Science Centres Established Under SPoCS Scheme
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India is the implementing agency of the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) of Govt. of India, under which Science Cities, Science Centres, Digital Planetarium, Innovation Hubs are set up across the country based on the proposals received from different State Government and UTs desirous to set up Science Cities, Science Centre, Digital Planetarium, Innovation Hub etc.
North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri in Darjeeling district was inaugurated on 17th August, 1997 and the centre is being operated and managed by NCSM. An Innovation Hub at North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri in the Darjeeling district was inaugurated on 16th February, 2018 and is being operated and managed by NCSM.
A Sub-Regional Science Centre at Kalimpong in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, has been set up by NCSM under Science Cities scheme (Erstwhile). The Centre was handed over to State Government on 11th September, 2007 for its operation and management and it was inaugurated on 2nd October, 2008. An Innovation Hub at Kalimpong Science Centre, Kalimpong in Kalimpong district (erstwhile in Darjeeling district) was inaugurated and handed over on 25th February, 2017 by NCSM to respective State Government.
The details of the specific programs or events organized under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science by NCSM, Kolkata to promote hands-on scientific learning and experimentation for school and college students at North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri is attached at Annexure-II.
The complete guidelines of Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been provided in the websites of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and NCSM, Kolkata. The details of activities undertaken under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been highlighted every-year in the Annual Report publication of NCSM and all the achievements under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been updated on the website of NCSM to raise public awareness about SPoCS and its programmes to increase participation and outreach.
The details of number of beneficiaries and the outcomes of initiatives under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science as of January 2025, is attached at Annexure-III.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
