About Us

India's national professional body for illumination engineering — advancing knowledge, standards, and professional development since 1984.

ISLE - Indian Society of Lighting Engineers

AGM Annual Meeting 2026–27

About ISLE

Advancing the Science of Illumination

The Indian Society of Lighting Engineers (ISLE) was established to promote the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of lighting science, technology, and engineering in India. From the very inception of the lighting industry in the country, there was a recognized need for a dedicated professional body to foster education, research, standardisation, and the exchange of technical expertise.

In May 1983, encouraged by Prof. M. G. K. Menon, Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Mr. Maheshwar Dayal, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, a core group of distinguished lighting professionals initiated efforts to establish such an organisation. ISLE was formally conceived on 3 May 1983 at Bombay and officially came into existence on 19 November 1984.

Today ISLE serves as India's premier professional organisation for lighting — with a national network of State and Local Centres, approximately 22 Student Chapters and more than 1,000 student members, and active contributions to education, standardisation, and international collaboration.

ISLE Prayer

O' Light !

Thou Art The Bramha

The Creator of The Universe

The Lord Almighty

Thou Art the indestructible Master of Energies

So, I install Thee

Bestow Peace on me

O' Light !

Do good to all

Provide everyone with happiness, health and wealth

Let the enmity vanish

O' Light !

We salute Thee

To overcome the darkness of ignorance

To achieve knowledge and wisdom

For the well-being of the Universe

We pray Thee

O' Light !

ISLE delegates at Light India International 2008 — Light India International (Lii) 2008 — International Lighting Exhibition and Conference

Global Presence

International Exposure

ISLE has played a pioneering role in placing India on the global lighting map. After becoming a member of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1987, the Society organised its first International Conference and Exhibition, PRAKASH 1991, attracting over 1,100 delegates from India and overseas.

This paved the way for India to host the CIE Session in 1995, Lux Pacifica Conferences in Delhi (2002) and Kolkata (2015), and Light India International (Lii) Conferences in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. ISLE signed MoUs with IESNA (USA) – 1995, ILE (UK) – 2000 and IESANZ (Australia and New Zealand) – 2002, and joined the Lux Pacifica network in 2000.

ISLE international collaboration — MoU signing — ISLE international partnerships and MoU signings with global lighting bodies

Education

Lighting Education & Student Chapters

Education has always been one of ISLE's principal objectives. The Society helped establish specialised lighting courses at Jadavpur University and MIT Manipal, and conducted programmes with the Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) and The University of Sydney (Australia).

In August 2007, under the guidance of Dr. Prakash Barjatia and MIT MAEER Pune, India's first industry-oriented Postgraduate Programme in Lighting Technology and Management was launched at the MIT Lighting Research Academy (MITLRA). The programme was inaugurated by Rajesh Kochhar of Wipro Lighting, developed with ELCOMA, and welcomed a first batch of 60 students — following a national workshop on Vision for Lighting Technology organised by ISLE and MIT. Read press coverage from 2007.

During COVID-19, ISLE launched its first e-Certificate Course in Basics of Lighting & Illumination (2020), with a Lighting Design e-Course continuing today.

The first Student Chapter was established in 2006 at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University College of Engineering, Pune. The initiative has since grown to about 22 Student Chapters and more than 1,000 student members nationwide.

Education & Training Reports: View all reports · Q1 2026 · 2024–25 · PRAKASH 2024 · 2022–23

Standards

Standardisation & National Contribution

Standardisation has been a cornerstone of ISLE's mission since its inception. Society members have actively contributed to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) committees developing national lighting standards.

One of ISLE's landmark achievements was its instrumental contribution to the drafting of the National Lighting Code in 2010, followed by a comprehensive revision completed in 2025 to reflect technological developments and evolving industry practices.

Our Journey

History

Four decades of advancing lighting science, standards, and professional excellence across India.

1983

ISLE Conceived

Formally conceived on 3 May 1983 at Bombay with support from Prof. M. G. K. Menon and leading lighting professionals.

1984

ISLE Founded

Indian Society of Lighting Engineers officially came into existence on 19 November 1984.

1987

CIE Membership & First Centres

Joined CIE and established the first State Centre at Calcutta; first Light Show held in Mumbai.

1991

PRAKASH 1991

First International Conference and Exhibition — over 1,100 delegates from India and overseas.

1995

CIE Session in India

India hosted the prestigious CIE Session; MoU signed with IESNA (USA).

2002

Lux Pacifica Delhi

Hosted Lux Pacifica and Light India International conferences in New Delhi.

2006

Student Chapters Begin

First Student Chapter at Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Pune — now ~22 chapters with 1000+ students.

2007

PG Lighting Programme

MIT Lighting Research Academy (MITLRA), Pune launched India's first industry-oriented PG Programme in Lighting Technology & Management — inaugurated by Rajesh Kochhar (Wipro Lighting), developed with ELCOMA, with a first batch of 60 students. ISLE contributed through the Vision for Lighting Technology workshop.

2010

National Lighting Code

ISLE contributed to drafting India's National Lighting Code.

2020

e-Certificate Courses

First e-Certificate Course in Basics of Lighting & Illumination launched during COVID-19.

2025

NLC Revision & Nagpur Centre

National Lighting Code revised; Nagpur Local Centre inaugurated with new Student Chapters.

2026

Student Chapter Expansion

New chapters at FCRIT Vashi, Sapthagiri NPS Bengaluru, BVCA Pune, and St. Vincent Pallotti Nagpur.

2007 MIT PG Lighting Programme — Press Coverage

Annual Report 2025–26

Governing Body

Office-bearers and members leading ISLE's national initiatives in education, standards, membership, and industry collaboration.

Harsha Joshi

President | Director, Conference & Exhibition

Harsha Joshi is an accomplished entrepreneur and industry leader with over 50 years of experience in lighting, safety, and technology. He is the Chairman & CEO of Prolite Autoglo Limited, President of the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers (ISLE), and President of the Drone Tech Excellence Association (DTEA). He is also the Founder of Save Darkness Organization, India's first NGO dedicated to combating light pollution. As President, he is committed to fostering technological advancement, strengthening industry partnerships, and creating opportunities that drive the growth of the organization and its members.

Dr. S.M. Ali

Hon. General Secretary | Director, Communication

Honorary General Secretary of ISLE and Director of the Communication Committee, responsible for Society-wide communication with Governing Body members, State and Local Centres, academic institutions, and stakeholders.

Mr. R. Balasubramanian

Hon. Treasurer

Honorary Treasurer of the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers (ISLE), overseeing the Society's financial stewardship as a member of the Governing Body.

Mr. R.S. Saxena

Immediate Past President

Immediate Past President of ISLE and Governing Body member associated with the Rajasthan State Centre, continuing to guide the Society's national initiatives.

Dilip Kumbhat

Special Invitee | Director, Publication & Publicity

Former President and founder member of ISLE. A Mechanical Engineer and industrialist, he leads as CEO of a group of companies including K-Lite Industries Private Limited, manufacturing luminaires and poles for more than five decades.

Dr. Prakash Barjatia

GB Member | Director, Education & Training

Fellow (Life) Member since 1991 and Director of Education & Training. He pioneered Student Chapters from 2006 — today about 22 chapters with 1000+ students — and as Professor Emeritus at MITWPU, Pune, played a vital role in launching India's first industry-oriented PG Programme in Lighting Technology & Management (2007). Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from MP State Centre (2019) and Pune Centre for PRAKASH 2024.

Mr. Vinay Babar

GB Member | Director, Membership

Governing Body member and Director of the Membership Committee, guiding national membership growth across Institutional, Fellow, Member, Associate, and Student categories.

Mr. Harabandhu Mukherjee

Governing Body Member

Governing Body member associated with the Calcutta State Centre.

Mr. B.M. Bhatia

Governing Body Member

Governing Body member associated with the Delhi State Centre.

Mr. Bipin Dattani

Governing Body Member

Governing Body member associated with the Calcutta State Centre.

Amit Kakkar

Chairman, Rajasthan State Center | Director, Standardisation

Chairman of ISLE Rajasthan State Centre and Director of Standardisation. Chief Engineer (Electrical), PWD, with MBA (NMIMS), M.Tech Energy (IIT Delhi), and BE Electrical (MNIT Jaipur). A BEE Energy Auditor and active contributor to BIS lighting committees.

Mr. Kamal Sethia

Chairman, Calcutta State Center | Director, Finance

Chairman of ISLE Calcutta State Centre and Director of the Finance Committee. The Centre conducts e-certificate courses on lighting design and technical programmes including Luminescence.

Sudhir Patil

Chairman, Mumbai State Centre

Chairman of ISLE Mumbai State Centre. Founder & Managing Director of Leap Info Systems Pvt. Ltd., developer of indigenous lighting control solutions such as elitedali and elitedim2. Promotes Make in India lighting controls using AI, IoT, and automation.

Anil D. Pundalik

Chairman, Madhya Pradesh State Centre

Chairman of ISLE Madhya Pradesh State Centre. Graduate in Electrical Engineering (1986) and M.Tech in Energy Management (2013). Retired as Outstanding Scientist from the Department of Atomic Energy after work on major national infrastructure and radiation facilities.

Mr. R. Nagarajan

Chairman, Chennai State Centre

Chairman of ISLE Chennai State Centre, leading technical programmes, industrial visits, and seminars for engineering and architecture students across Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Arshi Krishnachar

Chairman, Karnataka State Centre

Chairman of ISLE Karnataka State Centre, advancing student chapters and academic collaboration with engineering institutions across Karnataka.

Mr. Vimal Kumar

Chairman, Delhi State Centre

Chairman of ISLE Delhi State Centre, guiding technical sessions, stakeholder consultations, and engagement with organisations such as ISHRAE, EESL, CPWD, and BIS.

Mr. Akhilesh Kumar Jain

Co-opted Member

Co-opted member of the ISLE Governing Body, associated with the Rajasthan State Centre.

Mr. Sudhir Kumar Tomar

Co-opted Member

Co-opted member of the ISLE Governing Body.

National Network

Centers

ISLE's state centres, local centres, and student chapters connect lighting professionals across India.

State Centers

Delhi Centre

New Delhi, Delhi

Mr. Vimal Kumar (Chairman)

Chennai Centre

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Mr. R. Nagarajan (Chairman)

Mumbai Centre

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mr. Sudhir Patil (Chairman)

Karnataka Centre

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Mr. Arshi Krishnachar (Chairman)

Kolkata Centre

Kolkata, West Bengal

Mr. Kamal Sethia (Chairman)

Madhya Pradesh Centre

Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Mr. Anil D. Pundalik (Chairman)

Rajasthan Centre

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Mr. Amit Kakkar (Chairman)

Local Centers

Pune Centre

Pune, Maharashtra

Mr. Parag Shirole (Chairman)

Nagpur Centre

Nagpur, Maharashtra

Dr. Anil Onkar (Chairman)

Hyderabad Centre

Hyderabad, Telangana

Mr. Venkatraju (Chairman)

Bhubaneshwar Centre

Bhubaneshwar, Odisha