The Hindu : CSIR to merge institutions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 29, 2002

National

National

CSIR to merge institutions

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI March 28. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has decided to merge two of its institutions, the National Institute of Science Communication (NISCOM) and the Indian Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) and to close down 40 out of its 80 outreach centres as part of a restructure programme.

The CSIR Director-General, R.A. Mashelkar, told reporters that the NISCOM-INSDOC merger followed the recommendation of a high-power committee headed by R. Narasimha, Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. The merger would take effect in September and the new entity would be called National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAR).

The CSIR, Dr. Mashelkar said, was in the process of revamping the activities of its other 37 laboratories in a bid to bring them in tune with the changing science and technology needs of the country. A 12-member independent team of experts from various fields recently made a comprehensive study of the laboratories. The parameters studied included their performing and non-performing assets, manpower profile and also their mandates, to consider whether there was any need for a change of direction. A wealth of data had been generated and the revamp process would be set in motion in about three months.

He said the CSIR was working on a `stretched' version of the Hansa trainer aircraft developed by its Bangalore-based National Aersopace Laboratories in collaboration with Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited. The aim of the project is to expand the capacity of the aircraft from the present two seats to at least four so that it could be used for lower end commuter/executive travel.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National