**Executive Summary**
On May 26, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh visited the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Kolkata to mark its 150th anniversary. The visit focused on inaugurating new indigenous technological facilities and an incubation center to align India’s scientific legacy with the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision. Key highlights included the launch of a solar-cell fabrication system and the "RETINA" center to promote research-based entrepreneurship.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Historical Significance and Legacy**
* Celebration of 150 years of IACS, founded in 1876 by Dr. Mahendralal Sircar as Asia's first research institution established by Indians.
* Recognition of IACS as the site where Sir C.V. Raman discovered the Raman Effect, leading to India’s first Nobel Prize in Science.
* Tributes paid to scientific pioneers including Jagadish Chandra Bose, Meghnad Saha, and S.N. Bose.
* **New Infrastructure and Technological Advancements**
* Inauguration of an indigenously built Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) system for fabricating India’s first amorphous silicon solar cells.
* Launch of the "RETINA" (Research Entrepreneurship for Translation, Innovation and NAvigation) incubation centre.
* Emphasis on "Atmanirbhar Bharat" through self-reliant development in renewable energy and advanced materials.
* **Strategic Research and Future Vision**
* Alignment of scientific research with the "Viksit Bharat 2047" goal to position India as a leading knowledge economy.
* Focus on emerging fields: quantum materials, artificial intelligence, battery materials, cancer biology, and environmental technologies.
* Ongoing research in specialized areas such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment, toxic waste remediation, and biosensors.
* **Community and Educational Outreach**
* Promotion of scientific temperament through initiatives targeting school students, women, and rural communities.
* Integration of fundamental research with societal applications to address national priorities in healthcare and clean energy.
**Impact Analysis**
**IACS Researchers and Faculty**
**Impact**
The introduction of the PECVD system and the RETINA center provides scientists with advanced tools for indigenous fabrication and a platform for commercializing research.
**Action Required**
Researchers must continue to drive frontier research in physical and biological sciences while utilizing the new facilities to meet national goals in sustainable development.
**Startups and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
The launch of the RETINA incubation center creates a structured ecosystem for translating laboratory discoveries into scalable and affordable technologies.
**Action Required**
Aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers should engage with the RETINA center to bridge the gap between fundamental science and industrial application.
**School Students and Rural Communities**
**Impact**
Expanded outreach initiatives aim to nurture scientific interest and participation across diverse social segments.
**Action Required**
These groups are encouraged to participate in the institute’s outreach programs to improve scientific literacy and temperament.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS): India's oldest research institution, located in Kolkata, where the Raman Effect was discovered; currently celebrating its 150-year anniversary.
RETINA (Research Entrepreneurship for Translation, Innovation and NAvigation): A newly inaugurated incubation centre at IACS designed to integrate fundamental research with entrepreneurship and startup culture.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The national vision for a developed India by 2047, which guides the transformative phase and innovation ecosystem of scientific institutions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology who inaugurated new indigenous scientific facilities and led the anniversary celebrations.
Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) system: An indigenously built facility developed at IACS for the fabrication of India’s first amorphous silicon solar cells.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Joins 150-Year
Celebrations of IACS, Birthplace of Raman Effect
and India’s First Nobel Prize in Science
Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates indigenous solar-cell
fabrication facility and RETINA incubation centre at Historic
IACS Campus in Kolkata
IACS Journey Reflects India’s Scientific Rise Across Three
Centuries, says Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh
Dr Jitendra Singh Says Legacy of Mahendralal Sircar and C.V.
Raman Will Inspire India’s Journey Towards Viksit Bharat
2047
Posted On: 26 MAY 2026 5:16PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of
State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh
today visited the "Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science" (IACS), Kolkata, the institution
where Sir C.V. Raman carried out the work leading to India’s first Nobel Prize in Science through the
discovery of the Raman Effect, and joined the celebrations marking 150 years of one of India’s most
iconic scientific institutions spanning the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Describing IACS as a living symbol of India’s scientific awakening before Independence and its scientific
rise after Independence, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the institution has carried forward an unbroken legacy of
scientific excellence, innovation and nation-building across generations. Founded in 1876 by Dr.
Mahendralal Sircar, the institute became the cradle of some of India’s greatest scientific minds including
Jagadish Chandra Bose, Meghnad Saha, S.N. Bose and Sir C.V. Raman. He said the journey of IACS
reflects the evolution of India’s scientific identity from colonial-era intellectual resurgence to the present-
day innovation ecosystem driving Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the indigenously built Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
(PECVD) system developed at IACS for fabrication of India’s first amorphous silicon solar cell and also
inaugurated the institute’s new incubation centre “RETINA”, Research Entrepreneurship for Translation,
Innovation and NAvigation. The Minister also visited the IACS archives and research exhibition galleries
showcasing the institution’s scientific contributions and ongoing research activities.The Minister paid floral tributes to the busts and statues of Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, Sir C.V. Raman and
Prof. Meghnad Saha at the campus. The programme was attended by Director of IACS Prof. Kalobaran
Maiti, senior scientists, faculty members, researchers, students and distinguished members of the scientific
community.
Addressing the gathering at Mahendra Lal Sircar Hall, Dr. Jitendra Singh said IACS occupies a unique
place in India’s scientific history as the first research institution in Asia established by Indians for the
cultivation of modern science through original research. He recalled that Dr. Mahendralal Sircar had
envisioned scientific capacity-building and modern scientific education for Indians at a time when
scientific infrastructure in the country was virtually absent. The Minister also referred to the institute’s
unique historical association with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa through Dr. Sircar, who served as his
personal physician.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the discovery of the Raman Effect at IACS remains one of the defining milestones
in India’s scientific history and continues to inspire generations of Indian scientists. He said that the
institution continued producing globally respected scientific contributions even after Independence and
evolved into a leading centre for frontier research across physical sciences, biological sciences, materials
science, computational science and interdisciplinary technologies.
Referring to the inauguration of the PECVD setup, the Minister said the indigenous development of
advanced solar-cell fabrication technology represented the spirit of scientific self-reliance and innovation
that India is now accelerating under the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. He also said that the system built
by Prof. Ashok Kumar Barua had pioneered amorphous silicon solar-cell development in India and
marked an important chapter in the country’s renewable-energy journey.
On the launch of the RETINA incubation centre, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s scientific institutions are
now increasingly integrating fundamental research with entrepreneurship, startup culture and societal
applications. He highlighted the future of Indian science lies in converting laboratory discoveries into
affordable and scalable technologies capable of addressing national priorities in healthcare, clean energy,
advanced materials and sustainable development.
The Minister also appreciated IACS for its contributions in emerging areas including quantum materials,
nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, battery materials, cancer biology and environmental technologies.
He referred to recent work carried out by scientists at IACS in areas such as Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy treatment research, toxic waste remediation, photodetectors, biosensors and sustainable energy
materials.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s scientific institutions are entering a transformative phase aligned with the
national vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, where innovation, academia, industry and startups will work
together to position India among the world’s leading knowledge economies. He also appreciated the
institute’s outreach initiatives for school students, women and rural communities aimed at nurturing
scientific temperament and expanding scientific participation across society.*****
NKR/AK
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