The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), also known as the “Tata Institute,” was established in 1909 through the visionary efforts of pioneers like, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, Sir William Ramsay, Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, and the Government of India, all committed to advancing education and research. With a legacy spanning over a century, IISc has emerged as India’s leading hub for advanced scientific and technological research and education. Driven by a vision to enhance the nation’s wealth and social welfare, IISc strives for global eminence by nurturing excellence and fostering innovation. Through top-tier education, IISc cultivates the next generation of leaders in science and technology.
Among its former students and faculty, IISc boasts several eminent scientists, such as Homi J. Bhabha, the founder of India’s nuclear program; Noble Laureate C V Raman; Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of India’s space program; meteorologist Anna Mani; biochemist and nutrition expert Kamala Sohonie; and solid-state and materials scientist C.N.R. Rao, to name just a few. The Institute has also played a key role in establishing other academic institutions and organizations. IISc consistently ranks among the top Indian institutions in world rankings and was recognized as an Institution of Eminence by the Government of India in 2018. Within its research purview, IISc has 46+ departments and centres organized under 6 divisions. It offers comprehensive postgraduate and PhD programs alongside a dedicated undergraduate curriculum designed to nurture young minds and encourage them toward research and innovation.
The IISc campus spans over 300 acres in the heart of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. This historic land is rich with a legacy dating back centuries. The campus is home to more than 100 species of exotic and indigenous plants, creating lush tree canopies that provide shade and beauty. These canopies line the campus’s interconnected roads, which are named after dominant avenue tree species, offering a scenic and tranquil environment for students and researchers alike. With more than 5,000 students from various parts of India and abroad, the IISc campus exemplifies unity in diversity. The main building, one of the oldest in the campus, stands as a testimony to the colonial era’s grandeur and opulence, and is a prominent Bengaluru Landmark.