Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

• 08 Aug 2022

For Prelims: CSIR, National Mission for Electric Mobility, Research and Development, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar

For Mains: Initiatives taken by CSIR, Government Policies & Interventions

Why in News?

Senior electrochemical scientist Nallathamby Kalaiselvi has become the first woman director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

• Kalaiselvi’s research work of more than 25 years is primarily focused on electrochemical power systems and in particular, development of electrode materials, and electrochemical evaluation of in-house prepared electrode materials for their suitability in energy storage device assembly.
• Kalaiselvi also made key contributions to the National Mission for Electric Mobility. She has more than 125 research papers and six patents to her credit.

What is CSIR?

• About:
  • Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India.
  • CSIR has a pan-India presence and has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units.
  • CSIR is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Scope:
  • CSIR covers a wide spectrum of streams – from radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.
    • It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include the environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors.
• Established: September 1942
• Headquarters: New Delhi

What is the Structure of the Organisation?

• President: Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio)
• Vice President: Union Minister of Science and Technology (Ex-officio)
• Governing Body: The Director-General is the head of the governing body.
  • The other ex-officio member is the finance secretary (expenditures).
  • Other members' terms are of three years.

What are the Objectives?

• The objectives of the Council are scientific and industrial/applied research of national importance.
• The activities include:
  • Promotion, guidance and coordination of scientific and industrial research in India including the institution and the financing of specific researchers.
  • Establishment and assistance to special institutions or departments of existing institutions for the scientific study of problems affecting particular industries and trade.
  • Establishment and award of research studentships and fellowships.
  • Utilization of the results of the research conducted under the auspices of the Council towards the development of industries in the country.
    • Payment of a share of royalties arising out of the development of the results of research to those who are considered as having contributed towards the pursuit of such research.
  • Establishment, maintenance and management of laboratories, workshops, institutes and organisations to further scientific and industrial research.
  • Collection and dissemination of information in regard not only to research but to industrial matters generally.
  • Publication of scientific papers and a journal of industrial research and development.

What is the Vision & Strategy 2022?

• Vision: Pursue science which strives for global impact, the technology that enables innovation-driven industry and nurtures trans-disciplinary leadership thereby catalyzing inclusive economic development for the people of India.

What are Awards Associated with the Organisation?

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for Science and Technology is named after the founder Director of the CSIR, the late Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.
• It was instituted in 1957 as the most coveted and revered prize in the field of science and technology in the country.

Who was Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar?

• He was the Founder Director (and later first Director-General) of CSIR who is credited with establishing twelve national laboratories.
• He played a significant role in the building of post-independent Science and Technology infrastructure and in the formulation of India’s S & T policies. He concurrently held a number of important positions in the Government.
  • He was the first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• He was conferred with Order of British Empire (OBE). He was Knighted in 1941 and elected Fellow of the Royal Society, London in 1943.
• He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 by the President of India.

What are the Initiatives taken by CSIR?

• Covid-19:
  • CSIR has set up five technology verticals for addressing the emerging situation due to pandemic:
    • Digital and Molecular Surveillance.
    • Rapid and Economical Diagnostics.
    • Repurposing of Drugs, Vaccine and Convalescent Plasma Therapy.
    • Hospital Assistive Devices and PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment).
    • Supply Chain and Logistics Support Systems.
• Strategic:
  • Head-Up-Display (HUD): It developed indigenous Head-Up- display (HUD) for Indian Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. HUD aids the pilot in flying the aircraft and in critical flight maneuvers including weapon aiming.
• Energy & Environment:
  • Solar Tree: It occupies minimum space to produce clean power.
  • Lithium Ion Battery: India’s first lithium ion battery fabrication facility based on indigenous novel materials for making 4.0 V/14 h standard cells has been established.
• Agriculture:
  • Samba Mahsuri Rice Variety: It developed a Bacterial Blight Resistant Rice.
  • Rice Cultivar (Muktashree): A rice variety has been developed which restricts assimilation of Arsenic within permissible limits.
  • White-fly resistant Cotton variety: Developed a transgenic cotton line which is resistant to whiteflies.
• Healthcare:
  • Genomics and other omics technologies for Enabling Medical Decision – GOMED: It has been developed by the CSIR which provides a platform of disease genomics to solve clinical problems.
• Food & Nutrition:
  • Ksheer-scanner: It detects the level of milk adulteration and adulterants in 45 seconds at the cost of 10 paise.
  • Double-Fortified Salt: Salt fortified with iodine and iron having improved properties developed and tested for addressing anaemia in people.

Source: TH