**Executive Summary**
This document addresses a starred question in Lok Sabha regarding the indigenous development of bio-bitumen from stubble by CSIR and CRRI. It confirms the development and transfer of technology for commercial manufacturing to 14 private companies. The document also details potential foreign exchange savings, reduced carbon emissions, and agricultural waste utilization as a result of bio-bitumen adoption. The question was answered on February 4, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Technology Development:**
* CSIR (through CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP) has developed an indigenous technology to produce bio-bitumen from agricultural residue (rice straw) via pyrolysis.
* The process involves converting crop residue to bio-oil and subsequently upgrading it for use in bituminous roads.
* **Economic Impact:**
* Bio-bitumen can potentially replace up to 30% of conventional petroleum-based bitumen.
* At a conservative 15% blending, adopting bio-bitumen could save approximately ₹4,000 crore per annum in foreign exchange. Actual savings depend on blending ratios, feedstock availability, and market prices.
* **Technology Transfer:**
* The technology was transferred on a non-exclusive basis to 14 industries across India on January 7, 2026.
* The transfer includes provisions for upfront fees, royalties, adherence to standards, intellectual property protection, confidentiality, and compliance with license agreements.
* **Environmental Impact:**
* Adoption of bio-bitumen is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
* Using agricultural residues prevents open-field burning, reducing carbon dioxide and particulate matter.
* **Rural/Agricultural Impact:**
* Using rice straw and crop residue as feedstock creates economic opportunities in rural areas (collection, transport, pyrolysis).
* This can provide additional income to farmers and entrepreneurs and decrease the need to burn stubble.
* **Standardization & Implementation:**
* CSIR-CRRI is collaborating with MoRTH to evaluate long-term bio-bitumen road performance to draft standards.
* CSIR-CRRI is also working with BIS on material specifications, test protocols, and usage guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government:**
* **Impact:** Potential for significant foreign exchange savings through reduced petroleum imports. Also, the government will be seen to promote environmentally conscious energy policies.
* **Action Required:** Support the development and implementation of bio-bitumen standards and promote its adoption in road construction projects.
**CSIR-CRRI/CSIR-IIP (Research Institutions):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for evaluating the long-term performance and viability of the technology in the field and standardization.
* **Action Required:** CSIR-CRRI to continue working with MoRTH and BIS to establish necessary standards and specifications for bio-bitumen.
**14 Licensed Industries:**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to commercially manufacture and scale up bio-bitumen production.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the terms of the technology transfer, including fee payments, royalty obligations, and quality standards.
**Farmers/Rural Entrepreneurs:**
* **Impact:** Potential for new income streams through the collection and transport of agricultural waste.
* **Action Required:** Explore opportunities to supply agricultural residue as feedstock for bio-bitumen production.
**Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH):**
* **Impact:** Implementation and evaluation of bio-bitumen roads
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with CSIR-CRRI to evaluate the long-term performance of bio-bitumen roads.
**Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):**
* **Impact:** Standardisation of production, testing and use of bio-bitumen across the country.
* **Action Required:** collaborate with CSIR-CRRI to formulate material specifications, test protocols and usage guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): An autonomous body, the primary subject of the policy document, involved in developing the bio-bitumen technology.
Ministry of Science and Technology: The ministry under which CSIR operates and to whom the parliamentary question is directed.
Bio-bitumen: The main subject of the document, a bitumen alternative developed from stubble. A key focus area of the policy.
Central Road Research Institute (CRRI): A constituent laboratory of CSIR, involved in developing the bio-bitumen technology and drafting standards.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH): The ministry working with CRRI to evaluate and draft standards for Bio-bitumen roads.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION No. *68
(ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026)
INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-BITUMEN FROM THE STUBBLE
*68. Shri Sudheer Gupta:
Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
a. Whether Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Central
Road Research Institute (CRRI) have developed the technology to
develop Bio-bitumen from the stubble indigenously and if so, the details
thereof;
b. The amount likely to be saved by the Government which is incurred on
import of petro bitumen;
c. Whether the Government has issued the licence for commercial
manufacturing of bio-bitumen to 14 private companies;
d. If so, the details thereof and the terms and conditions of such technology
transfer; the likely impact of the adoption of bio-bitumen on cost
reduction, import substitution, carbon emissions and rural/ agricultural
waste utilisation; and
e. The steps taken by the Government to promote large-scale adoption,
quality standards and commercial viability of bio-bitumen across the
country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *68 FOR REPLY ON 04.02.2026 REGARDING
INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-BITUMEN FROM THE STUBBLE ASKED
BY SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA AND SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
a. Yes. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its
constituent laboratories namely, CSIR-Central Road Research
Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi and CSIR-Indian Institute of
Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun, has jointly developed an indigenous
technology to produce bio-bitumen from agricultural residue (notably
rice straw) by pyrolysis. The process converts crop residue into bio-
oil via pyrolysis which is subsequently upgraded through chemical
processing and blended/modified to produce a bio-binder suitable for
use in bituminous roads.
