India to Host India International Science Festival 2025 in Chandigarh from December 6–9

India will host the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025 in Chandigarh from December 6 to 9, 2025, showcasing the nation’s transformation into a science-led, innovation-driven economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on Sunday, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said the four-day festival will celebrate India’s journey towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat through science, innovation, and technology.

Dr. Singh emphasized that India has undergone a “decisive shift toward science-led governance,” noting that “science today leads policy.” He said the era when policy dictated science has ended, as the government now formulates strategies guided by scientific evidence and technological innovation.

Highlighting the government’s facilitative approach, Dr. Singh said, “The Government has become a facilitator rather than a controller, creating an enabling ecosystem where the private sector, startups, and young innovators are driving Deep Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Quantum Technologies, and Clean Energy innovations.”

The Minister added that IISF 2025 will not only serve as a platform for scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange but also as a national celebration of India’s scientific self-reliance across key sectors — from advanced technology to sustainable innovation.

Senior officials, including Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and DG, CSIR, attended the review. Representatives from Vijnana Bharati also participated.

Dr. Singh said this year’s festival will set a “powerful national narrative” on India’s scientific resurgence, highlighting cross-sectoral collaborations among ministries, academia, and industry. He reaffirmed that IISF 2025 will reflect India’s growing global leadership in research, innovation, and technological advancement.