Gypsum Board Testing and Micro-Characterisation Laboratories Inaugurated

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) India–NCB Carbon Uptake Report was released on the occasion of the 63rd Foundation Day of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB). During the event Gypsum Board Testing Laboratory and Micro-Characterisation Laboratory were also inaugurated by Economic Advisor, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ms Urmila, IES, and Special Director General, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Shri Mohd. Kamal Ahmad. The event was held in the presence of Director General, NCB, Dr L. P. Singh.

The Gypsum Board Testing Laboratory has been established to support the quality assurance and standardisation needs of the gypsum board industry. In this context, it was noted that the Gypsum-Based Building Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was notified by DPIIT in the year 2024. The Micro-Characterisation Laboratory is equipped with advanced analytical facilities for detailed investigation of cementitious and construction materials.

Addressing the gathering, Ms Urmila appreciated NCB’s sustained contributions in the areas of research, technology development, quality assurance and capacity building, which have supported the evolving needs of the cement sector. In his address, Special Director General, CPWD, Shri Mohd. Kamal Ahmad, complimented NCB for supporting sustainable construction in India through its research and development efforts.

The GCCA India–NCB report on “Carbon Uptake by Concrete”, highlighted the assessment of CO₂ uptake through carbonation in concrete in the Indian context.

The report is a collaborative effort between NCB and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), India, and is based on the Tier-I methodology of IVL Swedish Environment Research Institute. It notes that the cement industry contributes about 7 per cent of total anthropogenic emissions and is considered a hard-to-abate sector due to process-related CO₂ emissions arising from the calcination of limestone.

The report outlines future actions aimed at improving data robustness, refining estimation methodologies, and supporting the integration of carbon uptake in national sustainability and climate reporting frameworks. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, for consideration of inclusion as a carbon sink in the National Communications (NATCOM) to the UNFCCC.

About NCB:

National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) is an apex Research and Development organisation under the administrative control of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. NCB is dedicated to research, technology development and transfer, education and industrial services for cement, allied building materials, and the construction sector.

Carbon uptake by concrete report seeks inclusion of carbonation as a carbon sink in national climate reporting. The collaborative GCCA India-NCB report assesses CO2 uptake through carbonation in concrete using a Tier I methodology, identifies limitations in current data and estimation methods, proposes actions to improve robustness and methodology, and will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for consideration of inclusion of carbonation as a carbon sink in National Communications to the UNFCCC.