(b) Bio-bitumen developed indigenously has the potential to partially
replace conventional petroleum-based bitumen without
compromising pavement performance. Studies and pilot-scale
evaluations indicate that bio-bitumen can replace up to 30 per cent
of conventional bitumen. Even at a conservative blending level of 15
per cent, the adoption of bio-bitumen across road projects in the
country is estimated to result in foreign exchange savings of
approximately ₹4,000 crore per annum through reduction in petro-
bitumen imports. However, the actual savings will depend on blending
ratio, availability of feedstock, and extant market prices.
(c) & Yes. The developed technology has been transferred on a non-
(d) exclusive basis to 14 industries from different parts of the country for
commercial manufacturing and scale-up on 7th January 2026. The
technology transfer, inter alia, includes provisions relating to
payment of upfront technology transfer fees (premia) and royalties,
adherence to prescribed technical specifications and quality
standards, protection of intellectual property rights, confidentiality
obligations, and compliance with the scope and conditions stipulated
in the licence agreements. The details of the 14 licensees is at
Annexure-I.
The likely impact of the adoption of bio-bitumen on cost reduction,
import substitution, carbon emissions and rural/agricultural waste
utilization is as under: Cost reduction and import substitution: Partial replacement of
petroleum bitumen with domestically produced bio-binder
reduces the volume of imported bitumen required thereby result
in foreign exchange savings for the country.
Reduction in carbon emissions: Adoption of bio-bitumen is
expected to result in a significant reduction in carbon emissions
compared to conventional petroleum-based bitumen. Bio-
bitumen is derived from renewable agricultural biomass, and its
partial substitution for petro-bitumen reduces the consumption
of fossil fuels and the associated lifecycle greenhouse gas
emissions. In addition, utilisation of agricultural residues such
as crop stubble for bio-bitumen production helps prevent open-
field burning, which is a major source of carbon dioxide,
particulate matter, and other air pollutants. The diversion of
biomass from open burning to productive use, therefore, leads
to both direct and indirect reductions in carbon emissions.
Rural/agricultural waste utilisation: Use of rice straw and crop
residue as feedstock creates an economic use for agricultural
waste, opening new value-chains (collection, transport,
pyrolysis units) in rural areas. This could provide additional
income streams to farmers and rural entrepreneurs and reduce
the need to burn stubble.
(e) To enable nationwide production and supply, the developed
technology has already been transferred to 14 industries from
different regions of the country on a non-exclusive basis to facilitate
decentralized manufacturing and commercial scale-up. Further, CSIR-
CRRI is working with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
(MoRTH) to evaluate long term performance of Bio-bitumen roads to
draft standards and specifications for Bio-bitumen. In addition CSIR-
CRRI is also working with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for the
formulation of material specifications, test protocols and usage
guidelines to ensure uniform quality, safety and long-term
performance of bio-bitumen in road construction.
*****Annexure – I
S.
Company Name City State
No.
1 Bitumenking India Private Limited Patiala Punjab
2 Catalyst Petrochem LLP Delhi Delhi
Engrow Carbon Energy Private
3 Erode Tamil Nadu
Limited
Future Universal Petrochem
4 Yamuna Nagar Haryana
Private Limited
Jalnidhi Bitumen Specialities
5 Kolkata West Bengal
Private Limited
6 Kotak Nova Green Energy LLP Jamnagar Gujarat
7 Negam Care Private Limited Namsai Arunachal Pradesh
8 Neptune Petrochemicals Limited Ahmedabad Gujarat
9 Nexxus Petro Industries Limited Ahmedabad Gujarat
Ooms Polymer Modified Bitumen
10 Gurugram Haryana
Private Limited
Rex Fuels Management Private
11 Mumbai Maharashtra
Limited
12 RK Truevalue LLP Mumbai Maharashtra
13 Terra Climate Tech Private Limited Jaipur Rajasthan
14 VR Petrochem India LLP Vadodara Gujarat