KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar , Sep 10: The first academic session of the much-hyped National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) was inaugurated here on Monday.

The institute, set up by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), was inaugurated by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

About 40 students have got admission in the five-year Integrated MSc Course that would be conducted on the campus of Institute of Physics here till the institute moves to its own campus.

Initially, focus would be given on four basic sciences biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics while earth and planetary, engineering and computer sciences would be introduced at the later stage.

Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said expressed hope that as a centre of excellence, this institute would be a forward move in the field of education and research in basic sciences.

The state government had already provided 300 acres of land near Barunei Hills for the campus of NISER free of cost, Patnaik said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced setting up of the institute on August 28 last year.

The Union Cabinet had recently given its approval for establishment of the institute at an estimated cost of Rs 823.19 crore and creation of 761 posts in academic, scientific, technical, administrative and auxiliary categories.

Initially, students of NISER will receive their degrees from the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), a Deemed University under the DAE umbrella.

In future, the institute is proposed to be accorded status of a Deemed University .

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithiviraj Chavan said the main campus near Jatni would come up within four years time.

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar, who was also present on the inaugural function, said the alumna of the institute would be brought into Atomic Energy Programme.