The association had its beginning as part of a world initiative taken in USA. It was on October 4-6, 1996, that a major conference was held in Atlanta (GA, USA). Over 300 participants from all over the World – India, Nepal, Caribbean, Belgium, UK, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Mauritius, Mexico, Austria and Surinam, etc. participated. Participants included leading archaeologists, historians, political-scientists, linguists, religionists, Sanskritists, Vedic-scholars, scientists, and persons from different other professions. This conference was attended by several scholars from India including Professor B. B. Lal, Professor Avinendra Kumar, Dr Vedagya Arya and Dr. Shashi Tiwari from Delhi.
After this conference 'World Association for Vedic Studies' (WAVES) was incorporated in USA by a group of scholars lead by Professor Bhu Dev Sharma, who was also elected there as its founder president, in which capacity he served the association for nearly 10 years. The Governing Council had roughly 50-50% share of persons of Indian and non-Indian origin.
Professor Bhu Dev Sharma, soon after WAVES was formed in USA, contacted and convened a meeting of scholars and interested persons in Delhi early 1997 to start a branch of WAVES-USA. It was decided to hold a conference to begin India Branch. Membership drive received enthusiastic response.

This India Conference, the 'First in India' of World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES), was inaugurated by Hon'ble Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Former President of India on 27th Dec. 1997, at Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi. The theme of the conference was 'Indian Identity and Cultural Continuity.'
After this conference a general-body meeting of the members was held and Governing Council of India Branch of WAVES was constituted. Dr. K. P. A. Menon was elected as President and Dr. Shashi Tiwari as Secretary. Dr. Menon remained its President till 7th Aug. 2002 for two terms.
The election for third term was held in Dec. 2002 and Dr. S Kalyanaraman, a renowned Vedic Scholar, was elected as President of WAVES, India Branch. He was again elected as President for fourth term.
Prof. Ram Karan Sharma elected as President of WAVES during fifth term (Jan, 2007). He again got elected as President for the sixth term (Dec.,2010), seventh term (Feb. 2014) and Prof. Shashi Tiwari was unanimously elected as President of WAVES for eighth term (2017 – 2019)

With phenomenal success of annual conferences in India and expanding activities, it was thought necessary to have India Branch of WAVES registered in India.
On 14th Dec 2004, WAVES was registered under Societies Act xxi of 1860 in New Delhi with a new name 'Wider Association for Vedic Studies', because of the restriction in using the word 'World' of the registration act. Association still maintains its acronym 'WAVES' and is an affiliate of "World Association for Vedic Studies, USA".
Elections for the Sixth term were held in Jan. 2011. The general body elected Professor Ram Karan Sharma as its President, Professor Lallan Prasad as Vice-President and Dr. Shashi Tiwari as General Secretary.
Elections for the Eighth term were held on 8th April, 2017. The general body elected Prof. Shashi Tiwari as its President, Prof. Bhaskarnath Bhattacharyya and Mr. Prashant Bhardwaj as its Vice Presidents, Dr. Ranjit Behera as Secretary (Academic) and Dr. Aparna Dhir as Secretary (Administrative). Presently WAVES has 271 members in India as registered "Life Members". Names of current office bearers and members, Governing Council, and that of various standing committees are given under 'Office' .