Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Established in 1909, the Indian Institute of Science is an open university for higher education and research in science and engineering. The institute was granted university status in 1958. It is also known as Tata Institute. The college has been ranked by many well-known organisations. Initially, the institute began with only two departments, General & Applied Chemistry and Electrical Technology. After two months, a new building of the Department of Organic Chemistry was developed. Over the years, it developed 40 departments offering various courses. The main campus is spread over an area of 400 acres. Also, the institute maintains a campus in Karnataka.