Central Pulp & Paper Research Institute, a National level Institute was established in 1980 as an autonomous body under the administrative control of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India to promote R&D in the field of pulp & paper. The origin of CPPRI dates back to the year 1975 when the UNDP-GOI Project became operational. After the conclusion of the UNDP Project, the facilities thus created were utilized to fulfill the long felt need for R&D needs of Indian Pulp and Paper Industry. Thus after the approval of the Cabinet, Central Pulp & Paper Research Institute (CPPRI) came into existence in November 1980. Existing R&D facilities were continuously upgraded with the aid of Plan Funds received from the Government of India.

All affairs of CPPRI are managed by 18 membered Council of Association, comprising of representatives from Paper Industry, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), and Department of Science & Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) and IIT Roorkee. The Secretary (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India is the President of the Council of Association. The Council of Association performs various functions such as deciding the budget, approval of annual plan, purchase and disposal of equipment etc.

Planning & monitoring of research activities is looked after by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). The committee is represented by Senior Executives from Pulp & Paper Industry, Associations, Research Organizations and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.