(I) An Introduction
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Evolution: The National Academy of Sciences, India (initially called “The Academy of Sciences of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh”) was founded in the year 1930, with the objectives to provide a national forum for the publication of research work carried out by Indian scientists and to provide opportunities for exchange of views among them. The Memorandum of Association was signed by seven distinguished and patriotic scientists namely Prof. Meghnad Saha, Prof. K.N. Bahl, Prof. D.R. Bhattacharya, Prof. P.C. MacMohan, Prof. A.C. Banerji, Prof. Ch. Wali Mohammad and Prof. N.R. Dhar. Of these, the Academy had the good fortune of having the continued association of Prof. N.R. Dhar until very lately when he expired on December 5, 1986 at the age of 96 years. Apart from being one of the founders of the Academy and taking continued interest in its welfare, Prof. Dhar also donated the piece of land on which the Academy building stands today. |
Founder President Prof. M.N. Saha
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The Rules and Regulations of the Academy were based on those of the Royal Society of England and the Asiatic Society of Bengal. These have since been revised and updated to meet the emerging challenges. Prof. Meghnad Saha was elected its first President. In the Inaugural address, Prof. Saha Said : “…..But the main function of the Academy should be towards cultural improvement by contribution to human knowledge”. Since then, the Academy has crossed many milestones, successfully serving the “Science & Society”. In its Silver Jubilee Session in 1955, Prof. Saha, further emphasized the role of the Academies in developing human scientific resources. Similarly, during the Golden Jubilee Session of the Academy in 1980, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minster of India stressed that the need of hour was to ensure that science does not remain confined to laboratories. The address delivered by His Excellency Sri R. Venkataraman, President of India, during the Diamond Jubilee Session (1990-91) was a timely reminder of the vision of late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to integrate science with the lives of the people; and the Academy left no stone unturned in pursuing its aim and objectives, which was appreciated by His Excellency Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India, in his address during the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Academy in 2005. Dr. Kalam praised the role of the Academy in boosting the zeal of the budding scientists, who could do better in future with such support and endeavour.
The Academy undertakes several “science-society” programs under the guidance of its President, Past Presidents and Fellows. Prof. Balram Bhargava steered the programmes as the President in the year 2023-24. As its Past Presidents, very distinguished scientists like Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Prof. Manju Sharma, Prof. P.N. Tandon, Prof. Jai Pal Mittal, Prof. V.P. Kamboj, Prof. Ashok Misra, Prof. Asis Datta, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Prof. Akhilesh K. Tyagi, Prof. Anil Kakodkar , Prof. G. Padmanaban and Prof. Ajoy Ghatak are keenly associated with the Academy and enormously contributing to its development. It is worth mentioning that a few other Past Presidents (unfortunately who are not with us now), as Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Dr. V.P. Sharma, Prof. A.K. Sharma, Dr. T.N. Khoshoo, Prof. U.S. Srivastava, Dr. A.P. Mitra, Dr. S.Z. Qasim and Prof. S.K. Joshi, also contributed a lot to the development of science in general and the Academy in particular, in the recent past.
The Academy while starting with 57 ordinary Members and 19 Fellows, has now 1944 Members and 1959 Fellows from all parts of the country; including 15 Honorary Fellows and 113 Foreign Fellows from various disciplines of Science and Technology. The Academy is financially supported by the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India; and it is also recognized as the Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation by the DSIR, Govt. of India.
NASI – envisions the cultivation and promotion of Science & Technology in all its branches through –
(a) promoting scientific and technological research related to the problems of societal welfare;
(b) publication of proceedings, journals, memoirs, transactions and other works as may be considered desirable;
(c) organising meetings and hold discussions on scientific and technological problems;
(d) undertaking, through properly constituted committees and bodies, the scientific work(s) of technological or public importance.
(e) co-operating with other organizations in India and abroad, having similar objects, and to appoint representatives of the Academy to act on national and international bodies;
(f) securing and managing funds and endowments for the promotion of science and technology;
(g) organising a Science Library;
(h) performing all other acts, matters and things that may assist in, conduce to, or be necessary for the fulfilment of the above mentioned aims and objects of the Academy;
(i) creating an adequate impact of the Academy all over the country, by opening Chapters of the Academy in other cities in the country, where reasonable number of Fellows and Members are available.
