This is a comprehensive list of science centres and museums in India, most of which are operated by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). As part of India's science education infrastructure, these centres play a crucial role in promoting scientific literacy and informal learning.Activity Report 2018–19. p–63. National Council of Science Museums publication."Science Museums and Centres". Ministry of Culture Annual Report 2022-23. Government of India.
The network represents one of the largest chains of science centres under a single administrative umbrella globally, contributing significantly to public understanding of science and STEM education in India.
Historical background The foundation for India's science museum network was laid with the establishment of the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum in Kolkata in 1959. This was followed by the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bangalore in 1965. The success of these early institutions led to the creation of NCSM in 1978, marking the beginning of a coordinated effort to establish science centres across the country.
Classification and hierarchy Science centres in India are classified into different categories based on their scope, infrastructure, and administrative level. Each category serves specific functions and target audiences, with higher-level centres often providing support and resources to smaller units."Network of Own Units". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Science Cities: Large-scale science centres featuring extensive interactive exhibits, multimedia displays, and outdoor science parks. These facilities often span several acres and include multiple galleries, theatres, and research spaces. Examples include Science City, Kolkata, which attracts over 1 million visitors annually. National Centres: Major institutions serving as regional hubs for scientific education and research. These centres typically house permanent galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, and advanced laboratory facilities. They often coordinate with international institutions and lead research initiatives. Regional Centres: Facilities serving specific geographical regions with comprehensive exhibits and educational programmes. These centres focus on regional scientific achievements and local technological heritage while maintaining national-standard facilities. Sub-Regional Centres: Medium-sized facilities designed to bridge the gap between regional and district levels. They typically serve multiple districts and offer specialised programmes tailored to local educational needs. District Centres: Local-level institutions focusing on district-wide outreach and basic science education. These centres work closely with local schools and communities to promote scientific literacy through hands-on learning experiences. Satellite Units: Smaller centres operating under the administrative control of national centres. They extend the reach of larger institutions to smaller cities and towns, offering selected exhibits and educational programmes. Mobile Science Exhibitions: Travelling exhibits designed to bring science education to remote and underserved areas. These units typically consist of specially designed buses or vans equipped with exhibits, demonstrations, and audiovisual facilities. In 2022-23, mobile units reached over 2,000 locations across India.
Science centres in states Science Centre State Location Type Inauguration Date Regional Science Centre Andhra Pradesh Tirupati Regional Centre 1993 Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Science Centre December 3, 2005 Regional Science Centre Assam Guwahati Regional Centre March 15, 1994 Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium Assam Jorhat Science Centre with Planetarium July 6, 2013 Srikrishna Science Centre Bihar Patna Science Centre April 14, 1978 Bodhgaya Science Centre Bihar Bodhgaya Science Centre July 20, 2023 Chhattisgarh Science Centre Chhattisgarh Raipur Science Centre July 13, 2012 Nehru Science Centre Maharashtra Mumbai National Centre November 11, 1985 Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum Karnataka Bangalore National Centre 1965 Goa Science Centre Goa Panjim Science Centre 2002 District Science Centre Gujarat Dharampur District Centre 1984 Kurukshetra Panorama & Science Centre Haryana Kurukshetra Science Centre 2000 Regional Science Centre Jharkhand Ranchi Regional Centre November 29, 2010 District Science Centre Karnataka Gulbarga District Centre 1984 Dharwad Regional Science Centre Karnataka Dharwad Regional Centre February 27, 2012 Regional Science Centre Karnataka Pilikula Regional Centre October 1, 2014 Regional Science Centre Kerala Chalakudy Regional Centre February 2021 Kerala Science City Kerala Kottayam Science City September 2025 Regional Science Centre and Planetarium Kerala Kozhikode Regional Centre with Planetarium 1997 Regional Science Centre Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Regional Centre January 12, 1995 Manaskhand Science Centre Madhya Pradesh Umaria Science Centre March 10, 2024 Raman Science Centre & Planetarium Maharashtra Nagpur Science Centre with Planetarium 1992 Pimpri Chinchwad Science Centre Maharashtra Pune Science Centre February 8, 2013 Sub-Regional Science Centre Maharashtra Solapur Sub-Regional Centre February 14, 2010 Manipur Science Centre Manipur Imphal Science Centre May 18, 2005 Shillong Science Centre Meghalaya Shillong Science Centre February 27, 2006 Mizoram Science Centre Mizoram Aizawl Science Centre July 26, 2003 Nagaland Science Centre Nagaland Dimapur Science Centre September 14, 2004 Regional Science Centre Odisha Bhubaneswar Regional Centre September 18, 1989 Dhenkanal Science Centre Odisha Dhenkanal Science Centre June 5, 1995 Kapilas Science