♦ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated two apex national facilities at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL), marking a significant milestone in India’s environmental governance and renewable energy ecosystem. Addressing the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR–NPL, the Minister inaugurated the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory and the world’s fifth National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration. 

♦ Singh said the National Environmental Standard Laboratory would strengthen India’s environmental governance framework by enabling accurate, transparent and India-specific calibration and certification of air pollution monitoring systems. 

♦ The Minister said the National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration makes India part of an elite global league in solar metrology. 

♦ Developed in collaboration with Germany’s PTB, the facility uses a laser-based Differential Spectral Responsivity system with one of the lowest global uncertainties for reference solar cell calibration.