The Navodaya Vidyalayas have been envisaged as pace-setting institutions, centres of educational excellence, providing opportunities for development, not only to Navodaya Vidyalaya students, but also to the children of neighbouring rural area schools through sharing of resources. Leadership qualities and other educational concerns that are linked to community and national developments are also supposed to be inculcated through pace-setting activities. “The aim of the pace-setting activities is to galvanize the academic, social, cultural and community oriented environment of schools,” in the vicinity. By virtue of having a highly qualified and competent team of teachers, good laboratories and IT infrastructure, teaching aids and sports equipment and rich libraries, JNVs are in a position to function as a “focal point for improvement in the quality of school education in general, through sharing of experience and facilities”. Interactions of staff and students of Navodaya Vidyalayas with their counterparts in adjoining schools, participation in joint community efforts, adoption of a village for awareness programmes and sharing of educational facilities are some of the pace-setting activities undertaken by Navodaya Vidyalaya. JNVs also make general attempts to involve the local school community in disseminating the modern school practices with a view to improve school eco-system.

The Following activities were organized under Pace Setting Activities during 2019-20 at JNV Sonepur (Odisha):-

01. Vanamohatsav (1st to 7th July)

02. Communal Harmony (21 to 28 Nov.)

03. Aids Awareness Rally (1st December)

04. Fit India Movement

05. Nukkad Natak on Swachhata Abhiyan

06. Vigilance Aware Week 

07. Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat - Mini Marathan

08. National Unity Day

09. Constitutional Day

10. Education Day