Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA)

Why is in news? PM to inaugurate 108th Indian Science Congress tomorrow

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate and witness the entire inaugural session of the 108th Indian Science Congress through video conferencing on January 3. The event is being hosted by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) at its Amravati Road Campus.

The theme of the event this year is “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment.” The Public Talks and exhibitions are open to the general public.

A special attraction of the event is a mega expo “Pride of India”.

The prominent developments, major achievements and the significant contributions largely of Indian Science and Technology to the society will be showcased in the exhibition, which brings together and displays hundreds of new ideas, innovations, and products covering the entire canvas of the scientific world.

Pride of India displays the strengths and achievements of Government, Corporate, PSUs, Academic and R&D Institutes, Innovators & Entrepreneurs from all across the country.

In the run-up to the event, the Vigyan Jyot programme, a tradition of the Indian Science Congress was held. More than 400 school and college students gathered at Zero Milestone and, wearing special caps and T-shirts, proceeded in a rally to the university campus. They took a pledge to adopt scientific thinking in their lives.

Vigyan Jyot - Flame of Knowledge - was conceived on the lines of the Olympic flame. It is a movement dedicated to nurturing scientific temper in the society, especially the youth. The flame was installed at the university campus and will continue to be alight until the end of the 108th Indian Science Congress.

Indian Science Congress Association:

Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) is a premier scientific organisation of India with headquarters at Kolkata, West Bengal.

The association started in the year 1914 in Kolkata and it meets annually in the first week of January. It has a membership of more than 30,000 scientists.

The first Indian Science Congress was held in 1914 at the Asiatic Society in Calcutta. After pseudoscientific speeches at the 2019 Indian Science Congress, the congress has established a policy that requires speakers at future conferences to be vetted and scrutinizes the content of their talks. Several prominent Indian and foreign scientists, including Nobel laureates, attend and speak in the congress.

The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) owes its origin to the foresight and initiative of two British chemists, namely, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon. It occurred to them that scientific research in India might be stimulated if an annual meeting of research workers somewhat on the lines of the British Association for the Advancement of Science could be arranged.

Objectives:

To advance and promote the cause of science in India;

To hold an annual congress at a suitable place in India;

To publish such proceedings, journals, transactions and other publications as may be considered desirable;

To secure and manage funds and endowments for the promotion of Science including the rights of disposing of or selling all or any portion of the properties of the Association;

To do and perform any or all other acts, matters and things as are conductive to, or incidental to, or necessary for, the above objects.