Click here for the pdf of the talk by Prof. S.Krishnaswamy “Life:The Evolving Story”
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Instagram Astronomy Reels Contest 2026
Click here to see the Google form for submission
Click here to see the document for rules
National contest organized by All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN)
Instagram Astronomy Reels Contest 2026
Theme: The enchanting sky
AIPSN invites submissions on this theme. The contest is open to all between 12 to 25 years of age and there is no submission fee. Winners will be announced on National Science Day, 28th February 2026. There will be five prizes in both categories given to the best 5 reels in each, and e-certificates of participation will be given to all participants.
Please read the rules and guidelines carefully before submission. You will not be able to edit your submission.
Rules:
Each participant can submit a single entry.
All entries must be published on instagram and the link of the post should be submitted through the Google form shared by AIPSN.
The contest is open to Indians living in India only.
Deadline for submissions: 17th February 2026 11:59 pm.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered for judging.
The reels should adhere to the theme of the contest.
The decision of the panel of judges will be final.
Use of AI should be duly declared in the instagram post, and is not preferred.
Plagiarism will be checked and plagiarized content will be disqualified.
Reels that hurt the sentiments of any ethnic or religious community will be disqualified.
Submission guidelines:
The reels can be of the duration from 15 sec (min) to 60 sec (max).
The reels should be in instagram friendly format and should be published / republished on instagram between 31 Jan 2026 to 17 Feb 2026.
Instagram reel description should clearly tag @aipsnmedia and include #astroreels2026 as a hashtag.
Submissions can be in English, Hindi or other Indian languages. For reels created in any language other than Hindi or English, it is mandatory to submit the transcript of the reel as a separate file through the form as directed.
The contest is open to participants from the following two categories:
A) 12 to below 18 years of age (posted on instagram by their parents / teachers / legal guardians).
B) 18 to 25 years of age.
How to Submit:
Click on the link: Google form or scan the QR code
Fill the form, upload the necessary documents and your submission.
Click on the Submit button.
Darwin Day 2026 Meme making contest
National meme making contest organized by
All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN)
On the occasion of Darwin Day, 12 Feb 2026
Click here to download the Rules, Regulations and how to submit the meme
Click here to download png pdf of the flyer
Theme: Why Study Biological Evolution?
AIPSN invites submissions on this theme. The contest is open to all, and there is no submission fee. Winners will be announced on National Science Day, 28th February 2026. There will be five prizes in both categories given to the best 5 memes in each, and e-certificates of participation will be given to all participants.
Please read the rules and guidelines carefully before submission. You will not be able to edit your submission.
Rules:
- Each participant can submit a single entry.
- All entries must be submitted through the Google form shared by AIPSN.
- The contest is open to Indians living in India only.
- Deadline for submissions: 12th February 2026 11:59 pm.
- Incomplete submissions will not be considered for judging.
- The memes should adhere to the theme of the contest.
- The decision of the panel of judges will be final.
- Use of AI should be declared at the bottom of the meme submission, and is not preferred.
- Plagiarism will be checked and plagiarized content will be disqualified.
- Memes that hurt the sentiments of any ethnic or religious community will be disqualified.
Submission guidelines:
- The memes can be hand drawn or digitally created.
- The memes should be in the Square (1080X1080 pixels) or Rectangular (1080X1920 pixels) format only.
- Only jpeg/ jpg/ gif/ png/ pdf format submissions will be accepted. Please name the file with your_name_date before submitting so it is clearly identifiable.
- Submissions can be in English, Hindi or other Indian languages. For memes created in any language other than Hindi or English, it is mandatory to submit the text of the meme as a separate file through the form as directed.
- The contest is open to participants from the following two categories:
- A) 12 to below 18 years of age.
- B) 18 to 25 years of age.
How to Submit:
Click on the link: Google form or scan the QR code
Fill the form, upload the necessary documents and your submission.
Click on the Submit button.
Note: The maximum file size allowed is 10 MB for the meme and 1 MB for other documents.
