Indian Agricultural Research Institute was established in
the Year 1905 at PUSA, Bihar. It's original name before 1947
was Imperial Agricultural Research Institute. After the
Independence the name was changed to Indian Agricultural
Research Institute. In the year 1936 due to a massive earth
quake it was shifted to Pusa, New Delhi. Since Independence
IARI, is a premier institute for Agricultural Research and
was instrumental in 1960-70 Green Revolution.
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is the
country's premier national Institute for agricultural
research, education and extension. It has served the cause
of science and society with distinction through first rate
research, generation of appropriate technologies and
development of human resources. In fact, the Green
Revolution was born in the fields of IARI and our graduates
constitute the core of the quality human resource in India's
agricultural research and education. The Institute has all
along been adjusting and improving its policies, plans and
programmes to effectively respond to the needs and
opportunities of the nation. During the fifties, the
advancement of scientific disciplines constituted the core
programme and provided the base for its fast expansion in
the 1960's and 1970's in all its three interactive areas,
namely, research, education and extension. Besides basic
research, applied and commodity research gained great
importance resulting in the development of several popular
high yielding varieties of almost all major crops and their
associated management technologies, which brought about an
unprecedented increase in the national food and agricultural
production.
MISSION
The primary mission of the institute is to explore new
frontiers of science and knowledge and develop human
resources to provide leadership to the country in technology
development and policy guidance resulting in a vibrant,
responsive and resilient agriculture which must be
effectively productive, eco-friendly, sustainable,
economically profitable and socially equitable.
Divisions and Schools
Plant Physiology
Head of Division : Dr. G. C. Srivastava
Main activities of the Division :
Research, teaching, holding summer/winter school, short and
long term training programmes. organizing
seminar/symposia/workshop; lectures from eminent Indian and
foreign scientists.
Projects in progress:
A. Institute Projects :
Physiological basis of crop yield in different environments
: Dr. D. P. S. Tomar
A biotic Stress : Investigations on physiological and
molecular mechanisms : Dr. P. S. Deshmukh
Physiological basis of nutrient uptake and utilization : Dr.
J. D. S. Panwar
UV-B and CO2 enrichment effects on crop growth : Dr. U. K.
Sengupta
Physiology of fruit ripening and senescence : Dr G. C.
Srivastava
B. External funded projects
National fellow project : Effect of rising atmospheric CO2
on photosynthesis and productivity of Brassica species under
moisture stress condition : Dr. D. C. Uprety
Development of an efficient plant regeneration protocol
adaptable for wild and elite genotypes of pigeon pea (Cajanus
cajan L.): Dr. P. Raghveer
List of Post Graduate courses offered
Principles of Plant Physiology I, Experimental Plant Physiology I, Global climatic change, Principles of Plant
Physiology, Plant water relations, Experimental Plant
Physiology, Stress Physiology, Mineral Nutrition, Physiology
of Reproduction, Photobiology, Physiology of growth and
yield, Chemical Regulation of Growth, Physiology of Crop
Plants I, Physiology of Crop Plants II, Photosynthesis, Cell
Physiology, Advanced Methods in Plant Physiology, Phytotronics, Physiology of Seeds Plant Metabolism I, Plant
Metabolism II, Physiological Genetics, Physiology and
Biochemistry of herbicides, Physiology of Ripening and
Senescence, Physiology of In Vitro cell differention
Biochemistry
Head of Division : Dr. M. L. Lodha
Main activities of the Division :
Research and Teaching - The Division is playing a key role
in not only imparting first-rate teaching and training in
Biochemistry at Post-Graduate level, but also ensuring
support to other disciplines of Agriculture. Major thrust
areas of research are Plant Molecular Biology and
Biochemistry.
Projects in progress:
Molecular Biology of storage proteins of wheat in relation
to chapati quality - Dr. R. P. Johari.
Isolation and characterisation of antipathogenic principles
from non-host plants - Dr. H. C. Kapoor
Biochemical studies on rice-grain aroma and flavour - Dr. S.
