Lok Sabha Question No. 1578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Development and Promotion of District Science Centre, Purulia
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Jyotirmay Singh Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578 TO BE ANSWERED ON - 09.02.2026

## DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF DISTRICT SCIENCE CENTRE, PURULIA

## 1578.   SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of the total number of students/tourists visited to the District Science Centre, Purulia during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and whether there has been an increase or decline in footfall;
- (b) the details of the steps taken/being taken to encourage school students from Purulia, Jangalmahal and neighbouring regions to visit the Science Centre as part of their academic curriculum;
- (c) the details of the total funding allocated to the District Science Centre, Purulia during the last five years including infrastructure development, new exhibits and technological upgrades;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  for  expansion  or  modernization  of  the  Science  Centre, including the introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes; and
- (e) whether the  Government has undertaken  any special  initiatives  to  promote  scientific  awareness and innovation among students and the general public through this Science Centre and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE & TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): the details of the total number of students/tourists visited to the District Science Centre, Purulia during the last three years and the current year, year-wise are as under:

| Year                      |   Visitors in Museum |   Outreach Visitor (MSE) |
|---------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| 2022-23                   |               186641 |                    46867 |
| 2023-24                   |               188191 |                   201332 |
| 2024-25                   |               190729 |                   230193 |
| 2025-26 (upto 26.01.2026) |               150889 |                    71630 |

From the table shown above, it is transpired that there is an upward trend of visitor's footfall to District  Science  Centre,  Purulia,  a  constituent  unit  of  National  Council  of  Science  Museums (NCSM).

- (b): The  steps  taken/being  taken  to  encourage  school  students  from  Purulia,  Jangalmahal  and neighbouring  regions  to  visit  the  Science  Centre  as  part  of  their  academic  curriculum  is attached at Annexure-I.
- (c): Total  Allocation  of  Fund  made  to  District  Science  Centre,  Purulia  in  the  last  five  years including infrastructure development, new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes is shown in the table below:-

(Rs. in lakh)

| Year             |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| GIA-Salary       |     60.12 |     65.67 |     69.73 |     77.76 |     80.17 |
| GIA-General      |     37.88 |     37.61 |     69.66 |     82.42 |    113.22 |
| GIA-CCA          |      3.27 |      9.19 |      1.98 |     15.83 |     20.48 |
| Total Allocation |    101.27 |    112.47 |    141.37 |    176.01 |    213.87 |

- (d): Details  regarding  plans  for  expansion  or  modernization  of  the  Science  Centre,  including  the introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes is attached at Annexure-II.
- (e): Innovation Hub at District Science Centre, Purulia was inaugurated on 19th December 2019, to ignite the creativity of young minds and to promote temper of innovation among them. With 170 individual members and 360 institutional members, the hub has fostered the development of numerous innovative projects.

Mobile Science Exhibitions are organised by District Science Centre, Purulia in various rural areas  to  reach  unrepresented  section  of  the  society  to  promote  scientific  awareness  amongst students and public.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578 FOR 09.02.2026

## Steps taken/being taken to encourage School students

- i. The  students  from  both  Purulia  and  neighbouring  area  are  invited  to  participate  in  various programmes, such as the Science Camp in collaboration with PBSSM and the Sky Observation Camp at the residential KGBV hostels.
- ii. School students are encouraged to take part in Science Seminar, Science Drama, Quiz, Hobby Camp,and Science Model Competitions.
- iii. They  are  encouraged  to  take  part  in  different  commemorative  day  celebrations  to  promote scientific culture.
- iv. To  bring  science  to  the  grassroots  level,  Centre  has  organised  a  few  programmes  for underprivileged school students and Students from the Jangalmahal area.
- v. Purulia  Centre  organized  Mobile  Science  Exhibition  (MSE)  for  rural  school  students.  The Exhibition is highly educative with working models for the students and common people alike. In  Last  three  years, two  Mobile Science Exhibition Buses have covered 294 nos. school and spent 788 days with school students during MSE Programmes.

## District Science Centre, Purulia - Innovation Hub

Inaugurated on 19 th December 2019, Innovation Hub in DSC, Purulia has been a platform to ignite the creativity of young minds. With 170 individual members and 360 institutional members, the hub has fostered the development of numerous innovative projects.

In last  year the centre conducted 19 activity programme for the Innovation Hub members and 14 innovative project programme for Vigyan Jyoti Scholars of JNV Purulia & Sainik School Purulia students.  In  March  2024,  two  members  participated  in  the  Innovation  festival  2024  organised  by Digha Science Centre & National Science Camp, securing 1 st position in this festival. In December 2024,  three  of  the  talented  members  participated  in  Techfest  2024  organised  by  IIT  Bombay, securing  an  impressive  2 nd position  with  20k  cash  Prize  in  this  prestigious  event.  This  year,  the Innovation Hub proudly developed three ground-breaking projects:

1. AI Automated Weather Station
2. H.A.R.I.S.H - Our own AI innovation
3. Smog Hawk(Drone based Pollution Monitoring System for Sustainable Development)
4. Weather Station project is going on for B B College, Asansol

The projects have been filed for copyright and patent protection.

## Annexure-'II'

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (D) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578 FOR 09.02.2026

Details regarding plans for expansion or modernization of the Science Centre, including the introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes

-  Installation of Women Scientist Busts is proposed to be completed by this FY (2025-26).
-  In the coming financial year (2026-27), it has been planned to modernize the following arenas of DSC Purulia:
- I. Development  of  a  gallery  tilted  'Wings  of  wonder':  A  gallery  has  been  proposed  to showcase unique flora and fauna of the district with an emphasis to portray the natural migratory bird sanctuary surrounding the local water body named 'Saheb Bandh'. The new  gallery  will  replace  the  age-old  display  tiled  'Wealth  of  Purulia'  and  cover  an estimated floor space of about 500 square meters.
- II. Development of 'Virtual Reality Theatre': In order the match the pace of advancement of modern technologies, it has been proposed to house an ultra-modern virtual reality theatre  with  a  holding  capacity  of  about  25  persons  where  each  of  the  seats  will  be actuated by at least 3 DOF motion platforms along with a VR headset or alternatively a large  format  screen  that  produces  immersive  sensation  to  impart  education  in  a  funfilled informal way.
- III. Revamping of the Ticket booking system: Incorporation of online booking along with acceptance  of  payment  through  modern  gateways  along  with  UPI  and  bank  cards  to facilitate smooth entry to the centre and reduce the hassle of cash handling.

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