The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) was established under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, an autonomous registered Society of the federal government, as a centre dedicated to drug research. The laboratory was formally inaugurated by the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 17th February, 1951. Currently it is one of the 40 laboratories under the CSIR catering to different science disciplines, serving practically the entire gamut of socio-economic sectors.

The credit for the initial planning of CDRI goes to the British scientist Sir Edward Mellanby (November 1950 - July 1951), followed by major structuring by the first Indian Director, Dr. B. Mukerji (July 1951 - March 1963).

Creation of a new building for CDRI was not feasible at that time due to economic reasons and therefore the choice had been restricted to any one of the four old buildings, which were then available for locating this Institute including the historic Chattar Manzil Palace; the later was selected to house CDRI. In its present form Chattar Manzil is a huge structure comprising two portions - a small portion built by the French General, Claude Martin, and a large structure built by the then rulers, the Nawabs of Avadh in the early 19th century.

- History of Main Campus