New Delhi: In a Writ Petition (C) No. 10836 of 2005, the Government has submitted before the High Court of Orissa that the Government is taking follow up action for implementation of the announcement made by the Prime Minister on 28th August, 2006 regarding setting up of a National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Bhubaneshwar under the Department of Atomic Energy and that it is proposed to start the academic session from August, 2007.

Taking cognizance of this, the Orissa High Court has disposed of the Writ Petition with a direction to the Government to ensure that the NISER is established at Bhubaneshwar pursuant to the decision of the Government of India.

The Department of Atomic Energy has informed that 300 acres of land has been allotted by the Government of Orissa for setting up of NISER.

NISER has been registered under the Societies Registration Act and infrastructural facilities are being put in place.

In addition, for admission to NISER, an NISER Entrance Screening Test (NEST) followed by interview has been conducted and admission will commence on 10th September, 2007.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Mrs. M.A.A. Fatmi in a written reply to a question raised by Ms. Pramila Bohidar and Mr. B.J. Panda in the Rajya Sabha. PIB