National Science Day

28 February 2023

Others

Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi

34°C / Haze

History
Places to visit
How to reach

Celebrated on February 28 every year, National Science Day honors the discovery of the Raman effect by the first Asian, and also the very first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1928 - Sir C.V. Raman.

How the Raman effect was discovered has an interesting story in itself behind it. As per the story, in 1921, C.V. Raman was onboard a ship to India from London. This was when suddenly a question struck him - why is the sea blue? Or, for that matter, why is the apple red or the ship grey?

This question heightened his curiosities and made him wonder about the ins and outs of it! Soon, he was on it with all his research. In a few years, i.e. in March 1928, he published a theory by the name of Raman Scattering aka Raman effect.

What is the Raman Effect?

The theory of the Raman effect states that when a wave of light specifically comes out of a liquid, it becomes scattered in a direction that is different from the direction of the incoming light wave.

Fundamentally, his research showcased why the colour of seawater looked blue to the human eye. In essence, it is all about understanding the flexible distribution of photon particles.

History of National Science Day

It was in 1986, that the National Council for Science and Technology Communication requested the Indian Government to designate February 28 as the National Science Day.

Then, in February 1987, i.e., on the first National Science Day, the NCSTC announced the annual distribution of National Science Popularization Awards to candidates for their outstanding efforts in the field of science communication.

Major Attractions of National Science Day

1. Celebrations in Institutions

This event is celebrated annually in each and every school, college, and universities along with several other academic, medical as well as scientific institutions. These celebrations generally include public speeches by government officials and leaders, science exhibitions are organized based on various scientific themes and concepts. Debates, competitions, lectures along with various other activities are also held on this day.

2. Theme-Based Celebrations

Every year, this event is celebrated with the backdrop of a particular science theme. For instance, the theme of 2018 was Science and Technology for a sustainable future; for 2019, it was Science for the People and the People for Science; and in 2020, the theme for the event was ‘Women in Science’. This year, the occasion was marked with a lecture by the first woman FRS of India, Professor Gagandeep Kang. Along with that, the Indian President Mr. Ram Nath Kovind distributed awards to women scientists for their scientific achievements under the following categories.

SERB Women Excellence Awards
National Award for Young Woman Showing Excellence through Application of Technology for Societal Benefits

3. Objectives of National Science Day Celebrations

The main aim of honoring this day is to basically spread a message in society about the importance of science with regards to human welfare and success. Along with that, it is commemorated to discuss new ideas, and the development of creative and innovative technologies as well.

How to Reach Delhi

To reach Delhi you will need to travel an approximate distance of 1,427, 2,171, 1,516, and 1,580 km from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad respectively. Here are the details on how you can reach Delhi.

By Air

To reach Delhi, you will need to deboard at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Delhi is extremely well connected via air routes to several major and remote towns and cities. Many renowned air carriers operate to and fro with good flight connectivity. From the airport, you can easily take a cab, auto, bus, or metro to cover about 12 km to reach Vigyan Bhawan.

From Coimbatore - Board IndiGo flights from Coimbatore Airport. The air tickets price starts from INR 5,000- INR 6,000
From Guwahati - Board IndiGo, Spicejet, Vistara flights from Guwahati Airport. The air tickets price starts from INR 4,000 - INR 5,000
From Cochin - Board IndiGo, Spicejet flights from Kochi Airport. The air ticket price starts from INR 4,000 - INR 5,000

By Train

Depending upon your comfort and budget, you can also plan a trip to Delhi via train. You can consider deboarding at the New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station, or Anand Vihar Terminus.

While they all are considered as the major railheads of the capital, New Delhi and Old Delhi stations are the prime railway stations with overall very good train connectivity with other Indian cities. These stations also remain quite busy throughout the year with a great footfall of passengers. From both these stations, Vigyan Bhawan lies at a distance of hardly 10-11 km, thus, as you deboard at either of the stations, you can easily find a cab or auto to reach here.

From Jaipur - Board Swarna J Raj Express via Jaipur Junction and deboard at New Delhi Railway Junction
From Indore - Board Malwa Express from Indore Junction and deboard at New Delhi Railway Station
From Ajmer - Take Swarna J Raj Express via Ajmer Junction and deboard at New Delhi Railway Station

By Road

Depending upon your location, you can travel to Delhi by motorable and easily accessible roadways. For this, you can book state or private-run buses online at fairly affordable rates from nearby cities. You can also book a taxi or rely on your own vehicle.