National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) was a unit of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in India.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) set up a Centre for the study of Science, Technology and Development at its headquarters.

The centre's objectives would be the same, but it would be autonomous, headed by a scientist who would be a director of a National Laboratory and have its own infrastructure.

The name, National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies, came into effect on 1 April 1981.

There is a visiting scholars programme whereby research fellows from India and abroad are hosted at the institute.