Question : COMMITTEE ON CSIR



(a) Whether Abid Hussain Committee has submitted its report;

(b) if so, the details of recommendations and action taken thereon ;

(c) the annual budget of CSIR;

(d) whether the Government is considering to set up a new committee to review the working of CSIR ; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor ?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMEN (KAPIL SIBAL)

(a)&(b): Yes Sir, the main recommendations of the Abid Hussain Committee were:

1.	CSIR to take-up programmes for Technology Mission and Generic Technology,	Societal Mission, Sponsored Research and Basic Research;

2. External earnings to be increased to 1/3rd of Government budgetary support and Zero-based budgeting to be implemented

3. Changes in the structure or composition of Governing Body(GB) and Research Councils (RCs)

4. Technical Secretariat at CSIR Headquarters to be strengthened with technical groups to assist DG, CSIR regarding R&D Planning , Technology Development and Human Resource Development.

5. Deputation of Scientists to other organization 6. Supporting and strengthening of research in Universities

7 Restructuring and modernization of CSIR laboratories

8. Consolidation and mergers of selected CSIR institutes for better focus

9. Closing of selected Field , Extension and regional Centres which are not viable



The recommendations of the Abid Hussain Committee were approved by the CSIR Society in its meetings held on 2.2.1988 & 24.2.1989.

(c) The annual budgetary estimates of CSIR for the year 2005-06 is Rs 1503.43 crores

(d)&(e). No Sir. CSIR has its own internal system of periodically reviewing the working of its laboratories . CSIR in 1999 has introduced a new organ in its structure called the Performance Appraisal Boards (PABs) to critically review the performance of each laboratory once in every five years. CSIR of its own subsequently in the year 2003 has also constituted a committee under the chairmanship Dr. Vijay Kelkar to assess & evaluate the outcomes of the CSIR activities.