Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, a senior electrochemical scientist, has been named the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's first female Director General.

• Her appointment is for a period of two years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier

• For more than 25 years, Kalaiselvi has been conducting research on electrochemical power systems, with a particular emphasis on the development of electrode materials and the electrochemical assessment of internally prepared electrode materials for their suitability in the assembly of energy storage devices.
• Her research interests include lithium and beyond lithium batteries, supercapacitors and waste-to-wealth driven electrodes and electrolytes for energy storage and electrocatalytic applications.
• Kalaiselvi also contributed to the National Mission for Electric Mobility and Six patents and more than 125 research articles are to her credit.

About CSIR

• The largest organization in India engaged in research and development (R&D) is the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• A dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centers, 3 innovation complexes, and 5 units make up the CSIR's pan-India presence.
• The Societies Registration Act, 1860 allows the CSIR to function as an independent organization while receiving funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Scope:

• Radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, genomics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are just a few of the many fields covered by the CSIR.
• Other fields include mining, aviation, instrumentation, environmental engineering, and information technology.
• In many societal endeavours, such as the environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm, and non-farm sectors, it offers substantial technical involvement.

Established: It was established in September 1942.

Headquarters: Its headquarter is in New Delhi.

Structure of the organization

• President: Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio)
• Vice President: Union Minister of Science and Technology (Ex-officio)
• Governing Body: The Director-General is the head of the governing body.
• The other ex-officio member is the finance secretary (expenditures).
• Other members' terms are of three years.

Objective

The objectives of the Council are scientific, industrial, and applied research of national importance.

Various initiatives was taken by CSIR

Covid-19

• The CSIR has established five technology verticals to meet pandemic-related issue as it arises:
• Molecular and digital surveillance.
• Quick and affordable diagnostics.
• Drug, vaccine, and convalescent plasma therapy repurposing
• PPEs and Hospital Assistive Devices (Personal Protective Equipment).
• Support systems for the supply chain and logistics.

Energy & Environment:

• Solar Tree: It produces clean energy while taking up the least amount of area.
• The first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in India has been created. It uses locally produced new materials to produce standard cells with a voltage of 4.0 V/14 h.

Agriculture:

• Samba Mahsuri Rice Variety: It created rice that was resistant to bacterial blight.
• Rice Cultivar (Muktashree): A rice cultivar that prevents assimilation of arsenic within acceptable limits have been produced.
• Resistant to white flies Variety of cotton: Whitefly-resistant transgenic cotton has been created.

Healthcare:

• GOMED, developed by the CSIR, is a platform of disease genomics that addresses clinical issues. It uses genomics and other omics technologies to enable medical decision-making

Strategic:

• Head-Up-Display (HUD): It developed an indigenous Head-Up- display (HUD) for Indian Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. HUD aids the pilot in flying the aircraft and in critical flight manoeuvres including the weapon aiming.