The Central Government considers the development of cheap HIV/AIDS diagnostic kits, introduction of cost effective leprosy vaccine and commercialization of herbal asthma drug among the major achievements in the area of science and technology during the year 2002.

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has, in an official note, hailing the scientific achievements of the year, have put together the development of cheap Rs 20 diagnostic kits for HIV/AIDS and cost-effective leprosy vaccine along with the construction of nuclear reactors, development of technology to tap vast thorium reserves, launch of foreign satellites, and others as the major science-tech highlights of 2002.

It has also mentioned about the India-Russia joint global technology-transfer programme as another major achievement.

The indigenously developed highly cheap, globally competitive diagnostic kits costing just Rs 20 (compared with 50 dollars in the United States) has been termed as the most crucial step towards identifying the HIV carriers and thereby better management of AIDS. The ministry also informed that the strain of the HIV-1 sub-types C, the most prevalent genotype in India has been identified and the development of an AIDS vaccine in advanced stage. Research onto develop inexpensive drugs to control AIDS is also in an advanced stage.

The ministry said that the cost-effective vaccine and diagnostic-kit for leprosy has been fully commercialised and are in great demand in the global market. Development of "Asmon", a herbal remedy for asthma has also been pointed out as an achievement.

Setting up of Indo-Russian Biotech centre at Allahabad to deal with bio-informatics and the plans for Indo-Russian joint centre in Moscow for joint commercialisation of technologies in the global market were among the achievements of year for the ministry.

US Patents for the development of a surgical technique to regenerate organs in mammals by an Indian doctor and cow urine distillate developed for enhancing anti-microbial effect of the antibiotic also figured among the notable achievements.