Before arrival 

•  Print out ERNet form (for IISc e-mail). Fill it up and FAX beforehand. The department should be able to help you with this. You can do this, even after arrival here.
• Fill up the documents (including declaring dependents availing medical insurance) sent by the Registrar before the arrival and send it along with your acceptance letter to the director. If you want to avail institute accommodation, in the same acceptance letter request director to provide institute accommodation. It is a good idea to send a copy of these documents to the Chairman of the department as well to include this in your department file.
  
• Prepare a proposal for a start-up grant. This is to let the Director help you set up your lab. Identify a list of projects you plan to work on (for say 3 years). Identify equipment you will need (computers, printers, copiers, scanners, special equipment, a/c requirements, telephones, answering machines, shredders, furnitures: tables, chairs, filing cabinets, book shelves, window meshes, white boards, specialized software, specialized hardware, everything you can think of). Ask the department for the set of rates as per rate contract with approved vendor. They publish contracted rates of standard equipment. Try to send this to the Chairman of the department before you arrive, if you have your plans clear in your mind.

After arrival 

• Complete medical check-up prior to date of joining. Go to health centre with appointment letter. Drink plenty of water before going because a urine test will be done. It's a full physical, so be prepared to bare all.
• Remember to get an official "rubber stamp" saying "Fit" on your appointment letter. CMO at the health center will send official certificate directly to the Deputy Registrar.
• Have plenty of passport size photographs (at least 15) and a few stamp-sized ones (10). You will need them for health center (2), banks (3/bank), institute ID (2), library (1), cell phone purchase (1/phone). You can get your photos at G.K.Vale - Malleshwaram, on Margosa Rd, just south of 15th Cross St. 
• Have photocopies of 10th standard pass certificate with your date birth, and copies of all original degrees and translations in case your university writes degrees in Greek or Latin or any language other than English. (Princeton issues degrees in Latin, it's fun to read and translate).
• Have all originals (of the aforementioned documents) on the day you report to the department and Deputy Registrar's (Unit IA) office, for perusal and return by Deputy Registrar's office staff.

First few days 

• Report to the department on the day of reporting to duty.
• If you are already in town, consider reporting to duty right away. Your seniority is determined based on how long you have been at the institute.
• Have a joining report ready (Just state that with reference to the offer letter, you are happy to report to duty on the forenoon/afternoon of such and such a day). Adrees this letter to the registrar, IISc and forwarded through the chairman of the department.
  
• Get the Chairman's signature, and hike to the main building (near PRO office) and show the documents, give photocopies, photographs, finger prints. Remember to take back all your originals. 
• Remember the guideline that any offical letter (either to registrar/director/associate director/divisional chairman) needs to be forwarded through the chairman. 
  
• As you do all this, get a letter from the Chairman of your department confirming that you have joined the department on such-and-such day. This can serve as official proof of office address until the more official one arrives from the Deputy Registrar's office (which will take a few days).  
• If you already have an apartment allotted, make lots of photocopies of the allotment letter. It can serve as address proof.
• Fill up bank account form, get Chairman's signature (introduction area of form), take all documents (letter from chairman, proof of residence, or of temporary residence, PAN card copy, passport copy of name and address pages, witness signature from a witness who sees you choose a nominee and sign), and hike to the bank of your choice (Canara / SBI) to open the account. Remember to take a copy of your joining letter (with Chairman's counter signature).  This will serve as office address proof for the bank authorities. Bank will issue a checkbook and ATM card immediately after the account is opened and you can go next day to get passbook (remember to take a passport size photograph for this).
  
• If your quarters have not been allotted and staying in the IISc guest house, for opening a Bank account (as well as post-paid mobile connections) requires a residential address proof, so get a letter from Chairman stating that you are residing at the IISc guest house, Bangalore -560 012 with an official seal. You need to submit the original letter as a proof, so try to get atleast 3 original letters that will serve as residential address proof.
• If you wish to get a locker, talk to the bank manager to see if they are available and apply for one.
• Don't forget to apply for an online user account for viewing bank statements and make use of a wealth of services online. The user id and password will be given to you the same day. Access is enabled in 3 working days. The bank will monitor your account for a month before they can issue this, so please check with bank officials about it.
  
• Apply for a credit card at the bank. Just talk to the manager and request him to send the credit card agent to your office if he is not around that day.
• Write a letter to the financial controller informing him/her of your bank account number for future deposits of reimbursements, salary, etc.
• A few days later, you will receive a letter from the Deputy Registrar, that you have joined the institute. (Same as the one the chairman gives, but a more official one). Take multiple photo-copies of this letter.
•  If you need access to the swimming pool, go to the Gymkhana with photographs, pay a fee, and get a special pool access card.
• Apply for a smart card. This serves both as your ID and library card. As you visit Unit-IA (Registrar's office) to get your educational diplomas verified, they will also help you getting the application for smart card filled up. Please submit 2 recent passport size photographs for this purpose.
• Once you get your smart card (ID), please visit the library during office hours (9:30AM-4:30PM) to activate your card for borrowing books/journals.
  
