**Policy Summary: Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS)**
The Ministry of Culture's Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) is a national initiative designed to cultivate scientific temper and awareness, targeting the general public with a particular focus on students. The scheme facilitates the establishment of Science Cities, Science Centres, Innovation Hubs, and Digital Planetariums across India. The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, is the nodal agency responsible for SPoCS implementation. Detailed guidelines regarding objectives, components, site selection criteria, and financial support are available on the Ministry of Culture's website.
As of July 2025, 27 Science Centres have been established nationwide under SPoCS. These centres have collectively recorded over 15 lakh visitors in FY 2024-25. Activities include science workshops, mobile exhibitions, and interactive demonstrations. To ensure the inclusion of underrepresented regions, Science Centres/Digital Planetariums Category III are set up in areas with a population of less than 5 lakhs. Substantial project funding (90%) by the Ministry of Culture has supported establishment of Science Centres in the Northeast region, including locations in Shillong, Dimapur, Gangtok, Aizwal, and Itanagar, Imphal.
For further information, consult the scheme guidelines on the Ministry of Culture website (https:www.indiaculture.gov.inschemepromotionculturesciencespocs).
Contact: Sunil Kumar Tiwari (pibcultureatgmaildotcom).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The government ministry responsible for the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science.
Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS): A flagship initiative by the Ministry of Culture to foster scientific temper and awareness across India.
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that serves as the nodal agency for implementing the SPoCS scheme.
Science Cities: One of the types of institutions supported by the SPoCS scheme to promote scientific awareness.
Science Centres: One of the types of institutions supported by the SPoCS scheme to promote scientific awareness.
Digital Planetariums: One of the types of institutions supported by the SPoCS scheme to promote scientific awareness.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism who provided information about the scheme.
Meghalaya: State in NorthEast region where Science Centres have been set up.
Ministry of Culture
Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 4:55PM by PIB Delhi
The Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India, aimed at fostering scientific temper and awareness across the country for the public in
general and students in particular. The scheme supports the establishment of Science Cities, Science Centres,
Innovation Hubs, and Digital Planetariums in various regions. The National Council of Science Museums
(NCSM), an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture, serves as the nodal agency for implementation of the
scheme.
The objectives, components, criteria for selecting location as well as financial support provided under the
Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) are detailed in the scheme guidelines, which are already
available on the website of the Ministry of Culture. The guidelines may be accessed at the following link:
https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/scheme-promotion-culture-science-spocs
As of July 2025, a total of 27 Science Centres have been established across the country under the Scheme for
Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) of the Ministry of Culture.
These institutions have significantly contributed to enhancing scientific awareness and informal science
education through hands-on exhibits, innovation hubs, digital planetariums, and outreach programmes.
Together, they have recorded a cumulative footfall of over 15 lakhs in FY 2024-25, reflecting strong public
engagement, particularly among students and educators.
Regular activities such as science workshops, mobile exhibitions, and interactive demonstrations have helped
popularise science and encourage curiosity among youth. SPoCS continues to play a vital role in fostering a
scientific temper and promoting a culture of innovation aligned with national educational and developmental
priorities.
As per the criteria of the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), Science Centres/Digital
Planetariums (Category-III) are set up in areas with a population of less than 5 lakhs. In order to ensure
inclusion of underrepresented regions, Science Centres have already been set up in North-East region viz.
Shillong Science Centre at Meghalaya, Nagaland Science Centre at Dimapur, Sikkim Science Centre at
Gangtok, Mizoram Science Centre at Aizwal, Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre at Itanagar, Manipur Science
Centre at Imphal, etc. with 90% project funding by the Ministry of Culture.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2147787)