Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Latest News

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has successfully developed two genome edited rice varieties

About Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• 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 known as the 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 in New Delhi. 
• The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences, throughout the country. 
• India has one of the largest agricultural systems in the world, with 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities across the country. 
• Through its research and technology, India has significantly increased production from 1950-51 to 2021-22: foodgrains grew by 6.21 times, fruits and vegetables by 11.53 times, fish by 21.61 times, milk by 13.01 times, and eggs by 70.74 times. This has greatly improved the country’s food and nutritional security.

New Genome Rice Varieties

• The first variety, named as DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, was developed from a popular high yielding green rice Samba Mahsuri and the second variety is from Maharashtra Technology University 1010 (MTU1010), which is also widely used by farmers across the country.
• The new variety developed from Samba Mahsuri can be harvested 15-20 days ahead of its original. The yield is almost 25% more, which is about eight tonnes more per hectare. Each panicle of the paddy will give 450 to 500 more grains in this variety than the original crop.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) FAQs

Q1. What is ICAR?

Ans. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is India’s apex body for agricultural research and education, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Q2. When was ICAR established?

Ans. ICAR was established on 16 July 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.

Q3. What are the main functions of ICAR?

Ans. ICAR coordinates, guides, and manages research and education in agriculture and allied sciences, and has played a key role in India’s agricultural transformation and food security.

Source: TH