A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi; Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA)- IIT Delhi and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), New Delhi to provide the UBA access to CSIR rural technologies on non-exclusive basis as per extant CSIR guidelines for the benefit of the rural people of the country.

Towards this CSIR-UBA-VIBHA would work jointly for post COVID-19 fast track action plan to create rural livelihood opportunities. The UBA nodal centers consisting of institutes like IITs, NITs, and Agricultural Universities etc. will act as solution facilitators and as link to connect R&D institutions and organizations like CSIR to the rural masses and development agencies, Participating Institutes, NGOs, and Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Expert guidance and technical support will be provided to grassroots entrepreneurs in terms of feasibility and sustainability in the major thematic areas: Agriculture Technologies, Food Processing Technology and Engineering, Rural Energy, Waste Management and Eco-Friendly Technologies, Biomass Utilization Technology, Environmental Biology, Extraction of Natural Products and Value Addition of Forest Products etc.

The MoU was signed on July 28, 2020 in the presence of Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, DG CSIR & Secretary DSIR Government of India; Dr. Virendra Kumar Vijay, National Coordinator, UBA and Professor, IIT Delhi; Shri Jayant Sahasrabudhe National Organising Secretary, VIBHA; Dr. Sunil. K. Khare, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi; Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director CSIR-NISTADS, New Delhi; Prof. Vivek Kumar and Dr. Priyanka Kaushal, CRDT, IIT Delhi and Shri Praveen Ramdas (VIBHA).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shekhar C. Mande expressed hopes that the MoU would help in taking benefits of CSIR technologies to the far corners of the country. Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal also expressed hopes that the MoU will pave the way for effective coordination between CSIR, IIT Delhi and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA) towards meeting the objectives of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.

Prof. Virendra Kumar Vijay described how the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan has now become a national level program since its start in 2014. He elaborated upon the reach of the UBA and talked about the large number of institutions, which have associated themselves with it in a short period of time.

Sh. Sahasrabudhe also expressed his optimism about the contribution the MoU would make to the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan and taking the benefits of science to the society.

Prof Sunil Kr. Khare spoke of the association between the CSIR and IIT Delhi and how the two institutions can further contribute in the development of the country through their increased cooperation.