P. Singh
Biochemical and molecular studies on cytochrome-oxidase
insensitivity for carbon monoxide in cereals and millets -
Dr. Prikshayat Singh
Isolation and characterization of genes involved in lipid
biosynthesis - Dr. I. M. Santha
Isolation and identification of genes associated with
moisture stress in rice - Dr
Floriculture
Head of Division : Dr. Brijendra Singh
Main activities of the Division:
Collection, maintenance and assesment of germplasm including
wild species
Development of new varieties in different Commercial and
modern breeding Techniques.
Improvement of agro-techniques for the Production of
flowers, bulbs and plants for odomestic and export markets
Improvement in propagation techniques including micro
propagation
Survey, identification and control of important diseases and
insect pests
To develop post-harvest technologies in cut flowers
Transfer of production technologies
This division is also National Registration Authority on Roses
Projects in progress:
Improvement of Roses : Dr. Brijendra Singh
Improvement of Gladiolus : Dr. R. L. Mishra
Improvement of Annuals : Dr. S. P. S. Raghava
Standardization of technology for growing rose, gladiolus
and carnation under cover : Dr. H. P. Singh
Post harvest biology and technology of cut roses : Dr. S. K.
Bhattacharjee
Funded project
Collection, maintenance and identification of Bougainvillea
cultivars : Dr. Brijendra Singh
Effect of cold storage conditions on post harvest
technologies in flowering plants : Dr. Brijendra Singh
In vitro genetic manipulation of carnation improvement : Dr.
Brijendra Singh
ICAR Network on Promotion of Research on Protected
Cultivation of Ornamental Crops (PROTECTNET): Dr. Harpal
Singh
Fruits and Horticulture Technology
Head of Division : Dr. A. M. Goswami
Main activities of the Division:
The main research thrusts of the Division of Fruits and
Horticultural Technolgy are :
Improvement of plant types in mango, grape, citrus, papaya,
guava and ber
Standardization of rootstocks and establishment of high
density orchards
Physiological studies in relation to mango malformation,
induction of early maturity in grapes
Propagation/micro propagation
Orchard management
Post-harvest Technology of fruits and vegetables
Projects in progress:
Selection of superior clones of commercial mango cultivars
for export - Dr. A. M. Goswami
Studies on malformation in mango - Dr. A. M. Goswami
High density orcharding in mango and citrus - Dr. A. M.
Goswami
A biotic stress studies on grapes with reference to
rootstocks in vitro - Dr. H. C. Sharma
A biotic stress studies in grapes with reference to roo
National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnolgy
National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology
Head of Division : Dr. R. P. Sharma
Main activities of the Division:
This Centre has been active in areas related to human
resource development. Having been declared as a Centre of
Excellence by the ICAR, the Centre imparts training to
agricultural scientists from the National Agricultural
Research System, on recent technoques in Plant Molecular
Biology and Biotechnology. The Centre has acquired
excellent infrastructure in terms of equipment and physical facilities as well as trained manpower and is, therefore,
undertaking and executing research project in the area of
genetic engineering for managing the biotic and a biotic stresses, improvement of protein and oil quality, post
harvest biotechnology and construction of molecular maps and
molecular tagging of traits of economic importance.
Projects in progress:
Post Doctoral Teaching Program : Dr. R. P. Sharma
National Professor (B. P. Pal Chair) : Prof. V. L. Chopra
DNA Fingerprinting for characterization and utilization of
indigenous germplasm : Dr. R. P. Sharma
Transfer of Cytoplasm Male Sterility from different
sources to vegetables Brassicas through protoplast fusion
and incorporation of synthetic - endotoxin gene cry 1Ab
from Bt into combiner line for insect resistant hybrid
production : Prof. V. L. Chopra
Genetic Engineering of Brinjal and Cauliflower for insect
resistance : Dr. P. A. Kumar
Genetic transformation of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) for pod
borer (Helicoverpa armigera) resistance : Dr. P. A. Kumar
Development of transgenic Brassicas resistant to fungal
pathogen : Dr. Anita Grover
Induction of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility through Mutagenesis
and characterization of induced CMS in Brassica juncea and
B. oleracea : Dr. V. L. Chopra
Evolving transgenic Sorghum with suitable Bt gene
constructs, Resistant to Stem Borer : Dr. P. A. Kumar
Genetic Engineering of oilseed and vegetable crop Brassica :
Dr. V. L. Chopra
Bt-transgenic pigeonpea, rice and cotton for insect
resistant : Dr. P. A. Kumar
Isolation and characterization of storage protein gene
promoters for genetic and engineering of Chickpea : Dr. K.
