The 1st Regular Conference of PANE was successfully held at IIT Guwahati on 17th October 1998, marking a historic beginning in the collaborative efforts to promote and strengthen physics research and education in the North-Eastern region of India.

This inaugural event witnessed the coming together of physicists, academicians, and scholars from various institutions across the region. The primary aim of the conference was to create a unified platform for researchers to share their findings, exchange ideas, and identify key areas for collaborative academic initiatives in physics. The conference laid the foundation for a sustained series of scientific interactions in the North-East and formalised the vision of PANE as a regional body committed to the advancement of physics. It also focused on identifying the challenges faced by physics departments in the region and set the tone for future strategies aimed at addressing these concerns through collective dialogue and cooperation.

The enthusiastic participation and the spirit of academic camaraderie exhibited during the conference not only ensured its success but also set a strong precedent for the biennial conferences and workshops that followed.

The 1st PANE Conference remains a significant milestone in the journey of the Academy, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among the scientific community of the North-East.