India 2018

Culture and Tourism 71
agency for the Science City Scheme for developing new science centres in the
country of national, regional and district level. NCSM has its own network of
25 science museums/centres and has also developed and handed over 24 science
centres to various State/UT governments. NCSM also provides catalytic support
to other organizations by way of developing interactive exhibits and exhibitions
using state of the art display technologies and techniques. Through its twopronged
activity one : development of science centres/museums, exhibits,
gallery, exhibitions, innovation Hub etc., and other by organising various
interactive science programmes and out of school activities, NCSM provides
non formal support to the science education to the schools.
The concept of 'Museum on Wheels' was introduced in India in 1965 when
Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) programme started as Mobile Science Museum
(MSM) at Ramkrishna Mission School, Kolkata. Today, a fleet of 23 MSE buses,
attached to different science centres of NCSM, travel through the parts of rural
India and take the message of science and technology to the rural populace.
Apart from the exhibition on themes of local relevance the MSE programmes
include science shows, hands on workshop for students, night sky observation
through telescope, science film shows etc. as value addition. This is one of the
most successful programme of NCSM and more than 65 million people, mostly
students, have been benefited so far. Last year, this programme has been added
in Limca Book of Records for Largest and longest running Informal Science
Education Programme in India.
In 2016, NCSM conceptualised and developed a prestigious Digital
Exhibition 'Uniting India: Sardar Patel'. Also a travelling digital exhibition on
the same title was inaugurated in Junagarh and has been exhibited at Mumbai,
Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa and Bhopal. NCSM organised the 13th International
Championship of World Robot Olympiad in India for the first time in 2016.
NCSM also facilitates participation of Indian students in International
Astronomy Olympiad (Junior category) every year by organising Orientation
Cum Selection Camp and Pre Departure Training for selected students. NCSM
is also implementing the scheme for setting up of Innovation Hubs in the science
centres/institutions to inculcate a culture of innovation, creativity and
engagement in science amongst the youth of the country. NCSM has also
conceptualised, developed and sent travelling exhibitions to more than 15
countries namely USA, Russia, France, Bulgaria, Nepal, China, Bangladesh,
Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri
Lanka, Mauritius, Australia and UK.
Details, are available on its website www.ncsm.gov.in
Victoria Memorial Hall
The Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata (VMH), was founded principally through
the efforts of Viceroy Lord Curzon, in 1921 as a period museum in memory of
Queen Victoria with particular emphasis on Indo-British history. The VMH was