CSIR About CSIR
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), established in 1942, is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Act, 1860, with a broad agenda for promotion and development of science and technology. At present, CSIR has a network of 40 laboratories and 81 field stations/extension centres/regional centres all over India to undertake R&D in several disciplines. The areas of activity vary from molecular biology to leather, from seismicity to computer modelling, from aerospace to ocean sciences, from glass to steel, from micro-electronics to a range of test facilities and so on. The extension and regional centres have been established to disseminate information and awareness on the R&D capabilities and technologies developed at the national laboratories.The CSIR's role in the overall industrial development of the country has been in terms of providing technical know-how for upgrading existing technologies and generating fresh technologies as an answer to the growing needs of the industry.CSIR units have responded to the changes in the industrial, economic and trade policies introduced by the Government to successfully integrate the Indian economy in the global scene. Successful technology transfers have been achieved in various fields like drugs, agro-chemicals, petroleum refining, wood substitutes, water proofing compounds and effluent treatment. Laboratories have joined hands with several multinationals and globally renowned business houses like Parke Davis, Du Pont of America and Mitsui of Japan. In the domestic market, these units work closely with Indian industries and provide comprehensive solutions to their problems, technology packages and turn-key plants.
Various initiatives have been taken during the initial period of the Eighth Plan to re-orient the R&D programmes and rearrange the priorities to answer the needs of the industries vis-a-vis the policies of liberalisation of the Government. As a result of the initiatives taken towards strengthening the linkages with industry the cash flow through sponsored research programmes and consultancy rose from Rs 34 crore during 1987-88 to Rs 94 crore during 1993-94.
CSIR has continued to play an impressive role in the development of R&D manpower of finest calibre in the country through its scheme of awards of fellowships/associateships and support to extramural R&D schemes in universities and colleges.
Achievements
CSIR's principal achievements in different socio-economic sectors are as follows :Health
CSIR has played a vital role in not merely making India self-reliant, but also a net exporter in the fields of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The Council has adopted a dual strategy; developing new drugs and developing alternative and cost effective routes for known drugs. Some of the drugs developed by CSIR are Centchroman (a non-steroidal, once-a-week contraceptive for women), Picroliv (a herbal drug for treatment of liver disorders), Acyclovir and AZT (anti-AIDS drugs having high export potential).Industrial Development
An indigenous fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) gear case has been jointly developed by RRL, Bhopal, Permalloy Wallace Limited, Bhopal and BHEL, Bhopal, one of the many significant achievements of the Council.Environment
i) Developed DNA probes for detection of enteric viruses in waste water and drinking water; ii) Redefined Air Pollution Protection Zone (APPZ) around the Taj Mahal and has conceived an Air Environmental Management Plan within the redefined APPZ; and iii) Completed comprehensive environmental impact assessment of over 50 developmental projects in oil exploration and petroleum refining industry, fertilizer, paper and pulp industries, nuclear and thermal power projects, port and harbour projects and seven environmental audit studies.Energy
i) A three-wheeler was successfully run on compressed natural gas (CNG) as alternate fuel; ii) Successful adoption of longwall maning method, efficient in extracting coal from underground mines; and iii) Development of portable efficient smokeless chullah 'Harsh' utilising different fuels and agricultural wastes. The total saving in fuel is 40-50 per cent leading to a saving of Rs 10-15 crore per year.Housing
300 buildings in the district of Uttarkashi Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal and other far-flung hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh and 500 buildings in the districts of Latur, Osmanabad, Solapur and Satara of Maharashtra have been assessed for damage as a result of earthquakes and methods of retro-fitting and repair have been suggested.Food
CSIR has designed, developed and demonstrated a solar cum agrowaste dryer for reduction of moisture of oil seeds and developed quick-test-kits for detecting toxic materials such as aflatoxin, glucosino lates, erucic acid etc. in oilseeds/oil cakes of groundnut, mustard, rapeseed.Globalization
i) A number of technologies were exported to USA and Finland. ii) Some S&T Cooperation agreements were signed between CSIR (CGCRI) and Mongolia to work on newer materials, CSIR (CGCRI) and Thailand to work on advanced ceramic and also between CSIR (IIP) and Adarsh Chemical-Hummus Crust (USA) for joint commercialisation of single step process for Adipic acid, a new material for nylon.Rural Development
Additional 1,025 ha land was brought under cultivation of aromatic and other economic plants and employment of three lakh mandays was generated. More than 700 entrepeneurs/growers were provided training.The CSIR laboratories, over the years have acquired expertise and recognition for providing a range of S&T services which meet international standards. Some of the significant ones are coal resource surveys; maintaining databases in the areas of drugs, toxicology, leather, food, chemicals etc; primary standards and calibration; environmental impact assessment; product evaluation etc. Specialised major facilities include wind tunnel, acoustic test facility and tower testing facilities.
Publications
CSIR publishes three popular scientific periodicals in English, Hindi and Urdu. To help provide communication links among the scientific community it publishes 11 journals, of international repute, covering all the principal disciplines of science.International Collaboration
At present, CSIR has collaborative agreements with 35 agencies in 29 countries, including 13 developed and 16 developing countries. The Council has been an active participant in the activities of the Commonwealth Science Council, the Association for Science Cooperation in Asia, UNESCO, the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisation, the Canadian International Development Research Centre, the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation and the United National University.To enlist the cooperation of Indian professionals abroad in the advancement of science and technology in India, CSIR has two programmes : TOKTEN ( Transfer of Knowledge Know-how Through Expatriate Nationals) and INRIST (Interface with Non-Resident Indians in Science and Technology).
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