Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi

The Indian National Science Academy was established in January 1935 with the object of promoting science in India and harnessing scientific knowledge for the cause of humanity and national welfare. The foundation of the Academy, earlier known as the National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI), was the outcome of joint endeavours of several organizations and individuals and the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) playing a leading role in this regard.

Towards the end of 1930, the then Government of India wrote to various state (then provincial) Governments, Scientific Departments, Learned Societies, Universities and the Indian Science Congress Association seeking their opinion on the desirability of forming a National Research Council and its affiliated Unions. This period witnessed the visit of Sir Richard Gregor, theEditor of Nature for discussions with the Editor of Current Science for promotion of an Indian Academy of Sciences. This proposal was considered by various eminent scientists whose views regarding the composition and resolution to the Indian Science Congress Association during its Poona Session.

A special meeting of the later was held in Bombay in January 1934 to consider the scheme. In response to the plea made by the President of the Indian Science Congress, Professor MN Saha in support of an Indian Academy of Sciences on the model of Royal Society, London, the General Committee of the Indian Science Congress Association unanimously accepted the proposal for the formation of a national scientific society. The committee formed an 'Academy Committee', which wassted to submit a detailed report for consideration at the next session of the Indian Science Congress Association. The committee submitted the report at the next session of Indian Science Congress Association in January 1935 incorporating:

• the aims and objects of the national scientific society to be formed;
• draft constitution;
• names of 125 Foundation Fellows selected by a Special Committee of Specialists; and
• names of 25 scientists as members of the provisional Council of the Academy.

The report of the Academy Committee was placed by Dr. LL Fremor, President of the 22nd Session of the Indian Science Congress Association before a Special Meeting of the Joint Committee on January 3, 1935. The recommendations of the Academy Committee were accepted by unanimous resolution by the Indian Science Congress Association and the foundation of the National Institute of Sciences of India as an all-India body of scientists was thus laid. An inaugural meeting of the NISI was held on January 7, 1935 under the Chairmanship of Dr.JH Hutton, President of the 23rd Session of the Indian Science Congress Association in Calcutta and the Inaugural address was delivered by the First President of NISI, Dr. LL Fremor. The Institute, thus, started functioning with its Headquarters at the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1 Park Street, Calcutta, from that day.

The issue of the Government recognising the NISI as the representative body of the scientists was taken up after ten years of its foundation. After due delibrations and discussions, it decided to recognise the National Institute as the premier scientific society representing all branches of science in India in October 1945. The Headquarters of the National Institute moved to Delhi in May 1946, and the Government commenced providing increased grants to meet expenses on travel, publications, research fellowships, and for allocating grants-in-aid to other scientific societies for bringing out their publications. A capital grant for the Headquarters building was also sanctioned in 1948 by the Indian Government. The foundation stone of the building was laid by the then Prime Minister of India, on April 19, 1948. On completion of the building in 1951, the Office of the National Institute of Sciences of India moved to its present premises on Bahadur Shah Zafar NMarg, New Delhi. The National Institute of Sciences of India was designated as the adhering organization in India to the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) on behalf of the Government of India in January 1968.

The name of the National Institute of Sciences of India was changed to the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in February 1970.

Its objectives encompass promotion of science in India including its application to national welfare, safeguarding the interests of the scientists, establishing linkages with international bodies to foster collaboration and expressing considered opinion on national issues.

The main objectives of the Indian National Science Academy are:

• Promotion of scientific knowledge in India including its practical application to problems of national welfare.
• Coordination among Scientific Academies, Societies, Institutions, Government Scientific Departments and Services.
• To act as a body of scientists of eminence for the promotion and safeguarding of the interests of scientists in India and to present internationally the scientific work done in the country.
• To act through properly constituted National Committees, in which other learned academies and societies may be associated, for undertaking scientific work of national and international importance which the Academy may be called upon to perform by the public and by the Government.
• To publish such proceedings, journals, memoirs and other publications as may be found desirable.
• To promote and maintain liaison between Science and Humanities.
• To secure and manage funds and endowments for the promotion of Science.
• To perform all other acts that may assist in, or be necessary for the fulfilment of the above-mentioned objectives of the Academy.

Contact

For more information please contact:

INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi - 110 002
Telephone: (91 - 11) 23221931-1950 (20 Lines)
Fax : 23235648 & 23231095
Email: esoffice at insa dot nic dot in
          council at insa dot nic dot in
Website : www.insa.ac.in