National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS Karnataka): Courses, Facilities

Janki Sharma

Updated on - Dec 17, 2024

The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore was inspired by Abraham Flexner's principles for the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, advocating small size, academic freedom, and a focus on fundamental research. Homi Bhabha’s vision for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) extended beyond physics to fostering scientific culture in India, leading to the establishment of several institutions, including NCBS.

The idea for a biological research center emerged in 1982, proposed by Prof. S. Ramaseshan of IISc. Although a joint TIFR-IISc initiative didn’t materialize, the Planning Commission approved the NCBS in 1984 as an autonomous unit under TIFR, emphasizing cutting-edge biological research. After years of site exploration, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) offered land in 1991, formalizing collaboration for research and teaching excellence.

NCBS began operations informally in the late 1980s, with its first appointments in 1988 and temporary facilities at TIFR centers in Mumbai and Bangalore. Officially constituted in 1991, the center grew steadily, housing vibrant research groups and postgraduate programs for Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, with degrees granted through universities like Bombay, Mysore, and Manipal.

By 1997, NCBS operated partly from its purpose-built campus, designed by architect Raj Rewal, on a 20-acre UAS site. The facility includes laboratories, residential buildings, and amenities, fostering an active research culture. Key contributors who supported NCBS during its forma

NCBS Highlights:

Attribute	Details
Institution Name	National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)
Established	Formally constituted in October 1991, activities began in 1987.
Affiliation	Autonomous unit under Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
Location	Campus at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, spread over 20 acres.
Programs Offered	Ph.D., Integrated Ph.D. (after B.Sc.), M.Sc. by Research (replaced by Integrated Ph.D.).
Research Areas	Cell Biology, Developmental Biology (plants and animals), Brain Research, Behavior, Ecology, and Theoretical Biology.
Academic Collaboration	Students can audit courses at IISc; degrees granted through Bombay University, Mysore University, or Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Infrastructure	Laboratory (50,000 sq. ft.), residential housing, hostels, and canteen. Campus design by Raj Rewal.
Funding & Governance	Supported by TIFR Council; funding approval by Planning Commission (1984).
Key Individuals	Founding team: O. Siddiqi, Gaiti Hasan, K. VijayRaghavan; early members: J. B. Udgaonkar, M. Ramaswami, M. K. Mathew, M. M. Panicker, S. Krishna.
Special Features	- Vibrant research culture with an emphasis on independent research.
	- Recognized as an institution of excellence by UAS.
	- Designed for interdisciplinary research and broad-based biological studies.
Teaching Philosophy	Focus on research-driven learning; minimal administrative burden on faculty; involvement in decision-making.
Living Environment	Improved academic conditions with on-campus housing and green surroundings.
Placement Opportunities	Primarily research-focused with opportunities in academia, biotechnology, and related fields.
Key Supporters	Contributions from IISc, Planning Commission, Department of Biotechnology, and Atomic Energy Commission leaders.
Notable Alumni/Contributors	Includes scientists like K. VijayRaghavan (now a prominent biologist).
Admission Criteria	Based on academic merit and potential for research (detailed criteria depend on specific programs).
Fees and Scholarships	Fee structure varies by program; scholarships available for meritorious students.
Nearby Facilities	Located within the IISc ecosystem, with access to its resources and collaborative opportunities.
Future Development	Expected to grow into a premier hub for biological sciences in India.
Official Website	https://www.ncbs.res.in/

NCBS Courses:

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore offers Postgraduate, Doctoral and Post-doctoral Programs through its various departments.

Courses	Fees	Eligibility
M.Sc Biology	₹2,000	Graduation with 50%+ Entrance
M.Sc Wildlife Sciences	-	Graduation with 50%+ Entrance

NCC Facilities:

National Centre for Biological Sciences provides various facilities to all the students. NCBS facilities include:

Library:

The primary aim of the Scientific Information Resource Centre (SIRC) - library is to develop, organize, preserve and deliver information and scholarly resources for the NCBS community. To these ends, the SIRC explores and implements new technologies to provide effective information services, expand the library’s resource collection, and develop a librarian-user partnership.

