11th India International Science Festival Held in Panchkula, Haryana

The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF 2025), organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and coordinated by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune (Maharashtra), was held from December 6 to 9, 2025, at Dusshera Ground in Panchkula, Haryana.

• The IISF 2025 was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoES.

Background:

Overview: It is one of the world’s largest science outreach events designed to popularize science among students and the general public, showcase India’s achievements in Science & Technology, foster collaboration among scientists, innovators, industry bodies, and global partners.

First Edition:IISF was held for the first time in 2015 in New Delhi, Delhi.

Previous Edition: The 10th IISF was held in 2024 in Assam.

About IISF 2025:

Theme: IISF 2025 was held under the theme titled “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: for Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, with a focus on using science for self-reliance, national development and economic growth.

Partner Ministries & Organizations: Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology(MoS&T), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the MoS&T, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).

Focus Areas: Science, Technology & Ecology of North-West India & the Himalayas; Science for Society & Education; Aatmanirbhar Bharat through Science & Technology; Biotechnology & the Bioeconomy; and Integrating Traditional Knowledge with Modern Science.

Aim: IISF aims to promote science-led prosperity, connect labs with society, and combine traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.

Participation: IISF 2025 witnessed over 40,000 participants, including researchers, students, entrepreneurs, teachers, and international delegates. Business to Business (B2B), competitions, cultural programs, and special tracks for students, women in science, young entrepreneurs and early-career researchers.

IISF 2025 Activities:

Scientific & Technical Sessions: The event featured over 150 technical and thematic sessions on Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & robotics, Climate science & sustainability, Space technologies, Bioeconomy: genomics, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, Drone tech, semiconductor Research and Development (R&D), future mobility, and traditional knowledge systems.

Exhibitions: It included a Mega Science Expo featuring cutting-edge technologies from Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), under Ministry of Defence (MoD), Indian Space Research and Organization (ISRO), CSIR, DBT, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Matsya 6000 Showcased:

Matsya 6000: During the event, Matsya 6000, India’s first human-occupied deep-sea submersible, developed under the Samudrayaan Mission, a part of the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

Technical Details:Matsya 6000, built to operate at a depth of 6,000 metres (m), is designed to carry 3 crew members. It is developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN).

Features: The craft features a 2.1m titanium-alloy pressure sphere rated for 600-bar pressure, includes 96-hour emergency Oxygen (O2) with Carbon Dioxide (CO2) scrubbers and full environmental control, and uses lithium-battery power with 360° thrusters and robotic arms.

• It carries High Definition (HD) cameras, sonar mapping systems, and sediment, water and seabed-operation samplers.

Significance: Matsya 6000 advances deep-sea research and supports India’s Blue Economy by enabling exploration of marine biodiversity and valuable seabed resources.

About Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES):
Minister of State (MoS) Independent Charge (IC) – Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency – Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, J&K)