COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
Organisation, Scope and Functions.-The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was set up in 1942 as an autonomous Body registered under the Registration of Societies Act (Act XXI of 1860). The functions assigned to the Council are mentioned below:
(a) The promotion, guidance and coordination of scientific and industrial research in India including the institution and the financing of specific researches.
(b) The establishment, development and assistance to special institutions or departments of existing institutions for scientific study of problems affecting the industries and trade in India.
(c) The establishment and award of research studentships and fellowships.
(d) The utilisation of the results of the researches conducted under the auspices of the Council towards the development of industries in the country.
(e) The establishment, maintenance and management of laboratories, workshops and organisations, to further scientific and industrial research and to utilise and exploit for purposes of experiment or otherwise any discovery or invention likely to be of use to Indian Industries.
(f) The collection and dissemination of information in regard not only to research but also to industrial matters generally.
(g) Publication of scientific papers and a journal of Industrial Research and development.
(h) Any other activities to promote generally the objects of the resolution (Govt. of India, Dept. of Commerce Resolution No. 148 IND (157)/41 dated Sept. 26, 1942).
1.1. The Ministry of Education serves as the coordinating Ministry between the various Ministries of Government of India and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The main source of the finances of the CSIR is the grant-in-aid given by the Union Government. It is administered by Governing Body of which the Prime Minister of India is the President and the Minister for Education, the Vice-President. The Director-General is the Chief Executive Officer of the CSIR. The Governing Body is composed of Scientists, Industrialists, officials, and others. On all scientific proposals schemes, the Governing Body is assisted by the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research. The BSIR is composed of scientists, industrialists and experts in the different fields of science and technology. The BSIR in its turn is advised by the Research Advisory Committees in matters pertaining to the programme of research of ad- hoc research schemes, fellowships, and other grant-in-aid given by the CSIR.
2. Reviewing Committee.-In accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Bye-laws of the CSIR periodical reviews of the activities of the Council and its National Laboratories/Institutes etc. are conducted. The Report
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of the Reviewing Committee, third in series was considered by the Governing Body at its meeting held on 15th January, 1965. The proceedings of the meeting of the Governing Body are being finalised. Main observations/ recommendations made by the third Reviewing Committee related to : (1) General aspects, (2) Relations with Government Departments and other Research Organisations, (3) Expenditure on Research, (4) Governing Body, Board of Scientific and Industrial Research and Executive Councils of the National Laboratories, (5) Research Programmes, (6) Recruitment of Directors and other Scientific Personnel, (7) Location of Research Institutes, (8) Specific recommendations in respect of the following individual laboratories : (i) National Chemical Laboratory, Poona, (ii) National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, (iii) National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, (iv) Central Fuel Research Institute, Jealgora, (v) Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta, (vi) Indian Institute for Bio-chemistry & Experimental Medicine, Calcutta, (vii) Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi and (viii) Headquarters, (9) Technical Service Units at Headquarters:- viz. (i) Coordination Units, (ii) Defence Coordination Unit, (iii) Central Design and Engineering Unit and (iv) Servicing activities of the INSDOC, (10) Link with Universities, (11) Industrial Participation in Research and Development, (12) User Government Departments, (13) National Research Development Corporation of India, (14) Operational Research,(15) Population Control and (16) Periodic Review.
3. National Laboratories, Institutes and Organisations.- The number of National Laboratories/Institutes and other organisations under the CSIR which was 30 at the beginning of the year 1964-65, stands at 33 in January, 1965, the additional ones being : (1) Mafatlal Scientific and Technological Museum, Bombay, (2) Regional Research Laboratory, Orissa, Bhubaneshwar and (3) National Biological Laboratory, Palampur (Kangra).
3.1. A Statement giving the names of the National Laboratories/Institutes and Organisations under the CSIR along with their functions is at Annexure III.
4. Collaboration Between the National Laboratories/Institutes and Universities.-Steps that have been taken for effecting close collaboration between the National Laboratories/Institutes of the CSIR and the Universities are:
(i) The Chairman of the University Grants Commission and some senior scientists from the universities are members of the Governing Body and the BSIR.
(ii) All the laboratories of the CSIR have scientists from the Universities on their Executive Councils and scientific sub-committees which enable them to keep abreast with research programmes of the Laboratories/Institutes.
(iii) Scientists from the universities are invariably associated with the Selection Committees as members for selection of candidates for scientific posts in the Laboratories/Institutes.
(iv) CSIR is supporting centres of specialised research in some of the universities whereby finances are given to strengthen centres for research which will be of ultimate benefit to the CSIR also. During the year 1964-65, CSIR supported the (1) School of Dyestuff Tech- nology at the University of Bombay; and (2) School of Earthquake Engineering at the Roorkee University.
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(v) Council has financed research scientists from the universities for deputation to foreign countries for attending seminars/symposia along with the scientists from the CSIR laboratories.
(vi) A large number of ad-hoc research schemes and fellowships are awarded in the universities for propagation of scientific research in the universities.
(vii) Sixteen Laboratories of the Council have been recognised by 19 Universities as Institutions for higher studies for award of postgraduate study and research.
5. Grants-in-aid for ad-hoc Research Schemes at Universities and other Scientific Research Institutes etc.-Besides fostering research in its own National Laboratories/Institutes etc., the CSIR provides grants-in-aid for ad-hoc research schemes in Universities, technical institutions and industrial laboratories. During the year 1964-65 grants-in-aid for 665 adhoc research schemes were given.
6. Fellowships.-With a view to help in maintaining an adequate supply of talented young people with post-graduate training in science and technology, the CSIR instituted in 1958 a scheme of grant of Senior and Junior Fellowships tenable both at the National Laboratories of the Council and Universities and other academic institutions throughout the country. At present 388 Senior and 1261 Junior Research Fellowships are tenable both at the Universities and National Laboratories and other research organisations. In addition to these there are 3 Senior and 4 Junior Research Fellows working in the Hindi Unit of the CSIR.
