# List of science centres in India

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.
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.
* 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 |
| 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:
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:
* 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:
* 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:

### 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 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 2024, India has:
* 2 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