Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

CSIR has published whole genome sequence of Ocimum sanctum, the sacred plant of Hindu tradition. The nuclear genome of Holy basil is the smallest (386 Mb) in the family Lamiaceae while the chloroplast genome (142,245 bp) is the smallest in the order Lamiales. This is the first report of complete genome sequence of the Holy basil, using a composite next generation sequencing technologies.

CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun, in association with the Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) won an international competition to adopt the Wax Deoiling Technology developed by CSIR-IIP, at Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL). The Wax Deoiling Plant based on such indigenously developed technology was set up with an investment of ` 750 crore at NRL — a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) — situated in north-east part of India. The Plant was dedicated to the Nation by Hon’ble Prime Minister in February 2016.

An Earthquake Warning System (EqWS) has been developed by CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh which is being used by the Delhi Metro. The CSIR-CSIO has installed five sensors across different locations of Metro at Mundka, Botanical Garden, Huda City Centre, Metro Bhawan and Faridabad, comprising seismic warning systems with LAN connectivity with the DMRC network for generation of alarm signal on major earthquake. It is in operation since August 2015.

HANSA-NG a/c prototype was unveiled by Hon’ble Minister, S&T and ES and VP, CSIR on 16th February 2017 at Aero India in Bengaluru. CSIR-NAL handed over the Hansa-3 a/c to M/s MESCO AEROSPACE in presence of Honorable Minister for pilot training & education awareness. HANSA NG shall be certified within 18 months’ time by CSIR-NAL. M/s MESCO AEROSPACE will be taking over the production of the same subsequently. CSIR-NAL has conducted the third party market survey and the potential of requirement is about 70 to 100 aircraft by 2020.

CSIR constituent laboratory, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSIR CSMCRI), Bhavnagar has developed technologies related to easy cultivation of economically important seaweed, namely Kappaphycus alvarezii, and value-added products from the seaweed. The CSIR knowhow on the seaweed was disseminated to the fishing community in coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat as supplementary activity to existing fishing activities. More than eight hundred Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are engaged in seaweed farming in the Tamil Nadu region.

Biodegradable wastes from kitchen contribute significantly to pollution, which demands immediate management and treatment. The technology for converting household organic kitchen waste to biogas was developed by CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram. Each anaerobic digester has the capacity to convert up to 3 kg per day bio-degradable kitchen waste which will be converted to 400 litre biogas which can be used as fuel. In the process, it will discharge about 2.5 litres of manure which can be used for kitchen garden.

In the backdrop of high levels of milk contamination in the country, and with an aim to provide an effective method for monitoring the issue, CSIR constituent laboratory, CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani has developed an electronic system, named ‘Ksheer-Scanner’, which is capable of detecting adulterants such as urea, salt, detergent, liquid soap, boric acid, caustic soda, and hydrogen peroxide in milk.

The CSIR constituent laboratories CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) and CSIR-Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) have jointly developed an anti-diabetic herbal formulation from a combination of natural extracts derived from six plant species mentioned in ancient Ayurveda texts. The drug, BGR-34, was approved by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) after it was tested on patients over a period of 18 months across the states of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka.

CSIR has developed a portfolio of Streptokinase technology, a vital, life-saver injectable protein cardiovascular drug. Natural and recombinant streptokinase developed by CSIR is already in the market benefiting the people of the country. CSIR has also designed a state-of-the-art clot buster protein (Clot Specific Streptokinase) which shows strong promise as a ‘clot-specific’ thrombolytic drug, has received clearance from DCGI and is currently in Phase II clinical trials.