National Science Day 2026: India honors CV Raman's 1928 Raman Effect discovery on Feb 28 as National Science Day. In the 2026 theme spotlights women in science fueling Viksit Bharat vision with events nationwide.
Vibrant science fair at Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, where kids experiment with light scattering demos on National Science Day 2026 (Photo: Pinterest)
National Science Day 2026: The National Science Day in India is celebrated on February 28 to honor the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C.V. Raman in 1928 which won him the Nobel Prize in the year 1930, becoming the first Indian scientist to win the Nobel Prize. Since 1987, it has been observed and involves more than 50,000 schools each year and attracts 5 million participants with the help of exhibitions and quizzes. By 2026, when women submit 40 percent of patents in science, the theme Women in Science: Catalyzing Viksit Bharat puts a focus on the critical role of women in the R&D push to 1 percent GDP on India.
Imagine how light is bent on a diamond and the secrets of the molecules are made known- That is the Raman Effect and it was discovered on February 28, 1928 by Sir C.V. Raman. He demonstrated the unique scattering of light through using simple laboratory equipment and this transformed spectroscopy. This won him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics, the first Asian scientist to do so, which put the research prowess of India in the limelight.
In 1986 the government made February 28, known as the national science day, first celebrated in 1987, to resonate with the victory of Raman. In 2028, which marked the centenary of Raman, UNESCO declared the year the International Year of Raman. It has over decades expanded beyond lab tributes to national festivals, with a mixture of the past and present outreach.
The theme of this year, established by the Department of Science and Technology, is named Spotlights women researchers in accelerating goals of an developed nation in India. It is being held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where it includes speakers such as Dr. Shubha V. Iyengar on aerospace technology among others. Statistics indicate that now 40 percent of patents in science in India are filed by women, resulting in economic jumps.
Labs open the gates to practical magic-Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru anticipates 1,000+ children in light demonstrations and examinations. The Homi Bhabha Centre of Mumbai operates rocket shows and sunspots. They have got to 5 million people each year and made abstract concepts something real.
It straddles laboratories and humanity amid an AI era and is battling climate, and the amount of research and development in India is 1 percent of GDP. It dispels falsehoods, which is crucial since 70 per cent. of Indians depend on science as a source of employment. In the international competition, it highlights domestic triumph such as Chandrayaan missions.
It dates this announcement of Raman to 1928, which connotes the low-cost ingenuity - no fancy equipment required. It mobilizes 1.4 billion to innovation, 2026 is gender-equity-focused since 43% of STEM graduates are women but encounter challenges. The celebrations raise the voice of science literate society.
| Year | Theme |
| 1999 | Our Changing Earth |
| 2000 | Recreating Interest in Basic Science |
| 2001 | Information Technology for Science Education |
| 2002 | Wealth From Waste |
| 2003 | 50 Years of DNA & 25 Years of IVF – The Blueprint of Life |
| 2004 | Encouraging Scientific Awareness in Community |
| 2005 | Celebrating Physics |
| 2006 | Nurture Nature for Our Future |
| 2007 | More Crop Per Drop |
| 2008 | Understanding the Planet Earth |
| 2009 | Expanding Horizons of Science |
| 2010 | Gender Equity, Science & Technology for Sustainable Development |
| 2011 | Chemistry in Daily Life |
| 2012 | Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety |
| 2013 | Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security |
| 2014 | Fostering Scientific Temper |
| 2015 | Science for Nation Building |
| 2016 | Scientific Issues for Development of the Nation |
| 2017 | Science and Technology for Specially Abled Persons |
| 2018 | Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future |
| 2019 | Science for the People, and the People for Science |
| 2020 | Women in Science |
| 2021 | Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work |
| 2022 | Integrated Approach in S&T for Sustainable Future |
| 2023 | Global Science for Global Wellbeing |
| 2024 | Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat |
| 2025 | Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat |
Q: Who discovered the Raman Effect?
A: Sir C.V. Raman, on Feb 28, 1928, using sunlight and a spectroscope.
Q: When was National Science Day first observed?
A: 1987, proposed in 1986 by India's National Council for Science and Technology Communication.
Q: What's unique about 2026 celebrations?
A: Theme champions women scientists events at Vigyan Bhawan include policy panels.
Q: How do schools mark the day?
A: Via quizzes, exhibitions and demos over 50,000 institutions join annually.
Q: Why focus on themes yearly?
A: To tackle current issues like sustainability, drawing 10x participation growth since 1990s.