Important Highlights of Major Programmes/Activities (in past few years):
The Academy (NASI) organized various activities under the Presidentship of Prof. Balram Bhargava ,Prof. Akhilesh K. Tyagi, Prof. Anil Kakodkar, Professor G. Padmanaban and Prof. Ajoy Ghatak, during the past few years. The Past Presidents, namely Professor M.S. Swaminathan, Professor (Mrs.) Manju Sharma, Professor Ashok Misra, Professor Asis Datta, Dr V. P. Kamboj, Professor J.P. Mittal, and Dr. K. Kasturirangan also took keen interest in the dissemination of science in general and the development of the Academy, in particular. The noteworthy accomplishments with the kind cooperation of its Fellows and Members, and major (financial) support of the DST, New Delhi, are as follows:
Publications:
NASI published the Proceedings of NASI, Sec. A & B, each in IV parts and National Academy Science Letters in VI parts, in collaboration with the Springer Nature, every year.
National Academy Science Letters received Impact Factor (IF) as 1.2 in 2023-24 from Thomson Reuters; about 1200 papers were received from thirty countries/regions every year.
PNASI, Sec. A received Impact Factor (IF) as 0.80 in 2023-24 from Thomson Reuters; and about 450 papers were received from twenty five countries/regions every year.
The PNASI, Sec. B received Cite Score as 2.4 in 2023-24 from Scopus; and about 600 papers were received from thirty seven countries/regions every year.
Many special publications were released at New Delhi on the occasion of the “Closing Ceremony of the Anniversary Celebrations of ‘Ba & Bapu’ and Prof. Meghnad Saha”. These were the collection of the Lectures delivered (in the memory of these three great personalities of the world) by the distinguished persons in different parts of the country.
Special Issue on “Remote Sensing”, which most downloaded journal of the physics in the world,2017. Published in PNASI, Sec-A.
An important book on “Vector Biology and Control” was also published .
Science Education/Communication Activities:
NASI-HQ and it’s 21 Chapters spread across India, are organising several science education/communication activities (presently on WEB also) in and around their respective regions. More than two dozen Institutes/Laboratories/Educational Institutions (as IITs, NCSM, Medical Colleges, Universities, CBSE, DNA Clubs etc.) are associated with NASI in organising these programmes. It is expected that more than one lac students and teachers would be benefitted from these activities/webinars focused on ‘Poshan (Nutrition)’, COVID Appropriate behaviour, Entrepreneurship development for Atmanirbhar Bharat (in consonance with the recent national programmes announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India), and so.
Activities under Joint Women Panel of three National Science Academies:
NASI is heading this joint panel of three National Science Academies under the leadership of Prof. Manju Sharma, Past President, NASI & former Secretary to the GoI. A Mega Event (graced by the Hon’ble Minister for Sc. & Tech., GoI; Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST; Prof. M S Swaminathan, Prof. Anil Kakodkar and about 1000 women scientists) was organised successfully organising several programmes in about 17 states of our country for the welfare of women scientists and the rural women by the scientific intervention. The programme is going on with full vigour and hopefully 3-4 national workshops will be organised .
Research Projects being undertaken by the NASI-Chairs & Senior Scientists:
NASI has undertaken several important research works/projects led by its Distinguished Chairs and the Senior/Hony. Scientists (as Prof. G. Padmanaban, former Director, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Prof. V. M. Katoch, former DG, ICMR; Prof. Ashok Misra, former Director, IIT Bombay, Prof. Amit Ghosh, former Director, CSIR-IMTECH; Prof. Satya Deo, former Vice-Chancellor & Emeritus Scientist, HRI, and many others), aimed towards the development of science in general and the society, in particular. Due to their noteworthy contributions, the NASI has been recognised as SIRO by the DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI. The detailed reports have been sent to the DST (as a part of the Annual Reports of NASI); and also available on the website of NASI- nasi.org.in / nasi.ac.in
S&T Entrepreneurship development:
Training programs for entrepreneurs – To inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship in the youth and in line with the National Mission Programmes of Skill Development and Start Up India, NASI organised programmes with ‘Hands-on training’ at Lucknow, Chitrakoot, Mahendragarh and other places.
