CHAPTER VI
COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
6.01. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 10, 1968. A souvenir
entitled "Twenty-five Years of CSIR" was brought out to commemorate
the silver jubilee. The celebrations synchronized with the Unesco-
sponsored Conference on the Application of Science and Technology to
the Development of Asia held in New Delhi during August 9-20, 1968 for
which the CSIR was the national organizing agency.
6.02. International Collaboration:
The third meeting of
the Indo-UAR Joint Scientific Board was held in Cairo from 28 April to
6 May 1968. Seven research projects were chosen for collaboration
between India and UAR during 1968-69, viz., carp breeding, desert
reclamation, petrochemicals, dyes and intermediates, manufacture of
magnesium and sodium, optical glass and structure of glass, and Water
hyacinth control. Other decisions related to the exchange of
scientists and collaboration at the working scientists' level.
6.03. During October 1968, CSIR finalised on behalf of the
Government of India, bilateral scientific cooperation programmes with
Yugoslavia, Hungary and Bulgaria. The Director-General, Scientific
and Industrial Research, visited these countries for the purpose. The
Federal Council for Coordination of Scientific Activities of the
Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, the Hungarian Institute of Cultural
Relations and the State Committee for Science and Technological
Progress of Bulgaria are the agencies which represented these
countries. An agreement for scientific cooperation between CSIR and
the Committee for
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Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, Poland, for 1969-70 was
finalized in New Delhi on November 27, 1968.
6.04. The second meeting of the Joint Standing Committee for
Scientific Research and Industry was held under the chairmanship of
Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Minister of Industrial Development and
Company Affairs, on July 3, 1968 at CSIR headquarters, New Delhi.
6.05. Research and Development:
A notable aspect of the
work in progress in CSIR laboratories during the year, under review
was the increasing emphasis on project-oriented research programmes.
Increasing attention has also been paid to the scale-up of laboratory
processes to hasten their adoption by industry.
6.06. The National Chemical Laboratory (NCL),
Poona
completed large-scale investigations on the production of mono-and di-
chlorobenzene under a project sponsored by the Hindustan Organic
Chemicals Ltd. (HOCL). The know-bow is being scaled up on a semi-
commercial unit (designed by NCL) erected at Excel Industries. Based
on the know-how developed, a turn-key plant for the manufacture of
4,400 tonnes/annums of chlorobenzene/dichlorobenzene has been offered
to HOCL. The industry has successfully established plants based on
NCL know-how for the production of calcium hypophosphite (12
tonnes/annum), benzoic acid (500 tonnes/annum) and vapour phase
chromatographic units (200 units/annum). Sale proceeds from fine
chemicals produced at NCL amounted to over Rs. 2 lakh in 1968.
6.07. The Regional Research Laboratory, Hyderabad,
has
developed processes for the manufacture of benzyl acetate, benzyl
alcohol, and benzyl benzoate. These chemicals are widely used in
perfumery and allied industries.
6.08. The Central Electrochemical Research Institute,
Karaikudi, has developed electrolytic processes for (i) manu-
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facture of succinic acid from either maleic acid or furmaric acid; and
(ii) electrochemical reduction of o-nitrophenol to o-aminophenol. The
Public Health Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur has developed (i)
indigenous coagulant aids with a view to reducing alum consumption in
water treatment plants, (ii) a new medium 'defluoron' for
defluoridation of drinking water in endemic areas, and (iii) chlorine
and iodine tablets for on-the-spot disinfection of drinking water.
6.09. The Central Fuel Research Institute:
The 12 ton/day
formed coke pilot plant was continuously operated and bulk qantities
of cured briquettes were produced at the Central Fuel Research
Institute, Dhanbad. A 50 kg/hour pilot plant fluid bed carbonizer,
designed and fabricated by the Institute, has been installed and
operated to produce reactive char for the production of briquette coke
from noncoking coals by the CFRI processes. Investigations carried
out at the request of Dominion Foundries & Steel Co. Ltd., Hamilton
(Canada), on the preparation of metallurgical briquettes from their
coke breeze have shown that briquette coke of suitable quality could
be produced from the Canadian coke breeze, in admixture with coal, for
metallurgical use, especially after carbonization. Surveys conducted
by the Raniganj Coal Survey Laboratory have indicated the occurrence
of new coal resources in and around Birbhum district and in Mehjia
area, Bankura district (West Bengal). A multiple report Gray King
(GK) low temperature carbonization furnace with movable condensation
train has been designed at the CFRI Coal Survey Laboratory located at
Ranchi. This equipment can provide the GK coke type data on as many
as 9 coal core samples in a day.
