ESTIC to Replace Indian Science Congress

The implementation of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) in November 2025 will bring a significant shift to the scientific ecosystem in India. The two-day conference at Bharat Mandapam on 3-4 November 2025 , organised by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), will be held in lieu of the Indian Science Congress (ISC), which has been the oldest scientific congregation in the country, but has nevertheless become less prominent in the recent past.

Deterioration of the Indian Science congress.

The ISC started prior to independence, and it was the flagship scientific event in India. It is a longstanding attraction of Nobel laureates, famous scientists and even the Prime Minister. But over the past few years the event has been a struggle. The pandemic did not allow the Congress in 2021 and 2022. The Prime Minister did not attend in 2023, instead appearing virtually and in 2024-2025 the event was called off altogether due to a conflict between DST and the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) . The ISC lost its institutional support when DST cut the funding.

Other Science Platforms

Since 2015, the government has publicised the India International Science Festival (IISF) as a science popularisation event. The festival is organised by various science ministries and Vijnana Bharti and involves students and the general population with exhibitions and outreach. Nonetheless, IISF is more of a festive occasion and it does not attract the level of scientific and international engagement that ISC used to obtain.

Vision of ESTIC

ESTIC is being postured as the new scientific Indian premier forum. It will host 11 technical thematic sessions and an exhibition of 75 deep-tech start-ups , and will encompass major fields of focus as atomic energy, space and information technology. Another feature will be international involvement, among the invitees being Nobel Laureate Andre Geim , the former head of the French Space Agency Jean-Yves Le Gall , and Japanese systems biologist Masaru Tomita .

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh termed ESTIC as a move towards making India a global scientific leader as a part of Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Compared with ISC, the conclave is going to be devoted to the latest innovation, deep-tech, and global cooperation.

Through the transformation of tradition to innovation, ESTIC is expected to portray India as a consumer of world science and as major contributor to new technologies in the future .