Atomic Energy Commission (AEC):
- Atomic Energy Commission is the governing body of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
- Its key functions are:
- to organise research in atomic science in the country;
- to train, atomic scientists in the country; and
- to undertake prospecting of atomic minerals in India and to extract such minerals for use on industrial scale.
- Timeline:
- The Indian Atomic Energy Commission was first setup in 1948 in the Department of Scientific Research.
- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was setup in 1954 under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through a Presidential Order.
- Subsequently, in accordance with a Government Resolution dated March 1, 1958, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in the Department of Atomic Energy.
- Governance:
- According to the Resolution constituting the AEC, the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy is ex-officio Chairman of the Commission.
- The other Members of the AEC are appointed for each calendar year on the recommendation of the Chairman, AEC and after approval by the Prime Minster.
- It is headquartered in Mumbai.