AIPSN condemns the US action on Venezuela
Click here to read the pdf of statement
in English in Tamil
AIPSN condemns the US action on Venezuela
The abduction and arrest of Nicolas Maduro and his wife by the Donald Trump administration is a blatant act of war, a raw demonstration of imperial power and an illegal intervention in another country’s internal affairs. The invasion of one sovereign nation to arrest its elected leader on unproven charges is a gross violation of international law and the United Nations charter. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez who took over charge after Maduro’s abduction has said “The war on drugs is a pretext, and the United States’ true objective is regime change and control of the country’s energy, mineral and natural resources “. It must be noted that Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, which the USA is attempting to expropriate. The right of self-determination of countries must be a non negotiable in the modern world order.
The fake charges against the Venezuelan government echo the pretext of weapons of mass destruction used to invade Iraq. It is also very similar to the 1989 US invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega. The accusation against Venezuela of a drug and weapons war against the United States is a fabricated narrative. There is no credible evidence emerging from any international agency, judicial body, or even official government data in the United States to prove so.
The AIPSN unequivocally condemns the unprovoked brazen military invasion and bombing of Venezuela which constitute war crimes. These criminal actions against Venezuela follow the criminal bombings against Iran and Gaza/Palestine by the imperialist USA and its allies in recent months. These actions of the USA dramatically increase the risk of worldwide escalation of war with unforeseen consequences for the whole world. We stand by and support the struggle of the people of Venezuela to defend their country ,in the face of formidable odds, against this American imperialist intervention.
The AIPSN calls upon its member organizations to organize public protests against the US attack on Venezuela.
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Vol2 -1 released AIPSN Newsletter: People’s Science
Click here for the Vol2 -1 Peoples Science AIPSN Newsletter English
Check out the vol1-2 compressed light version of Peoples Science AIPSN newsletter here
Read vol1-2 Peoples Science AIPSN newsletter English
See the flipbook of the newsletter here and below
————————————————-Vol1-1 below here—————————————————————–
Click here to Read the Jan Vigyan Samachar – the AIPSN newsletter vol1-1(Hindi)
Read the updated English version of newsletter AIPSN Newsletter Vol1-1
Try the compressed lighter version here AIPSN Newsletter Vol1-1 updated version
Read the updated Vol1-1 of newsletter as a flipbook:
Want to see the sample pages First AIPSN newsletter (1999)?Click here for the pdf
See below sample pages from the 2023 updated Vol1-1…
Cover page of Vol1
Editorial team
Title page
Table of contents
About the newsletter
Narendra Dhabolkar award to AIPSN
17th All India People’s Science Conference
17th AIPSC
Current AIPSN EC
Member organisations
Save Education Save The Nation
From the archives: cover page of first aipsn newsletter (1999)
National Scientific Temper Day 2025 August 20 : Ask Why?
NSTD 2025 Appeal is here Please visit and endorse the appeal.
Click here to read English, Malayalam, Assamese, Odiya , Tamil versions
AIPSN is releasing videos on the occasion of NSTD 2025 in which scientists and others go into the some aspects related to scientific temper. They are available on AIPSN YouTube channel @aipsnmedia
https://youtu.be/JekBsVdy6eM?si=Az5vrYNFaUl0rFnC
80 Years After Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Need Total Nuclear Disarmament
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Click here to read a short version
6 Aug 2025
80 Years After Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Need Total Nuclear Disarmament
The All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) strongly condemns the development, use, and continued deployment of nuclear weapons. It calls for the rebuilding of a global people’s movement dedicated to peace, against war and militarism, and in particular for complete nuclear disarmament. In a significant move, a gathering of Nobel Laureates issued a declaration in July 2025 calling for the prevention of nuclear war—the first such unified statement from that community.
