Council of Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Apr 19, 2022, 5:04

Established in 1942, CSIR is India's biggest research & development organization. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) operates as an autonomous body and has a dynamic network of 5 units, 39 outreach centres, and 38 laboratories.

Covering a wide spectrum of areas from chemicals, geophysics, and biotechnology to information technology, radio, space, and aeronautics, CSIR provides notable technological intervention across sectors including health, food, energy, environment, farming, and non-farming.

CSIR Overview

CSIR has its head office in New Delhi and holds a pan-India presence. The Indian PM is the President of the body, while the Director-General is its head. The Union Minister of Science and Technology is the VP of the organization.

The board comprises 15 members from different fields of science and technology, and their term is three years. Presently, the position of Director-General is held by Shekhar C. Mande.

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Roots of CSIR

The roots of CSIR lie in the growing need for a research organization in the country and proposals for an advisory board of scientific research made by scientists like J.C. Ghosh and C.V. Raman.

The Board of Scientific and Industrial Research (BSIR) was set up in 1940 that initiated research on vitamins, uniform dyes, vegetable oil blends, and more. After this, the CSIR came into existence out of a decision to create an organization to improve the advancement in industrial research.

CSIR was established to achieve several objectives and has received support from more than 8000 scientists across India. Its activities focus on promoting, guiding, and coordinating scientific research in the country.

It also works towards establishing and guiding special departments and institutions to study challenges affecting specific industries. CSIR also considers utilization of research results for the development of industries and even establishes and awards fellowship of research.

CSIR is recognized as the international leader in knowledge creation and is ranked 37th among government institutions worldwide. Talking about intellectual property, it has been granted 90% of the U.S. patents granted to a publicly funded Indian research & development organization.

Ever since its inception, it has been granted 14000 patents worldwide. On average, it files about 250 foreign patents and 200 Indian patents per year. It has made notable achievements in the fields of healthcare, agriculture, energy, food & nutrition, and more.

One of the key achievements in the strategic sector is its Drishti transmissometer, a cost-effective visibility-measuring system to provide information related to safe take-off and landing to pilots.

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FAQs on CSIR

Q.1. Is CSIR a government organization?

CSIR is the only Indian body to be ranked in the top 100 government organizations in the world.

Q.2. Who established CSIR?

CSIR was set up in 1942 by Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar.

Q.3. What is CSIR stands for?

CSIR Stands for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Q.4. How does CSIR get its funding?

The Ministry of Science and Technology primarily funds the operations of CSIR though it functions as an autonomous body.