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.
NSCD is dedicated to making science accessible through interactive exhibits.
Thematic Gallery Educational Workshop Informative Exhibition Immersive Shows Indoor & Outdoor activities Safe and Accessible
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.An Architecture of Independence: The Making of Modern South Asia University of Pennsylvania.
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.KAPIL SIBAL INAUGURATES EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES GALLERY AT NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE Ministry of Science & Technology, 21 July 2007.
Timeline Source:
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 +MonthGeneral VisitorsStudents GroupsStudents Visitors
in the
CentreVisitors in the
centreVisitors in outreach
ProgrammesTotal VisitorsApril 20233973466563545639615751526May 202340929858573495024366092962June 202372650171225738751148485259July 20232319246763730829030829August 20232394351814225216619510998177193September 202316899450103841207030120703October 202330838488735101043480104348November 2023190612933105350114355053664December 2023321414855020782348082348January 202428321365374336952623759932February 20241679923929409462081152457732March 2024305072402118451691051691April 20243750142967479863854877113410968287
Awards Source: 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
References