Eighty years have passed since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, during the closing stages of World War II. Japan was looking for ways to surrender, having already been decisively defeated. Still, hundreds of thousands of civilians, including children and the elderly, were killed when the bombs were used. About 350,000 people had perished as a result of the bombings by the end of 1945, and both cities were completely destroyed. The extent of the damage to civilians was never seen before in human history.
Following the war, the world entered a prolonged arms race. By the 1980s, the global nuclear arsenal had ballooned to nearly 70,000 weapons. Since then, arms control agreements have reduced this number to an estimated 12,000. However, the threat has not diminished. India and Pakistan became nuclear-armed states by the end of the 20th century. Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons has led to decades of sanctions and, more recently, direct military attacks by Israel and the U.S.—despite the fact that Israel itself is the only nuclear-armed country in the Middle East.
The nuclear weapons of today are far more potent than those of 1945. Delivery systems are more accurate, faster, and lethal, including submarine-launched missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). A new level of uncertainty and possible risk is introduced by the use of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence in command, control, and targeting systems, which have the potential to further enhance nuclear arsenals’ destructive potential. Some contend that “nuclear deterrence” is effective because there haven’t been any nuclear weapons deployed in the previous 80 years. However, the threat of widespread civilian casualties and complete devastation is what deterrence is based on. It is against international humanitarian law, unethical, and morally repugnant. The International Court of Justice has already ruled that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is incompatible with this body of law, which has been ratified by most United Nations member states.
Moreover, nuclear deterrence has not prevented wars between nuclear-armed states. Ukraine, backed by NATO, is fighting a long war against Russia, which has nuclear weapons. Similarly, there have been several small-scale battles and military stalemates between India and Pakistan. A nuclear war could result from any one of these disputes. Proponents of deterrence claim that it only functions between “responsible” states. However, this argument is useless in the current unstable geopolitical environment, which is marked by increasing instability, a disrespect for international norms, and provocative rhetoric from world leaders. Diplomatic solutions are jeopardized when superpowers like the US and Russia flagrantly breach international organizations and agreements.
The promises made by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have not been fulfilled. Under Article VI of the NPT, nuclear-armed countries pledge to pursue disarmament through sincere negotiations. This obligation has largely been ignored. Instead, nuclear powers, like the US, continue to upgrade their arsenals. They also oppose other international agreements and undermine institutions like the United Nations. The existence of non-NPT nuclear-armed states, such as Israel, emphasizes the NPT’s shortcomings even more. New risks have emerged as a result of recent events. Strikes have occurred close to nuclear or radioactive sites during conventional military conflicts, including the Dimona facility in Israel, the Kirana Hills in Pakistan, the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine, and the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities in Iran. Attacks near such sites risk catastrophic radioactive contamination and raise the threat of inadvertent nuclear disaster.
The only way to durable peace is to rebuild a people’s campaign for complete nuclear disarmament .The campaign should seek to revive the McCloy-Zorin Accords of 20 September 1961 signed between the United States and the Soviet Union at the instance of the appeal issued by 25 Heads of State or Government, who attended the first NAM summit which was held in Belgrade from 01 to 06 September 1961.” (https://nuclearfamine.org/
The campaign should also incorporate the essence of Rajiv Gandhi’s “Action Plan for Ushering in a Nuclear Weapon Free and Non-Violent World Order” of 1988. In addition, it should have enough inputs from the revised “Model Nuclear Weapons Convention” submitted by Costa Rica and Malaysia to the UNGA in 2008.
Another development in this regard is the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The TPNW, which went into effect in January 2021, is the first legally binding international agreement to completely ban nuclear weapons with the aim of eradicating them. Notably, none of the present nuclear-armed states have signed it, despite the fact that more than 100 nations have. Nuclear weapons development, testing, possession, use, threat of use, and transfer are all prohibited by the treaty, as is aiding and abetting those engaged in such activities
In order to eliminate the nuclear threat, AIPSN urges the adoption of measures that will reduce risk and lead to disarmament:
1. Recognize the threat of nuclear weapons to humanity: Declare that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity; Prohibit all threats or uses of nuclear weapons until they are abolished.