R. Koundal
Biotechnological approaches for improving the effictivity
and efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation by Cicer
rhizobium : Dr. L. R. Kashyap
Cell genetic manipulation in Rice : Dr. S. K. Raina
Genetic engineering for slow ripening in fruits : Dr. K. C.
Bansal
Molecular mapping and character tagging in Brassica and Rice
: Dr. R. P. Sharma
Use of protease inhibitor and lectin genes in relation to
insect resistance : Dr. k. R. Koundal
Human Resource Development in plant genetic engineering and
molecular breeding : Dr. R. P. Sharma
List of Post Graduate courses offered
Molecular Prokaryotic Genetics, Molecular Eukaryotic
Genetics, Molecular Genetics of Plasmid and Bacteriophage,
Plant Cell Biology, Plant Molecular Biology, Techniques in
Molecular Biology, Nucleic Acids, Protein Synthesis, Gene
Regulation, Enzymology, Genetic Engineering - Principles and
Methods, Introduction to Industrial Biotechnology, Plant
Genetic Engineering, Principles of Immunology, Biotechnology
and Society, Biomolecular Prospecting, Seminar, Molecular
Biology of Plant Viruses, Protein Engineering
Nematology
Head of Division : Dr. S. B. Sharma
Main activities of the Division in brief :
Research and Teaching - The Division is playing a key role
in not only imparting first-rate teaching and training in
Nematology at Post-Graduate level, but also ensuring support
to other disciplines of Agriculture.
List of Post Graduate courses offered :
Introductory Nematology; Fundamentals of Nematological
Techniques; Structural Organisation of Nematodes;
Fundamentals of Nematode Physiology; Advanced Nematode
Physiology; Nematode Pests of Field Crops; Fundamentals of
Nematode Taxonomy; Nematode Pests of Horticulutral
Plantation, Medicinal, Aromatic, and Forest Crops; Nematode
Parasites of Insect; Fundamentals of Nematode Ecology;
Interaction of Plant Parasitic nematodes with other
Microorganisms; Techniques in Nematology; nematode Ecology;
Plant nematode Relationship; Taxonomy of Agricultural
Important Nematodes; nematode Management; Advanced Nematode
Taxonomy;
Seed Science and Technology
Head of Division : Dr. S. P. Sharma
Main activities of the Division:
Research : The Division is actively involved in research
activities in the following areas of seed technology
1. Seed Production
2. Seed Health Testing
3. Seed Storage
4. Variety Identification
Teaching and Training : The Division is having a regular
P.G. Programme leading to the award of M.Sc. and Ph.D.
degree in Seed Science and Technology. Twenty-eight
students have already obtained M.Sc. in Seed Science and
Technology.
Apart from regular teaching short term training programmes
are also being organized on national and international
level.
Central Seed Testing Laboratory (CSTL) : Central Seed
Testing Laboratory is an integral part of this Division
which is an accredited member of International Seed Testin
Association. CSTL also monitor the functioning of State
Seed Testing Laboratories by conducting referee testing of
seed samples.
Projects in progress:
Characterisation of varieties of wheat, rice, mustard, pearl
millet, soybean castor and mungbean : Dr. N. C. Singhal
Status of seed quality attributes of field crops and
standardization of seed testing procedures of tropical
legumes, grasses and vegetables : Dr. M. M. Verma
Improvement of storability of seeds of rice, soybean,
sunflower, onion, maize and cole crops : Dr. (Mrs.) M.
