Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR)
By
Ms. Preeti Patel
School Of Library And information Science
DAVV, Indore
Email: preetipatel2407@yahoo.co.in
ICAR
 The Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under
the Department of Agricultural Research and
Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government
of India. Formerly known as Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research, it was established on
16 July, 1929 as a registered society under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance
of the report of the Royal Commission on
Agriculture. The ICAR has its headquarters at
New Delhi.
 The Council is the apex body for
coordinating, guiding and managing
research and education in agriculture
including horticulture, fisheries and
animal sciences in the entire country.
With 97 ICAR institutes and 45
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 that has
enabled the country to increase the
production of foodgrains by 4 times,
horticultural crops by 6 times, fish by 9
times (marine 5 times and inland 17 times),
milk 6 times and eggs 27 times since 195051, 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.
DEVELOPMENT
 Initiation of the first All-India Co-ordinated Research Project on
Maize in 1957
 Status of Deemed University accorded to IARI in 1958
 Establishment of the first State Agricultural University on land
grant pattern at Pantnagar in 1960
 Placement of different agricultural research institutes under the
purview of ICAR in 1966
 Creation of Department of Agricultural Research and Education
(DARE) in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1973
 Opening of first Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Puducherry
(Pondicherry) in 1974
 Establishment of Agricultural Research Service and Agricultural
Scientists' Recruitment Board in 1975
 Launching of Lab-to-Land Programme and the National
Agricultural Research Project (NARP) in 1979
 Initiation of Institution-Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) in 1995
 Establishment of National Gene Bank at New Delhi in 1996
 The ICAR was bestowed with the King Baudouin
Award in 1989 for its valuable contribution in ushering
in the Green Revolution. Again awarded King Baudouin
Award in 2004 for research and development efforts
made under partnership in Rice Wheat Consortium.
 Launching of National Agricultural Technology Project
(NATP) in 1998 and National Agricultural Innovation
Project (NAIP) in 2005
OBJECTIVES
 To plan, undertake, aid, promote and coordinate education,
research and its application in agriculture, agroforestry, animal
husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences.
 To act as a clearing house of research and general information
relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, home science and allied
sciences, and fisheries through its publications and information
system; and instituting and promoting transfer of technology
programmes.
 To provide, undertake and promote consultancy services in the
fields of education, research, training and dissemination of
information in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry,
fisheries, home science and allied sciences.
 To look into the problems relating to broader areas of rural
development concerning agriculture, including postharvest
technology by developing co-operative programmes with other
organizations
 To do other things considered necessary to attain the objectives of
the Society.
ORGANIZATION
 Union Minister of Agriculture is the ex-officio
President of the ICAR Society.
 Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research
& Education Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of
India & Director-General, ICAR – the Principal
Executive Officer of the Council.
 Governing Body is the policy-making authority
 Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board
 Deputy Directors-General (8)
 Additional Secretary (DARE) and Secretary
(ICAR)
 Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor
 Assistant Directors-General (24)
 National Director, National Agricultural
Innovation Project
 Directorate of Information and Publications of
Agriculture
RELATED INSTITUTE
 Deemed Universities – 4
1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New
Delhi
2. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
3. Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Izatnagar
4. Central Institute on Fisheries Education,
Mumbai
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Institutions – 45
National Research Centres – 17
National Bureaus – 6
Directorates/Project Directorates – 25
All India Coordinated Research Projects - 61
Network Projects – 17
Other Projects - 10
Zonal Project Directorate- 8
Directorate of Information
and Publications of
Agriculture
The Directorate of Information and Publications
of Agriculture (DIPA) is responsible for
dissemination of the agricultural research
information generated in the National
Agricultural Research System to farmers,
students, research scholars, scientists,
extension workers etc. through different
information products and publications in print
and electronic mode.
 The Directorate is headed by Project Director
(DIPA).
 The DIPA is the window of the ICAR through
which the research and other activities are
revealed to the world.
 It brings out a variety of publications in English,
Hindi and regional languages for the use of
scientists, researchers, students, policy
planners, extension personnel, farmers and the
general public.

 Research journals, popular magazines,
scientific monographs, technical and
popular books, handbooks, low-priced
books, bulletins, reports, proceedings of
conferences and a variety of
miscellaneous title are brought out by it
regularly, along with certain special
publications from time to time.
 To impart training in the area of
Publication Production management
processes (i.e. editing, production, art,
Sales & Marketing) and Management of
Information through modern
communication techniques.
 Development of Sales and marketing
strategies for strengthening of resources.
 To produce information in the form of
floppies, magnetic discs, tape, Compact
discs and other form of electronic
publishing.
 To produce audio-visual material for
dissemination and popularization of
scientific knowledge about agriculture in
the form of photographs, slides, audiocassettes, video-cassettes and films.
 To organize refresher course, training and
research in communication technologies to
update and improve agricultural information
system of the ICAR.
 To collect, process, store, retrieve and
disseminate information on agriculture and
allied sciences through Agricultural Research
Information Centre (ARIC) using latest
computer and digital technologies
PUBLICATIONS
 Handbook of Horticulture and Handbook
of Fisheries published. Fifth edition of
Hand Book of Agriculture and third
revised edition of Hand Book of Animal
Husbandry were brought out.
 The series on Agricultural Popular Books
namely, Agri-Pop Series has been
launched.
 The Indian Horticulture and Phal Phool have
been made bi-monthly from quarterly on
demand of readers.
 Logos and designs for national and
international events has been developed.
 Scrolling news at ICAR website was launched.
 Computerized print control (CPC) and
computer-to-plate (C&P) technology is being
used to enhance the print quality of publication.
 National Agricultural Research Database (NARD), was
developed and 23 ICAR Institutes and State
Agricultural Universities are working as data input
centres. Two Abstract Journals viz.
 The Indian Agricultural Science Abstracts and The
Indian Animal Science Abstracts are being published.
 Information on Research Projects of ICAR institutes
and All-India Coordinated Research Projects are
updated.
 Bibliographic inputs from Indian Agricultural
Periodicals were indexed and submitted to
Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, for
inclusion in AGRIS database.
 Under outreach programme 40 video films
were prepared and distributed to KVKs for
popularizing appropriate technologies among
farmers.
 Participated in Exhibitions and Book Fairs of
National /International level.
 Generated revenue of Rs 70 lakhs
through sale of publications.
 Open Access Publications (available
online).
 Online Databases on ICAR Web site.
 Digital Publications.