About CSIR-National Physical Laboratory New Delhi in Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi

The National Physical Laboratory is the National Metrology Institute of india and a Premier Research Laboratory in the field of Physical Sciences.

The National Physical Laboratory was conceptualized in 1943 by the Governing Body of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with a view to pave way for using science and technology as a means for industrial growth and development, as well as to give fillip to the fledgling Indian industry. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone for the laboratory on January 4, 1947 and it was one of the first National Laboratory to be set-up under the CSIR. On January 21, 1950, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the NPL building. Over the years, the Laboratory has more than realized its primary mandate as the keeper of Measurement Standards for the nation while also substantially expanding its research activities to emerge as a leading national institution for research in a whole gamut of areas in the Physical Sciences.
Charter of CSIR-NPL
The main aim of the Laboratory is to strengthen and advance physics-based research and development for the overall development of science and technology in the country. In particular, its objectives are:
To establish, maintain and improve continuously by research, for the benefit of the nation, the National Standards of Measurements and to realize the Units, based on the International System
To identify and conduct, after due consideration, research in areas of physics which are most appropriate to the needs of the nation and for advancement of the field
To assist industries, national and other agencies in their development tasks by precision measurements, calibration, development of devices, processes and other allied problems related to physics
Outline of Research Activities at CSIR-NPL

In order to realize these objectives, the Laboratory’s research & development programme is currently divided into three main research centres :
(i) Centre of Materials
(ii) Centre of Radio and Atmospheric Sciences &
(iii) Centre of Metrology

The R & D activities of these research centres are carried out under different research divisions of the Laboratory, namely:
Physics of Energy Harvesting
Materials Physics & Engineering
Radio & Atmospheric Sciences
Time Frequency & Electrical Standards
Apex Level Standards & Industrial Metrology
Quantum Phenomena & Applications
Scientific and Administrative Support Divisions including Sophisticated and Analytical Instruments provide the necessary support to the R & D activities.