PGS 505 | Topic 2 | Unit I
National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and Regional Agricultural Research Institutions
India feeds over 1.4 billion people — behind that achievement is a vast, coordinated network of research, education, and extension institutions.
1. What Is NARS?
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is India's coordinated network of institutions responsible for agricultural research, education, and extension. It brings together a national apex body (ICAR), regional universities (SAUs), specialised centres for genetic resources, and district-level extension units — all working toward the same goal: getting better crop varieties, livestock breeds, and farming practices into farmers' fields.
This network is what took India from a food-deficit nation in the 1960s to a country that is largely self-sufficient in food grains today. Since 1951, ICAR-linked research and technology has helped multiply production several-fold across major sectors:
2. ICAR: Origin, Mandate, and Leadership
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India. Formerly the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. Headquartered in New Delhi, ICAR is the apex body coordinating, guiding, and managing agricultural research and education — including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences — across the country, making it one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world. ICAR played a central role in the Green Revolution and has since driven major advances in Indian agriculture.
The Mandate
- Plan, undertake, coordinate, and promote research and technology development for sustainable agriculture.
- Aid, impart, and coordinate agricultural education to enable quality human resource development.
- Provide frontline extension for technology application, adoption, knowledge management, and capacity development for agri-based rural development.
- Provide policy, cooperation, and consultancy support in agricultural research, education, and extension.
Organisation and Leadership
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is the ex-officio President of the ICAR Society. The Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education, who also serves as Director-General of ICAR, is the Council's Principal Executive Officer. The Governing Body is ICAR's policy-making authority.
| Position | Current holder (per notes) |
|---|---|
| Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (ex-officio President, ICAR) | Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan |
| Secretary, DARE & Director-General, ICAR (Principal Executive Officer) | Dr. Mangi Lal Jat |
3. ICAR's Institutional Network
ICAR functions through several distinct types of institutions, each playing a specific role in the research ecosystem: full-fledged research institutes, deemed universities, national research centres, national bureaux for genetic resources, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), and directorates/project directorates.
These are the primary units where scientific work happens, from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI, New Delhi — often called the "Pusa Institute") to specialised centres for a single crop, region, or discipline.
| No. | Institute | Division |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi | Natural Resource Management |
| 2 | Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur | Natural Resource Management |
| 3 | Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar | Animal Science |
| 4 | Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur | Horticulture Science |
| 5 | Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa | Natural Resource Management |
| 6 | Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner | Horticulture Science |
| 7 | Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar | Animal Science |
| 8 | Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut | Animal Science |
| 9 | Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom | Animal Science |
| 10 | Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal | Agricultural Engineering |
| 11 | Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal | Fisheries Science |
| 12 | Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur | Crop Science |
| 13 | Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi | Fisheries Science |
| 14 | Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar | Fisheries Science |
| 15 | Central Institute of Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai | Agricultural Engineering |
| 16 | Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow | Horticulture Science |
| 17 | Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar | Horticulture Science |
| 18 | Central Institute on Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology, Ludhiana | Agricultural Engineering |
| 19 | Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair | Natural Resource Management |
| 20 | Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar | Agricultural Extension |
| 21 | Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore | Fisheries Science |
| 22 | Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai | Fisheries Science |
| 23 | Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi | Fisheries Science |
| 24 | Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod | Crop Science |
| 25 | Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla | Horticulture Science |
| 26 | Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres, Barrackpore | Crop Science |
| 27 | Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad | Natural Resource Management |
| 28 | Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar | Animal Science |
| 29 | Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal | Natural Resource Management |
| 30 | Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram | Crop Science |
| 31 | Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna | Natural Resource Management |
| 32 | Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani | Natural Resource Management |
| 33 | Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram | Natural Resource Management |
| 34 | Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad | Crop Science |
| 35 | Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi | Crop Science |
| 36 | Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad | Crop Science |
| 37 | Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun | Natural Resource Management |
| 38 | Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar | Natural Resource Management |
| 39 | Indian Institute of Wheat & Barley Research, Karnal | Crop Science |
| 40 | Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Hazaribagh | Crop Science |
| 41 | Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi | Agricultural Engineering |
| 42 | Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi | Natural Resource Management |
| 43 | Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi | Crop Science |
| 44 | Indian Institute of Groundnut Research, Junagadh | Crop Science |
| 45 | Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru | Horticulture Science |
| 46 | Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana | Crop Science |
