The National Institute of Science Education and Research (or NISER) (Hindi:राष्ट्रीय विज्ञान शिक्षा एवं अनुसंधान संस्थान) is a research institution in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone on August 28, 2006, establishing the institute along the lines of the IISc in Bangalore, and its five sister institutions, the IISERs that are being established at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal and Thiruvanthapuram in India. Unlike the IISERs, which will be governed by India's Ministry of Human Resources Development, NISER operates under the umbrella of the Indian Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The government of India has earmarked an initial outlay of Rs. 823.19 crores (INR 8.23 billion) during the first seven years of this project, starting from September 2007. The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has stated that NISER will compare with the best institutions in the country in terms of facilities and faculty. This move will help elevate the standard of research and education in Orissa. The National Institute of Science Education and Research is dedicated to graduate education and research only. It offers a five-year integrated M.Sc.