India’s science and technology ecosystem saw a year of landmark achievements in 2025, with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) playing a central role in advancing innovation, sustainability, healthcare, infrastructure and strategic autonomy. A year-ender released by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) highlights how CSIR laboratories delivered world-first technologies, strengthened industry partnerships and aligned research with national missions such as Viksit Bharat @2047, climate resilience and self-reliance.
Green infrastructure and sustainable mobility
One of the most striking achievements was the development of the world’s first port road using steel slag technology at Hazira, Gujarat. Developed by CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), the road converts industrial waste into durable, eco-friendly infrastructure, supporting India’s waste-to-wealth vision.
CSIR-CRRI also scaled up its MSS+ green road technology, which is being used for over 200 km of rural roads in Uttar Pradesh under PMGSY. The technology enables all-weather construction without heating bitumen, reducing emissions while delivering superior road quality.
Further strengthening road sustainability, CSIR-CRRI introduced ECOFIX, a 20-minute pothole repair solution using steel slag. Demonstrated in Delhi, the technology is now being adopted in Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, parts of the Northeast, and even internationally in the US and Oman.
In another first, CSIR-CRRI launched India’s first road trial using end-of-life plastic technical textiles, incorporating nearly 30 tonnes of waste plastic into expressway construction and promoting circular economy practices.
Breakthroughs in agriculture and biodiversity protection
CSIR laboratories delivered several global firsts in agriculture and biodiversity. CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) developed the world’s first genetically modified cotton fully resistant to pink bollworm, a pest that causes major crop losses in India and other cotton-growing regions.
In conservation science, CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) developed the world’s first DNA-based test to detect illegal shahtoosh in pashmina shawls, helping curb wildlife crime and protect the endangered Tibetan antelope. CCMB also established India’s first Zoo Bio Bank at Darjeeling Zoo to preserve genetic material of endangered species.
Healthcare, biotechnology and medical innovation
Healthcare innovation remained a strong focus area. CSIR-CCMB developed a rapid, low-cost molecular test for sickle cell anaemia, enabling early diagnosis using a single drop of dried blood. Over 20 lakh tribal individuals were screened under CSIR’s Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission, supporting the national goal of eliminating the disease by 2047.
CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and other labs advanced cancer research, including novel therapies for triple-negative breast cancer, targeted nanoparticle drug delivery systems and smart anti-cancer agents that address treatment-resistant tumours.
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 for affordable clinical deployment.
Climate resilience, housing and waste management
CSIR laboratories made significant strides in sustainable construction and climate adaptation. CSIR–Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) unveiled India’s first climate-resilient buildings, designed to cut carbon emissions by up to 60 per cent while improving thermal comfort. CBRI also demonstrated India’s first 3D-printed rural house, supporting affordable housing under PMAY-G.
In healthcare waste management, CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) developed India’s first automated biomedical waste treatment rig, launched at AIIMS Delhi. The system disinfects waste without incineration, reducing environmental impact while handling large daily volumes.
Strategic technologies and national security
CSIR strengthened India’s strategic and defence capabilities through indigenous technologies. CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) advanced work on high-altitude platforms (HAPs) for border patrol, surveillance and communication relay, and developed the NJ-100 small gas turbine engine for UAVs and loitering munitions.
In aerospace infrastructure, CSIR-NAL, DRDO and ISRO collaborated to build an advanced continuous trisonic wind tunnel, which will reduce India’s dependence on foreign testing facilities.
CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL) secured a trademark for Indian Standard Time (IST) and, along with ISRO, is setting up atomic clock-based reference labs to ensure time synchronisation even in GPS-denied scenarios.
Industry partnerships, startups and technology transfer
Technology transfer and industry collaboration gained momentum in 2025. CSIR signed multiple MoUs with Indian and global partners, enabling commercialisation of innovations in roads, aerospace, pharma, clean energy and materials.
New innovation and incubation hubs were inaugurated across Mumbai, Assam, Jammu, Kerala and the Northeast, supporting startups, MSMEs and deep-tech enterprises. Initiatives like BioNEST incubators, startup conclaves and CSIR innovation complexes helped bridge the gap between laboratories and markets.
2025 emerged as a landmark year for CSIR and India’s scientific ecosystem. Spanning world-first infrastructure solutions and breakthrough medical innovations to climate-resilient housing and critical defence technologies, CSIR’s achievements highlighted the expanding role of science as a driver of national progress.
By closely aligning research with sustainability, inclusivity and self-reliance, CSIR further consolidated India’s innovation landscape and reinforced the country’s position as a global source of science-led solutions for economic development and societal needs.
