Indian National Science Academy


The Indian National Science Academy is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology.
In August 2019, Dr. Chandrima Shaha was appointed as the president of Indian National Science Academy, becoming the first woman to head the INSA.
In 2015 INSA has constituted a junior wing for young scientists in the country named Indian National Young Academy of Sciences in line with other national young academies. INYAS is the prestigious academy for young scientists in India as a national young academy and is affiliated with Global Young Academy. INYAS is also a signatory of the declaration on the Core Values of Young Academies, adopted at World Science Forum, Budapest on 20 November 2019

History

The Genesis: Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi is an autonomous institution of Dept. Science & Technology, Govt. of India. However, the origins of INSA can be traced back to the founding of National Institute of Sciences in India in the year 1935 in Calcutta. The basic objective was and continues to be to promote, nurture and safeguard the interests of sciences and scientists. The NISI was recognized by the Government of India, as a Premier National Scientific Society. NISI moved to its present premises in Delhi in 1951. A Government of India's decision in 1968 mandated INSA to represent India in all the international science fora. In 1970, NISI was given a new name- Indian National Science Academy. Its campus at the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg came into being during 1951 with a major expansion during late 80’s-mid 90’s. Today the main INSA-building stands out at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg as seven-storied, beautifully shaped Golden Jubilee Building, completed in 1996.

Overview

The Academy consists of Foundation fellows, Fellows and Foreign Fellows. Election to the Academy is only by nomination. The objectives of the academy encompass promotion of science in India including its application to national welfare, safeguarding the interests of the scientists, establishing linkages with international bodies to foster collaboration and expressing considered opinion on national issues.
It plays a role in promoting, recognising and rewarding excellence in scientific research. With a view to promoting the pursuit of excellence in the field of 'Science and Technology', the academy has instituted 59 awards, placed in 4 categories, viz International Awards, General Medal & Lecture Awards, Subjectwise Medals/Lectures and Awards for Young Scientists. It also publishes journals, organises scientific discussions and brings out proceedings and monographs.
It is a signatory to the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities in 2004

Presidents

The list of presidents of the society.
PresidentFromTo
Lewis Leigh Fermor19351936
Meghnad Saha19371938
Ram Nath Chopra19391940
Baini Prashad19411942
Jnan Chandra Ghosh19431944
Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia19451946
Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar19471948
Satyendra Nath Bose19491950
Sunder Lal Hora19511952
Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan19531954
Amulya Chandra Ukil19551956
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis19571958
Sisir Kumar Mitra19591960
Ajudhiya Nath Khosla19611962
Homi Jehangir Bhabha19631964
Vasant Ramji Khanolkar19651966
Thiruvengadam Rajendram Seshadri19671968
Atma Ram19691970
Bagepalli Ramachandrachar Seshachar19711972
Daulat Singh Kothari19731974
Benjamin Peary Pal19751976
Raja Ramanna19771978
Vulimiri Ramalingaswami19791980
Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon19811982
Arun Kumar Sharma19831984
Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao19851986
Autar Singh Paintal19871988
Man Mohan Sharma19891990
Prakash Narain Tandon19911992
Shri Krishna Joshi19931995
Srinivasan Varadarajan19961998
Goverdhan Mehta19992001
Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan20022004
Raghunath Anant Mashelkar20052007
Mamannamana Vijayan20082010
Krishan Lal20112013
Raghavendra Gadagkar20142016
Ajay K. Sood20172019
Chandrima Shaha20202022

Publications

The academy publishes three peer-reviewed journals
It also publishers a year book, annual reports, INSA News, biographical memoirs, special publications and the proceedings of INSA seminars and symposia.