Legacy
Established in 1956 , NCAER’s roots lie in Prime Minister Nehru’s early vision of a newly independent India needing independent institutions as sounding boards for the government and the private sector.
On October 31, 1959, Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone for the current iconic campus designed by Harvard-trained architect, A. P. Kanvinde. In doing so, he laid the foundation for a unique research institution that has stood the test of time in its service to the nation. Parisila Bhawan, literally translating to ‘Research Building’ was inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad, independent India’s first President, on 27 March 1961.
NCAER, founded in 1956 as a public-private partnership, was initiated by Commerce Minister T.T. Krishnamachari and industrialist J.R.D. Tata to address industrial and economic research needs. Over six decades, its Governing Board has featured prominent figures like Dr. Manmohan Singh and Ratan Tata.
NCAER’s first Governing Board included the entire Cabinet of Economic Ministers and the leading lights of the private sector, including names like C. D. Deshmukh, J.R.D. Tata, John Mathai, and Asoka Mehta.
The Ford Foundation provided strong financial support in the early years, combined with support from the Finance Ministry and Tata Sons.
