CSIR-NPL is celebrating the ‘One Week One Lab’ (OWOL) programme, from 17-21 April 2023, inaugurated by the Union Minister of Science & Technology and Vice President – CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh. Being National Metrology Institute (NMI) of India, one-day event- “Metrology Conclave” highlighted the core aspects of CSIR-NPL, i.e., Metrology.
In recent times, Metrology and accurate measurements are the key elements that define product quality and play a pivotal role in achieving standardization. The country’s economy and its growth depend on its metrological capabilities. Metrology Conclave aims to create awareness among the general public about precise and accurate measurement and its need for a nation to achieve prosperity. The programme was inaugurated by the chief guest Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General- Bureau of Indian Standards (DG-BIS), and Guest of Honour Shri Jaxay Shah, Director- Quality Council of India (QCI) along with Prof. Venugopal Achanta Director, CSIR-NPL, Dr.Ritu Srivastava, Co-Ordinator- OWOL, and Dr. Naveen Garg Sr. Principal Scientist & Convener of the event.
Prof. Venugopal Achanta, in his presidential address, gave a brief overview of the evolutionary aspects of metrology and provided insights into the various efforts of CSIR- NPL in the field of metrology. One of the major highlights of Prof Achanta’s address was the NPL “Waste to Wealth” policy aimed towards dealing with the silicon waste that is being generated on a large scale based on increasing demand of the same in the country. He also emphasized the need to establish secondary standards metrology laboratories in collaboration with CSIR laboratories, BIS and QCI.
In his address, Shri Jaxay Shah, Director- QCI, stated that keeping in view the Honourable PMs vision, “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” in context to quality and quantity of the Make in India products (with the focus on Skill, Scale and Speed), he emphasized that we should not only meet the global demands but must also increase our product acceptance rate. The credibility and quality can only be met with support from the four pillars, i.e., CSIR-NPL, Legal Metrology, BIS and QCI-NABL. This will also help in making INDIA a developed country by 2047.
Shri Pramod Kumari Tiwari, IAS, DG-BIS, highlighted the importance of creating awareness about the metrological activities among the general public through various initiatives such as conducting training, empowering MSMEs, etc. To generate a trained workforce in the coming years, he suggested that the educational institutions of our country can work on a policy of framing courses and conducting training in the field of metrology. He also advised to create a pan-India database of testing, calibration and validation laboratories under various umbrella.
On this occasion, lectures covering almost all fields of physical quantities with their metrological aspects were delivered by renowned scientists. It included Metrology for Environment, Metrology for Heavy Engineering industries, Metrology for Bhartiya Nideshak Dravya (BNDs), Metrology for Health and Quality of Life, Metrology for E-Mobility and Energy, Metrology for Photo-Voltaic Metrology, etc. The event also showcased the CSIR-NPL’s Role and Efforts in Metrology and CSIR-NPL Road Map for Future and Developing National and International Collaborations. A Handbook on Advances in Metrology at CSIR-NPL was released. The book contains all the latest developments that have taken place in NPL and will be helpful for students, researchers, and industry personnel. A panel discussion was on the theme “Expectations from CSIR-NPL & Future directions.” Here experts from BIS, NABL, Legal Metrology, Industries, and Research and calibration labs discussed their challenges in the metrological sector and the possible solution the NPL can provide. It was a fruitful session that opened up a new collaboration dimension and will be helpful for the nation’s growth in the coming years. For students, a quiz competition was conducted that was attended by many students, including students from IIT and other engineering colleges in Delhi. They benefitted from the lectures and showed their interest in pursuing a career in Metrology. The event ended with the award ceremony and a formal vote of thanks to everyone for making the event a grand success.
For more details about CSIR-NPL and its “One Week One Lab” program, please keep visiting NPL website: https://www.nplindia.org/ and NPL social media handles (You Tube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter). The live streaming of the program is on the NPL YouTube Channel.