2. Implement measures to build confidence such as: A “no first use” policy among nuclear states; Remove deployed nuclear weapons; Remove nuclear warheads from delivery systems; Revive the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; Prohibit militarization of outer space; Ban the development of new nuclear weapons or delivery systems.
3. Challenge legal and moral justifications: Reassert that Article 51 of the UN Charter (Right to Self-Defence) does not permit genocide or mass destruction; Reject the idea that nuclear states have any special right to possess or use such weapons; Expose the myth of deterrence – nuclear weapons do not protect life but they only guarantee mutual destruction.
A world under the shadow of nuclear weapons is not a world at peace. The suffering endured in Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. AIPSN renews its call to end the nuclear threat by abolishing all nuclear weapons and rebuilding a powerful people’s movement for peace, disarmament and saving lives.
Statement on High-Level Committee on Air India 171 Crash
Click here to get the pdf of the statement
16 June 2025
AIPSN Statement on High-Level Committee on Air India 171 Crash
AIPSN is deeply saddened by the horrendous crash on 12 June 2025 of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 “Dreamliner” flight AI-171 almost immediately after take-off at Ahmedabad heading for Gatwick, London. All but one of the 242 crew and passengers perished, tragically along with (so far) an additional 30 persons where the plane crashed into a medical college student’s mess and hostel.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started its independent inquiry into the causes and circumstances surrounding the crash as called for by protocols of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). AAIB has started the important step of decoding the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Digital Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recovered from the crash site. It is understood that teams from the US and UK are also arriving in India to assist. The AAIB should also issue a public notice inviting suggestions from experts and interested persons.
However, for unexplained reasons, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) to also inquire into the crash! Although the Order constituting the HLC states that it “will not be a substitute for other inquiries,” this is directly contradicted by its Objective to “ascertain the root cause of the crash,” assess factors such as mechanical failure, human error, weather conditions etc and examine the black boxes and aircraft maintenance records, interview Air Traffic Controllers, and collaborate with international agencies. All of these fall squarely under the ambit of the AAIB investigation as mandated by ICAO Article 13.
Clearly, the HLC is an undesirable parallel investigation which will, by virtue of its backing by highest levels of government, undermine the AAIB investigation. AIPSN calls upon the Ministry of Civil Aviation to immediately revise Terms of Reference of the HLC, and remove all objectives, scope of work and mandates which overlap those of the AAIB investigation.
It is to be noted that India constituted the AAIB precisely to address the prolonged dispute with ICAO regarding perceived government interference and conflict of interest in DGCA being the regulator, certifying authority and safety inspector also conducting accident inquiries over decades. The formation of HLC reignites this controversy by interfering with the AAIB inquiry. Air accident investigations are best left to professionals and experts.
At the same time, AIPSN welcomes the broader scope of the HLC inquiry for promotion of aviation safety, excluding investigation into the crash. In Ahmedabad, the aircraft crashed into a 5-storey medical college building just 1.5km from the airport, but there were larger hospitals and establishments in crowded areas nearby, missed only by chance. Recommendations of earlier crash inquiries regarding norms for operations at “table-top” airports, distance of settlements from airports, maintenance of airports, specifications for runway end safety areas (RESA) etc, are crying out for standards, implementation, monitoring, and enforcement in the interests of public, passengers, crew, and aircraft safety. The HLC would indeed perform a valuable service if it addressed these aspects holistically.
Many questions are being raised in the US and elsewhere about the safety record of Boeing, in the context of widely publicized whistleblower accounts of manufacturing malpractices affecting safety of Boeing aircraft. Any Government intervention at this stage will raise unnecessary suspicions around the world.
Asha Mishra Satyajit Rath
General Secretary, AIPSN President, AIPSN
Statement of solidarity with Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University, against state led harassment! Uphold the Right to Freedom of Expression!
Click here for the pdf of the statement
27 May 2025
Statement of solidarity with Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University, against state led harassment! Uphold the Right to Freedom of Expression!
