Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Introduction:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex body responsible for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture and allied sciences across India.
It functions under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

History of ICAR

• Established: 16 July 1929
• Original Name: Imperial Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• Renamed: Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1947 (after Independence).
• Headquarters: Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Autonomous Organization: Under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

Major Milestones:

ICAR–Agricultural University (AU) System

The ICAR–AU System of India comprises 74 Agricultural Universities, including:

• 63 State Agricultural, Veterinary, Horticultural, and Fisheries Universities (SAUs)
• 4 ICAR-Deemed Universities (ICAR-DUs)
• 3 Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs)
• 4 Central Universities (CUs) having Faculties of Agriculture

Central Universities (with Faculty of Agriculture)

1. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
2. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh
3. Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan
4. Nagaland University, Medziphema

Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs)

1. Central Agricultural University, Imphal
2. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa
3. Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (RLBCAU), Jhansi

ICAR-Deemed Universities (4)

1. ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
2. ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal
3. ICAR–Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar
4. ICAR–Central Institute on Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai

National Agricultural Research, Education and Extension System (NAREES)

• One of the largest agricultural research systems in the world.
• Admits over 28,000 UG students and 17,500 PG & Ph.D. students annually.
• Covers diverse disciplines in Agriculture and Allied Sciences.

ICAR Examinations Conducted by NTA

Since 2019, ICAR has entrusted the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the following exams in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode:

• ICAR AIEEA (UG)

All India Entrance Examination for Admission (UG)

• For admission to 15% seats in Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Agriculture & Allied Sciences (except Veterinary Science) at Agricultural Universities.
• 100% seats at NDRI Karnal, RLBCAU Jhansi, and Dr. RPCAU Pusa.
• Also awards National Talent Scholarship (NTS) in Agriculture & Allied Sciences.

• ICAR AIEEA (PG)

All India Entrance Examination for Admission (PG)

• For admission to 25% seats in Master’s Degree Programs in accredited Agricultural Universities.
• 100% seats at IARI, IVRI, NDRI, CIFE, RLBCAU Jhansi, and Dr. RPCAU Pusa.
• Also awards ICAR-PG Scholarship/National Talent Award (PGS).

• ICAR AICE–JRF/SRF (Ph.D.)

All India Competitive Examination (AICE-JRF/SRF)

• For admission to 25% seats in Doctoral Degree Programs of accredited Universities.
• 100% seats in ICAR-Deemed Universities and Dr. RPCAU, Pusa.
• Awards ICAR-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) fellowships.

ICAR Institutions (71 Total)

1. Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair
2. Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur
3. Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar
4. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore
5. Central Institute Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai
6. Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar
7. Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom
8. Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal
9. Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
10. Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur
11. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin
12. Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar
13. Central Institute of Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai
14. Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow
15. Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar
16. Central Institute on Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana
17. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi
18. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod
19. Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
20. Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore
21. Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
22. National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
23. Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan
24. Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun
25. Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal
26. National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture, Rajahmundry
27. Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram
28. ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna
29. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani
30. Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa, Goa
31. Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi
32. Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi
33. Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi
34. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru
35. National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Ranchi
36. Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur
37. Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal
38. Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut
39. Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow
40. Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi
41. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad
42. National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur
43. National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Malegaon, Maharashtra
44. National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru
45. National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata
46. National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru
47. Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore
48. Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora
49. Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
50. National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal
51. Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana
52. Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi
53. National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi
54. Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal
55. Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram
56. Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad
57. Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad
58. Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, West Godavari
59. Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar
60. Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
61. Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar
62. Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur
63. National Institute of Seed Science & Technology, Mau
64. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Regional Centre), Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
65. National Meat Research Institute, Hyderabad
66. National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi
67. National Institute of Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi
68. Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal
69. National Institute on Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar
70. National Soybean Research Institute, Indore
71. National Meat Research Institute, Hyderabad