About Indian Council of Agricultural Research
- is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
- It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
- It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences.
- The organisation was earlier known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
- It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
Headquarters and Institutional Network
- The headquarters of ICAR is located in New Delhi.
- It manages one of the largest national agricultural research systems in the world.
- The ICAR network includes:
- 101 ICAR research institutes
- 71 agricultural universities across India
Mandate and Areas of Work
ICAR’s mandate covers a wide range of thematic areas, including:
- Crop Science
- Horticultural Science
- Natural Resource Management
- Agricultural Engineering
- Animal Science
- Fisheries Science
- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Extension
Role in Indian Agriculture
- ICAR played a pioneering role in the Green Revolution, contributing to increased food grain production and food security.
- It has supported subsequent agricultural transformations through research, innovation, and technology dissemination.
- The organisation has been instrumental in promoting excellence in higher agricultural education.
- ICAR scientists are engaged in cutting-edge research and are internationally recognised for their contributions in agricultural and allied sciences.
