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Palampur Science Centre, the first Science Centre of Himachal Pradesh was inaugurated by Shri Anurag Thakur, Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India on May 14, 2022 in the august presence of Shri Kishan Kapoor, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Kangra LS), Shri Ashish Butail, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Palampur and Smt. Poonam Bali, Mayor, Palampur Municipal Corporation. Among other dignitaries present on this occasion were Ms. Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Shri A. D. Choudhury, Director General, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM); Shri D. Rama Sarma, Director, National Science Centre, Delhi and Shri Abhishek Narang, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.

In his inaugural address, Shri Thakur implored all the students of Himachal Pradesh to compulsorily visit Palampur Science Centre so as to inculcate scientific temperament. He cited example of sportsmen to bring home the point, he further added that, without the knowledge of science even sportsmen can’t achieve optimum results.  He also advised National Council of Science Museums, to keep adding newer facilities to the centre, one such addition could be Planetarium.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, has developed the centre through the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS). A joint initiative of the Central Government and the Himachal Pradesh government, the project costed Rs. 9.0 crores. Main aim behind development of such centres is to portray the growth of science and technology and their application in industry and human welfare, with a view to develop scientific attitude and temper in the country as also to conduct research in science and technology in the areas pertaining to the activities of the Council.

Currently, 26 Science Centres /Science Museums in the country are functioning under the administrative control of National Council of Science Museums (N.C.S.M.). Palampur Science Centre, Palampur is maintained and run by National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata, through its north zone headquarter, National Science Centre, Delhi.