**Executive Summary**
This document, a written reply in Rajya Sabha from the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism on February 5, 2026, outlines the challenges faced by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). It details the financial support provided to NCSM for modernization and expansion, and highlights the integration of technology, virtual reality, augmented reality and gamification in its exhibits. It also addresses accessibility for rural populations and regional language inclusivity.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Support**:
* The Ministry of Culture provides financial support to NCSM for modernization and expansion.
* Additional funding requirements are addressed through re-appropriation, savings, and supplementary provisions.
* **Exhibit Modernization**:
* NCSM has updated/renovated/fabricated 1608 exhibits in the last five years.
* NCSM incorporates interactive, immersive, and technology-driven elements in new galleries and upgrades.
* Technologies include hands-on exhibits, digital interfaces, multimedia presentations, simulation-based learning modules, and audio-visual systems.
* VR, AR and Gamification are being integrated in museums. Details of select exhibits are in Annexure-III.
* **Accessibility and Inclusivity**:
* NCSM aims to enhance accessibility for rural populations and promote regional language inclusivity.
* Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) bring interactive exhibits to rural areas.
* MSE buses conduct programs across the country on science, technology and environment.
* Exhibit labels are adapted to regional languages for local understanding.
* Online virtual exhibitions are being launched to allow remote audiences to explore museum exhibits with multilingual content.
* **Budget Allocation**
* Budget allocation to National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) during the last five financial years (2020-2024) and expenditure incurred by them is mentioned in Annexure-I.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)**
* **Impact**: NCSM is responsible for modernizing and expanding its museums by integrating new technologies and ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences.
* **Action Required**: NCSM must continue to develop and deploy interactive exhibits, adapt language to regional needs, and promote online virtual exhibitions.
**Stakeholder: Rural Populations**
* **Impact**: Enhanced access to science education and museum experiences through mobile exhibitions and virtual content.
* **Action Required**: Engage with mobile exhibitions and virtual content to benefit from science communication initiatives.
**Stakeholder: Visitors of NCSM Museums**
* **Impact**: Enhanced visitor engagement through interactive, immersive and technology-driven exhibits.
* **Action Required**: Engage with the new exhibits for enhanced learning outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM): An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, NCSM is actively undertaking initiatives to integrate Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and gamification in its museums to modernize science communication and enhance visitor engagement.
Ministry of Culture: The ministry that extends financial support to NCSM for modernization and expansion activities.
Rajya Sabha: The Council of States of the Parliament of India, where a question regarding the challenges faced by NCSM was answered.
Virtual Reality (VR): One of the technologies used in museum exhibits to modernize science communication.
Augmented Reality (AR): One of the technologies used in museum exhibits to modernize science communication.
Ministry of Culture
CHALLENGES FACED BY NCSM
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 3:23PM by PIB Delhi
The budget allocated to National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) during the last five years is
placed at Annexure-I. It is informed that the projected requirements of NCSM are examined in detail each
year during the Budget Estimates (BE) and Revised Estimates (RE) stages. Wherever additional
requirements have arisen beyond the initial allocations, the Ministry has endeavoured to augment the
funds through re-appropriation, savings and supplementary provisions, subject to availability of
resources.
The Ministry of Culture continues to extend financial support to NCSM for modernization and expansion
activities, and necessary funds are provided from time to time to ensure uninterrupted functioning and
progressive development of science centres and museums.
The number of exhibits in NCSM museums that have been updated/renovated/fabricated in the last five
years is 1608. NCSM follows a policy of incorporating interactive, immersive and technology-driven
elements while developing new galleries as well as in modernization and upgradation projects. These
include hands-on exhibits, digital interfaces, multimedia presentations, simulation-based learning
modules, audio-visual systems and other emerging technologies aimed at enhancing visitor engagement
and learning outcomes. The exhibits and galleries are designed to cater to diverse age groups and
learning levels, keeping in view contemporary scientific advancements and modern museum practices.
The details regarding measures to enhance accessibility for rural population and promote regional
language inclusivity in exhibits is attached at Annexure-II.
