Where is the National Institute of Virology situated?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, Pune. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) is located in Pune, Maharashtra. It is a premier institute of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), set up in 1952 as the Virus Research Centre and renamed NIV in 1978. A WHO Collaborating Centre, it led India's isolation and study of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus and has been the national reference lab during Nipah, Zika and other viral outbreaks.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) Hyderabad hosts institutes such as CCMB and the National Institute of Nutrition — but not the NIV.  (c) Mumbai has the Haffkine Institute and Tata Memorial/ACTREC, not the National Institute of Virology.  (d) Lucknow has the CSIR–Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) and SGPGIMS, not the NIV.

Concept: The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, is India's apex laboratory for the diagnosis and research of viral diseases. Under ICMR, it operates a BSL-4 (highest bio-safety) facility and serves as the national reference centre for identifying novel and dangerous viruses during outbreaks.

State PCS 2020 Q47 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q47 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer