About the ICAR
ICAR is India’s apex body for agricultural research and education, working under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Established in 1929, it coordinates research and education in crops, horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences.
Key Facts
| Particular | Details |
| Established | 16 July 1929 (as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research) |
| Parent department | Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Headquarters | Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi |
| President | Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare |
| Recent achievement | First fully annotated T2T reference genome of pigeonpea, via ICAR-NIPB |
Key Functions
- Develops high-yielding, pest-resistant and climate-resilient crop and pulse varieties.
- Supervises breeder seed production and conducts multi-location trials across agro-climatic zones.
- Disseminates improved production technologies through its institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
- Provides scientific support for capacity building and technology dissemination to farmers nationwide.
The Agricultural Research and Education Network
- Research Institutes: ICAR manages a large network of 96+ specialised institutes, along with National Bureaux, Project Directorates and National Research Centres, covering different areas of agriculture.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): KVKs are district-level Farm Science Centres that connect scientists with farmers. They conduct field trials, provide training and demonstrate new agricultural technologies.
- State Agricultural Universities (SAUs): ICAR supports agricultural education and research through 60+ State Agricultural Universities and other institutions, integrating teaching, research and extension.
- Scientific Recruitment: The Agricultural Scientists’ Recruitment Board (ASRB), established in 1973, handles the recruitment and selection of agricultural scientists.
Historical Impact of The Green Revolution
- Green Revolution: ICAR provided the scientific backbone for India’s Green Revolution through HYV seeds, improved farming practices and multi-location crop research.
- Research & Collaboration: ICAR worked with CIMMYT and IRRI and promoted AICRPs to test and adapt improved crop varieties across India.
- Impact: These efforts helped India shift from food shortage to food self-sufficiency.
Flagship Initiatives and Modern Programmes
- Climate & Youth: NICRA (2011) builds climate-resilient agriculture, while Project ARYA (2015–16) promotes agriculture-based enterprises among rural youth.
- Farmer & Education Focus: Farmer FIRST and Student READY (2015) strengthen farmer participation and student skills, while NAHEP and NAIP support agricultural education, research and innovation.
Conclusion
As India’s apex agricultural research and education body since 1929, ICAR’s pigeonpea T2T genome breakthrough reinforces its institutional mandate of developing high-yielding, climate-resilient crop varieties through its nationwide network of institutes and KVKs.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article – ICAR Develops India’s First Telomere-to-Telomere Reference Genome of Pigeonpea. |