K N VYAS

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.