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TECHNICAL PAPER

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS OF

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CEMENT

AND BUILDING MATERIALS IN THE

RESEARCH-DRIVEN EVOLUTION OF

INDIAN STANDARDS P. N. OJHA*

Abstract into materials, structural behaviour, and durability engineering.
This manuscript captures the fundamental research outcomes
This manuscript presents the fundamental and blue-sky research of the group, focusing on developments that not only address
contributions of the Construction Development and Research immediate industry needs but also provide foundational
Group at the National Council for Cement and Building knowledge for next-generation concrete technologies. As
Materials (NCCBM). The research spans the development indicated in the abstract, it is pertinent to outline at the outset
of alternative aggregates from construction and demolition the specific technological contributions of the NCCBM over
(C&D) waste and industrial by-products such as bottom ash, the past decade that underpin the subsequent technical
ferrochrome slag, electric arc furnace slag, conarc slag, air discussions. During this period, NCCBM has undertaken a
cooled blast furnace slag, granulated blast furnace slag etc.; series of coordinated, long-term research programmes aimed
advances in low‑carbon binders such as fly ash‑slag composite at advancing concrete technology through scientifically rigorous
cement, Portland limestone cement, high volume fly ash investigations, multi-institutional collaborations, and direct
cement, PSC blended with granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) linkage of research outputs with national standardization
and LD slag, and fly ash‑limestone composite cements etc.; activities. These initiatives have addressed critical challenges
characterization of high-performance concretes (HPC), ultra related to sustainable material utilization, durability-driven
high performance concrete (UHPC), geopolymer concrete, roller design, and performance‑based specification of concrete
compacted concrete, sintered fly ash lightweight concrete, materials under Indian environmental and exposure conditions.
pervious concrete, plastic concrete and controlled low strength A key area of contribution has been the systematic research on
[7-8]
materials and pioneering work in chemical admixture and construction and demolition (C&D) waste and industrial by-
[9-10]
[11]
reinforcement corrosion inhibitor evaluation, thermal studies products, including bottom ash , blast furnace slag , electric
[12]
and temperature control of mass concrete, cathodic protection, arc furnace slag, Conarc slag, ferrochrome slag , and copper
[11]
3D printable concrete, etc. The group’s scientific outputs have slag . Through comprehensive material characterization,
directly contributed to revisions and formulation of major Indian microstructural analysis, mechanical and durability evaluation,
Standards such as IS: 456, IS: 383, IS: 516, IS: 1199, IS: 9103, and field‑scale validation, NCCBM has generated robust
IS: 2386 [1-6] etc. This article synthesizes the principal research datasets and performance criteria that enabled the safe and
findings, methodologies, and theoretical advancements standardized use of these materials as alternatives to natural
developed over the last 10 years of research. aggregates.
These research outcomes have directly influenced revisions to
1. INTRODUCTION aggregate specifications and test methods, thereby translating
laboratory findings into nationally applicable standards and
Concrete research in India is undergoing a critical shift driven facilitating large-scale industrial adoption. Concurrently,
by demands for sustainability, durability, and resource efficiency. NCCBM has made significant advances in the development
With increasing pressure on natural aggregates and cement and assessment of low-carbon binders [8, 13] , such as composite
production, the need for low-carbon materials and innovative cements , Portland limestone cement, high‑volume fly ash
[14]
construction technologies has intensified. The Construction cement [15, 16] , slag‑rich binders, and fly ash‑limestone composite
Development and Research Group at NCCBM has responded systems [16, 17] . Detailed investigations into hydration mechanisms,
to this national challenge through sustained scientific research carbonation resistance, chloride ingress, and reinforcement

THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | JANUARY 2026 83
* Corresponding author: P. N. Ojha, Email: pnojhaji@gmail.com