COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND
 INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

Organisation:

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Re- search was set up in 1942 as an autonomous organisation for the promotion, guidance and co-ordination of scientific and industrial research in India including the institution and the financing of specific researches.

1. The Union Ministry of Education serves as the link between the Government of India and the CSIR. The Administration of the Council is vested in the Governing Body of which the Prime Minister is the President and the Minister of Education, the Vice-President. The Director-General is the Principal Executive Officer of the CSIR.

2. The Governing Body is composed of eminent scientists, industrialists and administrators. In all scientific matters, the Governing Body is assisted by the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research (BSIR). The BSIR is composed of scientists, industrialists and experts in different fields of science and technology. The Board is assisted by research advisory committees and specialist committees in matters pertaining to the programme, planning and utilisation of research, assessment of ad hoc research schemes, fellowships etc.

3. General:

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held on April 16, 1966. The Governing Body of the Council met twice during the year on April 16, and November 19, 1966. The Board of Scientific and Industrial Research met on April 15, and November 18, 1966.

Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed took over as Vice-President, CSIR, from Shri M. C. Chagla with effect from November 14, 1966.

Dr. Atma Ram, Director, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta, was appointed Director-General. He

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took charge of the office from Dr. S. Husain Zaheer, who proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement, with effect from August 22, 1966.

5. National Laboratories:

Thirty-four national laboratories (including three museums), six directorates/organisations, eleven research associations and four research centres were functioning under the CSIR during the year.

6. Several new divisions/wings were, created in the national laboratories, important among them being: (i) Mineral Technology division in CFRI, Jealgora; (ii) Biopolymer Laboratory in CLRI, Madras; (iii) Plant Breeding Laboratory, Virology Laboratory and Floristic Botany & Nomenclature Division in NBG, Lucknow; (iv) a field centre for fire research of CBRI (Roorkee) at Vijayawada; (v) three extension centres, known as MERDO, of CMERI (Durgapur) one each at Ludhiana, Poona and Madras; and (vi) a Geoelectric Observatory of NGRI (Hyderabad) at Choutuppal.

7. As many as 35 pilot plants were installed, of which mention may be made of (i) production of coal fertilizer at CFRI, Jealgora, (ii) production of pre-stressed concrete pavements and pulverization of black cotton soil at CRRI, New Delhi, (iii) production of potassium chloride and epsom salt at Kandla by CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, (iv) a briquetting maturing unit and two pilot plants for production of benzyl acetate and benzyl alcohol and extraction of cotton-seed oil at RRL, Hyderabad, (v) production of dry yeast from petroleum hydro- carbons, iron from waste iron ore fines, and deinking of old newspapers at RRL, Jorhat, and (vi) oxidation pond at CPHERI Nagpur; sludge digester and defluoridization at Gangapur (Rajasthan).

8. Production units for the Indian multipurpose food developed by CFTRI , Mysore, were set up at Calcutta, Sitapur and Kotdwara. A pilot plant designed and fabricated by CFTRI for parboiling of rice, on the basis of research findings of the Institute has been set up as an adjunct to the West German modem rice mill set up at Thiruvarur.

9. As many as 15 projects were being investigated under inter- laboratory collaboration. Nineteen projects were under

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investigation in collaboration with research institutions, industry and organisations outside the CSIR.

10. The research activities of the national laboratories have resulted in the publication of 788 research papers (of which 233 were published in foreign journals) and in the taking of 104 patents (of which 6 were filed in foreign countries).

11. The laboratories brought out as many 146 publications, besides 28 periodicals. The publications included: books and monographs 9; proceedings of symposia/seminars/conferences, 12; folders/brochures, 21; reports, 15; research projects/engineering reports, 38; technical notes/memoranda circulars, 40; and miscellaneous, 11.

12. One hundred and nine processes were released for commercial development and 23 were utilized by industry for production.

13. The total amount accruing from premia, royalty, con- sultation, testing, analysis and other services during the year 1966 is estimated at Rs. 16,61,139 comprising: premia, Rs. 1,97,500; royalty, Rs. 5,55,165; project reports and technical aid, Rs. 1,14,190; consultation fee, Rs. 1,24,278; and testing analysis and other services, Rs. 6,70,006.