Dadlani
Seed-borne disease and their management in rice, wheat,
pearlmillet and soybean : Dr. Ashok Gaur
Team of Excellence in Seed Technology under National
Agricultural Technology Project : Dr. S. P. Sharma
Research Activities under of Team of Excellence :
Mechanism of seed deterioration Morphological, Biochemical
and Molecular Techniques for DUS testing. Pollination
mechanism and hybrid seed productio. Image analysis, Seed
invigoration.
List of Post Graduate courses offered
Seed Development and Morphology; Seed Production, Principles
and Practices; Seed Testing; Seed storage, physiology,
vigour and viability; Seed Processing; Physiological
Techniques in Seed Science and Technology; Pollination in
relation to seed productio; Seed Production and
Certification of Kharif Field Crops; Testing for Genuineness
of cultivars; Seed Quality Control; Seed Pathology; Seed
Entomology; Plant Quarantine; Principles of Insect pest
Management; Principles and Techniques of Vegetables seed
production; Seed Production of pasture forage grasses and
legumes; Seed Physiology;
Agronomy
Head of Division : Dr. R. C. Gautam
Main activities of the Division in brief :
Research, teaching, holding summer/winter school, short and
long term training programmes. organizing
seminar/symposia/workshop; lectures from eminent Indian and
foreign scientists.
Projects in progress:
Agronomy of cereals crops - Dr. R. C. Gautam
Agronomy of grain legumes - Dr. Attar Singh
Agronomy of oilseed crops - Dr. Ganga Saran
Agronomy of commercial crops - Dr. Mangal Prasad
Agronomy of vegetable and spice crops - Dr. R. K. Chhillar
Integrated nutrient management - Dr. R. K. Rai
Integrated weed management - Dr. K. C. Gautam
Water Management - Dr. L. K. Idnani
Dryland Agriculture - Dr. S. K. Kaushik
Biomass and Bioenergetics - Dr. H. K. Singh (Retd.)
List of Post Graduate courses offered
Principles of Rabi Crop Production; Practices of Crop
Production; Principles of Kharif Crop Production; Practices
of Crop Production II; Practices of Crop Production III;
Fodder and Pasture Crops; Principles of Crop Production II;
Crop Geography and Ecology; Principles and Practices of Weed
Control in Crops; Kharif Cereal Crops (Rice, Maize, Jowar,
Bajra); Commercial Crops I (Fibre Crops and Oilseeds);
Commercial Crops II (Sugarcane, Potato, Tobacco and
Chillies); Soil Fertility and its Management; Principles and
Practices of Irrigation; Management of Saline, alkali and
Acidic Soils; Agronomy of Pulse Crops; Management of Excess
Soil Water and Crop Production; Dryland Agronomy; Rabi
Cereals Crops (Wheat and Barley); Fertilizer Management in
Crops and Cropping Systems; Irrigation Management in Crops
and Cropping Systems; Rice Agronomy; Advance Technology in
Pulse Production; Cropping System
Genetics
Head of Division : Dr. Balram Sharma
Main activities of the Division:
Genetics division is engaged in two manor activities i.e.
research and teaching. These two activities are
interlinked. Under research, breeding, genetics and
cytogenetics are major areas of concern. Breeding is being
carried out to develop high yielding, nutritionally superior
and disease free cultivars in cereals, pulses, oilseeds and
cotton. A large number of high yielding varieties in
different crop plants have been released in the past for
which Genetics division is known as a seat of well known
"Green Revolution".
Projects in progress:
Development of Improvedwheat varieties for irrigated timely
and late sown conditions - Dr. V. P. Kulshrestha
Genetics and breeding for resistance to rusts in developing
improved wheats - Dr. S. S. Singh
Development of promising genotypes for moisture stress
conditions and rust resistance - Dr. P. S. L. Srivastava
Improvement for specific traits including yield through
intro and interspecific crosses in wheat and Triticale - Dr.
M. K. Upadhyay
Induced alien genetic variation and location of gene(s) on
specific chromosome(s) in hexaploid wheat - Dr. Dalmir Singh
Incorporation of resistance to rusts and Karnal bunt using
Aegilops speltoides and Ae. mutica - Dr. S. M. S. Tomar
Breeding durum wheats - Dr. H. N. Pandey
Genetic improvement and evaluation of quality traits in
wheat - Dr. P. Raghavaiah
Breeding for rice hybrids - Dr. F. U. Zaman
Development of high yielding and high quality rice Dr. V. P.
