India’s science and technology landscape witnessed a decisive leap in 2025, with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) emerging as a central driver of innovation across infrastructure, healthcare, climate resilience and strategic technologies. A year-ender released by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) highlights how CSIR’s laboratories translated research into deployable solutions aligned with national priorities such as Viksit Bharat @2047, sustainability and technological self-reliance.
Green Infrastructure and the Push for Sustainable Mobility
One of the most visible breakthroughs came in infrastructure, where CSIR demonstrated how industrial waste can be converted into national assets. At Hazira in Gujarat, CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) developed the world’s first port road using steel slag technology, advancing India’s waste-to-wealth approach while reducing the environmental footprint of construction.
CRRI also scaled up its MSS+ green road technology, now deployed across more than 200 km of rural roads in Uttar Pradesh under PMGSY. By eliminating the need to heat bitumen, the method cuts emissions while improving road durability. Complementing this was ECOFIX, a steel slag–based pothole repair solution that restores damaged roads in just 20 minutes and is now being adopted by multiple Indian states and even overseas.
Agriculture and Biodiversity: From Crop Security to Conservation
CSIR’s agricultural research delivered global firsts with direct relevance to Indian farmers. CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute developed the world’s first genetically modified cotton fully resistant to pink bollworm, a pest that causes severe crop losses across cotton-growing regions.
In biodiversity protection, CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) pioneered the world’s first DNA-based test to detect illegal shahtoosh in pashmina products, strengthening enforcement against wildlife crime and protecting the endangered Tibetan antelope. CCMB also established India’s first Zoo Bio Bank at Darjeeling Zoo, marking a shift towards long-term genetic conservation of endangered species.
Healthcare Innovations with Equity at the Core
Healthcare emerged as a strong pillar of CSIR’s work in 2025, particularly in addressing diseases with social and regional inequities. CCMB developed a rapid, low-cost molecular test for sickle cell anaemia using a single drop of dried blood. This enabled large-scale screening of over 20 lakh tribal individuals under CSIR’s Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission, supporting India’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2047.
In a major biomedical milestone, CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) developed India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, with technology transferred to industry to ensure affordability and scale. Parallel advances were made in cancer research, including therapies for treatment-resistant and triple-negative breast cancers.
Climate-Resilient Housing and Circular Waste Solutions
Responding to climate change and urbanisation pressures, CSIR–Central Building Research Institute unveiled India’s first climate-resilient buildings capable of reducing carbon emissions by up to 60 per cent while improving thermal comfort. The institute also demonstrated India’s first 3D-printed rural house, aligning innovation with affordable housing goals under PMAY-G.
In healthcare waste management, CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology introduced India’s first automated biomedical waste treatment rig at AIIMS Delhi, offering a non-incineration solution that lowers pollution while handling large waste volumes.
Strategic Technologies and National Security Readiness
CSIR’s contribution to strategic autonomy was evident in aerospace and defence technologies. CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories advanced high-altitude platforms for surveillance and communication, and developed the NJ-100 small gas turbine engine for UAVs and loitering munitions.
In collaboration with DRDO and ISRO, CSIR-NAL helped establish an advanced continuous trisonic wind tunnel, reducing India’s dependence on foreign testing facilities. Meanwhile, CSIR–National Physical Laboratory secured a trademark for Indian Standard Time and, with ISRO, initiated atomic clock–based reference labs to ensure time synchronisation even in GPS-denied environments.
Industry Linkages, Startups and Technology Transfer
Beyond laboratories, 2025 saw CSIR deepen its engagement with industry and startups. Multiple MoUs with Indian and global partners facilitated commercialisation in roads, clean energy, pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. New incubation hubs across Mumbai, Assam, Jammu, Kerala and the Northeast strengthened regional innovation ecosystems, while BioNEST incubators and startup conclaves helped bridge the lab-to-market gap.
What to Note for Prelims?
- CSIR functions under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Steel slag road technology and MSS+ green roads are CSIR-CRRI innovations.
- India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy was developed by CSIR-IGIB.
What to Note for Mains?
- Assess CSIR’s role in linking scientific research with national missions like Viksit Bharat @2047.
- Examine how public research institutions contribute to sustainability and strategic autonomy.
- Discuss the importance of technology transfer and industry collaboration in India’s innovation ecosystem.
