Lucknow: The CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, celebrated its 48th Annual Day today at its campus with great enthusiasm and fervor in the landmark year of CSIR’s 85th Foundation Day. The Program was graced by Padma Shri Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta as the Chief Guest , Dr. Shankaranarayanan Rajan, Outstanding Scientist, CSIR-CCMB, Hyderabad, as the Guest of Honour , and Shri Hemant Patil, Minister of State (Cabinet Rank), Government of Maharashtra, as the Special Guest.
Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Chief Guest, and the dignitaries lighted the lamp during this occasion. The director of CSIR-CIMAP welcomed the chief guest and presented the highlights of the institute’s progress over the last year.
Padam Shri Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta, Chief Guest of the function, congratulated CSIR-CIMAP Director Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, scientists, employees, and researchers on the Annual Day and appreciated the scientists for their outstanding, high-impact research publications. He said, “Wherever a plant is grown, there should be an opportunity for its value addition.” He stressed the need to develop networks and clusters where farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and local communities can work together. He also emphasized that products developed from traditional knowledge should appropriately acknowledge not only the scientists but also the farmers, local communities, and traditional knowledge holders who are the original sources of that knowledge.
On the occasion, Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP , welcomed the Chief Guest and briefed the gathering on the Institute’s key research achievements over the past year. He highlighted the dedicated efforts of CIMAP scientists to translate laboratory research into field-level technologies for farmers across the country, including those in remote and tribal areas, ensuring that the benefits of scientific research reach the grassroots. CSIR-CIMAP is making an impact not only at the national level but also on the international scientific platform.
He highlighted that under the CSIR Aroma Mission, CSIR laboratories have worked together to take improved varieties and technologies to farmers, industries, and entrepreneurs across the country.
The mission has helped transform the cultivation, processing, and marketing of several important aromatic crops. The mission received the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar–Vigyan Team 2025 (Agriculture), while the institute was honoured with the FICCI Sustainable Agriculture Award 2025 for its contributions to sustainable agriculture and farmer-centric technologies.
Under the Phyto-pharmaceutical Mission, CSIR-CIMAP developed 14 BND reference materials and released six new MAP varieties. Through this programme, CSIR-CIMAP has developed indigenous capabilities for producing such materials, thereby reducing dependence on imports. The institute also transferred 16 herbal formulation technologies, filed 6 patents, and signed 23 institutional and industrial agreements, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, technology translation, and societal impact.
Special Guest Hemant Patil, Hon’ble Minister of State (Cabinet Rank), Government of Maharashtra , congratulated the Institute and said the turmeric partnership would take Maharashtra’s GI-tagged “Vasmat Haldi” from farms to global markets, strengthening farmer incomes through science-led value addition.
As part of the 48th CSIR–CIMAP Annual Day Celebration–2026, a Distinguished Talk was delivered by Dr. Shankaranarayanan Rajan, Outstanding Scientist, CSIR–CCMB, Hyderabad, on the topic “Chiral Checkpoints in Protein Biosynthesis: An Unexpected Link to Plant Development.”
On the occasion of CSIR-CIMAP Annual Day, an MoU was signed with Hon’ble Balasaheb Thackeray Haridra (Turmeric) Research and Training Center , which will promote scientific research, germplasm conservation, and scaling of the GI-tagged “Vasmat Haldi” through joint R&D, phytochemical profiling, value addition, and farmer training.
Another MOU with DUVASU, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, to collaborate on research and exploration of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in frontier areas of veterinary care and poultry management. An MoU with Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN), Ahmedabad will validate Himalayan and tribal traditional knowledge and promote community microenterprises, product development, and e-commerce platforms in Baramulla, Gurez, and West Sikkim. Along with this, a Collaboration and Implementation Agreement was signed with Compliance Kart Private Limited, Noida, to implement Carbon Credit and Green Credit programs for farmers and farming communities.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Ramesh Srivastava, followed by the National Anthem. Scientists, researchers, faculty members, representatives of academic and scientific institutions, invited dignitaries and CSIR-CIMAP staff attended the programme.