| 47 | Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur | Crop Science |
| 48 | Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur | Crop Science |
| 49 | Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad | Crop Science |
| 50 | Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal | Natural Resource Management |
| 51 | Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut | Crop Science |
| 52 | Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow | Crop Science |
| 53 | Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi | Horticulture Science |
| 54 | National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad | Agricultural Education |
| 55 | National Institute for Abiotic Stress Management, Malegaon | Crop Science |
| 56 | National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture, Rajahmundry | Crop Science |
| 57 | National Institute of Agricultural Economics & Policy Research, New Delhi | Agricultural Education |
| 58 | National Institute of Animal Nutrition & Physiology, Bengaluru | Animal Science |
| 59 | National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur | Crop Science |
| 60 | National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal | Animal Science |
| 61 | National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering & Technology, Kolkata | Agricultural Engineering |
| 62 | National Institute of Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi | Crop Science |
| 63 | National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Ranchi | Agricultural Engineering |
| 64 | National Institute of Seed Science & Technology, Mau | Crop Science |
| 65 | National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology & Disease Informatics, Bengaluru | Animal Science |
| 66 | National Institute on Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar | Animal Science |
| 67 | National Meat Research Institute, Hyderabad | Animal Science |
| 68 | National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi | Crop Science |
| 69 | National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack | Crop Science |
| 70 | National Soybean Research Institute, Indore | Crop Science |
| 71 | Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Farming Research Institute, Motihari | Crop Science |
| 72 | Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore | Crop Science |
| 73 | Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora | Crop Science |
These operate under ICAR to provide advanced agricultural education alongside research, producing scientists who go on to staff research stations across the country.
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
- ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai
These address specific commodities or research problems — a dedicated centre for one crop or species rather than a broad discipline.
| Centre | Division |
|---|---|
| National Research Centre for Banana, Trichy | Horticulture Science |
| National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune | Horticulture Science |
| National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzaffarpur | Horticulture Science |
| National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur | Horticulture Science |
| National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner | Animal Science |
| National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar | Animal Science |
| National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema (Nagaland) | Animal Science |
| National Research Centre on Orchids, Pakyong (Sikkim) | Horticulture Science |
| National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati | Animal Science |
| National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer | Crop Science |
| National Research Centre on Yak, West Kameng | Animal Science |
These conserve and manage India's genetic resources in agriculture and allied sectors — repositories that plant breeders, animal scientists, and fisheries researchers depend on for developing improved varieties and breeds.
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi
- ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Micro-organisms, Mau (Uttar Pradesh)
- ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru
- ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal
- ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow
ATARIs monitor, review, and coordinate the KVK system in their zone — planning and reviewing KVK activities, coordinating with SAUs and line departments, and facilitating financial and infrastructural support to KVKs. ICAR's Agricultural Extension Division (headed by a Deputy Director-General) oversees this network through 11 zonal ATARIs.
| Zone | Location |
|---|---|
| Zone I | Ludhiana |
| Zone II | Jodhpur |
| Zone III | Kanpur |
| Zone IV | Patna |
| Zone V | Kolkata |
| Zone VI | Guwahati |
| Zone VII | Umiam (Barapani), Distt. Ri-Bhoi |
| Zone VIII | Pune |
| Zone IX | Jabalpur |
| Zone X | Hyderabad |
| Zone XI | Bengaluru |
- Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan
- Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune
- Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur
- Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand
- Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune
- Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur
- Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad
- Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture (DKMA), New Delhi
4. All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs)
AICRPs are multi-location research programmes that test technologies across different agro-climatic conditions simultaneously. This is a critical step for a country as agriculturally diverse as India: a new crop variety or farming technique must be validated across multiple regions — not just where it was originally bred — before it can be safely recommended to farmers nationwide.
5. State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)
While ICAR coordinates at the national level, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) are the regional powerhouses of agricultural research, education, and extension. India's first SAU was established in 1960 at Pantnagar (Uttar Pradesh, now Uttarakhand), modelled on the American land-grant university system. Today, India has over 60 SAUs, along with Central Agricultural Universities and deemed universities focused on agriculture.
SAUs carry a triple mandate: teaching (training the next generation of agricultural scientists and extension workers), research (location-specific work tailored to their state's agro-climatic conditions), and extension (transferring proven technologies to farmers). Each SAU also maintains Regional Agricultural Research Stations across its state's various agro-climatic zones.
ICAR ranks SAUs on parameters covering teaching, research, and extension quality, and provides accreditation through the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB), established in 1996 and given its current name in 2017.
Andhra Pradesh: Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur; Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem; Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati.
