THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (ICAR)

THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (ICAR)

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
• Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
• The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
• The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development.
• It has enabled the country to increase the production of foodgrains by 5 times, horticultural crops by 9.5 times, fish by 12.5 times, milk 7.8 times and eggs 39 times since 1951 to 2014, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security.
• It has played a major role in promoting excellence in higher education in agriculture.
• It is engaged in cutting edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.
• Union Minister of Agriculture is the ex-officio President of the ICAR Society.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Established: 16th July, 1929.
• President: Radha Mohan Singh.