This year, we're featuring insightful interviews with four Indian scientists, along with a curated selection of research articles based on the pioneering discoveries of Sir C. V. Raman and related technologies recently published in ACS journals.
National Science Day is celebrated annually on February 28 in India, dedicated to the discovery of the Raman Effect by the renowned Indian physicist, Sir C.V. Raman. On this day in 1928, Raman made the discovery that would later earn him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The Raman Effect, which explains the scattering of light, has had profound implications in various fields, including spectroscopy and quantum mechanics.
The theme for this year’s National Science Day, "Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat," underscores the importance of nurturing young talent to drive India's scientific and technological advancements. The key initiatives undertaken by India last year such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, National Quantum Mission, and National Supercomputing Mission showcase the country’s strength and commitment towards science and technology in alignment with the VIKSIT BHARAT@2047 mission (a developed India by 2047). Last year, India made significant strides in space exploration, achieving milestones such as the launch of Aditya-L1, SpaDeX, and PSLV-C59 / Proba-3, among others.
Additionally, the Science for Equity, Empowerment, and Development initiative promotes inclusive growth, while clean energy and water technology initiatives address environmental challenges. The WISE-KIRAN program empowers women in STEM, fostering gender equity and enriching the scientific community. Together, these efforts exemplify India's dedication to innovation and sustainable development.
On this occasion, ACS Publications is excited to present research highlights and interviews with four scientists in India from diverse backgrounds, discussing the state of research, the importance of government support, and offering advice for aspiring researchers.
Additionally, we invite you to explore a curated collection of research articles published in ACS journals, featuring the application of Raman scattering or related technologies.
As we celebrate National Science Day 2025, it’s a timely reminder of the words of Sir C.V. Raman: "Science is a language that transcends boundaries; it is a universal tool for understanding the world." Let us continue to nurture a spirit of inquiry and innovation, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Jump to Section:
Read Interviews From Thought Leaders in India
Browse Research Highlights From ACS Journals
Join ACS on Campus in India
Read Interviews From Scientists in India
Prof. Suparna Mukherji
Prof. Mukherji is MPCB Chair Professor in the Environmental Science and Engineering Department (ESED) at IIT Bombay, Mumbai. She completed her Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Michigan, USA. She served as the Head of Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF) and Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science (CRNTS) (2022-2025) and Head of ESED at IIT Bombay (2018-2021).
Notable awards Prof. Mukherji has received include the AICTE Career Award Grant for Young Teachers by AICTE in 2000 and the Women Bioscientist Award by DBT In 2009. She is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), National Academy of Sciences India (NASI), Geological Society of India (GSI), Institution of Engineers India (IEI) and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Prof. Siddhesh Kamat
Prof. Kamat is currently an Associate Professor, a Swarnajayanti Fellow, and an EMBO Young Investigator in the Department of Biology at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune. Broadly, Prof. Kamat is a chemical biologist by training, and his research interests are annotating function to uncharacterised enzymes and mapping biological pathways deregulated in human diseases and pathophysiological conditions, using mass-spectrometry based lipidomics, and functional chemical proteomics.
Prof. Ranjani Viswanatha
Prof. Viswanatha is a Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), where she specializes in quantum dots. She earned her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science and carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Arkansas and Los Alamos National Laboratory. A founding member of INYAS, Prof. Viswanatha has made significant contributions to the scientific community, serving on various editorial advisory boards, including that of ACS Energy Letters, and reviewing for top-tier journals. She has received numerous national and state-level awards in recognition of her work, which is widely published and acknowledged. Prof. Viswanatha is a sought-after speaker, delivering invited talks at prestigious conferences and playing a key role in advancing the fields of nanoscience and quantum materials.
Prof. Jatish Kumar
Prof. Jatish Kumar obtained his Ph.D. in 2013 from CSIR-NIIST, Trivandrum, India working under the guidance of Professor George Thomas. Subsequently, he had two postdoctoral stints; as a JSPS fellow at NAIST, Nara, Japan and as Marie Curie fellow at CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastian, Spain. In December 2018, he began his independent career as an assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, India, where currently he is currently an Associate Professor. Prof. Kumar is a physical chemist with a research focus on materials science. With an aim to understand the ground and excited state optical activity, his group at IISER Tirupati is working towards the development of chiral light emitting molecules and materials.
Browse Research Highlights From ACS Journals
In Situ Raman Hyperspectral Analysis of Microbial Colonies for Secondary Metabolites Screening
Shunnosuke Suwa, Masahiro Ando*, Takuji Nakashima, Shumpei Horii, Toyoaki Anai, and Haruko Takeyama*
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02906
Charge Recognition in Ru(bpy)32+ on a Metal Surface via Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Sayantan Mahapatra, Chamath Siribaddana, Linfei Li, Soumyajit Rajak, Xu Zhang, and Nan Jiang*
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c02758
Dyed Hair and Swimming Pools: The Influence of Chlorinated and Nonchlorinated Agitated Water on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Artificial Dyes on Hair
Aidan P. Holman, Roa Elsaigh, Ragd Elsaigh, Axell Rodriguez, and Dmitry Kurouski*
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06734
Nanocavities for Molecular Optomechanics: Their Fundamental Description and Applications
Philippe Roelli, Huatian Hu, Ewold Verhagen, Stephanie Reich, and Christophe Galland*
DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.4c01548
Factors that Affect Quantification in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Meikun Fan and Alexandre G. Brolo*
DOI: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c15183
Breath Analysis via Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Adrián Fernández-Lodeiro, Marios Constantinou, Christoforos Panteli, Agapios Agapiou, and Chrysafis Andreou*
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c02685
Resonant Electron–Phonon Interaction and Its Non-Fano-Type Wavelength and Power-Dependent Raman Manifestation
Deb Kumar Rath, Chanchal Rani, Shivansh Raj Pandey, Love Bansal, Bhumika Sahu, Nikita Ahlawat, Shailendra K. Saxena, and Rajesh Kumar*
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c04058
Unveiling the Molecular Secrets: A Comprehensive Review of Raman Spectroscopy in Biological Research
Anshuman Chandra, Vimal Kumar, Umesh Chandra Garnaik, Rima Dada, Imteyaz Qamar, Vijay Kumar Goel, and Shilpi Agarwal*
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00591
Join ACS on Campus in India!
Join ACS at IIT Kharagpur on March 11 or IIT Guwahati on March 13 for an engaging half-day event. Get to know Prof. Joan-Emma Shea, P.h.D., Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Physical Chemistry A/B/C and other featured ACS Editors, who will share their Top Tips for Scholarly Publishing and Effective Writing. Plus, find out more about Cultivating Your Scientific Presentation Skills and the latest ACS Resources you can use to grow your career.
Both events are FREE and open to all students and researchers studying the sciences—not just chemistry! Attendees will receive a personalized participation certificate after the event.
Learn more and register for IIT Kharagpur or IIT Guwahati on the ACS on Campus website!