The library has extensive print and electronic collections including about 6500 books, 11000 bound journals, and a CD/DVD collection of other educational resources. The SIRC subscribes to 95 print journals and multiple electronic resources, participating in consortiums such as TIFR, DAE and UGC-Infonet for expanded access. The SIRC also subscribes to magazines and newspapers of general interest and offers additional services including referencing, scanning, off-campus access, inter-library loan and document delivery.

The SIRC also provides hands-on training to final year post-graduate students of Library & Information Science under internship programs with various universities in Karnataka.

Support facilities include wired and wireless internet, computing and audio-visual facilities, printers, scanners, and an online catalogue. The SIRC is open every day, year round.

Research Facilities:

There are varioius research facilities available for the students.

Campus Support:

A range of services comprise the support offered to the researchers within their laboratory environments.

Meetings Office:

The program plays a role in showcasing Indian science at its best to visitors from outside the country.

IPMO TTO:

To protect research discoveries and ideas for possible translation into applicable inventions for the community at large.

Research Development Office

RDO offers professional assistance with grants management and Communications activities on campus.

Technical Services

The campus Technical Services provide an uninterrupted and seamless physical infrastructure for running world-class science.

NCBS Cut off:

NCBS considers candidates based on their GATE/CSIR/UGC-NET rank.

The candidate should be in the top 10 percentile of ranks. In the full application the candidate is required to state GATE/CSIR/UGC-NET rank and upload the corresponding Score Card as supporting evidence.

NCBS FAQ:

IS NCBS, Bangalore affiliated?
- NCBS Bangalore is affiliated to Bombay University, Mysore University and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Where is National Centre for Biological Sciences located?
- National Centre for Biological Sciences is located in National center for biological science, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka- 560097.
Is there any library in NCBS, Bangalore?
- NCBS Bangalore has a library of its own. The library has extensive print and electronic collections including about 6500 books, 11000 bound journals, and a CD/DVD collection of other educational resources.

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NCBS, Eligibility Criteria:

Foe each course National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore has certain eligibility criteria. For admission in these courses, the applicants must refer NCBS, Bangalore eligibility criteria.

Course	Eligibility Criteria
Ph.D.	Masters in Basic Science (M.Sc. Physics/Chemistry/Any branch of Biology) or any professional Master's Degree (M.Pharma./M.Tech.), or a 4 year degree program
I-Ph.D./M.Sc.	Bachelors in any Basic Science (Physics/Chemistry/Any branch of Biology) OR any 4-year degree program that awards a "Bachelor's degree" including B.Tech., B.E., B.V.Sc., B.Pharma. (4 year course).
M.Sc.	Eligibility for Indian nationals- Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline (including those in the final year of graduation) with a minimum of 60% marks in the core subjects are eligible to apply. Eligibility for Central, South and Southeast Asian nationals- Applicants with an undergraduate/Bachelor's degree OR an equivalent degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent GPA in the core subjects are eligible to apply.

NCBS Admissions Procedure:

The TIFR Nationwide Entrance Examination (GS-2025) for Biology, also known as the JGEEBILS (Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences), is a common test for multiple institutions. While the exam score is shared, each institution follows its own admission process, and applicants must apply to each one separately.

For TIFR Centres (DBS-Mumbai, NCBS-Bangalore, TIFR-Hyderabad), the primary admission route is the TIFR/JGEEBILS exam. Candidates are shortlisted for interviews based on exam performance, CV, a scientific write-up, and recommendation letters. Each TIFR Centre evaluates applications independently.

Additionally, applicants with the top 5% ranks in GATE/CSIR/UGC-NET (e.g., a rank ≤100 out of 2000 candidates) may also be considered. Such candidates must submit their rank and supporting scorecard and can email phd@ncbs.res.in for further application instructions.

Programs Offered:

Ph.D.: NCBS, DBS, TIFR-H
Integrated Ph.D.: NCBS, DBS, TIFR-H
Integrated Ph.D. with M.Sc. Exit: DBS only

Eligibility:

Ph.D.: Master’s in Basic Sciences (M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.), Professional Master’s (M.Pharm, M.Tech.), or a degree like MBBS/BDS (>4 years).
Integrated Ph.D./M.Sc.: Bachelor’s in Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.) or a 4-year professional degree (B.Tech, B.E., B.Pharm, B.V.Sc.).