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is actively undertaking initiatives to integrate Virtual
Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and gamification in its museums to modernize science
communication and enhance visitor engagement. NCSM is developing and deploying immersive,
interactive and technology-driven exhibits using advanced digital tools such as motion sensors, computer
vision, artificial intelligence and touchless interfaces. These initiatives aim to create engaging, intuitive
and inclusive learning experiences through interactive storytelling, simulation-based displays, projection
mapping and gamified content. All newly developed and modernized galleries increasingly incorporate
such technologies in line with contemporary museum practices. Details of select exhibits incorporating
VR, AR and gamification, installed at various NCSM units are placed at Annexure-III.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today
*****
M Annadurai
ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 671 FOR 05.02.2026 ASKED BY SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYAThe budget allocated to National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) during the last five Financial
Years
(Rs. in lakh)
Sl Name 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 202
no. of the
budget Budget Expenditure Budget Expenditure Budget Expenditure Bud
head allocated incurred allocated incurred allocated incurred allo
1 GIA- 591.60 591.63 500.00 500.02 899.95 901.00 1,70
CCA
2 GIA - 914.93 914.93 10,501.18 10,501.18 10,800.00 10,427.11 11,8
Salary
3 GIA - 426.86 426.86 447.00 447.00 2,928.50 2,928.50 4,55
General
4 GIA- 1.40 1.40 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
SAP
Annexure-‘II’
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (C) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 671 FOR 05.02.2026 ASKED BY SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA
Significant efforts have been made to enhance accessibility for rural populations by incorporating regional
languages and inclusive digital tools. To ensure wider accessibility and promote regional language
inclusivity, NCSM and its units have launched several initiatives aimed at reaching rural communities and
making science communication more inclusive:
1. Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) for Rural Areas
Mobile Science Exhibitions bring interactive exhibits to rural areas, ensuring that scientific
knowledge reaches those who may do not have access to traditional museums.
A fleet of 48 MSE buses, of which 25 in aspirational districts, conducts programs across the country
on various topics on science, technology and environment.
As Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) travel from one state to another, the language of the exhibit
labels are changed accordingly as per the respective regional language, so that the scientific content
of the MSE can be understood by the local populace easily.
2. Online Virtual Exhibitions for Rural Audiences
NCSM is launching online virtual exhibitions, allowing people in remote areas to explore museum
exhibits from anywhere.
These virtual exhibits provide multilingual content to ensure inclusivity for diverse linguistic
groups.Annexure-‘III’
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (D) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 671 FOR 05.02.2026 ASKED BY SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA
i. Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata and its Satellite Units
Sl. Exhibit Name Year Location
No.
1. Balloon Burst 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
2. Virtual Motion 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
3. Virtual Reality 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
world
4. Magic Floor 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
5. Augmented 2019-23 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM (2019-20)
Reality Ocean Gallery, SrikrishnaScience Centre, Patna (2019-20)
Popular Science Gallery, Bardhaman Science Centre
(2019-20)
Digha Science Centre, Digha (2022-23)
6. Interactive Table 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
7. Virtual Bike 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
Racing
8. Interactive table 2019-20 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
9. Gesture Ping 2022-23 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
Pong Game
10. Virtual Football 2022-23 Popular Science Gallery, NBSC Siliguri
11. Artifact Alive 2024-25 BITM
12. Augmented reality 2024-25 Television Gallery, BITM
and chroma key
interaction
13. Space Debris 2024-25 Digital Adventure Gallery, BITM
ii. National Science Centre, Guwahati‘Dinosaur Park’
‘Virtual Wardrobe’
The gallery on ‘Traditional medicines of North East India’ presents few more AR based exhibits,
such as
1. ‘Herbal Vapour Therapy’
2. To enhance visitor engagement, this gallery will have a gaming exhibit ‘Test your knowledge’ where
visitor will be given a hunting challenge on a digital 3D virtual garden.
iii. Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (VITM), Bangalore and its Satellite Units
a. In VITM Virtual Reality technology was used in Electronics gallery. Puzzle corners and Quiz corner
are introduced. Multi touch tables and interactive kiosks were used wherever necessary.
b. Various Projection technologies are included in the Astronomy gallery of Regional Science Centre
&Planetarium, Calicut as below.
Stellar evolution - Immersive projection on a 15’ dia Circular screen
Journey of Hubble – a Cycloramic projection
Galaxies and Cosmology – a panoramic interactive projection
Planets and satellites – 3d globe projection
Exoplanets – 3D holographic projection
Asteroids and meteorites – 3D holographic fan
Big Bang – Visual seeker technology
Blackhole – interactive touch wall
Space time curvature – interactive touch wall
Expanding universe – interactive video wall
iv. National Science Centre, Delhi
‘Black Diamond: Unveiling the Depths’ Gallery has 44 exhibits based on VR , AR etc.
‘Digital World Gallery’ has 36 exhibits based on immersive experiences and interactive simulations.
v. Science City, Kolkata
Use of digital interfaces have been extensively done for the development of exhibits for the gallery on
Climate change. Some of the important technologies that has been used are as follows-
1. Holographic fan - Carbon emitters, Ice stupas: Watering the Himalaya
2. Immersive ride - Arctic adventure
3. Amalgamating mechanical and digital animation - Glacial Lake outburst flooding
4. Immersive room with AV and live streaming of data - Retreating glacier
5. Virtual reality - Coral loosinglustre
6. Multi-touch interface - Heat wave, Surging seas7. Augmented reality - Storm surge
8. Crowd data collection - Be the weatherman
9. Sensor driven AV interaction - Uncover climate secrets
10. Projection mapping - Warming up naturally, Human induced global warming, Point of no return,
Beat the heat
11. Digital wall - Every action counts, Plant one more
12. Anamorphic 3d film - LED wall
****
(Release ID: 2223741) Visitor Counter : 149
Read this release in: Urdu , ही