The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is committed to making India ‘Atmanirbhar’ by developing indigenous technologies, as stated by Dr N Kalaiselvi, the Director General of SCIR.
The CSIR, through its 37 laboratories across the country, is involved in all aspects of their research and development to bring in ‘Atmanirbharta’ for indigenization of technologies, ensuring that the country becomes self-sustainable in the coming years.
Dr Kalaiselvi, who is also the Secretary of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said that the country has to prepare itself for its current and future scientific requirements as the world moves ahead in an unpredictable manner.
One of the success stories of Atmanirbhar initiatives of the CSIR is the unleashing of a Purple Revolution through Lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir. CSIR’s scientific interventions have led to the phenomenal growth of lavender cultivation and development of lavender products, taking lavender from lab-to-market and creating several agri-start-ups in J&K. The success of Lavender cultivation earned it the sobriquet, ‘Purple Revolution’.
The Tableau also showcased PRIMA ET11, India’s first women-friendly, compact, Electric Tractor indigenously developed by CSIR under agro-mechanical technology. Dr Kalaiselvi explained that the CSIR handholds the startups and walks along with them throughout their journey, supporting more than 300 agri-startups in Jammu and Kashmir as a remote mission. She further explained how India became an exporting country by 2023, exporting 600 million tons of lemongrass oil in 2023.
CSIR has also dedicated a hydrogen hydrate producing manufacturing facility under the CSIR, dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. The first batch of commercial production of hydrogen hydrate started in 2023, and now it is a 10,000 tonnes per annum-manufacturing plant. The hydrogen hydrate is now finding its application in chemical industries, processing industries, and several other chemistry-related and pharmacy-related industries.
Dr Kalaiselvi also mentioned the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology, which was used in two aircrafts that took part in the Republic Day flypast. She announced that the CSIR has signed an agreement with Airbus to use their SAF technology.
Dr Kalaiselvi launched C-Bot, an underwater unmanned vehicle indigenously developed by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). The underwater vehicle will help scientists study temperature, humidity, climate-related topics, collect samples and take photos, and study growing biology in extreme environments. The entire Indian Ocean is the target for the CSIR-Jigyasa Program, an initiative aimed at promoting scientific temper through student scientist connect programs.
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