Hon’ble Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also the Vice President of CSIR, addressed the 200th Governing Body Meeting of CSIR at the Science Centre in New Delhi on 17 December 2022 where he also announced the launching of “One Week, One Lab” countrywide campaign. Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is President of the CSIR, had chaired the meeting of the CSIR Society on 15 October 2022 and appreciated the efforts of CSIR in the past 80 years.

The Prime Minister had urged CSIR in the Society meeting to develop a vision for 2042 when CSIR turns 100 years old and also highlighted the significance of documenting the journey of the past 80 years, which can help take a review of progress achieved and identify areas of lacunae which can be addressed. He also suggested that a virtual summit of all labs can be held regularly in which they can learn new things from each other's experiences.

At the 200th Governing Body Meeting of CSIR, Dr Jitendra Singh announced a Special Call for Research Grant Proposals for Women Scientists. The call for research grant proposals is for women scientists including those who have taken a career break and are interested in returning to research and reestablishing their careers. Keeping in tune with the transformations happening in CSIR, the Minister of Science and Technology also released the new tagline, “CSIR — The Innovation Engine of India”.

The implementation of a paperless E-office across all labs with effect  from1 April 2023 and an E-performance appraisal system for administrative cadre staff for Reporting Year 2022-2023 was also approved.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed the Governing Body Members that he will soon write to Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and all the Chief Ministers of States to evolve a mechanism for wider sharing of CSIR technological breakthroughs and innovations in schools for students and aspirants who want to pursue fundamental science and research as a strong career option.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the legacy of CSIR is built on the cumulative contribution of its several national laboratories and institutes. He said, each laboratory of CSIR is unique and specialises in as diverse areas as genomics to geology, material technology to microbial technology and food to fuel.

Dr Jitendra Singh called upon a pool of over 4,500 CSIR scientists to reorient and revitalise the organisation to emerge as Global Centres of Innovations in the AmritKaal. He said, they must focus on emerging innovations in areas like Hydrogen in the energy transition, Carbon capture and storage, Accessible solar power, Plastic recycling and Cheap energy storage.

Dr N.Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, gave a presentation on CSIR activities and achievements from the 199th to the 200th GB meetings.

Members of the present GB include Prof. Ajay Sood, PSA to the Government of India; Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, DoD and Chairman, DRDO; Shri Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC; Dr Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IICT; Dr N.Anadavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC; Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure); Shri Baba A Kalyani, Chairman & MD, Kalyani Group; Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Former PSA to GoI; Dr Vijay Bhatkar; Dr K.N. Vyas, Secretary, DAE and Chairman, AEC and Dr N. Kalaiselvi, DG-CSIR.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, CSIR breakthroughs in areas like Drone, Heliborne technology, state-of-the-art Sewage cleaning machines, and Aroma Mission has opened up huge opportunities for developing meaningful and equal stake partnership among Research, Academia and Industry. The Minister said, the state-of-the-art Heli-borne survey technology with cooperation from Jal Shakti Ministry was applied last year in the States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana and this could play an important role in positively contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision and Mission of “HarGharNal Se Jal”. Similarly, the mechanised sewage cleaning system developed by CSIR for wider dissemination will help in achieving the target of the Swachh Bharat Mission, he added.

CSIR was established on 26 September 1942 and was registered as a CSIR Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The first meeting of the Governing Body was held on 9 March 1942 that framed the Bye-Laws for the Council amongst other agenda items.

Source: PIB