History

NIAS is a registered society (on 20 June 1988) under the Karnataka Societies Registration Regulation Act. The Institute is an autonomous organisation governed by a council of management. It is located on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and was established in 1988 with Dr. Raja Ramanna as Director until his retirement in July 1997. Prof. Roddam Narasimha was the Director from August 1997 to March 2004, and Dr. K. Kasturirangan from April 2004 to August 2009. Dr. V. S. Ramamurthy is the present Director.

Over the years, NIAS has moved towards fulfilling the dreams of its founder Mr. J. R. D. Tata, its founder Director Dr. Raja Ramanna and its subsequent Directors Dr. Roddam Narasimha and Dr. K. Kasturirangan.

As a multidisciplinary Institute, NIAS combines scientific and humanistic perspectives on topics of national and international importance.

Activities of NIAS include research, analysis, publications and teaching. Following the ideas of its founder, NIAS has also been an educational centre for future leaders of India through its courses and educational programmes.

NIAS has created a unique ambience wherein researchers, scholars, speakers and visitors from a variety of disciplines interact in a meaningful manner.

The PhD programme that was initiated in 2004 has added to the dynamism with exploratory interest in many interdisciplinary areas of research.

Mr. J. R. D. Tata planted a banyan sapling in the campus on 19th March 1993.	The banyan tree today...

» History of NIAS  – an article by Prof Roddam Narasimha

» NIAS Timeline

» Read an article on Dr Raja Ramanna by Prof BV Sreekantan

» NIAS Archives