Chitra is Sir J.C. Bose National Fellow. She is an elected fellow of The Indian Natl. Science Acad. (New Delhi), Indian Acad. of Sciences (Bangalore), The Natl. Acad. of Sciences (Allhabad), Natl. Acad. of Medical Sciences and West Bengal Acad. of Science and Technology. Her autobiography was published in the book 'Lilavati’s Daughters: Women Scientists of India' by the Indian Acad. of Sciences. Her awards include: Natl. Woman Bioscientist; Prof. S.S.Katiyar Endowment Lecture; Dr. Yellapragada SubbaRow Memorial; Senior Scientist Oration; BioTech Product and Process Development and Commercialization; Kshanika Oration; Smt Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Industrial Research; and The PB Rama Rao Memorial.