CHAPTER VIII COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
Dr. Triguna Sea took over as Vice-President, CSIR from Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed with effect from March 16, 1967.
2. During the year, 30 national laboratories and two industrial and technological museums were functioning under the Council. In some of these laboratories, new extension cells, divisions or wings were created. These include: (1) CBRI extension cell at Ahmedabad; (2) CEERI television extension centre at New Delhi; (3) SERC regional centre at Madras; (4) CSMCRI field unit at Mandapam (Madras State); (5) NGRI seismological observatory at Hyderabad; (6) CGCRI tracer laboratory; and (7) RRL (Hyderabad) digital computer centre.
3. The laboratories and workshops of the Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh were inaugurated by Dr. Zakir Husain, President of India, on December 28, 1967.
4. Bhatnagar Memorial Awards: The Governing Body of the Council approved of the Shanti Swarup, Bhatnagar Memorial Awards for 1965 to the following scientists :
(1) Physical Sciences : Prof. B. Ramachandra Rao, Head of the Department of Physics, Andhra University
(2) Engineering Sciences: Shri A. S. Rao, Director, Electronics Group and Director, Directorate of Radiation Protection, AEET
(3) Chemical Sciences : (a) Prof. R. C. Merhotra, Dean of Faculty of Chemistry, Rajasthan University (b) Prof. Sadhan Basu, Palit Professor of Chemistry, Calcutta University
(4) Medical Sciences: (a) Dr. N. K. Dutta, Haffkine Institute, Bombay
(b) Dr. V. Ramalingaswami, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
5. Research and Development: The research and development effort of the Council's laboratories continued to have a many-fold impact on the industries of the country. They resulted in : (1 development of process details for the production of Industrial chemicals or strategic materials, (2) increased production through improved techniques, (3) exploitation of natural resources, and (4) saving of foreign exchange through elimination
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or substitution of imported products. A brief account of the more significant results of research and development efforts is presented in the following paragraphs.
6. The National Chemical Laboratory, Poona, completed the first phase of the investigation on the manufacture of titanium tetrachloride from ilmenite and made headway on the installation of a pilot plant near Trivandrum.
7. One of the major investigations undertaken by the Central Fuel Research Institute, Jealgora, was the study of the possibility of producing formed coke from Thailand lignite undertaken at the request of the Thailand Government. The results of the investigation in the form of a report have been submitted to the Thailand authorities. Another 'major investigation completed by the Institute related to the 'technical audit' of the Bhojudih washery for the Hindustan Steel Ltd.
8. The work of the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Debra Dun, on the hydrodesulphurization of gas oils has helped in the setting up of a production unit of this process at the refinery at Madras. The Institute also prepared the techno-economic report of the proposed refinery at Haldia. Based on the process developed by the Institute, a pilot plant for the production of benzene, toluene and xylene by reforming of aromatic extracts is being set up at the Barauni Refinery under the sponsorship of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
9. Pilot plant investigations on the beneficiation of low grade flourspar deposits of Gujarat State, carried out by the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, have helped the State Mineral Development Corporation in planning a 500-ton per day pilot plant for the beneficiation of low grade ores from the Baroda region. The work of the Laboratory on the pelletization of iron ores from Goa has resulted in the commercial production in Goa of iron ore pellets for export.
10. Based on the process details worked out by the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavanagar, for the manufacture of potassium schoenite, a 10-tonne per day plant has been set up at Tuticorin.
11. Several processes and products have been developed by the national laboratories during the year. Some of the processes developed are those for : (1) production (pilot plant scale) of dimethyl and diethyl phthalates; (2) preparation of methylamines from methanol and ammonia (NCL, Poona), (3) preparation of edible cottonseed flour by preparation solvent extraction using the conventional solvent hexane (RRL, Hyderabad); (4) production of thiacetazone, and peptone and meat extract (CDRI, Lucknow);
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(5) production of carbon elements from air-depolarized Celts (CERI, Karaikudi); (6) preparation of autoclave plaster of Paris characterized by high strength and low water, requirement; (7) production of special infrared glass filters (CGCRI, Calcutta); (8) production of an effective edible adhesive for the preparation of sausage casings (CLRI, Madras); (9) production of asbestoscement products with improved strength, resulting in 50 per cent replacement of imported crysotiles by indigenous amphiboles (CBRI, Roorkee); and (10) recovery of zinc from viscose rayon wastes (CPHERI, Nagpur).
12. Among the products developed by the Laboratories mention may be made of special boron-free glass useful for making laboratory glassware and ovenware, special glasses suitable for sealing with Kovar and tungsten seals and for making compression type seals required by the electronics industry (CGCRI, Calcutta), and a subsitute blended oil for the imported neat's foot oil for making quality leathers (CLRI, Madras).
13. A new technique for casting and annealing of large scale glass slabs required for making atomic radiation shielding Windows of 1 sq. m. surface area has been developed by the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta, and a pilot plant for the production of these slabs has been put up.
14. The National Botanical Gardens, Lucknow, has developed a method for commercial production of rose oil from Rosa damascena with 0.03-0.04 per cent yield.
15. The research and development work of the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, relating to the integrated rodent control techniques, improvement of the nontoxic insecticide mixture based on tricalcium phosphate land production of lindane is helpful in reducing losses of stored foodgrains.
16. The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, evolved designs for hydraulic dynamometers.
17. The National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore, has also developed some items of equipment which include an axial load sub- resonant fatigue testing machine (10-ton capacity), a machine for winding glass fibre reinforced plastic structures with infinite winding pitch control and a spark erosion machine.
