Clubs & Societies

IISER Kolkata has a vibrant ecosystem of student-run clubs and societies that cater to diverse interests — from scientific inquiry and technical innovation to cultural expression, sports, and social service.

These clubs are governed by the Student Affairs Council (SAC) and operate with the support of faculty advisors and the Office of Students' Affairs. Every student is encouraged to explore, join, and lead.

Slash Dot (Coding Club): Slash Dot, the Coding Club, is a hub for programming enthusiasts to learn, practice, and excel in coding. It organizes coding contests, hackathons, and workshops across various domains such as competitive programming, web development, and data science. The club nurtures logical thinking and technical skills, helping students stay at the forefront of technology.

Singularity (Astronomy Club): Singularity, the Astronomy Club, brings together students passionate about the universe and beyond. It conducts sky observation sessions, talks, and discussions on astrophysics and space science. The club aims to spark curiosity about the cosmos and deepen understanding through both theoretical exploration and practical observation.

Literary Club: The Literary Club of IISER Kolkata consists of an intimate group of individuals with diverse ideas and a penchant to discuss them. Our aim is to promote love for language and literature, enhance literary creativity and provide an avenue for self-expression. From book clubs to debates to quizzes, we have it all!

The Quiz Club- Previously quizzing activities used to be part of the Literary club. Considering the good student response and participation in regular quizzing sessions & quizzing activities in and outside of the campus this new club was formed. Besides, looking at the vibrant quizzing culture of Kolkata and our student's interest in going to those quiz sessions in and around Kolkata for great exposure, makes it a club with great potential to go and grow beyond our expectations.

Science Club:We are the one stop shop for the huge array of science and tech related hobbies you may have. Whether you like astronomy, robotics, electronics, HAM radio, coding, fabrication, etc we have you covered. We also organize a lot of fun contests like the classic egg drop contest or the massively fun festival of Bad Ad-Hoc Hypotheses. We would also love to support you with ideas and infrastructure for any projects you wish to build while at IISER, Kolkata. We would love to hear from you, and you will surely hear from us!

Aarshi – The Dramatics Club Aarshi is a bunch of theatre enthusiasts from various parts of the country who were destined to meet in IISER-Kolkata. We conduct drama competitions, workshops and once a week script reading sessions. Every year the biggest Aarshi production is a stage play for the annual drama night. We also perform short plays in celebratory occasions like Teachers’ Day. Aarshi also organizes the mime competition take two in the annual college fest Inquivesta.

Arts Club:The Arts Club of IISER Kolkata is an after-school activity that provides materials, instruction and support for those students who are seeking a creative outlet in addition to their academic schedule in research life. Art room (drawing, painting, computer, ceramics, and photography) are made available to the students. Each year ACIK sponsors various competitions like face-painting, cup painting, flower carpet, graffiti, blackbook, doodle drawing, glass painting, fabric, logo drawing, several online events follows with workshops and the grand art exhibition (ALTER EGO). Club members are able to use all Art room resources to work on their own projects. Guidance and activities are organized around student requests. Club members also enjoy the opportunity to work with their friends on themes and materials of their choice. We welcome student participation whenever they are able to fit it into their activity schedule throughout the year!

Dance Club:"When you dance, you enjoy the luxury of being you".

Paulo Coelho has never spoken truer words. Hence, to emulate the same, we here at Nrutya, the dance club of IISER-K, strive to achieve the blend of excellence and fun through dance. Do you think you've the incredible prowess to shake a leg? Do you think you've the gumption to give your hobby a serious impetus? Do you think you can't match up to crazy professionals and are bitten by the dance bug? Then fear not, Nrutya is the place for you. With a plethora of events scattered across the academic calendar, Nrutya aims to do away with the fatigue and monotonous student life and splash it with dance-fuelled colours! So come on in folks, make yourself at home and give that stage fright a run for its life! Now's the time, grab the limelight! Unearth a whole new world of opportunities at Nrutya.

Movie Club: IISER-K Movie Club focuses on making beautiful and classy films. Also it screens beautiful movies from all over the globe at regular interval for the movie lovers.

Making a movie is not by any means a less feat than a scientific research work. It develops your organising skill, foresightedness, capability of working as a team. Through a movie you can not only channelize emotions and fine arts but also science. Your film can create an acute interest for science in the minds of people not so familiar with the term 'SCIENCE'. So, don't hesitate to join us. Maybe you are the next Christopher Nolan.

Athletics Club:Focus of this club is to encourage students for various types of athletic events year wise and conducting inter-batch tournaments once a year. All the events are conducted in the athletic ground. This ground is located beside the administrative cum academic complex.  We have necessary equipments for practice.

Badminton Club: The aim of this club is to conduct badminton activity year wise in our campus. Currently, two dedicated courts are used on temporal basis in centre of student activity (CSA) building. Coaching sessions are also provided in specific times.

Basketball Club:We have a nice basketball court in sports complex where the students play regularly. We have full illuminations in the ground for playing at night. Currently, we have good stocks of Basketballs for practice and coaching sessions.

Chess Club: We have a dedicated 900 sq.ft. room for chess activity in CSA building where student can go till midnight for playing. We have good quality of chess boards and clocks for all formats.

Cricket Club:We have a spectacular cricket ground with two turf pitches (one grass and one clay) where we use to conduct tournaments year wise as well as we use it for practice . This ground is located at back side of CSA building. We provide bats and balls during practice and coaching sessions.

Football Club:

We have a nice football ground in front of the CSA building. Students use to play football on regular basis and once side of the ground has some illuminations which encourages students playing at night. We provide quality balls during practice and coaching sessions.

GYM Club: We have a multi-gym in CSA building with almost 1800 Sq.ft. Our Gym is equipped with all modern equipments and many more to come. We have separate sessions dedicated for both girls and boys.

Table Tennis Club:We have a dedicated room of 900 sq.ft room in the CSA building for table tennis .We have been equipped with top notch tables (Five) . We provide balls and few bats for playing and during coaching sessions.

Volleyball Club: We have a volleyball court as well as a throw ball court in the sports complex. Full illuminations are there in both of the courts. Currently, we have good stocks of volleyball and throw balls for practice and coaching sessions.

Tennis Club: We have a tennis court near the sports complex (between Nivedita Hall and NSCB Hall). Full illuminations are there in this court as well. We provide balls and few rackets for playing and during coaching sessions.

Self-defence and Yoga club:We are conducting Karate, one of the forms of self-defence twice a week in the karate room in CSA building at 7 pm (Monday & Wednesday). We are also having Yoga sessions in the morning at 6 am in week days in the same room. Both the activities are supervised by professional coaches.

Nature Club:“Nature is not a place to visit, it is home”Bestowed with an alluring scenic beauty, the campus is the right place for nature lovers. Every year,

the nature club organizes a plethora of events, including the eco quiz, nature walk, bird watching,

nature photography contest, trips, plantation drive and much more.All the nature lovers are heartily invited to join our endeavor for a green campus and to relish the

beauty of mother nature.

Photography Club: The mission of the PIXEL-The photography club of IISER Kolkata is to provide a supportive environment for interested photography enthusiasts to share their creativity, knowledge and passion for photography while spending the life at IISER Kolkata. The club will hold regular meetings and discussions and organize events such as; photo-walks, field trips, museum and gallery visits, and lectures and workshops by visiting artists. Members will also explore the possible opportunities for photography projects in collaboration with the other colleges and with the some camera manufacturing companies so that they can meet the Mother Nature and feel the taste of nature apart from this congested and boring city life. We also organize exhibitions to show the works of the students of IISER Kolkata because we respect the art and the artist lying inside you.

Carrom Club: The Carrom Club brings together enthusiasts of this classic indoor game, offering a space to relax, compete, and sharpen strategic thinking. The club organizes friendly matches and tournaments, encouraging both beginners and experienced players to participate and improve their skills.

Gaming Club: The Gaming Club is a vibrant community for students interested in video and e-sports gaming. It provides a platform to explore various games, host competitions, and promote teamwork, creativity, and strategic thinking in a fun and engaging environment.

Kabaddi Club: The Kabaddi Club promotes this traditional Indian sport, focusing on strength, agility, and teamwork. Regular practice sessions and matches help students build physical fitness, discipline, and a competitive spirit while keeping cultural roots alive.

Kho-Kho Club: The Kho-Kho Club encourages participation in one of India’s oldest outdoor games. It emphasizes speed, coordination, and teamwork, providing students with opportunities to engage in regular practice and inter-college competitions.

Lawn Tennis Club: The Lawn Tennis Club offers students the opportunity to learn and play tennis, catering to both beginners and advanced players. The club organizes coaching sessions, practice matches, and tournaments to develop skills, fitness, and sportsmanship.

Rubik Club: The Rubik Club is dedicated to puzzle-solving enthusiasts, especially those interested in Rubik’s Cube and similar brain teasers. It fosters logical thinking, patience, and problem-solving skills through practice sessions, challenges, and competitions.

Academic clubs at IISER Kolkata organize events, workshops, and competitions that extend learning beyond the classroom.

• Science Club: Research talks, journal clubs, and outreach experiments.
• Coding & Robotics Club: Hackathons, competitive programming, and robotics builds.
• Mathematics Society: Seminars, problem-solving sessions, and Olympiad training.
• Literary Society: Creative writing workshops, debates, and the annual literary fest.

Cultural clubs celebrate the diversity of art, music, dance, and theatre on campus. They organize performances, workshops, and the annual cultural festival Riemann.

• Arts
• Music
• Dance
• Drama
• Nature
• Literary
• Photography
• Movie
• Campus Radio
• Quiz
• Slashdot
• Spicmacay
• Singularity (Astro Club)

Sports clubs promote fitness, teamwork, and competitive spirit. The institute has facilities for a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports.

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Carrom
• Chess
• Cricket
• Kabaddi
• Kho-Kho
• Football
• Lawn Tennis
• Table Tennis
• Volleyball
• Trekking Club
• Gaming Club
• Yoga and Self Defense