This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 363, addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on August 19, 2025, regarding the responsibilities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The response confirms that ICAR, an autonomous body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), is responsible for research, technological advancement, education, and extension in agriculture and allied sectors, including veterinary science, animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, avian science, poultry, beekeeping, and natural resource management. ICAR's mandate encompasses planning, undertaking, coordinating, and promoting research and technology development for sustainable agriculture; aiding, imparting, and coordinating agricultural education for quality human resource development; frontline extension for technology application, adoption, knowledge management, and capacity development for agri-based rural development; and policy, cooperation, and consultancy in agricultural research, education, and extension.
ICAR operates a network of 113 research institutes categorized under eight Subject Matter Divisions (SMDs): Crop Science (28 institutes), Horticulture Science (22 institutes), Animal Science (19 institutes), Natural Resource Management (16 institutes), Agricultural Extension (12 institutes), Fisheries Science (8 institutes), Agricultural Engineering (6 institutes), and Agricultural Education (2 institutes).
The government currently has no proposal to establish an independent statutory body or dedicated agency specifically for regulating and promoting higher education in agriculture and allied sciences. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions the ICAR as a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) within a General Education Council (GEC), responsible for laying down academic standards and coordinating teaching, research, and extension within its domain.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Autonomous body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), responsible for research, technological advancement, education, and extension in agriculture and allied sectors.
Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE): The department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that oversees agricultural research and education.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the starred question was addressed.
SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA: The Member of Parliament who raised the starred question.
SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN: The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer.
National Education Policy (NEP2020): A comprehensive framework for education in India, introduced in 2020.
General Education Council (GEC): Envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP2020), responsible for setting academic standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 363
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ICAR
*363. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान
कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has the
responsibility for veterinary science, animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, avian
sciences, poultry, beekeeping (apiculture), natural resource management and other allied
sectors;
(b) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to establish an independent
statutory body or dedicated agency exclusively for regulating and promoting higher
education in agriculture and allied sciences so as to commit more focused approach;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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1STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING
“RESPONSIBILITIES OF ICAR”
(a): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body under
Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), responsible for research,
technological advancement, Education and Extension in agriculture & allied sectors
including veterinary science, animal husbandry, dairying, fishery, avian science, poultry,
beekeeping and natural resource management etc. The mandate of the ICAR is to (i)
Plan, Undertake, Coordinate and Promote Research and Technology Development for
Sustainable Agriculture, (ii) Aid, Impart and Coordinate Agricultural Education to enable
Quality Human Resource Development, (iii) Frontline Extension for technology
application, adoption, knowledge management and capacity development for agri-based
rural development, (iv) Policy, Cooperation and Consultancy in Agricultural Research,
Education & Extension.
The ICAR has a network of 113 research institutes, which fall under 08 Subject Matter
Divisions (SMDs), viz., Crop Science (28 Institutes), Horticulture Science (22 Institutes),
Animal Science (19 Institutes), Natural Resource Management (16 Institutes), Agricultural
Extension (12 Institutes), Fisheries Science (08 Institutes), Agricultural Engineering (06
Institutes), and Agricultural Education (02 Institutes).
(b) to (d): At present, there is no proposal to establish an independent statutory body
or dedicated agency for regulating and promoting higher education in agriculture and
allied sciences. National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, envisages a General Education
Council (GEC) and Sectoral Committee such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) for Agricultural Education as Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB). PSSBs
as member in the GEC to lay down academic standards and to coordinate between
teaching, research and extension of their domain/discipline.
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