Assam: Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat.
Bihar: Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour (Bhagalpur); Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna.
Chhattisgarh: Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur; Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg.
Gujarat: Sardar Krushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Dantiwada; Anand Agricultural University, Anand; Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari; Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh; Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar.
Haryana: Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar; Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar; Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnal.
Himachal Pradesh: Ch. Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur; Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan.
Jharkhand: Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi.
Jammu & Kashmir: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Srinagar; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu.
Karnataka: University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore; Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar; University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur; University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad; University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot; University of Agriculture & Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga.
Kerala: Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur; Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad (Kochi); Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode (Wayanad).
Madhya Pradesh: Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior; Nanaji Deshmukh Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur; Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur.
Maharashtra: Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli; Maharashtra Animal & Fisheries Sciences University, Nagpur; Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani; Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola.
Odisha: Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar.
Punjab: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
Rajasthan: Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur; Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner; Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bikaner; SKN Agriculture University, Jobner; Agriculture University, Kota; Agriculture University, Jodhpur.
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chennai; Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Nagapattinam.
Telangana: Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Hyderabad; Sri P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad; Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad.
Uttarakhand: G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar; VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Bharsar.
Uttar Pradesh: Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur; Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad; Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut; U.P. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura; Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda.
West Bengal: Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur; West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata; Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar.
6. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
Research is only useful once it reaches the farmer — and that is exactly the gap Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), or Farm Science Centres, are designed to close. These are district-level institutions established by ICAR to bridge laboratory research and on-farm application. The first KVK was set up on a pilot basis in 1974 at Puducherry (under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), following recommendations from a committee headed by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta (1973–74). As of 2025, India has a network of 731 KVKs, with the long-term goal of one in every district.
What KVKs Do
- On-Farm Testing (OFT): assessing new technologies under real farming conditions before wider recommendation.
- Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs): showcasing proven technologies on farmers' own fields, under KVK scientists' supervision — visible proof that is far more convincing than a classroom lecture.
- Training programmes: hands-on, "learning by doing" sessions for farmers, farm women, rural youth, and extension workers, covering crop production, animal husbandry, horticulture, fisheries, and post-harvest management.
- Input supply: producing and supplying quality seeds, planting material, bio-fertilisers, and livestock breeds, functioning as a single-window knowledge and resource centre at the district level.
7. Beyond ICAR: Other Research Organisations
Several organisations outside the core ICAR structure also contribute significantly to agricultural research in India:
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun | Research and education in forestry — closely linked to agriculture through agroforestry, watershed management, and biodiversity conservation. |
| Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) | Not exclusively agricultural, but several CSIR labs work on agriculture-relevant areas — e.g., the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, and the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow. |
| Department of Biotechnology (DBT) | Funds and supports agricultural biotechnology research — genetically modified crop development, molecular breeding, bio-pesticide research — often in collaboration with ICAR institutes and SAUs. |
International Research Partnerships
India's agricultural research system also collaborates with international bodies, bringing global expertise and germplasm resources to India while allowing Indian innovations to reach farmers elsewhere:
- ICRISAT — International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad
- IRRI — International Rice Research Institute
- IFPRI — International Food Policy Research Institute
8. How It All Fits Together
NARS does not function as isolated silos. ICAR provides national-level guidance; SAUs handle regional research and education; national bureaux conserve genetic resources; and KVKs deliver technologies to farmers at the district level. The typical flow of knowledge runs:
This coordinated, lab-to-land pipeline is what enabled India to move from a food-deficit nation in the 1960s to a largely self-sufficient agricultural producer today.
Persisting Challenges
- Many KVKs face resource constraints and staffing shortages.
- SAUs sometimes struggle with outdated infrastructure and limited funding.
- The gap between technology development and actual farmer adoption remains wider than it should be — especially for small and marginal farmers in remote areas.
Quick Quiz
Test yourself on the structure of India's National Agricultural Research System.
16 July 1929, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, following the Royal Commission on Agriculture's recommendations.
A National Research Centre focuses on a specific commodity or research problem (e.g., banana, camel). A National Bureau conserves and manages genetic resources (e.g., plant genetic resources, animal genetic resources) that breeders and researchers depend on.
Pantnagar (now G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology), established in 1960, modelled on the American land-grant university system.
It laid the foundation for the nationwide expansion of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, leading to the first KVK being established at Puducherry in 1974.
They test new crop varieties and technologies across multiple agro-climatic locations simultaneously, validating them for India's diverse conditions before wider recommendation to farmers.