In the year 1969, which was the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi's birthyear, NSS was started with an intention that along with social responsibility, consciousness and self-motivated discipline, respect for labor should be cultivated among the students pursuing higher education. With a view of utilizing their free time and leisure time, they should contribute to social service and they should introduce themselves to practical situations signifying the completion of education and which also helps them in developing their personality.

In the year 1969-70 NSS was founded in Madhya Pradesh with 470 students from two universities(Namely:- Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Indore and Dr. Harisingh Gaur Vishwa Vidyalaya, Sagar) coming under Department of Higher Education. Since then NSS has diversified a lot. At present, NSS is being directed by 7 Universities of Madhya Pradesh (Namely:- Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Indore, Vikram Vishwavidyalaya Ujjain, Dr.Harisingh Gaur Vishwavidyalaya Sagar, Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya Jabalpur, Jivaji Vishwavidyalaya Gwalior, Awadhesh Pratap Singh Vishwavidyalaya Riva and Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya Bhopal). Besides this, since 1988, NSS has also been started 10+2 High Schools.

Under DAVV(Districts of Indore, Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Khargone and Barwani) in 92 Institutions and 101 (+2) schools, currently 213 units of NSS are actively functioning. In all these units around 30,000 students are registered.

Swami Vivekanand who was an embodiment of service of humanity and youth enlightenment has been regarded as the man of inspiration of the National Service Scheme. In the year 1984, he was regarded as the symbolic figure for youth. Ever since then he has also been regarded as the symbolic figure for the NSS.




The symbol of the National Service Scheme is based on the wheel of the chariot of the Konark Sun temple of Orissa. The vast cycles of the sun express the recurrence of creation, protection and redemption and tell the importance of motion in life beyond place and time. The design of the logo is the simplified form of the wheel of the 'Surya Rath', which primarily expresses motion or continuation. This continuity is a symbol of striving ceaselessly to transform and improve the society.

The chariot of the sun temple consists of 24 wheels. Each wheel has 8 spokes which symbolize 8 streams. hence the person who holds this badge reminds him to put in his day and night, that is, be ready for service 24 hours of the day. The red color in it indicates that there is full enthusiasm among the volunteers of the National Service Scheme and they are active, vibrant and they are energetic. Deep Blue color alludes to the universe of which NSS is a small fraction that is ready to devote every smallest bit of it for the welfare of humanity.