The All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) strongly condemns the action of the Haryana police lodging FIRs at the direction of the chair of the Haryana State Women’s Commission and others against Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor at Ashoka University, and his subsequent arrest for his social media posts which were in the public domain. AIPSN also views with concern the subsequent pronouncements of the Honourable Supreme Court two judge bench while giving interim bail. Stringent restrictions of freedom have been imposed and formation of SIT has been ordered even while no criminal intent was found.
The whole process is not just an attack on Dr. Mahmudabad’s right to freedom of speech and expression but an unlawful denial of his right to personal liberty. The lodging of the FIRs by itself required no custodial interrogation, given that his movements and place of residence and work were known.
We condemn the action of the state police which chose to go ahead with two FIRs, arrested him and sought extension of his police custody to more than a week to harass him. It is apparent that in an effort to drum up so called public opinion and influence judicial decision making, several vice chancellors were mobilized to send a message to academics to remain quiet. It is apparent that legitimate opinions on the developments in the country which differ from the official government narrative are not being tolerated but being treated as a crime.
Clearly, the social media posts neither contained any divisive overtone nor a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India, as alleged. Dr. Mahmudabad spoke on a matter of public interest and expressed a view that many people may share. The AIPSN believes that we cannot remain silent because the arrest of Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad is an issue of wider concern for the scientific community and for society. As the citizens of a constitutional democracy, we are concerned that the freedom of people to express themselves and to be informed by scholars is under threat now. The attack on him is not just an attack on academic freedom but it is an attack on the democratic rights of the people.
With due respect for the Honourable Court, we believe that the court went beyond the call of duty in commenting on the case in a manner that led to the impression that any departure from the official narrative of the state would lead to an arrest. We are disturbed that an academic who should enjoy academic freedom is facing an SIT for merely expressing his opinion.
The court order issued is seemingly a gag order, restraining him from expressing his opinion and depriving his students of the benefit of his views on matters of public interest.
Although Dr Mahmudabad has been released on interim bail, we are deeply concerned about the entire premise of the complaints filed against him.
The legal system is operating in a selective form against a chosen few who are perceived to be political and ideological opponents of the regime. Persecution is replacing prosecution and the process itself is becoming a punishment. And it is not the rule of law but the rule of the police that is in operation.
The proceedings on this matter do not augur well for a constitutional democracy founded in the wake of a glorious struggle of the Indian people against the British rulers who often used the provision of sedition to put the freedom fighters behind bars for expressing themselves in public. The complaints filed against him under several sections including Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for alleged “acts endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity” make a mockery of the right to freedom of expression.
Since the official motive behind the arrest is unsupportable, the severity in approach towards Dr. Mahmudabad gives reason to believe that a Muslim is being targeted for his identity.
Dr. Mahmudabad’s social media posts, which critique jingoism and underscore the human cost of war, fall squarely within the realm of legally protected right to speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. His remarks, including concerns about communal polarisation and the imperative to safeguard marginalised communities, reflect a commitment to constitutional values. To equate such critiques with “sedition” or threats to sovereignty is morally and legally untenable. It is an attempt to undermine the very foundations and ethos of constitutional democracy.
We disagree that Dr. Mahmudabad’s nuanced commentary, which seeks to locate the role of women officers within the larger context of the current political scenario, is any form of “disparagement” of women or an “attempt to create disunity”. His posts explicitly lauded the armed forces’ professionalism while urging vigilance in protecting the socially oppressed from state-sanctioned, communally motivated persecution.
While appreciating the fact that Dr. Mahmudabad has been provided interim bail, we wonder why the SIT has been constituted, even though the court noted that it has found nothing incriminating in the posts. The restrictions imposed on him deprive him of his constitutional rights and the order signals that any form of reasoned disagreement with government policies—no matter how well-founded – may be met with criminal proceedings and loss of liberty.
