National Science Centre, Delhi
Science museum in Delhi, India
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The National Science Centre established in 1992, is a science museum in Delhi, India. It is part of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under India's Ministry of Culture. It stands close to Gate no 1, of Bharat Mandapam overlooking the Purana Qila.
India
| |
 | |
| Established | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bhairon Marg, Delhi, India |
| Coordinates | 28.6132428°N 77.2453003°E |
| Type | science museum |
| Visitors | 968287 [As on April 2024][1] |
| Director | Vijay Shankar Sharma |
| Curators |
|
| Website | nscd.gov.in |
NSCD is dedicated to making science accessible through interactive exhibits.
- Thematic Gallery
- Educational Workshop
- Informative Exhibition
- Immersive Shows
- Indoor & Outdoor activities
- Safe and Accessible[2]
History
The National Science Center is the northern zonal headquarters of the National Council of Science Museums. The coming to power of Rajiv Gandhi saw a fresh impetus for science popularisation. With Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai already operating Science Centres, a need for a big Centre in the Nation's capital in Delhi in the north was felt, and work started in earnest in 1984. It was inaugurated on 9 January 1992 by the then Prime Minister of India, P.V.Narasimha Rao and is situated between the Gate Nos. 1 and 2 of the Pragati Maidan exhibition grounds, on the Bhairon Road, across Purana Qila, Delhi. The building was designed by noted Indian architect Achyut Kanvinde.[3]
Galleries
The museum contains seven permanent galleries. From the top floor, these are, in order: Our Science and Technology Heritage, opened in October 2009; Human Biology; the History of the Earth; Fun Science, containing a penny-farthing bicycle gifted by Rajiv Gandhi and a number of other interactive exhibits; Information Revolution; Emerging Technologies; and Water, Elixir of Life, which was opened in December 2010.[4]
Timeline
Source:[2]
1982
Organised first National Science Seminar for school students at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
1986
Allotment of land in Pragati Maidan and taking possessions; beginning of building construction work.
Addition of giant 'Energy Ball' exhibit to the 'Energy is life' Pavillion on 14 November.
Introduction of Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) Unit Yamuna from 4 December.
1988
Organisation of international workshop on 'Science Museums without walls: Exhibits to Go' from 5" to 7" Dec and Inauguration of the first set of 'Fun Science' exhibits by P. Shivshanker, HRD Minister.
1991
'Prakash: Story of Light' exhibition put up under the HOSTE project.
1995
Participated in Republic Day Parade with a tableau of Dinosaurs.
Visitor Statistics
| Month[2] | General
Visitors |
Students
Groups |
Students
Visitors in the Centre |
Visitors
in the centre |
Visitors in
outreach Programmes |
Total
Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2023 | 39734 | 66 | 5635 | 45639 | 6157 | 51526 |
| May 2023 | 40929 | 85 | 8573 | 49502 | 43660 | 92962 |
| June 2023 | 72650 | 17 | 1225 | 73875 | 11484 | 85259 |
| July 2023 | 23192 | 46 | 7637 | 30829 | 0 | 30829 |
| August 2023 | 23943 | 518 | 142252 | 166195 | 10998 | 177193 |
| September 2023 | 16899 | 450 | 10384 | 120703 | 0 | 120703 |
| October 2023 | 30838 | 488 | 73510 | 104348 | 0 | 104348 |
| November 2023 | 19061 | 293 | 31053 | 50114 | 3550 | 53664 |
| December 2023 | 32141 | 485 | 50207 | 82348 | 0 | 82348 |
| January 2024 | 28321 | 36 | 5374 | 33695 | 26237 | 59932 |
| February 2024 | 16799 | 239 | 29409 | 46208 | 11524 | 57732 |
| March 2024 | 30507 | 240 | 21184 | 51691 | 0 | 51691 |
| April 2024 | 375014 | 2967 | 479863 | 854877 | 113410 | 968287 |
Awards
Source:[2]
- Dibner Award from Society of History of Technology (SHOT), Chicago, US
- First museum/ science centre of the country to display tableau at Republic Day Parade in 1995.
- First visual experiential museum set up at Banaras, UP.
- The Best Innovation award by Innovation Space, NSCD at Museo Expo at Science City, Kolkata in 2024.
- Received the Best Educational Pavilion Award at India International Science Festival 2025 on 9 December 2025.
See also
- Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, Mangalore
- Van Vigyan Kendra (VVK) Forest Science Centres
