High points in science, technology and innovation
GS Paper 3: Mobilisation of resources, Growth and Development, Developments in Science and Technology
Important for
Prelims exam: CSIR
Mains exam: Growth of India in science and technology after independence
Story till 15th august 1947
• The long period of colonial rule had robbed India of most of its wealth, and, more importantly, the skills required to sustain economic growth.
• India’s GDP was a mere ₹2.7 lakh crore in 1947.
• It is against this backdrop that the responsibility of developing the science, technology and innovation ecosystem fell upon the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which had been founded in 1942.
Early Achievement of CSIR
• The first achievement was to harmonise existing varied calendar systems. A committee under the Chairmanship of Meghnad Saha was formed to address this issue. The committee’s report was published by the CSIR in 1955, which then led to its acceptance as the national calendar.
• Another was to address the challenges in conducting democratic elections, preventing frauds, including double voting by the same person.
o The CSIR’s National Physical Laboratory developed the indelible ink made up of silver nitrate to address this concern. The indelible ink is used even today and exported to many countries, undoubtedly remaining one of the prized gifts of the CSIR to the nation.
Developing local industry
• At the time of Independence, India did not have well established industries in many sectors.
• The informal work sector was also highly unorganised without their skills being developed for any particular industrial segment.
• A key mandate of the CSIR was, therefore, to help develop local industries by making contemporary technologies available and training requisite manpower.
• A prominent example of the CSIR’s contributions in this context has been in developing the leather industry.
Leather Industry
• Before independence: The making of finished leather products had remained elusive in the absence of a well-established leather industry and relevant technologies. Consequently, the leather industry employed less than 25,000 people at the time of Independence.
• After Independence: In the 1970s the Government took the decision of banning the export of raw hides and skins, and also imposing 25% export duty on semi finished leather products. These decisions were a major turning point as far as the development of the leather industry in India was concerned.
• Present scenario
o In more than 50 years since then, the leather industry now has a workforce of more than 4.5 million, a large percentage of them being women
o A thriving market for Indian leather products around the world. Indian exports in this sector are close to $6 billion.
o The CSIR’s footprint in this sector has been transformative.
First, when the CSIR¬ Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) was established in 1948, it developed technologies for finished leather products, such as the first ever indigenous manufacture of leather chemicals, making the transition from semi finished to finished leather possible.
Further, the CSIR ¬CLRI routinely trained the next generation of manpower for the leather industry.
As a result, more than 40% personnel employed in the leather industry have been trained directly or indirectly in the CSIR CLRI.
Other achievement in the field of Science and Innovation
• The Green Revolution has been one of the crowning glories of science, technology and innovation.
o During the Green Revolution, the CSIR’s footprint could be seen in the development of agrochemicals and the mechanisation of agriculture.
o The mechanisation of agriculture was achieved through the indigenous development of the Swaraj tractor at the CSIR¬ Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), leading to the formation of Punjab Tractors Ltd. in 1970.
• Similarly, the emergence of the generic pharmaceutical industry in India also has a fascinating history.
o The chemicals industry needed the necessary thrust for its maturation, although, the Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. had been formed by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray long before Independence.
o Two public sector companies were founded, post ¬Independence, based on technologies developed in the CSIR’s laboratories, the Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. and Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd., the former to make agrochemicals.
o Similarly, production of anti-¬HIV drugs by processes developed in CSIR laboratories provided the necessary impetus to the growth of generic pharmaceutical companies.
• A significant impact of the CSIR is also seen in the food and nutrition industry, in the aerospace sector, in the health and biotechnology industry, in protecting India’s traditional knowledge systems, and in promoting crops for enhancing farmers’ incomes.
o In the 1950s, when solving the infant food problem appeared impossible, the CSIR successfully developed technologies to convert buffalo milk into powder and commercialised it with the help of Amul Industries.
o The Aroma Mission of the CSIR in recent times has been transforming the lives of thousands of farmers across the country.
• The Aroma Mission started by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, has worked to strengthen the country in the cultivation of aromatic crops and increase farmers’ income in the process.
Conclusion
Even as we attribute the growing affluence of Indian society to science, technology and innovation led developments, the challenges for the future remain intimidating.
Reducing dependence on natural resources, making all industrial processes circular so that no footprint of human activity is left, making technologies environmentally friendly, providing sufficient opportunities to all for living either in cities or in villages will remain priorities of science and technology.
Moreover, the ancient wisdom of integrating science and spirituality by enhancing our understanding of nature in association with that of the human mind and spirit will be the fond hope of the science and technology community of India.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]