Singh
Ideotype improvement in rice with particular emphasis on
developing "Super plant type" for short duration varieties -
Dr. S. N. Chakrabarti
Breeding for single cross hybrids and composites of maize
for irrigated conditions - Dr. B. K. Mukherjee
Breeding hybrids and composites for rainfed conditions - Dr.
Ram Deo Singh
Basic and strategic Research in Maize Genetics - Dr. K. R.
Sarkar
Distant hybridization and molecular cytogenetic approach for
alien transfer of useful genes into maize - Dr. J. K. S.
Sachan
Development of productive disease resistant hybrids and
populations in pearlmillet - Dr. O. P. Govila
Breeding for short duration varieties and hybrids in
pigeonpea - Dr. S. P. Singh
Evaluation of Bt technology to control pod borer infestation
in pigeonpea - Dr. J. N. Govil
Induction of cytoplasmic mutations through callus
mutagenesis for isolation of male sterile lines - Dr. Hayat
Ram
Genetics and breeding for productivity and disease
resistance in Green Gram - Dr. Hayat Ram
Breeding early maturing, thermoinsensitive plant type
separately for three cropping seasons to suit various
cropping patterns - Dr. J. L. Tickoo
Genetic improvement of productivity in Soybean - Dr. V. K.
S. Rana
Genetic studies and improvement of Lentil, Pea and Cowpea -
Dr. B. Sharma
Genetical studies for Chickpea improvement - Dr. M. C.
Kharkwal
Breeding for high yield, biotic and abiotic stress
resistance in Chickpea - Dr. S. S. Yadav
Deveopment of high yielding disease resistant and adapted
varieties - Dr. V. Hegde
Cytogenetical studies in Chickpea - Dr. D. S. Mathur
Development of improved varieties and hybrids of Indian
mustard (Brassica juncea ) - Dr. S. C. Gulati
List of Post Graduate courses offered
Principles and Practices for Horticultural Crops; Principles
of Vegetable Production; Nutritional Requrirement s of
Horticultural Crops; Breeding of Vetgetable Crops-1;
Principles and Techniques of Vegetable Seed Production;
Summer Vegetables; Winter Vegetables; Vegetable Breeding-
II(A); Vegetable Breeding-II(B);
Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Head of Division : Dr. P. K. Chonkar
Main activities of the Division:
Main activities of the Division ar eto carry out research on
the fundamental and applied aspects of the physical,
chemical and biological properties of soils; fertilizers an
dmanures and their interaction with soil an dplant;
improvement an dmaintenance of soil fertility fro sustained
optimum agricultural production; utilization of organic
residues (wastes) as manure and production of biogas as
fuel; soil test crop response correlation study; advice to
the farmers on fertilizer recommendations based on soil
tests; post graduate teaching in Discipline of Soil Science
Projects in progress:
Molecular Biology of storage proteins of wheat in relation
to chapati quality - Dr. R. P. Johari.
Isolation and characterisation of antipathogenic principles
from non-host plants - Dr. H. C. Kapoor
Biochemical studies on rice-grain aroma and flavour - Dr. S.
P. Singh
Biochemical and molecular studies on cytochrome-oxidase
insensitivity for carbon monoxide in cereals and millets -
Dr. Prikshayat Singh
The Bio-Informatics Centre (BIC) at the Indian Agricultural
Research Institute was established as a part of
Biotechnology Information System (BTIS) Network and funded
by Department of Biotechnology to function as computerised
information base in the fields related to Agricultural
Biotechnology such as Photosynthesis, Plant Molecular
Biology and Plant Tissue Culture. The Centre has several
databases allied to agriculture and related fields and
making the required information available to the users all
over the country besides providing e-mail and internet
facilities. The centre is engaged in developing new
databases and update of the old databases already available
at the centre. The important activities and achievements of
the centre are presented below:
