Key Inventions of CSIR

India’s largest civilian research and development agency Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) celebrated its platinum jubilee. The platinum jubilee celebrations were inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is also the President of CSIR. In his speech, he had highlighted some of the inventions of CSIR which have positively affected the life of masses. Some of these inventions are as follows:

• In 1952, the indelible ink which is the hallmark of our democratic fabric was made by scientists of the CSIR National Physical Laboratory. Indelible ink is applied to fingers of voters during elections to prevent double voting. It contains Silver nitrate, which make it stain the skin, very difficult to wash off.
• Ayurvedic anti-diabetic medicine, BGR-34 for Type II diabetes patients.
• Country’s first tractor Swaraj, it was made in 1974 by the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur. Swaraj is credited to have transformed India from being a net importer of food grains to a net exporter.
• Anti-malarial drugs by the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow. The same institute also came up with India’s first weekly family planning pill,
• CSIR has developed a portfolio of Streptokinase technology, which is a vital life saving injectable protein cardiovascular drug. With the efforts of CSIR in manufacturing generic drugs, India is known as the ‘low cost pharmacy of the world’.
• CSIR’s ‘Ksheer-Scanner’ technology can detect adulteration of milk done by the use of urea, salt, detergent, liquid soap, and boric acid.
• In the high end technology, CSIR has contributed significantly to the development of light combat aircraft,
• CSIR has installed Drishti systems at IGI Airport in Delhi and five other major airports for providing information to help pilots on visibility for safe landing and take-off operations.
• With CSIR’s menthol mint success story, India became a global leader in the production of menthol mint.

Discussion

Though CSIR has many inventions to its credit, a lot more needs to be done to bring science to homes and make life of common man easier. PM Modi during his speech has asked the scientists to take up new challenges that include search for a long life mobile phone batteries, vegetable seeds that could be exported to the Gulf countries, solar tree like gadgets for increasing efficiency of converting solar energy into electricity, diagnostic kit for health workers and also to develop new technologies for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. However, government should remember that all these inventions will be possible only if conducive environment coupled with enough funds and freedom to work are provided to the scientists.

Moreover, government can also consider extending the retirement age of scientists from 60 to 65 to retain highly talented and experienced mind. However, at the same time, checks and balances has to be introduced to prevent allegations of favouritism.

Lastly, shortage of funds and staff is a huge problem for many laboratories in the country. Also is the coordination within the laboratories and duplication of research. Presently, our laboratories do not focus on providing end-to-end solutions to the industries so that they can readily pick up the technology for commercial production. This forces the industries to look abroad for its specialised needs.

In a world of resource constraints it is important to deploy the resources in accordance with the chosen strategic priorities. Issues which are hampering the scientific community have to be immediately addressed. Issues like red-tapism has to be sorted out and sufficient funds should be made available in order to have meaningful scientific development in the country.

About CSIR

CSIR is an autonomous body and the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India. It became operational on 26 September 1942. It operates as an autonomous body registered under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860. It is mainly funded by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. CSIR’s R&D activities include aerospace engineering, ocean sciences, structural engineering, metallurgy, life sciences, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environment.