The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas, is a contemporary R&D organization. Having a pan-India presence, CSIR has a dynamic network of 38 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 innovation complexes and 5 units. CSIR’s R&D expertise and experience is embodied in about 4600 active scientists supported by about 8000 scientific and technical personnel.
More About CSIR
- It was established as an autonomous body by the government of India in 1942 to promote scientific knowledge and boost industrialization and economic growth.
- It is now one of the largest publicly funded R&D organizations in the world and headquarters are in New Delhi.
- Although it is mainly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar and Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar were instrumental in the establishment of CSIR.
- Prominent laboratories include:
. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (Hyderabad)
. The Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (Pilani)
. The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Dhanbad)
. The National Aerospace Laboratories (Bengaluru)
. The National Institute of Oceanography (Goa)
. The National Botanical Research Institute (Lucknow)
Vision of CSIR
- Science and Engineering leadership
- Innovative technology solutions
- Open innovation and crowdsourcing
- Nurturing talent in transdisciplinary areas
- Science based entrepreneurship
- Socio-economic transformation through S&T intervention
Major Achievements of CSIR
- Aerospace
. SARAS: This 14-seater twin-engined turboprop aircraft is fully pressurized for passenger comfort and has a maximum speed of over 600 km/h and a maximum range of 1200 km.
. Development of carbon fibre composite wings for India’s light combat aircraft (Tejas) programme.
. HANSA: Fabricated entirely out of composite materials, HANSA is ideal for training, sport and hobby flying as well as for surveillance, aerial photography and environmental monitoring.
- Biology and Biotechnology
. A large number of medicinal and aromatic plants have been genetically characterized, evaluated and their improved varieties developed and released.
. Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) is a nationally recognized centre for testing tissue culture raised plants against viruses in floriculture crops, and for pesticide residue analysis in tea and herbals. It has rejuvenated the abandoned tea gardens and helped in improving tea productivity of the region.
. National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has developed a “PCR based assay” to detect male specific differences in papaya. The assay helps detect the sex of papaya plants at the one-month seedling stage so that male and female plants can be planted in the desired ratio to maximize the harvest.
- Energy
. Development of washing circuits for beneficiation of Indian coking coals vis-à-vis utilization of the process technology in all the 22 central washeries.
. Development of software for better plant performance and prediction of achievable yield in coal washing plants.
. Development of LPG domestic stove with 70% thermal efficiency.
