Pediatric Rheumatology, as a recognised subspecialty, is less than seven decades old globally, and in India, its formal organised history is even more recent. For many years, children with arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, and other rheumatologic conditions in India were managed by adult rheumatologists or general paediatricians — often without access to specialists, and frequently after long delays and misdirected referrals. Paradoxically, 80% of the world's pediatric rheumatologists care for 20% of the world's children, a reality that made India's situation particularly challenging.
The turning point came at the close of the 20th century, when a small but passionate group of clinicians began to lay the foundations of organised pediatric rheumatology in India. In 2001, Dr. Sujata Sawhney established the first Department of Paediatric Rheumatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, a landmark moment that signalled the emergence of the discipline. That same year, the Rheumatology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics was formed.
The Pediatric Rheumatology Society, originally established as the Rheumatology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, was founded under the guidance of Dr. Raju Khubchandani in 2003. What began with just a few members has now grown into a robust community of nearly 300 members.
Dr. Khubchandani is the founder-convenor of the Rheumatology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. An alumnus of TN Medical College, Mumbai, he is credited with organising the first official National Conference of Pediatric Rheumatology (NCPR) in Mumbai in 2003, serving as both the founder and the Organising Secretary. This event set the template for what would become an annual gathering of pediatric rheumatologists and interested paediatricians across India.
Since hosting its first national conference in 2003 in Mumbai, Pediatric Rheumatology in India has taken great strides.
The annual NCPR quickly became the defining event on the pediatric rheumatology calendar in India. Each year, the conference travelled to a new city, carried by a new organising team, yet unified by a shared mission — to raise awareness, educate practising paediatricians, and foster research. The early conference record, as documented on the official website of the Pediatric Rheumatology Society of India, is as follows:
These early years were formative. The conferences brought together the small but growing community of specialists, introduced the broader pediatric audience to diagnostic and management principles, and slowly built an institutional identity for the Society. Even at this stage, the NCPR attracted international faculty, reinforcing its aspiration to be a truly world-class academic event.
Through the 2010s, the NCPR matured considerably. The conferences grew in size, the scientific content deepened, and the fellowship of Indian pediatric rheumatologists expanded. The record of conferences during this period is as follows:
This period witnessed several significant milestones. In 2014, Prof. Surjit Singh introduced the DM in Paediatric Rheumatology at PGI Chandigarh, marking the establishment of India’s first formal postgraduate training program in the subspecialty. The Society also initiated key educational programs, including Reach And Teach (2008), ReCAP 1 (2012), and ReCAP 2 (2016), to advance pediatric rheumatology training.
The Society reconvened in-person [after COVID] with the 20th NCPR in December 2022 in Bengaluru — a milestone edition marking two decades of the conference. NCPR2022 was back in Bangalore after a 6-year gap, with many experts from around the world attending to enrich the meeting with their knowledge and experience. Dr Anand P. Rao chaired the organising committee with Dr. Sagar Bhattad as Organising Secretary. The 21st NCPR in 2023 was held in the scenic surroundings of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The 22nd NCPR in 2024 was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, at IMS and SUM Hospital. Around 300 delegates from across the country attended the three-day conference to raise awareness of rheumatological and immunological issues in children. As many as 150 students presented their research papers in pediatric rheumatology and immunology during the conference. The conference also featured renowned international faculty, including Dr. Dirk Foell from Germany. The 23rd NCPR in 2025 was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. In line with the theme "Basics and Beyond", the conference featured a host of international and national experts who enlightened delegates on emerging trends in managing children with rheumatological illnesses.
From a small interest group convened by Dr. Raju Khubchandani in 2001, through the formal birth of the Pediatric Rheumatology Chapter of IAP in 2001, through 23 annual conferences spanning every corner of India, the NCPR has been the heartbeat of pediatric rheumatology in this country. It has weathered a pandemic, embraced virtual platforms, championed education and training, and year after year, reminded the broader pediatric community that rheumatological diseases in children are real, diagnosable, and treatable. India can contribute to the field of pediatric rheumatology through its sheer numbers and its English-speaking medical community, offering an excellent opportunity for collaborative research and teaching. The NCPR has, for over two decades, been the principal platform for realising that potential.
The 24th National Conference of Pediatric Rheumatology (NCPR 2026) is now set to be hosted at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore — one of India's most storied and respected medical institutions. CMC Vellore, with its long tradition of clinical excellence and academic rigour, provides a fitting venue for the conference as it enters its third decade.