NAMSAI, Nov 2: The five-day North East NSS Festival 2026 commenced at Arunachal University of Studies (AUS), Namsai, on Monday, with around 300 volunteers from different Northeastern states taking part.
The festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the Regional Directorate of National Service Scheme (NSS), Guwahati, and organised by the State NSS Cell, Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with AUS.
MLA and Advisor to the Education and Home Minister, Mutchu Mithi, inaugurated the festival in the presence of Namsai Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering and AUS Chairman Dr Ashwin Lochan.
Addressing the gathering, Mithi highlighted the role of young people in nation-building and stressed the importance of discipline, leadership, social responsibility and community participation in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. He urged the volunteers to become responsible citizens, develop a spirit of service and contribute to addressing grassroots-level challenges while upholding democratic values.
DC Lobsang Tsering encouraged the participants to use the festival as a platform for cultural exchange, mutual understanding and national integration. Lochan also underscored the importance of national integration and the role of NSS volunteers in promoting social harmony.
The festival, being held under the theme “Youth for Viksit Bharat”, aims to promote personality development, volunteerism, leadership and community service while providing a platform for young people from the Northeast to exchange ideas and experiences and celebrate the region's cultural diversity.
The five-day programme includes yoga and physical activities, academic and technical sessions, PowerPoint presentations, extempore speech competitions, educational and local sightseeing visits, and cultural programmes showcasing the traditions of the Northeastern states.
The event is expected to strengthen inter-state interaction, teamwork and leadership among volunteers while encouraging them to translate the NSS motto, “Not Me, But You”, into meaningful community service.
Among those present at the inaugural ceremony were NSS Regional Director D Carthiguane, AUS Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajeya Jha, Registrar Divyanshu Goel, Prof DS Hernwal, NSS Youth Officer Nakul Chandra Deori and State Liaison Officer Dr AK Mishra.