**Executive Summary**
This document provides the response to Unstarred Question No. 1578 raised in Lok Sabha concerning the Development and Promotion of the District Science Centre, Purulia. The questions, directed to the Minister of Culture, cover student/tourist visits, efforts to encourage school participation, funding details, expansion/modernization plans, and initiatives to promote scientific awareness. The response includes data on visitor numbers, funding allocations, and outlines initiatives undertaken and planned. The question was scheduled to be answered on 09.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Visitor Statistics:**
* There has been an overall upward trend in visitor footfall to the District Science Centre, Purulia.
* The document provides a table detailing the number of visitors to the museum and the outreach visitor count (MSE) for the years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 (up to 26.01.2026).
* **Encouraging School Participation:**
* Students from Purulia, Jangalmahal, and neighboring regions are invited to participate in programs like Science Camps and Sky Observation Camps.
* Students are encouraged to take part in Science Seminars, Science Dramas, Quizzes, Hobby Camps and Science Model Competitions.
* The Centre organizes programs for underprivileged students and those from the Jangalmahal area.
* Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) are conducted for rural school students.
* **Funding Allocation:**
* The document provides a table detailing the total allocation of funds for the District Science Centre, Purulia, for the years 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, broken down into GIA-Salary, GIA-General, and GIA-CCA components.
* The total allocation has increased year-on-year.
* **Expansion and Modernization Plans:**
* Installation of Women Scientist Busts is proposed to be completed by FY 2025-26.
* Modernization plans for FY 2026-27 include:
* Development of a 'Wings of Wonder' gallery to showcase local flora and fauna.
* Development of a 'Virtual Reality Theatre'.
* Revamping the ticket booking system to include online booking and modern payment gateways.
* **Innovation Hub:**
* An Innovation Hub was inaugurated in December 2019 to foster creativity.
* It has 170 individual members and 360 institutional members.
* The Innovation Hub has developed three groundbreaking projects.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: District Science Centre, Purulia Administration**
* **Impact:** The document provides a framework for the future development, programs, and financial support for the Science Centre.
* **Action Required:** Implement planned expansions and modernization projects, continue encouraging school participation, and effectively manage allocated funds.
**Stakeholder: School Students and General Public in Purulia and Neighboring Regions**
* **Impact:** Increased access to science education, interactive learning, and exposure to innovative projects.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the programs and initiatives offered by the Science Centre and Innovation Hub.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Culture**
* **Impact:** The document serves as a record of the ministry's response to parliamentary questions and outlines its commitment to promoting science and technology in the region.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the implementation of planned projects, monitor the performance of the District Science Centre, and provide continued support.
Key Entities Referenced
District Science Centre, Purulia: The primary subject of the parliamentary question regarding development and promotion of the science center.
Ministry of Culture: The ministry to which the parliamentary question is addressed.
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM): The District Science Centre, Purulia is a constituent unit of NCSM.
Purulia: Location of the District Science Centre and central to the policy's applicability.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578
TO BE ANSWERED ON – 09.02.2026
DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF DISTRICT SCIENCE CENTRE, PURULIA
1578. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the total number of students/tourists visited to the District Science Centre, Purulia
during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and whether there has been an increase
or decline in footfall;
(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken to encourage school students from Purulia, Jangalmahal
and neighbouring regions to visit the Science Centre as part of their academic curriculum;
(c) the details of the total funding allocated to the District Science Centre, Purulia during the last five
years including infrastructure development, new exhibits and technological upgrades;
(d) whether the Government has any plans for expansion or modernization of the Science Centre,
including the introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach
programmes; and
(e) whether the Government has undertaken any special initiatives to promote scientific awareness
and innovation among students and the general public through this Science Centre and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE & TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a): the details of the total number of students/tourists visited to the District Science Centre, Purulia
during the last three years and the current year, year-wise are as under:
Year Visitors in Museum Outreach Visitor (MSE)
2022-23 186641 46867
2023-24 188191 201332
2024-25 190729 230193
2025-26 150889 71630
(upto 26.01.2026)From the table shown above, it is transpired that there is an upward trend of visitor’s footfall to
District Science Centre, Purulia, a constituent unit of National Council of Science Museums
(NCSM).
(b): The steps taken/being taken to encourage school students from Purulia, Jangalmahal and
neighbouring regions to visit the Science Centre as part of their academic curriculum is
attached at Annexure-I.
(c): Total Allocation of Fund made to District Science Centre, Purulia in the last five years
including infrastructure development, new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science
outreach programmes is shown in the table below:-
(Rs. in lakh)
Year 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
GIA-Salary 60.12 65.67 69.73 77.76 80.17
GIA-General 37.88 37.61 69.66 82.42 113.22
GIA-CCA 3.27 9.19 1.98 15.83 20.48
Total Allocation 101.27 112.47 141.37 176.01 213.87
(d): Details regarding plans for expansion or modernization of the Science Centre, including the
introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes
is attached at Annexure-II.
(e): Innovation Hub at District Science Centre, Purulia was inaugurated on 19th December 2019, to
ignite the creativity of young minds and to promote temper of innovation among them. With
170 individual members and 360 institutional members, the hub has fostered the development
of numerous innovative projects.
Mobile Science Exhibitions are organised by District Science Centre, Purulia in various rural
areas to reach unrepresented section of the society to promote scientific awareness amongst
students and public.
*****Annexure-‘I’
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1578 FOR 09.02.2026
Steps taken/being taken to encourage School students
i. The students from both Purulia and neighbouring area are invited to participate in various
programmes, such as the Science Camp in collaboration with PBSSM and the Sky Observation
Camp at the residential KGBV hostels.
ii. School students are encouraged to take part in Science Seminar, Science Drama, Quiz, Hobby
Camp,and Science Model Competitions.
iii. They are encouraged to take part in different commemorative day celebrations to promote
scientific culture.
iv. To bring science to the grassroots level, Centre has organised a few programmes for
underprivileged school students and Students from the Jangalmahal area.
v. Purulia Centre organized Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) for rural school students. The
Exhibition is highly educative with working models for the students and common people alike.
In Last three years, two Mobile Science Exhibition Buses have covered 294 nos. school and
spent 788 days with school students during MSE Programmes.
District Science Centre, Purulia - Innovation Hub
Inaugurated on 19th December 2019, Innovation Hub in DSC, Purulia has been a platform to ignite
the creativity of young minds. With 170 individual members and 360 institutional members, the hub
has fostered the development of numerous innovative projects.
In last year the centre conducted 19 activity programme for the Innovation Hub members and 14
innovative project programme for Vigyan Jyoti Scholars of JNV Purulia & Sainik School Purulia
students. In March 2024, two members participated in the Innovation festival 2024 organised by
Digha Science Centre & National Science Camp, securing 1st position in this festival. In December
2024, three of the talented members participated in Techfest 2024 organised by IIT Bombay,
securing an impressive 2nd position with 20k cash Prize in this prestigious event. This year, the
Innovation Hub proudly developed three ground-breaking projects:
1. AI Automated Weather Station
2. H.A.R.I.S.H – Our own AI innovation
3. Smog Hawk(Drone based Pollution Monitoring System for Sustainable Development)
4. Weather Station project is going on for B B College, Asansol
The projects have been filed for copyright and patent protection.Annexure-‘II’
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (D) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1578 FOR 09.02.2026
Details regarding plans for expansion or modernization of the Science Centre, including the
introduction of new exhibits, digital learning tools and advanced science outreach programmes
Installation of Women Scientist Busts is proposed to be completed by this FY (2025-26).
In the coming financial year (2026-27), it has been planned to modernize the following arenas of
DSC Purulia:
I. Development of a gallery tilted ‘Wings of wonder’: A gallery has been proposed to
showcase unique flora and fauna of the district with an emphasis to portray the natural
migratory bird sanctuary surrounding the local water body named ‘Saheb Bandh’. The
new gallery will replace the age-old display tiled ‘Wealth of Purulia’ and cover an
estimated floor space of about 500 square meters.
II. Development of ‘Virtual Reality Theatre’: In order the match the pace of advancement
of modern technologies, it has been proposed to house an ultra-modern virtual reality
theatre with a holding capacity of about 25 persons where each of the seats will be
actuated by at least 3 DOF motion platforms along with a VR headset or alternatively a
large format screen that produces immersive sensation to impart education in a fun-
filled informal way.
III. Revamping of the Ticket booking system: Incorporation of online booking along with
acceptance of payment through modern gateways along with UPI and bank cards to
facilitate smooth entry to the centre and reduce the hassle of cash handling.
******