NEW DELHI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- India's National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), a premier organization in the field of science communication, is set to have more branches across India and abroad, officials said Friday.

    NCSM has 27 centers in India and one in Mauritius. By 2011, eight new NCSM centers will be set up across the country and the Mauritius government has requested NCSM to extend support for the second phase of expansion of its Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.

    "The Mauritius government's request is being considered, while talks for setting up new centers are on with the governments of Nepal, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia," an NCSM official said.

    "There is also a proposal to set up science learning centers and science centers in South Africa," he added.

    These centers are primarily engaged in popularizing science and technology through a wide range of science activities and interactive programs. These centers have become trendsetters in the field of science communication nationally as well as internationally, the official said.