Recognizing the importance of information technology for pursuing advanced research in modern biology and biotechnology, a bioinformatics programme, envisaged as a distributed database and network organisation, was launched during 1986-87. The programme has become a very successful vehicle for transfer and exchange of information, scientific knowledge, technology packages, and references in the country involving 10-12 thousand scientific personnel. At present, under this programme 168 Bioinformatics Centres were established in various Universities and Research Institutions spread across the country. The network centres are in various levels viz Centres of Excellence (CoEs), Distributed Information Centres (DICs), Distributed Information Sub-Centres (Sub-DICs) and Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facilities (BIFs). The entire network has emerged as a very sophisticated scientific infrastructure for bioinformatics involving state-of-the-art computational and communication facilities. The computer communication network, linking all the bioinformatics centres, is playing a vital role in the success of the bioinformatics programme. Database development, R&D activities in bioinformatics, human resource development and a variety of services in support of biotechnology R&D programmes and projects, has made this programme very popular and useful to the scientific community. More...