CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, India (CSIR-NPL) is committed to ensuring the quality of products in every manufacturing and consumer sector by providing SI traceable measurements and plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life of citizens through metrology. In the BIPM database, the NPL has 236 Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) and 168 global or bilateral key comparisons. The CMCs provide measurement traceability to the International System of Units (SI) through a series of calibrations. Further, the CMCs aid in the development of reference materials, tools and resources. Nationally and internationally, the NPL provides commercial services in the form of testing and calibration of test equipment through its Centre for Calibration & Testing (CFCT).

Reference materials (RM) play a pivotal role in maintaining the quality infrastructure of any economy through testing and calibration with precise measurements traceable to SI units. CSIR-NPL re-launched its certified RMs program in the year 2017. The Indian reference materials were registered with the trade name “Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravyas (BNDs)”. Under this relaunched BND program, the first certifications have been granted to Government of India Mint as BND^®4201 for 4N purity gold and BND^® 5101A to the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) for bituminous coal. Thereafter, a number BNDs have been released in the area of cement and building materials, petroleum products, water testing, high-purity chemicals and solutions, precious metals and pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with certified reference material producers (RMPs). To date, more than 142 certified reference materials as BNDs are already on the national and international markets.

The availability of SI traceable BND^® is poised to boost the “Make in India” program and harmonize the quality infrastructure of the country.

Dr. S.P. Singh
Sr. Principal Scientist & Head
Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND)
Indian Reference Material, Division #5.0
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory,
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg,
New Delhi-110012
Email: headbnd@nplindia.org, singhsp@nplindia.org
Phone: +91-11-

For any BND related query please write to respective RMPs keeping Head BND in loop

In-House BND Section of CSIR-NPL is mainly focused for the development of various Indian Reference Materials Reference materials for the calibration of sophisticated instruments and also developing BNDs in the area of petroleum products, pesticides and precious metals with the collaboration of Reference Material Producers (RMPs). These BNDs play a vital role in various fields, including research, industry, and quality control. These materials provide a benchmark against which measurements, experiments, and tests can be compared, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and consistency. By developing indigenous reference materials, India aimed to reduce its dependence on imported standards and align its measurements and testing practices with international standards while considering local conditions and contexts.

1. Dr N. Vijayan Principal Scientist
2. Dr Vidyanand Singh Principal Scientist
3. Dr GA Basheed Principal Scientist
4. Arvind Gautam Sr. Scientist

For any enquiry:

Liaising and communicating with external reference material producers.

For any enquiry:

Chemical Metrology and Development of CRM/BND emphasizing chemical parameters of various matrices.

For any enquiry:

BND® management is mainly involved in creation and implementation of new policies on BND production in national interest. This sub-group is an interface between RMPs (in-house/external) for BND certification (as per ISO guidelines and NPL quality system) for Reference materials traceable to SI units and sale.

Scientific Members:

• Dr S P Singh, Sr. Principal Scientist
• Dr Pallavi Kushwaha, Senior Scientist
• Dr Sandeep Singh, Sr. Technical Officer

For any enquiry:

Registration of proposed BND®  should be done by submitting appropriate online registration form. 

A certificate of analysis will be provided along with traceability after qualifying all necessary steps for BND^® production by BND^® producer.

• List of available BNDs

List of all ongoing projects for development of new BNDs®.

MoU between RMP and NPL draft

In progress

In progress

Dr. S.P. Singh
Senior Principal Scientist & Head
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory,
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg,
email: singhsp@nplindia.org
New Delhi-110012
Phone: +91-11-

• Dr. Vipin Jain
  Senior Principal Scientist & Deputy Head
  Email: vipin@nplindia.org
  Ph: +91- 011- 4560 9270/8373 

In-House BND Group

Dr. N. Vijayan
Senior Principal Scientist
Room No. 42, In-House BND Group,
Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravyas Division,
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory,
Dr K S Krishnan Marg, New Delhi – 110 012
Phone No.: +91-11-45608263 / 9371
Email: nvijayan@nplindia.org

Outreach RMP Group

Dr. Nahar Singh
Senior Principal Scientist
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory,
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi – 110012
Phone No.: +91-11-4560-8373 / 9221
Fax: +91-11-45609310
Email: naharsingh@nplindia.org

Chemical and Food Group

Dr. S. Swarupa Tripathy
Head & Principal Scientist
Chemical & Food BND Group
Indian Reference Material (BND) Division,
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi-110012
Phone No. : +91-11-45608339
Email: tripathyss@nplindia.org

BND Management Group

Dr. S. P. Singh
Senior Principal Scientist
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory
Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi-110012
Phone No.: +91-11-42342418
Fax: +91-11-45609310
Email: singhsp@nplindia.org