Addressing the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Dr Ambedkar International Centre on 4 January 2025, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), MoS, PMO, DoPT Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, Space, announced the indigenously developed drug “Paracetamol”, commonly used in pain, fever, etc, by CSIR which is affiliated to the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
The Minister elaborated that CSIR has developed indigenous technology to produce paracetamol, a widely used pain reliever and fever reducer. He added that this innovation aims to make India self-reliant in paracetamol manufacturing, reducing dependence on imported ingredients. Karnataka-based Satya Deeptha Pharmaceuticals Ltd will utilise this breakthrough to produce affordable paracetamol domestically. Currently, India imports the key raw materials for paracetamol from various countries. Thus, the CSIR initiative not only addresses this dependency but also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India) vision.
Dr Jitendra Singh, in his address, traced back the history of DSIR and its contribution for the past decade and recalled its mandate to focus on synergising collaboration with industry partners to scale up innovation and foster technological growth. He also remembered the birth of CSIR, which is a much older organisation aimed at India’s scientific and industrial progress through research.
Dr Jitendra Singh also congratulated the DSIR team on their 40th Foundation Day.
The DSIR Foundation Day marked 16 more technology transfers: nine from CSIR-CSIO Chennai Centre and six from CSIR-CEERI, Pilani, the technology transfer between CSIR and MSME units registered under LAGHU UDYOG BHARATI under the campaign 100 days 100 technology programme. LAGHU UDYOG BHARATI is a registered all-India organisation of MSME in India since 1994, with more than 60,000 registered members. So far, 57 CSIR technologies have been transferred under this campaign, and 16 more are transferred. The technologies transferred by CSIO are in the area of design and development of scientific and industrial instruments with IoT-enabled technologies, while transfers by CEERI are in the area of healthcare and societal implications. One MoU is signed between CSIO and ELCIA, Bengaluru, towards mutual collaboration in the development of sensors.
Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the achievements of CSIR and praised its efforts. It enumerated the development of 108 petal Lotus, hydrogen bus, Biofuels, and the success of the Aroma Mission, i.e. Lavender cultivation, which got featured in Republic Day Tableau and lauded by the Prime Minister himself. And recent progress on indigenously developed paracetamol.
According to Dr Jitendra Singh, all the arms of Government should work in synergy and called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-science approach. He recalled the initiatives One Week One Theme (OWOT) and One Week One Lab (OWOL) of CSIR, which were the brainchild of the Science and Technology Minister. He also mentioned that PM Modi believes in Women-led development, and thus, women scientists and startups are being all necessary help by the government, he said.
Towards the conclusion of his speech, Dr Singh emphasised that it is high time for us to look beyond government resources for innovation, and we should start exploring non-government funds along with Knowledge partnership and resource sharing. He underlined that Anusandhan NRF is a step in the same direction, where 60% of the funds will be raised by non-government sectors. He reaffirmed to the scientific community that 2025 will also be a power-packed year for science and technology, with innumerable ventures coming up.
Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary DSIR, DG-CSIR, in her remarks, recalled the signing of the Guwahati science declaration by the members, which aimed at becoming a global economic hub in 2047.
Prof. AK Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government of India, emphasised making our country a product-based economy, and a good part of our country should come from tech-related products. He also gave us an example of the USA, where 9% of their economic growth is based on the tech sector. He also attributed that we have to become a product economy from a service economy, and this product economy should be based on our own design. Senior Scientists from DSIR and industry leaders, MSME’s were present in large numbers during the celebration.
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Adapted from PIB
