Dear Friends & Colleagues in Psychiatry and Mental Health,

It is our distinct privilege and honour to extend a very warm invitation to everyone interested in the professional fields of Psychiatry and Mental Health, to the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society(IPS) in 2026 at Delhi, referred to as, ANCIPS 2026 Delhi. We extend this invitation on behalf of the Organizing Committee( Reception Committee) for this much anticipated event, also on behalf of the partner organization the Delhi Psychiatric Society(DPS). The Organizing Committee, and the DPS are supported in this endeavour by the Indian Psychiatric Society-North Zone. Due gratitude is sincerely expressed to the Indian Psychiatric Society(IPS), for accepting our invitation to hold this annual mega gathering at Delhi.

The occurrence of this annual scientific meeting of IPS at Delhi seems to have a regular cycle, the previous occasions having been in 1978, 1992 & 2011; and now. Delhi has not only been the national capital in political and administrative context for more than a Century now, but has also emerged as one of the most vibrant convention destination in the past few decades. In addition to elaborate infrastructure, it also provides rich heritage for those interested, as well as opportunity for active academic discourse, across disciplines. The long term history of this city, now a burgeoning megapolis, claims to have been rebuilt after being destroyed, at least seven times. In post Independence India, Delhi has played a key role in almost all facets of Society, including Health and human services. The history of Psychiatry as a scientific discipline and humanitarian service for one of the most marginalized populations, is multifarious and accelerating at a pace that would have seemed unlikely a few decades ago.

The growth and development of Psychiatry and mental health services across dierent sectors in Delhi has often synchronized with the trends in the country, often leading from the front. The Organizing Committee for ANCIPS 2026 Delhi is reflective of this intersectionality and the collective eort of the Team Delhi Psychiatry is to provide to the Delegates a rich tapestry of academic and scientific opportunities, along with a broad range of social and cultural experiences for the delegates and their families. The Organizing Committee is determined to make this event a memorable professional convention as well as an unforgettable get together. A sincere plea from all of us here at Delhi, and indeed the National Capital Region( NCR), is to reciprocate the same fervent desire, and spread a good word across the country and across the Globe for Psychiatrists, other mental health professionals as well as mental health advocates and activists to join and add to the professional and social depth & breadth.

Each one of us in the Organizing Committee, is eager to assist and facilitate everyone who is desirous of being here from 28th to 31st January, 2026 for ANCIPS 2026. Feel free to reach out to anyone of us in this regard, and all of us are looking forward to welcoming you here for a life time experience, thus contributing to larger goal of better mental health of human Society.

Eagarly waiting to see you soon.

DR. J M WADHAWAN

Hon. Treasurer

DR. DEEPAK RAHEJA

Organising Secretary

DR. NIMESH G. DESAI

Chairperson, Org Committee

The Indian Psychiatric Society, the national organization of psychiatrists in India, was founded on 7th January 1947 during the Indian Science Congress meeting held in New Delhi.

The organization holds its origins in 1929 when Col Berkley Hill founded The Indian Association of Mental Hygiene affiliated to the National Council for Mental Hygiene in Great Britain which ceased to function after a few years. Later the Indian division of the Royal Medico Psychological Association (RMPA) was formed in 1939 at the initiative of Dr. Banarasi Das.The PMPA continued to function till 1947.

In a meeting on the 7th of January, at the Indian Science Congress, attended by 13 IPS members, the decision to form the Indian Psychiatric Society and to dissolve the Indian division of the RMPS was taken. Members present at the 34th ISC, Delhi, 1947: Major R.B. Davis, Dr. N.N. De, Lt. Col. J.E. Dhunjibhoy, Dr. A.S. Johnson, Dr. S.A. Hasib, Dr. R.S. Lal, Lt. Col. R.M. Lloyd Still, Prof. H.P. Maiti, Dr. C. Kenton, Lt. Col. R.J. Rosie, Major M.H. Shah, Lt. Col. E.T.N. Taylor & Dr. D.J. Walterson.

Dr. M.V. Govindaswamy & Dr. K.R. Masani although not personally present at the congress, additionally endorsed the decision. Lt. Col. J.E. Dhunjibhoy, the first superintendent of Ranchi Indian Mental Hospital, was elected President of the Society at the conference. Dr. Dhunjibhoy, however was temporary posted to the Bengal province and in 1947, just before independence, he was called back to the Bombay province and was posted to Karachi, Pakistan. After independence he settled in Karachi and later resigned as a Fellow of the IPS in 1950. Dr. Robert Brockelesby Davis, the then Medical Superintendent to European Mental Hospital in Ranchi, was the first secretary and treasurer of the association. Dr RB Davis continued to hold both the posts for the next eight years till 1954. In 1955, he left the European Mental Hospital and established the Kishore Nursing Home named after his friend Maharaj Kumar Raj Kishore Shahdeo, which eventually became the Davis Institute of Neuropsychiatry.

Delhi Psychiatric Society is a registered society of Mental Health Professionals mostly Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologists and Counselors from Delhi and neighboring towns. The Society has been actively involved for the promotion, advancement and research in the field of psychiatry, community welfare and awareness activities, safeguarding the interests of mental health professionals and enhancing ethical and moral standards in the practice of psychiatry.

The aims and objectives of this society are:
1) To promote and advance the knowledge of psychiatry and allied sciences and to encourage research in the field of psychiatry and mental health.
2) To bring about an improvement in the mental health of the people and to prevent, to control, to treat and to relieve the populace from different psychiatric disabilities.
3) To promote national and international collaboration of professionals and other bodies related to psychiatry.
4) To make knowledge and practice of psychiatry available to the professions and public through scientific meetings and publications.
5) To safeguard the interests of psychiatrists and fellow professionals of Delhi.
6) To enhance ethical and moral standards in the practice of psychiatry.
7) To advice the Government and other bodies on various aspects of psychiatry and mental health such as legislation, administration, education and research.
Each year a council of executive members elects a committee to carry on the roles and responsibilities as mentioned above.
Dr. Paramjeet Singh, Consultant Psychiatrist , Delhi Mind Clinic was elected as an executive council member for the year 2021 – 2022 at the annual conference held on 25th December at Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi. Dr. Paramjeet is grateful and proud to associate with the Delhi Psychiatric Society.