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THE Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ushered in CSIR’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on

26 September 2016 with a lively interaction with farmers from fi ve diff erent locations across the country. The Prime Minister, who is also the President of the Council of Scientifi c and Industrial Research (CSIR), dedicated seven new varieties of medicinal plants developed by CSIR laboratories to the nation at a function held in Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

An exclusive exhibition of major technological contributions of CSIR was organised for the benefi t of the PM. The exhibits that showcased some of the most stellar achievements of CSIR including the ones that are in the pipeline and have

great potential of delivery to remove the drudgery of the common masses, largely in the areas of healthcare, water conservation, solid waste management, waste-to-wealth, Communication & IT, housing, industrial competitiveness, and contributions to the strategic sector.

The Prime Minister then released new varieties of turmeric, khus, Rose-scented geranium, aromatic grass Citronella, Lemongrass, fl owering plant lily and ornamental fl ower plant Gerbera developed by CSIR labs. These were simultaneously handed over to farmers at fi ve diff erent locations – Hyderabad, Cuddalore, Palampur, Jorhat and Jammu. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also had a live interaction with the farmers via video-conferencing where he urged them to strive for taking a quantum jump in agriculture with the help of science & technology. He also encouraged them to use modern technology, increase participation of youth in agriculture,

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concentrate on value addition based agriculture and explore diff erent markets for their produce.

Later, addressing a distinguished gathering, he said that starting with the indelible ink, which is the hallmark of our democratic fabric, CSIR has le an indelible mark on every sphere of life. With an all-round approach to Research and Development CSIR is a refl ection of India in its diversity and heterogeneity.

The Prime Minister said that from agriculture to aerospace, bio-sensors to bio-pharmaceuticals, chemicals to climate change, drug development to deep sea explorations, from earth sciences to energy, food to fragrance, glass to genomics, housing to healthcare, instrumentation to informatics, leather to Light Combat Aircra , microbes to mining to materials, optics to optical fi bres, pigments to power electronics, roads to robotics, sensors to solar energy, tractors to transport, UAVs to under

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water vehicles, and water to weather forecasting, CSIR has registered its presence.

Swaraj, the fi rst Tractor of the country, Baby Milk Powder, the fi rst Super Computer of the country – these are just some of the accomplishments of CSIR, he said. He wanted the exhibition showcasing CSIR’s achievements to be taken to other parts of the country, so that people can know and appreciate CSIR’s contributions.

The Prime Minister said that he

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looks forward to CSIR making an important contribution to the current Government’s mandate of doubling the income of the farmers’ income by 2022, the year the country celebrates 75 years of its Independence. In his message to the scientifi c fraternity across the country, Shri Modi stressed upon the urgent need to fi nd technological solutions to address major problems being faced by the farmers, not only in terms of increasing the yield of the produce but also in growing crops in the wasteland areas

through initiatives like ‘Per Drop More Crop’. He said we should have another objective, which should be “an inch of land, and a bunch of crops.”

Shri Modi said that considering the contributions of CSIR over the last 75 years, the nation has large expectations from CSIR in delivering for the nation in a time-bound manner. This could be possible only by synergizing its activities and outcomes with all important functionaries in the entire value chain of taking the technology to masses,

The Prime Minister releasing a variety of a medicinal plant developed by a CSIR lab at the Platinum Jubilee Foundation Celebrations of CSIR. Present with him are (from left), Dr. Girish Sahni, DG-CSIR; Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of S&T and ES and Shri Y.S. Chowdary, Minister of State of S&T and ES

The Prime Minister with Directors of CSIR laboratories

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including all the important stakeholders, the government, industry, society and the ultimate users. Shri Modi gave a call to the scientifi c community to personally mentor science students to give shape to their ideas & energy and give India ‘Research Entrepreneurs’ of tomorrow. He said our labs should become a place of a raction for children.

The Prime Minister noted that CSIR has contributed signifi cantly in the health sector. However, today when the nation faces the challenge of diseases like TB, Chikungunya, Dengue, etc. CSIR should also focus on development of aff ordable diagnostics that would help in the prevention of epidemics. He added that development of technologies enabling aff ordable products is the key to today’s world economy scenario that would not only cater to the domestic requirements but also help improve the country’s exports.

Prime Minister Shri Modi also challenged the scientists gathered there to look at solutions to problems that the world was grappling with. For instance, the scientifi c fraternity could develop a suitable ba ery for mobile phones that lasts long last and does not burst. He wanted leather technologists of CSIR’s Chennai-based leather technology lab to develop shoes for specifi c needs of sportspersons of diff erent hues. Another thrust area suggested by him was development of technology to turn waste into wealth. He also urged CSIR to create an ‘Ease of doing Technology Business’ platform to bring in the right stakeholders so technologies reach benefi ciaries.

Earlier, Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr.

Harsh Vardhan while thanking the Prime Minister for his valuable support and guidance, assured him that CSIR, which stands among the top 100 R&D institutions in the world, would defi nitely deliver to the nation in a time-bound manner. CSIR, with the best minds and infrastructure is striving towards transforming the Brain Drain into a Brain Gain for India, he added.

In his address at the function, Dr. Girish Sahni, Director-General, CSIR said that CSIR had touched the lives of all the citizens of the country. He said that CSIR is ranked very high among the world comity of R&D institutions, being recognized at the 12th position by SCIMAGO. This shows that CSIR does not only produce research papers but also produces technologies and patents. But we realize that these patents should not just remain as impressive statistics on paper, but should be realized for the greater good of the citizens of the country.

Dr. Sahni informed that CSIR was launching a CSIR Innovation Fund utilizing its own earnings to support entrepreneurs in creative ideas and nurture these in CSIR labs. CSIR has also launched 90 Fast Track Translation projects with tight deadlines and clear resolved outcomes, he said. Dr. Sahni

further informed that CSIR had also launched a Skill Development Initiative to cater to the aspirations at the upper end of the value of skill development. Through another programme called JIGYASA we intend to incite curiosity among the young for scientifi c principles and processes, he said.

Later, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, 2012-15, the country’s highest award in science and other CSIR Awards were presented by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary and Dr. Girish Sahni, Director General, CSIR.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S. Chowdary said he envisioned a quantum jump in the fi eld of Science & Technology research and gave a call to the scientifi c fraternity to work dedicatedly for the ‘Target Nobel Prize’. The Ministry stands fi rmly behind all the eff orts made in this direction, he added.

The distinguished gathering consisted of senior scientists, Directors of National Science Institutions, awardees and 150 science students.

Hasan Jawaid Khan

Right: Prime Minister Shri

Narendra Modi interacting live

with farmers after releasing new plant varieties

PM Shri Modi interacting with students

PM on a round of the exhibition showcasing CSIR’s achievements