The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT), organized by the CSIR Sports Promotion Board, brings together participants from various CSIR institutes to promote team spirit, leadership, and unity. As one of India’s premier R&D organisations, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, operates a nationwide network of 37 laboratories.
Held in memory of Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar (1894–1955), the first Director General of CSIR and a pioneer of Indian science, the tournament is a key annual event. Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar’s untiring efforts, devotion of duty and pioneering work in the field of Chemical Sciences brought him many laurels at the national and international levels. As an eminent scientist who was elected Fellow of Royal Society, Dr Bhatnagar emphasized on the utilization of Science for national development and contributed greatly for the building of CSIR.
The 53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Indoor Tournament (SSBMT) – Zonal-1 (Indoor) is being held at CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, from August 30 to September 1, 2025. Organized by the CSIR Sports Promotion Board, the tournament aims to foster camaraderie, team spirit, and a sense of unity among CSIR laboratories across the country.
In this zonal tournament, eight CSIR laboratories are participating with great enthusiasm:
• CSIR-Fourth Paradigm Institute (CSIR-4PI)
• CSIR-Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI)
• CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP)
• CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB)
• CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL)
• CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI)
• CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI)
• CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi
Participants are competing in a variety of indoor sports, including Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Carrom, and Bridge.
The tournament was inaugurated on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Vigyan Auditorium, CSIR-SERC, Chennai. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Shri Karthikeyan Murali, Chess Grand Master, and Smt. Valdivel Jeyalakshmi, Olympian, as Chief Guests. The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the Kuthuvilakku. Dr. J. Prabakar, Chief Scientist & Organizing Secretary, 53rd SSBMT, Zonal-1 (Indoor) & Vice-President, Staff Club, CSIR-SERC, delivered the Welcome Address.
Dr. (Smt.) N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, and Dr. K.J. Sreeram, Director, CSIR-CLRI, Chennai, delivered the inaugural addresses. The Chief Guests released the Souvenir to mark the commencement of the tournament. Dr. Varsha R. Ohatker, Medical Officer, CSIR-IICT & SPB Observer, administered the SSBMT Oath. Dr. K. Lakshmi, Senior Principal Scientist & Secretary, Staff Club, CSIR-SERC, and SPB Observer proposed the Vote of Thanks.