Park Odisha Dhenkanal Science Park June 5, 1995 Bargarh Science Centre Odisha Bargarh Science Centre January 21, 2020 Regional Science Centre Rajasthan Jaipur Regional Centre December 29, 2012 Sub-Regional Science Centre Rajasthan Jodhpur Sub-Regional Centre August 17, 2013 Sikkim Science Centre Sikkim Gangtok Science Centre February 22, 2008 District Science Centre Tamil Nadu Tirunelveli District Centre 1987 Regional Science Centre Tamil Nadu Coimbatore Regional Centre May 6, 2013 Regional Science City Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Science City 1989 Regional Science Centre Uttarakhand Dehradun Regional Centre February 3, 2016 Science City West Bengal Kolkata Science City July 1, 1997 Birla Industrial & Technological Museum West Bengal Kolkata National Centre May 2, 1959 Central Research and Training Laboratory West Bengal Kolkata Research Laboratory January 1, 1988 North Bengal Science Centre West Bengal Siliguri Science Centre August 17, 1997 Sub-Regional Science Centre West Bengal Kalimpong Sub-Regional Centre October 2, 2008 Bardhaman Science Centre West Bengal Babur Bagh Science Centre January 9, 1994 Digha Science Centre & National Science Camp West Bengal New Digha Science Centre August 31, 1997 District Science Centre West Bengal Purulia District Centre December 15, 1982
Science centers in union territories Science Center Union Territory Location Type Inauguration Date Science Centre Andaman and Nicobar Islands Port Blair Science Centre May 30, 2003 National Science Centre Delhi Delhi National Centre January 9, 1992 Sub-Regional Science Centre Puducherry Puducherry Sub-Regional Centre May 3, 2015
Special facilities and programmes
Specialised facilities The science centres across India feature various specialised facilities designed to enhance visitor experience and educational impact:"Special Facilities". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Planetariums Several centres house modern planetarium facilities with digital projection systems: Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur - Features a 12.5-meter dome Regional Science Centre and Planetarium, Kozhikode - Offers bilingual shows Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium, Assam - Specialises in astronomy education Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, Mangalore - Digital full-dome projection system
Innovation Hubs Dedicated spaces for fostering creativity and innovation among students: Creative Design Labs Robotics Workshops 3D Printing Facilities Electronics Labs
Specialised Galleries Themed exhibition spaces focusing on specific scientific domains: Fun Science Galleries Evolution Parks Dinosaur Galleries Maritime Galleries Space Exploration Centres
Research Facilities Advanced laboratories for student experiments Weather monitoring stations Astronomical observatories Mathematical modelling centres
Educational programmes The centres offer various educational programmes and initiatives:"Educational Activities". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Regular Programmes Science demonstration lectures Sky observation programmes Teachers' training workshops Science quiz competitions Mobile science exhibitions Special Events National Science Day celebrations (February 28) World Environment Day programmes National Mathematics Day activities Space Week celebrations
International collaborations NCSM has established several international collaborations:"International Collaborations". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, Mauritius - Technical support and exhibition development India Gallery, International Buddhist Museum, Sri Lanka - Cultural and scientific exchange Collaborative projects with science museums worldwide
Future developments As part of ongoing expansion efforts, several new centres are planned or under construction:"Future Plans". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Upcoming projects New Science Cities Regional Science City, Guwahati (Under Construction) Science City, Jammu (Proposed) Science City, Dehradun (Planning Phase)
Sub-Regional Science Centers Upcoming centres in: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Nashik, Maharashtra Mysuru, Karnataka Imphal, Manipur Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
District Science Centres Focus on underserved areas in: North-Eastern states Tribal districts Rural regions Himalayan states
Infrastructure upgrades Several existing centres are scheduled for modernisation: Digital planetarium installations Interactive gallery renovations Virtual reality facilities Augmented reality exhibits
Outreach expansion New mobile science exhibition units Digital learning platforms Virtual laboratory programmes Science demonstration kits for schools
Impact and outreach The science centre network has significant impact on science education in India:"Annual Report 2022-23". National Council of Science Museums. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
Annual visitors: Over 14 million (2019) School programmes: 5000+ annually Mobile science exhibitions: Reaching 2000+ remote locations Training programmes: 500+ teachers annually
Summary statistics As of 2026, India has: 3 Science Cities 6 National Centres 15 Regional Centres 5 Sub-Regional Centres 5 District Centres 20+ Science Centres 1 Research Laboratory 1 Science Park
Centres by Special Facilities: 4 Centres with Planetariums 1 Research & Training Laboratory 1 Panorama Centre
See also Science education in India National Council of Science Museums List of museums in India Science and technology in India Education in India Ministry of Culture (India)
References
External links National Council of Science Museums Ministry of Culture, Government of India Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Indian National Science Academy