India on Monday made a fresh push towards seeking associate membership of the prestigious European Organisation for Nuclear Research, popularly known as CERN.

A high-level delegation of the Geneva-based scientific body met Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardha and Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh. "We have reiterated our commitments towards the CERN and take it forward," Vardhan said.

Indian scientists from the Departments of Atomic Energy and Science & Technology have been actively participating and collaborating with CERN. The application to become associated member of the body was mooted by the government in August 2015.

The delegation also discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest including the status of India's application for the associate membership of CERN. The major advantage of associate membership of CERN is that it will entitle India to become a part of a huge scientific and technological endeavour.

This will also offer an opportunity to Indian industry to bid for CERN contracts for industrial collaboration in advanced technologies. The delegation was led by Charlotte Warakaulle, Director for International Relations and Task Force Convenor, Olivier Martin, Eckhard Elsen, Rudiger Voss, Maurizio Vretenar and Sue Foffano. Pakistan is also an associate member of CERN.

Established in 1954, it is the world's largest body of experts in nuclear and particle physics, where scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe by using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced systems.

CERN is the birthplace of "www" (World Wide Web). The touch screen technology widely used in smartphones was also first developed by CERN.