Awareness and Training – on Nutrition, Safe drinking water, Health & hygiene etc. A mixed participation of rural and urban population was ensured. This was included in the spirit of “Swasth Bharat Mission”.
Safe drinking water and pollution abatement – especially for the rural areas and municipal workers. This was included in the spirit of “Swachh Bharat Mission”. Vth Brain Storming on Safe Water & Sanitation was organised at MPCOST Bhopal ; a large number of scientists, municipal workers, researchers and others attended the brainstorming sessions.
Activities under Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan Programmes:
A Mega Event on the ‘Science & Technology Intervention for the Tribal Welfare’ was held at ILS, Bhubaneswar , in which about 300 participants attended from all across the country representing 22 Tribal Welfare Centres established by NASI.
Annual Session/Symposia/Seminars & Scientific Discussions:
Every year the Annual Session is organised; also other symposia/seminars are organised on the current scientific topics of societal interest. The 94th Annual Session of NASI(1st-3rd December,2024) and a Symposium on ‘Accelerated R&D towards a Developed India’, was held at IISER, Bhopal. More than 600 researchers and scientists participated in each of these events. Other seminars/symposia were also organised by NASI, as dedicated to the past president of the academy Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, attended by Dr. Ajai Chowdhry,Founder,HCL Chairman, EPIC Foundation , Dr. Shailesh Nayak, NIAS Banglore as well as several other distinguished scientists.
Fellowship / Membership:
To recognize the outstanding scientific contributions of the scientists, the Academy awards every year the prestigious Fellowship/Membership to some of them. More than 100 scientists working in different areas of Science & Technology were selected from all across the country every year. It also awarded a few Foreign Fellowships to scientists who are working in different countries and have collaborated with scientists from India.
Science Education Programmes in joint collaboration with National Science Academies:
NASI, together with other two Science Academies – Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore jointly sponsors the Summer/Winter Research Fellowship under the joint Science Education Panel to provide opportunities to bright UG and PG students and teachers to usefully spend their summer/winter vacations.
Recognition and Awards- Several awards were given in past few years, just to name a few:
- NASI-Reliance Industries Platinum Jubilee Awards for the Application Oriented Innovations covering both Physical and Biological Sciences to five distinguished scientists;
- NASI-Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Awards to about twenty young scientists/researchers in the fields of Biological/Physical/ Chemical Sciences;
- NASI-Senior Scientist Platinum Jubilee Fellowships;
- Professor M. G. K. Menon Memorial Award
- NASI – Swarna Jayanti Puruskars for Best Paper Presentation to about four young scientists/researchers, during the Annual Sessions;
- Memorial Lecture Awards to about 15 eminent scientists every year;
- NASI – Science and Maths Teacher Awards by NASI HQ & Chapters to many teachers.
Major Accomplishments (in past few years):
Apart from the aforementioned activities/accomplishments, the Academy also created two galleries (other than the Ganga-gallery at Prayagraj) on the rivers Brahmaputra and Cauvery respectively at Guwahati (with the partial support of the Govt. of Assam) and Mysuru (with total support of the Govt. of Karnataka), during the years of the report. NASI also undertook several projects on water; and scientifically rejuvenated the baolies (step-wells of about 200 years ago) at Bundelkhand area of MP with the scientific support of MPCOST, Bhopal and the BARC, Mumbai. All these facilities have been dedicated to the Nation.
Major and Unique National Facilities created (in past few years):
Apart from the aforesaid national facilities (as mentioned in Major Accomplishments), the Academy (NASI) also has a well-equipped auditorium of 200 persons capacity; a committee room with all WEB facilities for holding webinars; a rich library and a Council Room for holding meetings.
Important collaborations (national and global) established (in past few years):
The NASI together with other two Science Academies – Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore is jointly sponsoring the Summer Research Fellowship under the joint Science Education Panel
Continuing its established collaboration with the Reliance Industries, SCOPUS and Springer, for recognizing the talent in scientific research.
Also organized many science communication/popularization activities in collaboration with the Indian Universities/Institutes/CSIR Laboratories/ NCSM and other prestigious institutions.
