On 7 January 2026, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction.
Bio-bitumen acts as a binder similar to conventional petroleum-based bitumen, which is a black, viscous hydrocarbon mixture obtained from crude oil.
Speaking at the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, the Minister congratulated CSIR for achieving this milestone and stated that the innovation will reduce pollution from crop residue burning. He also described bio-bitumen as a transformative step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Science & Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that this step marks the beginning of a clean and green highway era, promotes the Waste to Wealth mission, and aligns with Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