7. Cooperative Research Associations.-The Council has been rendering financial and technical assistance to Industry with a view to encouraging scientific research by Industry on problems of particular interest to them. The Council provides financial assistance towards both capital and recurring expenditure to the `cooperative research associations' formed by Industry. At present there are 10 such Co-operative Research Associations.
8. Hindi Unit.-The Council has set up a Hindi Unit during the year1964 with the idea of developing Hindi as a vehicle for dissemination of scientific knowledge and for communicating such activities of the CSIR as are directly related to the economic development of the country. The programme of the Hindi Unit includes the translation of the 10 volumes of the Wealth of India-Raw Materials, bringing out of monographs on important industries based on the Industrial Products Series of the Wealth of India and low-cost publications on popular science subjects besides the monthly periodical,VIGYAN PRAGATI. So far the Hindi Unit has brought out glossaries containing provisional lists of Hindi equivalents of 4000 titles, a monograph on brick-making and 5 low-cost publications.
9. Technical Service Organisations.-At the Headquarters of the CSIR the technical service Units that have been set up are : (1) Research coordination, industrial liaison and extension services unit; (2) Survey and Planning of Scientific Research Unit; (3) Design and Engineering Unit; (4) Defence Coordination Unit and (5) National Register Unit. The progress of each of these Units is given in the paragraphs that follow:
9.1. Research Coordination, Industrial Liaison and Extension Unit.-This Unit maintains suitably documented information on the progress of research
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in the National Laboratories and assists internal coordination between the National Laboratories/Institutes of the CSIR. The Unit maintains external coordination with other research organisations such as the Railways, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Indian Council of Medical Research etc. and the Technical Development Department of the Ministry of Industry and Supply and other Government departments/organisations responsible for planning the industrial development of the country. The Unit also functions as a channel for contact with the N.R.D.C. for research utilisation. The Unit issues a quarterly `Information Newsletter' containing a brief account of researches conducted at the National Laboratories of use to Industry.
9.2. Survey and Planning of Scientific Research Unit.-The Survey and Planning of Scientific Research Unit was set, up in March, 1963 for the purpose of collecting data and information on proper planning of research. The Unit has conducted studies on expenditure on scientific research in India including national laboratories and other governmental and nongovernmental research institutions. The Unit has also conducted a survey of learned societies in the country. A study on the scientific policy and trends of research in India has been taken up by the Unit at the instance of Unesco.
9.3. Designing and Engineering Unit.-The functions of the Design and Engineering Unit include providing assistance to the national laboratories in the translation of laboratory result into industrial practice,evaluation of the processes developed in the laboratories from commercial point of view, designing of pilot and industrial plants based on these processes. The Unit acts as `consulting engineers' to the D.G.S.I.R. and the National Laboratories/Institutes etc.
9.4. Defence Coordination Unit.-The Unit was set up in 1962 for coordinating the activities of the CSIR Laboratories/Institutes pertaining to defence problems, studying the defence requirements of imported strategic items, identifying the problems on which research and development work could be started on top priority basis in the national laboratories and pilot plants set up for production of such items which are needed by the defence services in small quantities.
9.5. National Register Unit.-The National Register Unit is the clearing house of information pertaining to the scientific and technical manpower in the country. It maintains special section `Indians Abroad' Section which keeps information on Indian scientists and technologists who are studying/ serving abroad. The Unit renders employment assistance to Indian scientists returning from abroad.
10. Scientists' Pool.-The Pool of Scientists and Technologists was set tip in 1958 for providing temporary placements of Indian scientists and technologists returning from abroad after higher training and also Indian scientists with high Indian qualifications. Selection to the Pool is more or less continuous. There is no ceiling to the strength of Pool Officers. The Government of India has decided that "all approved scientific institutions should be authorised to create a certain number of supernumerary posts to which temporary appointment of Pool Officers could be made quickly from the scientists working and studying abroad". The Public Undertakings have also been directed to have supernumerary posts specially in research units which should if necessary be established in such undertakings to utilise the services of Pool Officers.
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10.1. The Government of India have also decided to expand the scope of the Pool to include social scientists also. Details of this scheme are being worked out. 1034 persons were selected to the Pool during 1964 up to 1-12-1964 and the total so far selected up to 1-12- 1964 is 3148; excluding 5 Pool Officers who have died. The details of the placements and selections of candidates may be seen in Annexure VII.
11. Participation in International Programmes.-During the year 1964-65, an agreement was signed between the Government of India (CSIR) and the United Arab Republic for close collaboration between the two countries in the fields of science and technology. The agreement provides for exchange of scientists and technologists, their replacement for training and research and financial obligations of the two Governments on a mutual and reciprocal basis. Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre represents India on the International Federation for Documentation.
12. Financial Provisions.-The financial provisions made for the Council are :
(Rupees in lakhs)
Provision for 1964-65 Provision for
Sl. Name of the Scheme 1965-66
No. Original Revised
Grants-in-aid to C.S.I.R.
(1) Recurring Grant 725.000 754.000 844.560
(2) Capital Grant 450.000 449.500 494.550
(3) *Cost of aid under
(a) T.C.A. Programme 0.358 0.106
(b) Colombo Plan 1.012 3.000 1.785
TOTAL (3) 1.370 3.106 1.785
*The cost of aid under T.C.A. Programme and Colombo Plan is adjusted in accounts, by way of book adjustments both on the Expenditure side as well as Receipts side and, is exhibited on the Revenue as well as Capital sides, in accordance with the prescribed accounting arrangement.
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