New Delhi: Tamil Nadu woman scientist N. Kalachelvi has been appointed as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It is noteworthy that she is the first woman to head 38 research centers employing 4,500 scientists across the country.
N. Kalachelvi is the Director of Central Electrochemical Research Center – CSIR, Karaikudi. He has made many contributions in the field of lithium iron batteries. Shekhar Mande, who was the director-general of CSIR, retired last April. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, was additionally looking after the leadership.
In this case, N. Kalachelvi has been appointed as the Chief Director of CSIR. He will hold this post for 2 years, the Union Personnel Ministry said. Apart from this, he will also look after the responsibility of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Industrial Research.
Belongs to Nellai
Kalachelvi hails from Wickramasinghapuram near Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district. She studied in Tamil medium from 9th to 12th standard at St. Joseph’s Middle School here and from 9th to 12th standard at Tirunelveli Gandhimati Ambal Girls Higher Secondary School.
Starting his career as a scientist at CSIR Centre, Kalachelvi has been involved in research in electrochemical electrical devices for over 25 years. He has submitted more than 125 research papers so far. He has also received 6 patents.
Greetings from the Chief Minister
In the congratulatory message released by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, ‘Kaalichelvi from Tamil Nadu has achieved the distinction of being the first woman director of CSIR, India’s highest scientific research institute. Congratulations to him. Kalachelvi’s achievement is the best proof that Tamil education is not an obstacle to learning science.