5.10. The Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute:
(CGCRI) Calcutta, produced about 9 tonnes of optical glass, comprising
3 tons of random slabs and 1.53 lakh pieces of moulded lens and prism
blanks. The total value of the products would work out to cover Rs. 5
lakh. The Institute completed investigations on the development of
corrosion resistant
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enamels for use as protective coatings on cast iron bodies, such as
diaphragm valves of acid pump. A process for making filters from
porous ceramic bodies without the use of kieselguhr, a scarce
material, and an improved glass rolling technique for making infra-red
filters of special shape have been developed by the Institute. The
ceramic filters are used in the purification of water for drinking
purposes and are presently imported. Filter candles made at the
Institute are comparable in quality to the imported ones.
6.11. The National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML)
Pilot
plant trials on the production of sillico-chrome by single stage
electric smelting process have been completed by the National
Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, and the process has been
released to the sponsors. Pilot plant beneficiation studies on Rekha
copper ore were conducted by NML on behalf of the Geological Survey of
India and the National Mineral Development Corporation and proposals
for the setting up of 1000-ton/day beneficiation plant have been
submitted. Ore dressing studies on the beneficiation of minerals like
graphite, magnesite, limestone, etc., together with pelletization of
chrome ore and sintering of iron ores, etc. have been completed and
the process details have been released to industry. The laboratory
also prepared two investigation reports on the beneficiation of the
recently discovered rock phosphate ores in Rajasthan and UP.
6.12. Central Mining Research Institute:
The possibility
of using roof bolts for providing roof support in mining practice has
been examined by the Central Mining Research Station, Dhanbad; roof
bolting has been found to be not only more economical compared to the
conventional supporters but also to confer a greater degree of safety.
6.13. The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP),
Dehra Dun,
assisted the Barauni refinery in solving operational difficulties with
the vacuum and coking units as well as in expanding the refinery
capacity to three million tonnes/year using Middle East
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crude. Complete process design book for the naphtha hydro-
desulphurizing unit (IIP-FIP process) was prepared for the FACT
Engineering and Design Organization. The institute has developed an
additive for raising the cetane number of diesel oil; 0.1 per cent of
the additive raise the cetane number of HSDO by 3 units.
6.14. The Central Food Technological Research Institute
(CFTRI), Mysore, intensified efforts to promote commercial production
of Lac-tone (vegetable toned animal milk) and Bal-Amul (modified
weaning food). The feasibility of producing edible, protein-rich
flours from mustard, rape seed and black sesame has been established.
A protein-rich low fat biscuit, fortified with vitamins and minerals,
and based on groundnut as well as soya flour has been developed.
6.15. The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research
Institute, Bhavnagar,
achieved the target of, production of 10,000
tons of sale in its experimental salt farm; the quality of salt
conformed to ISI specifications for industrial salt. A pilot plant
for the desalination of brackish water by electrodialysis (15,000
litres/day) has been set up at Morvi in collaboration with a firm.
6.16. Central Drug Research Institute :
A process for the
synthesis of chloroacetyl-catechol, the common intermediate for l-
adrenaline, l-noradrenaline and dl-isoprotenol has been developed at
the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow The process for
the production of acetylphenylcarbinol, an intermediate in the
preparation of ephedrine, has been scaled up in a 1000-litre fermentor
in collaboration with the Antibiotics Project, Rishikesh.
6.17. The Indian Institute of Experimental Medicine:
Investigations at the Indian Institute of Experimental Medicine have
shown that the ratio of the two types I and II of the enzyme
glutaminase in blood is markedly altered from its normal value
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within 24 hours of the injection of tumour tissues into experimental
animals. This finding may be of value in developing a test for the
early detection of cancer. The anti-fertility action of a new
triphenylethylene derivative has been established in mice and rabbits
and shown to be due to its estrogenic effect. Optimum conditions have
been standardized for the preparation of peptidase A, the extra-
cellular acid ptotease of penicillium janthinellum by batchwise
fermentation.
6.18. The Regional Research Laboratory,
Jammu, completed
techno-economic surveys to assess the densities, distribution and
availability of a number of economic plants like skimmia laureola (for
linalyl acetate), dioscorea deltoidea (for diosgenin), fagopyrum
esculentum (for rutin) and physochlaina praealta (for hyoscyamine).
Their economic exploitation is being worked out. Extensive deposits
of sulphur, borax and potassium salts in combination with other
minerals have been ,discovered in the Pugga Valley of Ladakh. An
economic process for the recovery of pure elemental sulphur and
beneficiation techniques for obtaining pure borax and potassium salt
from the minerals have been worked out.
6.19. The Central Read Research Institute,
New Delhi, has
established an air-photo pattern for the location of hidden kankar
deposits in alluvial plains after carrying out an extensive survey and
a comparative study of the aerial photographs of a particular area.
The Institute is compiling a handbook in collaboration with other
organizations on quality control procedures pertaining to the
construction of roads and runways.
6.20. The Central Building Research Institute:
Major pro-
ject undertaken by the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI),
Roorkee, related to the foundations of transmission line towers in the
little Rann of Kutch and on three river crossings. The investigation
was undertaken at the request of Gujarat Electricity Board and
suitable recommendations were
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made. The Institute has developed a roofing scheme with precast RC
channel units. The instruments and equipment developed by CBRI
include straight bore auger and underreamer for cutting stricky silty
clay deposits, a 'hot-box' for measuring fire properties of building
materials and instruments for the measurement of sky luminance and
illumination availability in Far East.
6.21. The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute
:
The most outstanding achievement of the Central Mechanical
Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, during the year, was
the development of a 20 h.p. agricultural tractor; one prototype was
developed and put under extensive field trial. The Institute has
designed rotillor suitable for not only road-making but also for
agricultural purposes. Of the seven cable and wire-making machines
designed by the Institute during the year, the trunk paper insulating
machine has gone into production. Developmental work on moped has
been completed. A single lever tensile creep testing machine
(capacity 3000 kg, accuracy 0.05 per cent of load) has been developed.
A technique for joining aluminium to aluminium and copper has been
worked out and successfully applied for fabricating all-aluminium
refrigerator evaporator.
6.22. The National Aeronautical Laboratory:
Calibration of
the wind tunnel up to March 2 has been completed at the National
Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL), Bangalore, and it is proposed to
release the tunnel for wind tunnel testing. The laboratory has
standardized the manufacturing processes for digital devices,
vibration meter and pick-up, strain measuring bridge and rotating
cantilever fatigue testing machine. The know-how is ready for release
to the industry. Pilot plant production of data systems and various
digital devices developed by the laboratory was started.
6.23. The Central Electronics Engineering Research
Institute, Pilani, has devloped (1) ceramic pick-ups (monophonic)
using lead zirconate titanate for use with standard and microgroove
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records, (2) a transistorized TV pattern generator, (3) transistorized
vidicon camera, (4) a table model TV antenna, (5) engineered model of
pen-recorder with improved low frequency response and battery
sensitivity, and (5) microwave components. Work was started on the
design and development of an excitation control system for diesel
electric locomotives at the request of the Heavy Electricals (India)
Ltd., Bhopal.
6.24. The Central Scientific Instruments Organization:
Among the instruments and components developed by the Central
Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh, mention may be made
of the therapeutic/diagnostic unit, multipoint temperature indicator,
in-line digital read-out, quarter wave plate, tint plate and quartz
wedge. The therapeutic/diagnostic unit is used for general
electrodiagnosis of motor tract and muscular disorders and for
therapeutic purposes such as treatment of paralysed muscles. Quarter-
wave plate, tint plate and quartz wedge are all accessories to the
polarizing microscope. The Organization released to the industry the
know-how for high voltage power supply, a.c. defibrillator, cardiac
pace-maker, telethermometer, stimulators, biological preamplifier,
cardioscope and monitor and micro-electrode puller.
6.25. The National Geophysical Research Institute,
Hydera-
bad carried out developmental airborne magnetic and scintillo-metric
survey of Tikamgarh, Panna and Chattarpur districts of M.P. (about
16,400 sq. km.). The Institute has developed geophysical instruments
for shallow seismic surveys, low frequency geophones and high
frequency electronic counting system.
6.26. The National Institute of Oceanography
has prepared
detailed charts showing the depths of occurrence of oxygen maxima and
minima in the upper 500 metres in the north-western Indian Ocean. The
charts provide valuable information on the water movements and
circulation pattern in the upper levels of the regions and help
characterize productive and non-productive
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areas. The basic sorting of the international corrections at the
Indian Ocean Biological Centre has been completed and two fascicles of
Plankton Atlas of the Indian Ocean have been released.
6.27. Two research centres, the School of Research and
Training in Earthquake Engineering (STREE), Roorkee and a centre for
preparation of rare biochemicals at the Vallabh bhai Patel Chest
Institute, Delhi, were, functioning during the year with grants given
by the CSIR.
6.28. Support to Research:
The Council continued to give
financial assistance to industry with a view to encouraging scientific
research through research associations formed by industry. During
1968-69, twelve research associations were functioning--three for
textile industry and one each for silk and art silk, plywood, wool,
jute, tea, cement, paint, rubber and automobile; 13 research
committees were functioning during the year. 582 research schemes were
in progress in 120 centres during the year; and 797 research
fellows/assistants were assigned to these schemes.
6.29. Seventeen emeritus scientists were provided grants at
various institutions/universities. Thirty-nine retired scientists
were provided with grants. 1,242 research fellows were pursuing
research during the year under the Council's grants-in-aid.
6.30. Governing Body:
The Governing Body of the CSIR was
reconstituted from April 1, 1968.
6.31. Finance.
The financial provisions made for the
Council for 1968-69 (revised) and 1969-70 are:
(Rs. in lakh)
1968-69 1969-70
Recurring 1334.374 1383.759
Capital 610.575 669.497
Colombo Plan 0.377 0.502