14. Science Collaboration:

The Council entered into scien- tific collaboration agreements with the Governments of Yogoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia and USA. The agreement between CSIR and the Institute Francais du Petrole was extended for a further period of three years. The Council participated in international scientific exploration programme and exchanged scientists with different countries. The National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, cooperated with the Indian Institute of Foundrymen to organise the 33rd International Foundry Congress.

15 Thirteen laboratories participated in one or more exhibitions held during the year. Important among the exhibitions in which the Council participated was the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee's exhibition on 'Self-reliance through Science and Technology' held in May 1966 in New Delhi.

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16. As in the previous year a large number of eminent scientists from foreign countries visited the Council's laboratories.

17. Dr. S. Husain Zaheer, DGSIR, attended the Symposium on Science in South Asia held in New York and visited Washington, Combridge (USA), London, Paris and Bonn for finalising exchange programmes with the concerned authorities.

18. Dr. Atma Ram, DGSIR, attended the meeting of the British Association for Adavancement of Science in U.K.

19. Fifteen directors/scientists-in-charge of national labo- ratories visited foreign countries for participation in symposia. or conferences. 78 scientists were deputed to foreign countries for participation in symposia/seminars/conferences or for advanced research and/or training.

20. Directorates/Organisations:

The progress of work of the directorates/organisations is summarised in the following paragraphs.

21. The Research Survey & Planning Organisation has been engaged in science policy studies and surveys.

22. The Directorate of Scientific and Technical Personnel incorporated the particulars of over 73,000 scientific and technical personnel (including some abroad) in the National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel during the year bringing the total number of persons enrolled to 348,400. The number of persons registered in the Indians Abroad Section was 1,063 bringing the total to 12,113. An inter-census-revision of data on scientific and technical personnel was initiated in cooperation with the Registrar General of India. As many as 629 persons were selected to Scientific Pool.

23. The Central Design and Engineering Organisation undertook the de-signing of a plant for producing 15 tonnes/hr. of granulated mixed NUK fertilizers at the request of M/s. Rallies (India) Ltd.

24. The Directorate of Research Coordination and Industrial Liasion represented the Council on the Licensing, Foreign Agreement and Capital Goods Committees of the Ministry of

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Industry and also took effective steps to achieve coordination between the CSIR and the Ministry of Industry, Directorate General of Technical Development and other organisations.

25. The Publications and Information Directorate brought out vol. VII of the Wealth of India: Raw Materials covering the alphabets N-Pe. The Indian Languages Unit published a special issue of Vigyan Pragti devoted to 'Self-reliance.' Subscriptions to the journal went up to 13,000 during the year.

26. INSDOC supplied 15,465 documents, 192 bibliographies and 834 translations during the year. Some of the important publications brought out by INSDOC during the year include: (1) Catalogue of Serials in the Indian Institute of Science, and, (2) Catalogue of Serials in the Indian Statistical Institute.

27. The directorates/organisations brought out 47 publications besides 14 periodicals. The publications included: books. and monographs, 13; proceedings of symposia/seminars, 12; folders/brochures 5; reports, 5; bibliographies, 10; and research project reports. 4.

28. Research Associations:

Eleven research associations. and four research centres were functioning under the CSIR during the year. Two research associations, one for electronics industry and the other for automobile industry, were registered.

29. Support to Research:

The number of research committees was 14. One hundred and forty-four new research schemes were sanctioned. Seven hundred and eight research schemes were in progress at 128 centres as against 143 in the previous year. The number of research fellow/assistants working in the schemes was 969.

30. Fifteen Emeritus Scientists were provided grants for continuing their research work after retirement.

31. Fifty-one retired scientists were provided grants for re- search; of these, 6 were sanctioned grants for the first time.

32. The number of ad hoc fellowships during the year was 1,538.

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32. Finance:

The financial provisions made for the Council for 1966-67 (revised) and 1967-68 are Rs. 1669.79 lakh (excluding Rs. 10 lakh for loans) and Rs. 1773.76 lakh respectively. The break-up of the grants is given below. 

 
                                          

 
        
                                                      1966-67       1967-68
        
                                          

         
                                                          (Rupees in lakh)
        
             Recurring                               1071.08        1130.94
             
             Capital                                  598.12         639.99
             
             TCA Programme                             --              1.76
             
             Colombo Plan                               0.59           1.07

33. Staff:

The total staff strength of the Council excluding Class IV staff was 10,520 composed of: scientific, 3,587; technical, 4,630 and administrative 2,303.

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