• Getting a smart card might take a month, in the mean time get a temporary ID by visiting security office right next to SBI, Canara bank ATMs. Please take 2 recent passport size photographs, your joining report, and offer letter to the security office and ask them to give a temporary ID for a month. They will be able to give you the id within 5 minutes (if not, you can collect it inext day).  
• Request an ID card for your spouse as well. This will allow your spouse free entry into the campus. Submit your spouse's two passport size photographs, and provide details (name, address, date of birth, etc.) at the security office. You can collect the ID card the next day. This card is issued free of charge.
• Consider becoming a member of the Faculty Association. There is a nominal life member fee (Rs. 410). For more information, go to Faculty Association website .
• Register at the Institute Administration and Management System . Some of your details will be listed here which you can verify. Click on "New User" and give your information. You should get an email from someone with login details. If you don't get it within two or three days, send an email to iams@finance.admin.iisc.ernet.in. Person to contact is Mr. Kannan (unit-IB), Phone no: 2293 2916.
  
• Whenever you avail some benefit (LTC, travel to home town, loan), or update information (say income tax declaration), check this web-site one week later to see if the information is up to date.
• If you are housed in Vijnanapura Campus ground floor, it appears (by my crude estimates) that there is a 10% chance that you will suffer from flooding in any given year. The last house-flooding was on 25 October 2005; water rose to approximately 2 feet inside ground floor apartments in the north wing. Keep your essentials in the upper shelves, and buy house holder's insurance. The last mini-flooding when water entered into a few cars placed near the vents on North Street was on the night of 19 June 2006. Water did not enter the apartments.
• Information on insurance agents to follow.
• Go to the Cash Section and talk to the accounts officer about Contributory Provident Fund. There is a statutory contribution of 10% of your Basic Pay + Dearness Pay (BP + DP). The institute will match this. You can contribute up to 100% of your BP + DP if you wish. During the first year probationary period, you can contribute, but it will not accrue interest. During the second year, your first year's statutory contribution will be deducted in 8 monthly installments, in addition to the statutory (plus optional extra) contribution that you will make to the fund.
• If you are interested in taking new life insurance policy, the contact person is: Mr. Guruprasad (LIC agent, phone no: 9448060209). To take a postal life insurance (PLI), go to the science institute post office (opposite to the IISc main gate) and ask the person at the counter to send a PLI agent to your office. Please leave your contact number with them.
  
• You can visit the salary section (opposite to Main Library) for getting tax exemptions for the savings (on life insurance premiums/housing loans). You need to fill up a standard form and provide copies of the receipts of premium/loan payments. It is also a good idea to write letter to the officer in charge, salary section, clearly indicating the insurance policy numbers along with premium payments made for a year. 
• Reimbursement of relocation expenses: If you have come from abroad, the procedure for the reimbursement of relocation expenses may take 2-3 months. Initially you need to write a letter to the registrar, council section through the chairman requesting for reimbursement of your relocation expenses. Then the council section will send you a letter with the agreement text, which you need to print on a Rs. 20/- stamp paper (the minimum value of stamp paper available is Rs. 20/-, even though the letter says Rs. 10/- stamp paper) , and sign on it. The word file can be downloaded from here, please make the appropriate changes and print it on the stamp paper. Please note that the stamp paper have to be issued under your name. Please send the agreement along with the cover letter to the Registrar through the Chairman of your department. You need to send all the receipts and itemized list to financial controller, accounts section  (unit-V) through the chairman for reimbursement along with a cover letter (I used the letter date's exchange rate for converting U.S. $ to Indian Rs.).
  
•  How do I get a stamp paper? It is sold by State Bank of Mysore only. The nearest branch is is in Mathikere  (it is like 1 block before the BMTC Mathikere bus stop, right opposite to Mathikere 1st cross, Phone no: 23470808).  Please call them up before you go down to make sure that they have a stock of stamp paper. The next closest branch, it is available is Malleswaram (address: 2ND CROSS SAMPIGE ROAD, MALLESWARAM, Phone No: 23462794). The stamp paper is sold in a separate counter behind the bank (Timings: 9:30AM-1:30PM), so invariably the stamp paper is available at this branch. You have to pay Rs. 5/- as a commission for Rs. 20/- stamp paper.  This might take long time, as there is always a big line for stamp paper. The best time to go is early in the morning.

Getting settled

• The first few pages of BSNL telephone directory have a wealth of information on Bangalore, public utilities, government. Keep it handy. Borrow one from the department office until you get your telephone connection and therefore your own directory copy.
• Also visit Bangalore online's information on local and Karnataka government.
• LPG: If you are in Vijnanapura, Veeresh Gas Agency is an Indane gas supplier at Sanjay Nagar. (Number to come soon). Earlier, an address proof was sufficient to get a gas connection account. Nowadays you need a ration card. While you are there, write a letter requesting a second cylinder. If you do not have a ration card, it will be difficult to get such a connection. You can alternatively request for a private agency's gas connection. It costs twice as much, but the connection is given the very same day. Jyothi gas agency, Vidhyaranyapura (north of Ring Road, north of the main and Vijnanapura campuses). Telephone: 28386739, 98455-15980.
• Furniture vendors: Dreamscape, Malleswaram, Margosa Road and 17th Cross (Ph. No: 2356 4766).  Another place is Godrej Lifespace, 7/113 Dr. Rajkumar Road, 1st Main, 1st block, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore - 10 (Contact person: Mohammad, Tel. No: 9972417569).
  
