The Prime Minister has approved the setting up of the third Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Punjab near Chandigarh. This follows the earlier announcement of setting up two such institutes in Pune and Kolkatta.

The UPA government has launched an initiative for furthering science education in the country. While Indians are already making their mark in the scientific domain all over the world, it is necessary t further strengthen this thrust. One of the concrete steps taken in this regard has been the decision to set up Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research. These Institutes will actively forge strong relationships with existing universities and colleges in their neighbourhood, and share faculty, resources and infrastructure to give a definite push to the endeavour of science education . It is envisaged that these institutes would strive for global level excellence in state of the art research.