Centre of Excellence for Ceramics

• 27 Dec 2024

Why in News? 

A new Centre of Excellence for Ceramics is being established in Rajasthan. It is set to promote the industry with exploration, mining, processing and world-class research. 

 Key Points 

• Abundant Ceramic Mineral Reserves: 
  • Rajasthan possesses vast reserves of ceramic minerals like ball clay, silica sand, quartz, china clay, and feldspar. 
  • Raw materials are being sent to other states for processing, despite significant potential for ceramic-based industries and job creation within Rajasthan. 
• Role of the Centre: 
  • The centre will provide technical guidance for mining, processing, and manufacturing ceramic minerals, optimizing the utilization of local resources. 
  • Its services will be pre-defined to ensure utility from day one of operation. 
• Focus Areas: 
  • A major emphasis will be on exploring silica minerals for producing: 
    • Insulators for electricity supply. 
    • Sanitaryware products. 
    • Tiles for the real estate sector. 
    • Pottery and bricks. 
    • Semi-conductors for electronics. 
• Stakeholder Contributions: 
  • Suggestions were received from prominent experts, including officials from Bikaner Technical University, Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), and IIT (BHU), to refine the centre’s objectives and operational framework. 

Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI) 

• CGCRI is a national research institute headquartered in Kolkata, operating under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 
• Founded in 1950, the institute specializes in research and development in areas such as glass, ceramics, mica, and refractories.