Elected Officers and Members of the Council for the year 2025
President
1. Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh, FNASc, FASc, FNA, FTWAS, Former Founder Director, IISER Bhopal, Professor Emeritus & Institute Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur – 208016
Past Presidents
2. Balram Bharagava, FNASc, FASc, FAMS, FNA, Former DG, ICMR & Secretary to the GoI, Chief, Cardiothoracic Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi – 110029
3. Prof. Ashok Misra, FNASc, FNAE, Former Director, IIT Bombay, Honorary Professor, JNCASR Bangalore – 560 064
Vice-Presidents
4. Paramjit Khurana, FNASc, FASc, FNA,FTWAS, Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, DhaulaKuan, New Delhi-110021
5. Prof. Pramod Tandon, FNASc, Former Vice-Chancellor, NEHU, Shillong; Res. D-802, Shalimar Gallant, Vigyanpuri, Mahanagar, Lucknow – 226006
Treasurer
6. Prof. Rama Shanker Verma, FNASc, Former Professor, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, Director, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj–211004
Foreign Secretary
7. Prof. Rajesh Kumar Vatsa, FNASc, Head, Cluster Chemistry Sec., Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai – 400085
General Secretaries
8. Jayesh R. Bellare, FNASc, FNAE, Institute Chair Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai- 400076
9. Prof. Daya Shankar Pandey, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005
Members
10. Prof. Mitali Chatterjee, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Head, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of PG Medical Education and Research, 244 Acharya JC Bose Road, Kolkata – 700020
11. Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, FNASc, FNAE, FASc, FNA,FTWAS, Director, Indian Statistical Institute, 203, B.T. Road, Kolkata – 700108
12. Prof. Smita Dilip Mahale, FNASc, FNA, ICMR Emeritus Scientist and Formerly Director, NIRRCH; Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai – 400012
13. Prof. P.A. Hassan, FNASc, Scientific Officer H, Head, NBS; Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai – 400085
14. Prof. Neela Nataraj, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Professor, Department of Mathematics, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai – 400076
15. Prof. Chintalagiri Mohan Rao, FNASc, FASc, FNA, FTWAS, Former Director, CSIR-CCMB, Uppal Road, Hyderabad – 500007
16. Dr. Chandrabhas Narayana, FNASc, FASc, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695014
17. Prof. Krishna Misra, FNASc, Former Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad; Honorary Professor, Applied Sciences Department, IIIT Allahabad, Prayagraj– 211012
18. Prof. Rajendra Singh Sangwan, FNASc, FNA, Director (Vice Chancellor), Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), AcSIR Campus at CSIR-HRDC, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad – 201002
19. Prof. Sanjeev Misra, FNASc, FAMS, Vice Chancellor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, Lucknow
20. Prof. Ranjan Kumar Mallik, FNASc, FNAE, FASc, FNA, FTWAS, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016
21. Dr. Manoj Prasad, FNASc, FNA, Staff Scientist-VII & JC Bose National Fellow, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU Campus, New Delhi – 110067
22. Dr. Pratibha Jolly, FNASc, Academic Consultant, NA&AC & Former Principal, Miranda House University of Delhi, Delhi
23. Dr. Alok Krishna Sinha, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Staff Scientist VII, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi – 110067
Nominee of the Secretary, DST, GoI, New Delhi
24. Prof. K. S.Rangappa, FNASc, Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore & KSO University
Chief Editors of the NASI Publications
25. Prof. J.P.Mittal,FNASc, FASc, FNA,FTWAS, Former Director, Chemistry and Isotope Group, BARC, Mumbai; Chief Editor, PNASI-A
26. Prof. Yogendra Singh,FNASc, FASc, FNA, Advisor, Delhi School of Public Health, Institute of Eminence, University of Delhi, Delhi -110 007; Chief Editor, PNASI-B
Nominee of the President
27. Prof. MadhuDikshit, FNASc, FASc, FNA, FTWAS, Former Director, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, Distinguished Scientist Chair (Ministry of AYUSH), CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow
28. Prof. Sourav Pal, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Former Director, IISER Kolkata & CSIR-NCL Pune, Department of Chemistry, Ashoka University, Sonepat, Haryana
29. Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, FNASc, FASc, FNA, Director, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa