The National Physical Laboratory is one of the earliest national laboratories set up under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. Late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of NPL on the 4th January 1947. Late Dr. K. S. Krishnan, FRS, was the first Director of the laboratory. The main building of the laboratory was formally opened by the Late Deputy Prime Minister. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. on the 21st January 1950. The Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Laboratory is inaugurated by Prime Minister, Shri Narendera Modi, on 26th September 2016.