Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences

What Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences does

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) is an autonomous government research institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, headquartered at 53 University Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 1946 by Professor Birbal Sahni FRS, the institute is India's premier centre for palaeosciences research, with core domains spanning palaeobotany, micropalaeontology, palynology, sedimentology, geochemistry, and archaeological sciences. It operates specialized laboratories including a Radiocarbon Dating and Isotopic Characterisation Laboratory (with automated graphite preparation coupled to stable isotope mass spectrometry), a Sophisticated Analytical Instruments Facility (housing TL/OSL, XRD, FESEM, Nutrient Analyzer, Coal Characterization, and Bomb Calorimeter), an Amber Analysis and Palaeoentomology Laboratory, and a Centre for Geo-heritage and Geo-tourism Promotion (CPGG). The institute also maintains an extensive fossil and type-specimen museum and a Knowledge Resource Centre.

BSIP's business model is hybrid: a primary, near-total funding stream from DST and other national agencies (DST, SERB, MoES, NMHS, ANRF) totaling Rs. 109,32,19,059 in annual budget allocation, supplemented by fee-based analytical services (radiocarbon dating, isotope analysis, FESEM/XRD access) provided to external researchers and institutions on a per-sample basis, education and training revenue from AcSIR-affiliated Ph.D. programs, master's dissertations, and short-term training, conference and workshop hosting revenue (notably the XXII INQUA Congress 2027, ICMS-2026, Prithvi Film Festival), and publication sales through the Journal of Palaeosciences and monograph series. Its customer base spans Ph.D. and master's students (primary), external academic researchers using SAIF facilities (primary), government ministries (DST, MoES, MoEF) as funders and policy consumers, and short-term trainees.

The institute is governed by a Governing Body chaired by Prof. H B Srivastava (since 13 September 2024) with a Research Advisory Council chaired by Prof. Subir Sarkar (since 21 March 2025), and led operationally by Director Prof. Mahesh G. Thakkar. As of 2026, BSIP is actively expanding its international footprint through INQUA 2027 hosting and its interdisciplinary reach via a May 2026 MoU with the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, while continuing to publish peer-reviewed research and supply specialized analytical infrastructure to India's earth-science research community.

Name

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences

Legal name

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences

Website

https://bsip.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences is an autonomous Indian government research institute under DST, headquartered in Lucknow, conducting palaeobotany, micropalaeontology, geochemistry, and archaeology research while providing radiocarbon dating, analytical services, Ph.D. programs, and hosting international conferences for India's scientific community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palaeosciences Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• Palaeosciences research
• Radiocarbon dating services
• Palaeobotany research
• Micropalaeontology analysis
• Analytical laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucknow

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: Primary funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Total budget allocated is Rs. 109,32,19,059. Research projects funded through various government schemes including DST, SERB, MoES, NMHS, ANRF, and other national funding agencies.
2. Analytical Services: Revenue generated from providing analytical services using sophisticated instruments including C14 dating, isotope analysis, FESEM, XRD, and other specialized facilities to external researchers and institutions on a fee basis.
3. Education and Training Programs: Revenue from Ph.D. programs under AcSIR, master's dissertation programs, short-term training programs, and fellowships including Birbal Sahni Research Scholar (BSRS) and Birbal Sahni Research Associate (BSRA) positions.
4. Conference and Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting international conferences including XXII INQUA 2027, ICMS-2026, Prithvi Film Festival, and various workshops. Income generated through registrations, sponsorships, and exhibition fees.
5. Publications: Revenue from the Journal of Palaeosciences (formerly The Palaeobotanist), annual reports, monographs, catalogues, and other scientific publications available for sale.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) is a government-funded autonomous research institute under India's Department of Science and Technology that conducts fundamental and applied research in palaeobotany, micropalaeontology, palynology, sedimentology, geochemistry and archaeological sciences. It provides paid analytical laboratory services (radiocarbon dating, isotope analysis, FESEM, XRD, etc.), runs Ph.D./research training programs, maintains a palaeobotanical museum, and publishes scientific journals and memoirs.

Product overview

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) is a premier Indian research institute dedicated to palaeobotany and palaeosciences. The institute operates as a unified platform offering research services, educational programmes, and scientific publications. Its core offerings include the BSIP Museum housing fossil collections, the Journal of Palaeosciences (The Palaeobotanist) as its flagship publication, and Sophisticated Analytical Instruments Facilities (SAIF) providing specialized laboratory services including radiocarbon dating, isotopic characterization, and advanced imaging techniques. The institute complements its research mandate through educational programmes at doctoral and master's levels, and maintains specialized laboratories in amber analysis, palaeoentomology, and geo-heritage promotion. The Research Publications Suite encompasses annual reports, newsletters, catalogues, and e-magazines supporting scientific communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radiocarbon Dating Services

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Indian Institute of Forest Management, BhopalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026MoU signed on 21 May 2026 between BSIP and Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal for academic collaboration towards sustainable future. This partnership enables joint research activities, student exchange, and collaborative programs in areas of mutual interest related to forestry, environment, and palaeosciences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Government of India organization for archaeological research, exploration, and conservation — adjacent peer sharing the earth-history and geo-heritage domains with BSIP but focused on cultural heritage rather than palaeontological research.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc): India's premier research and postgraduate institution with broad natural sciences coverage including earth and atmospheric sciences — comparable as a major Indian research and doctoral-degree-granting institution, though vastly larger and broader in scope.
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): DST autonomous research institute in Bangalore with multiple centres conducting astronomy and space research — comparable as a sister DST autonomous body, though its research domain (astrophysics) is broader than BSIP's.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI): Government of India organization responsible for geological mapping, mineral exploration, and palaeontological studies — comparable as a major government earth-science body, though focused on surveying and resource assessment rather than pure research.

Direct peers

• National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI): CSIR laboratory in Hyderabad conducting earth sciences research including geochronology, isotope geochemistry, and palaeoclimate — comparable as an Indian earth-science research institute with similar analytical instrumentation.
• Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology: Autonomous research institute under DST (same parent as BSIP) conducting earth science research focused on Himalayan geology, palaeoclimate, and sedimentology — directly comparable as a fellow DST-funded geosciences research organization.
• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL): Premier DST autonomous research institute in Ahmedabad conducting research in astronomy, astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, and geosciences — shares the same funding parent (DST) and similar autonomous-government structure as BSIP.
• National Institute of Oceanography (NIO): CSIR laboratory in Goa conducting ocean sciences, marine geology, and palaeoceanography research — comparable as an Indian earth-science research institute with overlapping palaeosciences and analytical services capabilities.

Emerging players

• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM): DST-affiliated autonomous research institute in Pune focused on tropical meteorology and atmospheric sciences — partially comparable as a fellow climate/earth-system science research institute under DST.
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER): Network of autonomous institutions under DST offering integrated research and doctoral programs in natural sciences — comparable as a fellow DST research-education hybrid, though covering broader disciplines than BSIP's palaeosciences focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bsiplucknow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeLoQeBr4NUD_ivaqnASeKg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Birbal-Sahni-Institute-of-Palaeosciences-100064628684500
• Instagraminstagram.com/bsip.official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birbal-sahni-institute-of-palaeobotany-bsip-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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