AIPSN notes that critical pedagogy and dissent are essential pillars of democracy and the rule of law. The AIPSN stands in solidarity with Dr Mahmudabad and calls for immediate withdrawal of all charges against him which are legally baseless in their entirety. We hail the solidarity shown by Ashoka University students and faculty and salute the larger academic community that has come out to stand in solidarity with Dr. Mahmudabad.
The AIPSN calls upon the Honourable Court to recall the order and recognise the action of the state as a misuse of law and take remedial action to protect his right to free speech and liberty. AIPSN resolves to continue the struggle to protect and uphold the Constitutional Right to Freedom of Expression.
Asha Mishra Satyajit Rath
General Secretary, AIPSN President, AIPSN
Condolence Resolution for Dr. Jayant Narlikar
Click here to download pdf in letter head
ALL INDIA PEOPLE’S SCIENCE NETWORK (AIPSN)
Condolence Resolution for Dr. Jayant Narlikar
With the passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar on May 20th 2025, the world has lost an outstanding Astrophysicist and Relativist, and India, one of its most eminent scientists . In addition to his important research contributions, Prof. Narlikar made outstanding contributions in the area of scientific outreach. He authored numerous popular books and articles on Astronomy, Cosmology, History of science, science fiction, in Marathi, English and Hindi. In the field of science and mathematics education, he along with his life partner Dr. Mangala Narlikar, played leadership roles in curricular and textbook development at both the national level and at the Maharashtra state level. He was the founder Director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, which developed under his leadership as a world renowned centre for scientific research as well as public outreach in science.
In his preface to his book ‘The Scientific Edge: The Indian Scientist from Vedic to Modern Times’, Prof. Narlikar writes “ When as a young lad of twenty-two I enrolled myself as a research student in science my aim was to restrict my attention and career to research in astronomy. More than four decades later, I see that aim as confining myself to the proverbial ivory tower.
Indeed it was fortunate that my research supervisor was Fred Hoyle, a man hailed as the most original astronomer of the twentieth century and a distinguished popularizer of science and a writer of science fiction. A close association with him gradually introduced me to the wider vista of the interaction of science and society as well as the subject of the historical evolution of science. Hoyle’s example showed me that it is possible to maintain a satisfactory level of research productivity while enlarging one’s interest in these wider issues. In fact these interests provided a more mature background to my research.
So it was that while in the UK and later after having returned to India I continued and expanded these interests through writing and lecturing. I discovered that the evolution of science in the subcontinent has followed a different track from that in the West. While interacting with the public one runs into two different viewpoints. On the one hand there is awareness that for various reasons India mounted the bus of science and technology rather late and has to make up for this. On the other hand , there is the feeling that in our ancient past we led the world in knowledge. More often than not these views are stated with undue vigour”
In his writings and speeches , Prof. Narlikar consistently articulated a critical view of undue or ahistorical glorification of the past and stood unambiguously with those promoting scientific temper. Together with Dr, Narendra Dabholkar and two others, he authored a research paper which clinchingly demolished any claim of astrology to being scientific . A few weeks after the martyrdom of Dr. Dabholkar in 2013, he presented these ideas and explained the importance of scientific temper, secularism and the values of the Indian constitution as the keynote speaker to a mass public meeting organised in Pune to protest the murder.
When the AIPSN resolved in 2018 and joined hands with MANS to initiate observance of August 20th as National Scientific Temper Day, Prof. Narlikar was the first signatory to the joint AIPSN-MANS appeal for schools , colleges and organizations to publicly observe NSTD each year. He was the main speaker the first NSTD public meeting held on the eve of NSTD 2018 in Pune in which he spoke eloquently and movingly about his association with Dr. Narendra Dabholkar.
The scientific work and writings of Prof. Narlikar will continue to inspire coming generations of young scientists. The AIPSN pays respectful homage to this great scientist, science publicist and promoter of scientific temper.
Asha Mishra Satyajit Rath
General Secretary, AIPSN President, AIPSN