Major Science Academies in India

India hosts three apex national science academies that operate as autonomous institutions under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology. These bodies promote scientific temper, safeguard researchers’ interests, publish peer-reviewed research, and represent the country in global forums.

Trio of National Science Academies

National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI)

• Establishment: Founded in 1930 by Professor Meghnad Saha in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh. It is the oldest science academy in India.
• Mandate: Functions as a national forum for scientific discussions, publishes scientific journals, and runs science outreach activities across rural and urban centers.
• Key Focus: Focuses on science communication, teacher training, and societal applications of technology.

Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc)

• Establishment: Founded in April 1934 by Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Mandate: Focuses on scientific publishing, running educational initiatives for school and university students, and maintaining repositories of research publications.
• Key Initiatives: Publishes 12 peer-reviewed science journals, operates the “Women in Science” panel, and offers Summer Research Fellowships for students and teachers across India.

Indian National Science Academy (INSA)

• Establishment: Founded in January 1935 in Kolkata as the National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI) by Sir Lewis Leigh Fermor. Relocated to New Delhi in 1951 and renamed INSA in 1970.
• Mandate: Serves as the premier body designated by the Government of India to represent Indian science in international forums like the International Science Council (ISC).
• Key Initiatives: Confers the INSA Medal for Young Scientists, administers the INSA-JRD Tata Fellowship, and established the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS) in 2015 for early-career researchers.

Comparative Overview of the Apex Science Academies

Major Specialized National Research Councils and Academies

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Established in 1942 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Prime Minister of India serves as its ex-officio President. CSIR oversees a nationwide network of 37 specialized national laboratories spanning aerospace, oceanography, genomics, and metallurgy. It administers the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Established in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) by Sir Harcourt Butler, making it one of the oldest medical research bodies globally. Renamed ICMR in 1949, it functions as the apex body for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research in India.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Established in July 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research based on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. Operating under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it coordinates agricultural research and education across a network of over 100 institutes and agricultural universities.

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs)

Established starting in 2006 by the Ministry of Education under the Science Education and Research Act. Seven autonomous IISERs exist across Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, and Berhampur. Designated as Institutes of National Importance (INI), they integrate undergraduate teaching with advanced basic science research.

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

Founded in June 1945 by nuclear physicist Homi J. Bhabha with financial backing from J.R.D. Tata and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, it operates under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) as a Deemed University. TIFR served as the cradle for India’s atomic energy program and developed TIFRAC, India’s first digital computer, in 1957.

Key Scientific Facts

• All three apex science academies (NASI, IASc, and INSA) publish joint science education programs, including national science teacher workshops and summer research fellowships.
• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), established in 2009 under an Act of Parliament, was subsumed into the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in 2023 to streamline national scientific funding.
• The Asiatic Society, founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones in Kolkata, is the historical precursor to modern research bodies in India, giving birth to the Geological Survey of India (1851) and Zoological Survey of India (1916).