India could Justly feel proud for its unique contributions to science in the ancient past. However, successive foreign invasions ans and alien rule for centuries pushed science in the background and the country went through with what may be described as the dark age for science. Western science attracted Indian intelligentsia after the establishment of the western system of education and the universities; and despite many constraints, the country could produce giants like Sir J.C. Bose & Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.

The 1st world war and the world-wide economic depression caused a set back to scientific research globally - much more so in India whose scientists found it difficult even to publish their research work since they had to be almost entirely dependent on foreign journals. The post world war India also saw the rise of the freedom movement which incidentally also drew attention to the numerous problems of the Indian populace like poverty, hunger, diseases, recurrent floods, droughts, famines etc. Patriotic scientists felt deeply concerned with these.

It was in this background that the idea of establishing a forum for scientists, which would help them in publishing their researches and bring them together to discuss and find scientific solutions to the problems of the country, was mooted by Prof. Meghnad Saha, a great scientist, patriot and then Professor of Physics at Allahabad University in 1929. His views were published in the article entitled 'A Plea for an Academy of Sciences' in December 1929 issue of the Allahabad University magzine.

Thus, the National Academy of Sciences, India was founded in the year 1930, with the objectives to provide a national forum for the publication of research work carried out by Indian scientists and to provide opportunities for exchange of views among them. The Memorandum of Association was signed by seven distinguished and patrioed and patriotic scientists namely Prof. Meghnad Saha, Prof. K.N. Bahl, Prof. D.R. Bhattacharya, Prof. P.C. MacMohan, Prof. A.C. Banerji, Prof. Ch. Wali Mohammad and Prof. N.R. Dhar. Of these, the Academy had the good fortune of having the continued association of Prof. N.R. Dhar until very lately when he expired on December 5, 1986 at the age of 96 years. Apart from being one of the founders of the Academy and taking continued interest in its welfare, Prof. Dhar also had donated the piece of land on which the Academy building stands today.

The Rules and Regulations of the Academy were based on those of the Royal Society of England and Asiatic Society of Bengal. Prof. Meghnad Saha was elected its first President.

The Academy started in 1930 with 57 ordinary members and 19 fellows. The Academy has grown in strength and popularity. Today it has about 1390 members and nearly 1055 fellows who are spread out in all parts of the country. The Academy also has 37 Honorary Fellows and 61 Foreign Fellows. All these, include scientists from various disciplines of Science and Technology from all over India and abroad.

Since its inception the Academy had been publishing two quarterly journals - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India (Section A - Physical Sciences) and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India (Section B - Biological Sciences). Since 1978 it is also publishing a monthly journal, the National Academy Science Letters for speedy publication of important research work.

The Academy has regularly been holding an Annual Session in different centres of scientific and academic activities. In the past such sessions were held at Lucknow, Roorkee, Ranchi, Bhagalpur, Gauhati, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Goa, Cochin, Madurai, Bhavnagar, Gwalior, Jaipur, Tirchirapalli, Jammu, Hyderabad, Allahabad, Meerut, Udaipur, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Tirupati, Aurangabad, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Lucknow, Allahabad, Pune, Shillong, Ahmedabad etc. These Annual Sessions provide an opportunity for presentation of research papers by members and fellows of the Academy and special care is taken to provide an opportunity to the younger scientists. Naturally the sessions are popular and draw young and senior scientists alike from far and wide.

Besides the Annual Session, the Academy holds symposia, seminars, and workshops on subject of current national and scientific interest, the proceedings of which are published whenever possible.

Apart from journals and proceedings of symposia etc. the Academy also publishes, from time to time, special volumes.