• For house-hold supplies - check out Unilet Appliances Private Limited in Sanjaynagar near IISc Vijnanapura Campus, Telephone 2295 6123/24 or Girias at intersection of Chowdaiah Road (Sankey Tank Road) and Bellary Road, Sadashivnagar, Telephone: 4264 666. 
• BSNL telephone and DSL connection: Call James (2004) at the Telecom office (housed in a small room beside the Tata library) to apply for a telephone and/or a DSL connection. He will help you fill up the form, and will forward it to the appropriate office (RT Nagar if you live in Vijnanapura, Malleswaram if you live in the main campus). Alternatively, you can do it yourself. If you are in Vijnanapura, you will have to go to the R.T. Nagar / Ganga Nagar BSNL office to request a telephone as well as a cell-one connection. It is located near Bellary Road and CBI Road junction, on 325, Bellary Road, Telephone: 2333 4720. Remember to get wireless LAN enabled modem for your DSL connection.
• Mobile phone: GSM phones - BSNL has reasonably good coverage, except in the ECE department! If you want a BSNL phone connection, go to the service centre at Malleswaram on Margosa Road / 15th Cross, 2334 0560, and request a connection. After paying a deposit (which varies if you want an STD or an ISD capability) you will be given a SIM card. Make sure you take photographs and address proof with you. Also ask how to activate your voice mail (it is free). Then purchase a GSM/GPRS phone from any vendor, and you are all set. If you want a Reliance phone, walk into a Reliance phone shop - on BEL Road near Ramaiah College, or on Sampige Road near 15th Cross. Have a photograph and address proof handy. Airtel - BEL Road near City Supermarket.
• If you don't have a PAN card, apply for one. The website Income Tax India answers a lot of questions. There is a section on how to apply for it on the web. You can apply via internet, apply for a DD on the internet and have it mailed to you (or just hike to SBI to pick it up if SBI is your bank), mail the DD along with a few supporting documents, and get your PAN card in about 2-3 weeks. You will need to give this number on purchases of cars, furniture, etc.
• Ration card: You will need this for a voter identification card or for getting a gas connection. Write to Deputy Director, Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, North Range, 2, 11th C Cross, Behind Cancer Society, Vyalikaval, Bangalore 560003. Telephone: 2344 5702. To reach here go to Vyalikaval Police Station (From CNR Rao Circle, go on Sankey Road, take right at Bhashyam Circle, take right opposite Vyalikaval Police Station, take right on 11th C Cross). I did not have a prior ration card, and my name was deleted from my parents' card long back. I wrote a letter indicating this and requested a card saying that it was necessary for getting a gas connection and voter identification card.
• Foreigner Registration: If you child/children are foreign nationals, and you are wondering if they need to be registered at the Foreigner Registration Office in Bangalore, go here for more information provided by Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. If you do need to register, you will have to go to the Commissioner of Police's office in Infantry Road. It is best to there by an autorickshaw due to parking restrictions. Note that you will have to provide a financial guarantee affidavit on a document sheet with franking of Rs. 20/- denomination and get it attested by a notary. The documents needed may vary depending on the age of your child/children. Visit the office once and get the relevant information.
• Voter Identification: Yet to come.
• Aquaguard: Yet to come. Boil water anyway. Aquaguard gives no guarantee against viruses. Warning: the aquaguard may require that the water tank be at least a certain height above the aquaguard. If you are in the top-floor, this may be an issue. Check with the vendor.
• Cable connection: If you are in Vijnanapura, Starline Cable. It's located on New BEL Road on the West side of the road, above Safa Garments, and near Gurukripa Clinic. Proprietor: R.R.Reddy, 9342672015, 9AM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 8 PM.
• Milk and newspaper: Talk to your neighbour in Vijnanapura. A person called Lingaraj comes to deliver milk and newspaper every day.
• Nearby clinics: If you are in the main campus, the Health Centre. If you are in Vijnanapura, and need urgent care, Ramaiah Hospital is a good place. If your child needs to go to a child specialist, there's Dr. Naveen Kini (Gurukripa Clinic) on New BEL Road (20 m North of ISRO Road / New BEL Road junction, on the West side, above Safa garments and near Starline). He also consults at Ramaiah Hospital. There's also Dr. Vasanth Kamath near Girias at the junction of Sankey Road and Bellary Road.
• Pharmacy: There's plenty on New BEL Road. Ramaiah Hospital runs one that is open late at nights.
• Purchasing a car: Maruti - RNS motors on Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthapur. They gave me an IISc discount of a few thousand rupees. Ask for it and get it. Hyundai - Trident Hyundai at the junction of Sankey Road and Bellary Road. You will need photographs and address proof to get the registration done.
• If you already have or you procure a vehicle, you will need to procure a sticker for free access into the institute. Go to the security building near the ATM gate with your vehicle's registration certificate to apply for one. You will have to get back here another day to collect it.