About Us:

The Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) is a voluntary organization of physics teachers/researchers and other stakeholders with a standing of almost four decades. We are interested in the dissemination of scientific knowledge, promotion of scientific temper and culture with a focus on improvement of quality of physics education at all levels as laid down in our constitution: "To upgrade the level of teaching and teachers of physics and related areas at all levels to pool and mobilize the talents and resources of teachers in the national perspective." We are open to collaborations, sharing and research in Physics education and Science education in general.

With these stated objectives, IAPT organizes multiple activities such as - seminars, conferences, examinations, Physics Stage Shows, laboratory workshops and competitions, among others, both for teachers and students. IAPT is a democratic body with office bearers elected every three years and frames policies and programs in a consensual mode. To achieve efficient outreach it has demarcated nation into over 22 regions with an autonomous Regional Councils (RCs) to reach every corner to promote our objectives . With almost ten thousand members across the nation and a few hundred in the Indian diaspora abroad. All IAPT work is voluntary – members do not expect any remuneration for IAPT work. It is the largest voluntary body of Physics/science teachers, from schools, colleges and universities, working at the grassroots level in the country. Our pledge is Members will not ask for any privilege, but will rather search for ways in which they can best serve the society.

Group Photo of First IAPT Convention in Kanpur (1984)

The Association was founded in 1984 in Kanpur by like-minded teachers among whom were Late Dr. D. P. Khandelwal from Harcourt Butler Institute of Technology Kanpur, Late Prof. Babu Lal Saraf from Rajasthan University Jaipur and Late Prof. HS Hans from Punjab University Chandigarh, Prof. RN Kapoor VJS SD college Kanpur, Late Prof. PH Umadikar HBCSE, TIFR Mumbai, Late Prof. DD Pant, Kumon University, Nainital, Late Prof. A. W Joshi, Pune University Pune, Late Dr. A N Nigam, HBTI Kanpur, and Prof. HS Virk, GNDU Amritsar, Prof. MG Tarnekar from Raipur, Prof. V Sreenivasan, American College Madurai and others. The statues were drafted by a Steering Committee of Prof. RM Singru, Prof. GK Mehta and Prof. HD Bist of IIT Kanpur, Prof AN Nigam and Dr. VP Tayal of HBTI, DR. Kanpoor of VSSD College, Dr. AN Dixit of Christ Church College and Prof. Indu Prakash Formerly of Christ Church College with Prof. DP Khandelwal as Member Secretary. The first meeting of the group was held in IIT Kanpur in 1984. Since then IAPT is a Work in Progress to achieve its objective with clear goals and achievements.

IAPT has served its stake holders with distinction finding echo of its impact across India and beyond its borders. It prides in voluntary participation by its members to reach out a triad of stakeholders: Students, Teachers and community. Association believes in innovation, sharing and empowerment through our focus subject Physics which has been a fountainhead of many futuristic disciplines and technologies. This intrinsic nature of the subject has brought paradigm shift in the knowledge domains and in introducing new technologies to impact the way world progresses and reacts. We are open to new ideas and their implementation from scientific community, common man and our stakeholders.

The IAPT RCs propagate the message of good teaching learning and outreach across the length and breadth of our country, quite often in local languages, while the Anveshikas propagate the message of learning by doing experiments. An annual magazine of Physics and related areas, named Pragaami Tarang, is published in Gujarati/English by RC-07 for over 14 years now.

Some of our flagship activities of IAPT and its members are:

National Standard Examinations NSEs NSEJS, leading finally to our participation in International Physics Olympiads and Asian Physics Olympiads.
IAPT Monthly Bulletin
IAPT Anveshikas
Annual National competitions on Innovative Experiments in Physics, Computational Physics and Essay Writing in Physics
Annual IAPT Deenbandhu Sahu Memorial UG Physics Teacher’s Award
Annual National Students Symposium in Physics
Annual IAPT Convention, organized at different places in India in Collaboration with Regional Councils
Student Journal of Physics
Monthly Journal of Physics Education