The Indian Academy of Pediatrics was established in 1962, in Patna, Bihar with less than 100 pediatricians as its members. Today, in the year 2012 there are over 20,000 members across the country. It has State, District, and City level branches. The Academy has promoted different specialties in the field of Pediatrics through it various Chapters.

The IAP is the only association of Pediatricians in India as compared with other organizations of medical specialties that are often fragmented and segmented. This indicates the unity that the association has been able to maintain among its members over the past 46 years.