AN INITIATIVE OF CRAFT REVIVAL TRUST.  Since 1999
National Council of Science Museums

National Council of Science Museums

National Council of Science Museums

Kolkata, India

M: +91(033) 23579347/ +91(033)23570850

E: [email protected]

W: ncsm.gov.in

The first science museum, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata under Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), was opened on 2 May 1959. In July 1965 the second science museum of the country, the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (VITM) was opened in Bangalore. After Kolkata and Bangalore, the work for the third centre at Mumbai was taken up in 1974. As the popularisation of science and technology through the Science Museums grew in scope and size, the Union Planning Commission constituted a Task Force in early 1970s to assess the activities of the Science Museums. Task Force recommended to set up Science Museums in different parts of the country at National, State and District levels and also recommended formation of a central coordinating agency. In 1978, it was decided by the Government of India to delink from CSIR the two science museums already operating at Kolkata and Bangalore and also the one being set up at Mumbai and put them under a newly formed Society registered on 4 April 1978 as National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India was formed on 4 April 1978. Today, it administers 25 Science Centres/Museums and 10 Planetariums spread all over India. In addition, it has set up 23 new science centres across the country, now run by respective states. Today, NCSM forms the largest network of science centres and museums in the world.

About the collection: NCSM is basically a network of Science Centres and Museums. However, collections on Telecommunication, Electric, Transport, Railways is unique. Interactive exhibits and participatory programmes are what make them popular.

The highlights of NCSM Centres:-
• Setting up of new Science Centres / Science Museums / Science Cities / Science Parks / Planetarium / Panorama and Thematic Expositions on Science & Technology in India and abroad on turnkey basis.
• Provides consultancy for development of science centres and exhibitions.
• Designing, developing, fabrication and supply of innovative interactive exhibits for galleries and exhibitions.
• Developing and fabrication of Museo-Bus to carry exhibitions on Science and technology themes to remote areas.
• Developing new display technologies for science communication particularly on digital platform.
• Developing travelling exhibitions on the contemporary science and technology issues.
• Making science kits for schools, science shows and science demonstration lectures.
• Producing new types of 2-D and 3-D interactive multimedia programme and publications for science communication.
• Provides training modules for science centre professionals
• Popularising interactive astronomy education.
• Training science communications through academic course.
• Management of Science Centres/Museums.
• In house expertise to develop new science centres & exhibits.