To put the focus back on scientific research, the government of India started two premier institutes called NISER, Bhubaneswar and Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai in 2007. The institutes received direct support from the Department of Atomic Energy and the Homi Bhabha national institute. With the focus on scientific research, both institutes offer rigorous academic programmes and highly trained faculties from TIFR, IIT, BARC etc. Offering five-year integrated B.Sc.-M.Sc. programmes in Biological, Mathematical, Chemical and Physical sciences to the students interested in pursuing research as a career, both institutes provide exciting career prospects including a direct entry to the R&D unit of the Department of Atomic research. Both institutes offer various scholarships and stipends to their students as well.
NISER, Bhubaneswar
The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) is an autonomous premier public research institute in Jatani, Odisha, under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India. It is a constituent institution of Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI). The prime minister, Manmohan Singh (2004–2014), laid the foundation stone on August 28, 2006, establishing the institute along the lines of the IISc in Bangalore, and its seven sister institutions, the IISERs, established at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal, Berhampur, Tirupati and Thiruvananthapuram in India.
NISER operates under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The government of India earmarked an initial outlay of ₹823.19 crore (US$120 million) during the first seven years of the project, starting in September 2007. It was ranked 2nd in the country by the Nature Index 2020.
Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai
The department of Atomic Energy has an autonomous Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences in Mumbai. CEBS offers high-quality teaching in a vibrant research-oriented environment with faculties from premier institutions of India, such as TIFR, IISc, BARK and the University of Mumbai. Located in the Vidyanagari campus of the University of Mumbai, the institute offers undergraduate science and research opportunities through its five-year integrated programmes.
Admission Details
Both institutes conduct a joint entrance examination called National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) for students seeking admission in these premier institutes every year. The exam is becoming highly competitive every year as 80,000 students applied in 2018 for around 120 seats. The students must have 60% marks in the 12th examination to be eligible for applying. The institutes release a merit list on the basis of which students are granted admission.
