CSIR DG highlights breakthroughs in sickle cell care, industrial innovation and national CCUS mission
Jamshedpur, Nov 26: On the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee Foundation Day of the CSIR–National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), CSIR Director-General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi laid out an extensive national scientific roadmap, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to strengthening India’s future through indigenous technologies, precision healthcare, industrial innovation, and decarbonisation. Addressing a press conference during her visit to Jamshedpur, she articulated how CSIR intends to drive India’s transition from a developing nation to a Viksit Bharat—a fully developed nation—by the year 2047.
Dr. Kalaiselvi, the first woman to head CSIR in its 80-year history, outlined an expansive vision that reflects both the current scientific priorities of the nation and the future technological pathways that India must embrace to achieve global competitiveness. The DG positioned CSIR as a central pillar in India’s technological transformation, underscoring its multi-disciplinary spread across food security, water security, energy security, healthcare security, and strategic security—the five national priority areas she collectively described as “the bedrocks of a secure and self-reliant India.”
Driving National Missions Through a ‘5-Security Framework’
Opening her address, Dr. Kalaiselvi stressed that CSIR’s work is aligned with the country’s overarching goal of emerging as a global innovation powerhouse by 2047. “The journey towards Viksit Bharat begins with Atmanagraha—the determination to become self-reliant. CSIR is committed to indigenising critical technologies across all areas of national importance,” she said.
She explained that India’s quest for development is no longer restricted to industrial growth alone but now demands scientific interventions that ensure sustainable, equitable and long-term national security across five domains:
- Food Security
Developing climate-resilient crops, precision agriculture technologies, and soil-health solutions through digital and molecular tools.
- Water Security
Innovations in desalination, water purification, wastewater treatment and circular water technologies for industries and municipal systems.
- Energy Security
Research on clean fuels, advanced battery materials, hydrogen energy, solar materials, and next-generation thermal systems.
- Healthcare Security
Advancing precision medicine, diagnostics, drug discovery, genetic technologies, and indigenous manufacturing in pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
- Strategic Security
Supporting national missions in aerospace, defence metallurgy, space-grade materials, nuclear applications, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Dr. Kalaiselvi said the convergence of these domains forms the backbone of India’s scientific preparedness for the next two decades.
Major Breakthrough in Sickle Cell Anaemia: India’s First Indigenised Precision Medicine Pipeline
One of the most significant scientific achievements highlighted by Dr. Kalaiselvi was CSIR’s work on sickle cell anaemia—a genetic blood disorder that disproportionately affects tribal communities across central and eastern India.
India’s approach, she said, is built on a comprehensive three-tier framework: screening, treatment, and curative intervention.
- Nationwide Screening Drive
CSIR, along with its partner institutions, has so far conducted over 25 lakh screenings across tribal-dominated districts. A key innovation driving this effort is the Krishitan PCR-based dry blood spot kit, developed indigenously by CSIR-IGIB.
The test requires just a drop of dried blood and delivers results within 20 minutes, making it a game-changing innovation for field-level diagnosis in remote regions. “This is the only kit of its kind that delivers PCR-level accuracy using a dry blood spot. India has become the first country to adopt such a model at this scale,” Dr. Kalaiselvi said.
- Improving Treatment Pathways
Hydroxyurea, a well-established drug worldwide, was earlier approved in India only for certain age groups. CSIR played a crucial role in enabling its wider approval, including structured dosage guidelines for infants, which makes early-stage treatment more effective and reduces complications.
- Genome-Editing Cure Within Reach
In a breakthrough for India’s precision medicine capabilities, CSIR has indigenised the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing platform, positioning the country at par with global leaders in genetic therapy.
The technology has recently been transferred to the Serum Institute of India to begin preparations for advanced clinical trials on sickle cell anaemia and beta thalassemia.
The DG added that the global cost of a single-dose gene-editing cure is nearly ₹28 crore, but with full indigenisation, CSIR expects this to reduce to ₹1 crore, and then to ₹50 lakh—bringing the therapy within reach of beneficiaries under the Prime Minister’s medical assistance programme.
“With indigenisation, India has the potential to become the world’s most affordable hub for genome editing,” she said.
Industrial Innovation: From Paracetamol to Aerospace Alloys
Beyond healthcare, Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted CSIR’s role in strengthening Indian manufacturing through automation, import substitution and technology transfer.
Paracetamol Manufacturing Revolution
CSIR has developed a continuous-flow, zero-liquid-discharge process for paracetamol production, now implemented by Sakhi Aditya Pharmaceuticals.
This technology enables the company to manufacture 3,700 tonnes per year, making it the world’s second-largest paracetamol producer using a fully indigenous process.
Next-Generation Medical Implants
CSIR is also in advanced stages of developing biodegradable magnesium implants, which will eventually replace expensive imported titanium implants. Pre-clinical tests are underway, and animal trials are expected to begin soon.
Supporting India’s Space Economy
Another major contribution is in metallic powders for 3D-printed rocket engines, an area critical to private and government space missions.
CSIR is collaborating with Skyroot Aerospace and other space-tech innovators to develop aerospace-grade superalloys domestically, reducing reliance on imports.
India’s Decarbonisation Roadmap: CCUS Mission Set for Cabinet Approval
India is preparing to launch a nationwide Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Sequestration (CCUS) Mission, which is currently awaiting Cabinet approval and expected to begin in 2026.
The mission covers:
- capturing carbon from industrial exhaust
- direct air carbon capture innovations
- converting CO₂ into high-value chemicals such as adipic acid, of which India currently imports 100%
- geological and biological sequestration solutions
“CCUS is essential not just for climate mitigation but also for economic gain. It opens pathways for carbon-to-chemicals industries,” she said.
R&D Funding: ‘Team India’ Approach Over Institutional Silos
Responding to questions about low R&D spending, Dr. Kalaiselvi emphasised that India’s scientific strength lies in collaboration, not isolation.
“Instead of comparing individual ministry budgets, we must look at national R&D investment as a unified ecosystem. CSIR, ISRO, DRDO, DBT, DAE and industry partners all contribute to the same national mission,” she said.
Women in Science: ‘My Story Will Soon Be History’
As the first woman DG of CSIR, Dr. Kalaiselvi spoke about the changing landscape of women’s representation in STEM fields.
“Today, women are excelling in higher education, research awards and academic leadership. A few decades from now, someone may say, ‘This is the first man to hold this position,’” she remarked.
A Vision for Viksit Bharat
Concluding her address, Dr. Kalaiselvi reaffirmed that CSIR’s mission is to bridge India’s scientific potential with real-world societal impact.
“From genome editing to decarbonisation, from pharmaceuticals to aerospace alloys, CSIR is positioning India to become a global innovation leader,” she said.
