as per NSS guidelines.

• He / She should have been trained at TORC / TOC and should heve completed a minimum of two years as Programme Officer before consideration for the Award.

• The NSS Programme Officer Award will go to those Programme Officer whose unit has bagged the NSS Unit Award for the same year.
  i) No vigilance case / investigation should be pending against him / her.

• A student should have completed a minimum of two years of volunteership in NSS.

• He/ She should have participated in atleast two Special Camping Programme and atleast once in National Programmes like R.D.Parade Camp in Delhi, National Integration Camps, National Motivation Camps, Inter State Youth Exchange Programmes etc. sponsored by the Department of youth Affairs and Sports.

• He / She should not be less than 18 years and more than 25 years in age. In case od SC / ST, the upper age limit can be relaxed by 3 years. In other words, the maximum age limit should be 28 years for SC / ST.

• He / She should have completed 240 hours of community service during two consecutive years of volunteership.

• His / Her academic performance should have been reasonably good.