18. A complete microwave test bench comprising 25 different components, has been developed by the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. The Laboratory has also undertaken the supply of these components to research institutions at one third the cost of the imported microwave test benches.
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19. Wave guides, bends, tees and timers have been developed by the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani. The Institute has also set up facilities for their batch production. Transistorized record playback amplifier, a high quality monophonic playback system. VHF single-channel transistorized transreceivers are some of the other electronic devices developed by it.
20. The Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh, has developed disappearing filament type optical pyrometer, double spindle roughing machine for production of large optical components, etc. defibrilator, cardioscope, and 76-mm process camera prism.
21. The Indian Institute of Experimental Medicine, Calcutta, successfully completed trials with the live oral cholera vaccine employing human volunteers. The trials have established the safety and potency of the vaccine for human use.
22. As a result of a study on the zooplankton specimens collected during the International Indian Ocean Expedition by the National Institute of Oceanography, the first series of Biological Atlases of the Indian Ocean showing the quantitative distribution of planktonic organisms and larval forms of Indian mackerel have been prepared.
23. The National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, has successfully conducted geophysical surveys over Mysore with completely indigenous equipment. With this experience the Institute is in a position to undertake such surveys in other parts of the country.
24. A case study of a multistoreyed building carried out by the Structural Engineering Research Centre, Roorkee, has indicated that 40 per cent saving in steel could be effected if the design procedures developed by the Centre are adopted.
25. The CSIR laboratories investigated 111 projects sponsored by international and national agencies or organizations. Of these, 70 projects were taken up during the year and 62 were completed.
26. Twenty-two pilot plants were installed during the year, of which the following deserve special mention: pilot plant (designed) for the production of lindane and a new insecticidal fraction from technical BHC, CFTRI, Mysore; pilot plants for tar dehydrogenation (450 litres per day), tar distillation (2 tonnes per day), and formed coke (500 kg. per hr.), CFRI, Jealgora; briquette maturing plant (5-10 tonnes per day), RRL, Hyderabad; pilot plants for production of electrolytic magnesium (12 kg. per
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day) and lead dioxide electrodes. CECRI, Karaikudi; production of proteins from petroleum (50 kg. per day), IIP, Dehra Dun; manufacture of television receivers (1,000) CEERI, Pilani.
27. Eighty-five processes developed by the Council's labora- tories were released for commercial utilization. Of these, 25 were released free of charge. Twenty-two processes were utilized by industry.
28. The income of the Council during 1966-67 from royalty, premia, analytical charges and testing fees, etc., amounted to Rs. 15,76,300.
29. The research activities of the Council's laboratories have resulted in the publication of 857 research papers. The laboratories also brought out 250 publications.
30. Support to Research: With a view to encouraging scientific research, the Council continued to give financial assistance to industry through research associations formed by industry. During 1967-68, eleven such research associations were functioning-three for textile industry and one each for silk and art silk, plywood, wool, jute, tea, cement, paint and rubber.
31. Two research centres-the School of Research and Training in Earthquake Engineering (SRTEE), Roorkee, and a centre for preparation of rare biochemicals at the Vallabhabhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi- were functioning during the year with grants given by the CSIR. SRTEE undertook the planning, design and construction of multipurpose river valley and other projects in seismic zones.
32. Eight Emeritus scientists and 53 retired scientists were provided grants for research. In addition 1,577 research fellows were pursuing research with grants-in-aid from the Council. Of these, 344 senior and 890 junior fellows were working in university departments, affiliated colleges and research institutions; and the remaining 121 senior and 222 junior fellows were working in the Council's laboratories. There were 396 scientists working in the Scientists Pool during the year under report.
33. International Collaboration: The Council entered into two major scientific collaborative programmes with USA and Bulgaria during the year. The agreement between India and USA, providing for exchange of scientists and engineers, entered into on February 14, 1967, authorised CSIR for India and the National Science Fundation for USA, as the agencies responsible for carrying out the exchange programme. A 5-year agreement for scientific and technical collaboration between CSIR and the
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State Committee for Science and Technical Progress of the People's Republic of Bulgaria came into effect on May 2, 1967.
34. Deputations: Dr. Atma. Ram, Director General, Scientific and Industrial Research, attended the Conference of Commonwealth Scientists at Oxford, UK (April 6-12, 1967), and visited USSR as a member of the Indian Scientists' Delegation to the Soviet Union (May 18-June 1, 1967). Moreover, 15 heads of CSIR laboratories and 14 scientists visited foreign countries for participation in international symposia, seminars and conferences. Sixty-six scientists were deputed to foreign countries for advanced research and training.
35. International and National Recognition : The Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, has been selected as an international centre for the training of in-service highway engineers of the ECAFE region.
36. The work of the National Physical Laboratory on the evaluation of data on the spectral irradiance of daylight and deri- vation of typical spectral distribution of daylight radiations has received international recognition; it has helped the Commission Internationale de 1' Eclairge in the adoption of daylight illuminants.
37. Fourteen inventions of the Council's laboratories received the Inventions Promotion Board's awards during the year.
38. Financial Provisions The financial provisions made for the Council are as follows :
1967-68 1968-69
Original Revised Budget
Estimates
Rs. in Lakh
Recurring 1203.11 1220.88 1330.5
Capital 657.53 648.02 666.49
Colombo Plan 1.08 2.84 3.51
T.C.A. Programme 1.76 - -