Indian Council of Medical Research initiated a network of cancer registries across the country under the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) in December 1981. The NCRP is a long term activity of Indian Council of Medical Research since April 1998. The programme is one of the many major activities of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases. The Chief of the Division is the Director of the Programme with a Project Officer who coordinates the activities through the Coordinating Unit. Dr.Usha K. Luthra who was the then chief of the Division and Dr. L. D. Sanghvi who was the first Project Officer were the founder members. The Programme is assisted by a Steering Committee that meets periodically to oversee and guide it's functioning. A review meeting is held annually where the Principal Investigators and staff of the registries, under the NCRP, present data and participate in the discussions.