The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), commonly known as Pusa Institute, is India's premier national institute for agricultural research, education and extension. Headquartered at Pusa, New Delhi, it functions as a constituent unit of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India. The institute is widely credited with providing the scientific foundation for India's Green Revolution.
| Type | Public agricultural research institute |
|---|---|
| Popular name | Pusa Institute |
| Location | Pusa, New Delhi, India |
| Parent body | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare |
| Status | Deemed-to-be University |
| Original site | Pusa, Bihar (until 1936) |
Overview
IARI conducts basic, strategic and applied research in crop sciences, plant protection, soil science, agricultural engineering, biotechnology and allied disciplines. It also offers postgraduate education leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees through the IARI Post Graduate School, which is one of the oldest agricultural graduate schools in Asia. The institute releases improved crop varieties—many marketed under the Pusa prefix—and develops production and protection technologies for Indian agriculture.
Background and history
The institute was established in 1905 at Pusa in the Darbhanga district of Bihar (now in Samastipur district), funded in part by a grant from the American philanthropist Henry Phipps. It was originally known as the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute and served as the central agricultural research body of British India.
In January 1934, a major earthquake severely damaged the institute's buildings at Pusa, Bihar. As a consequence, the institute was relocated to its present site in New Delhi in 1936. The Delhi campus retained the name Pusa in memory of the original location. After Indian independence, the institute was renamed the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. It was conferred the status of a Deemed-to-be University in 1958, enabling it to award its own degrees.
Timeline
- 1905: Established at Pusa, Bihar as the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute.
- 1934: Bihar earthquake damages the Pusa campus.
- 1936: Institute shifted to New Delhi.
- Post-1947: Renamed Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
- 1958: Granted Deemed University status.
- 1960s: Plays a central role in research underpinning the Green Revolution, particularly in wheat improvement.
Academics and research
The IARI Post Graduate School offers master's and doctoral programmes across a wide range of disciplines, including genetics and plant breeding, agronomy, soil science and agricultural chemistry, plant pathology, entomology, horticulture, agricultural economics, agricultural extension, agricultural physics, biochemistry, microbiology, environmental sciences, nematology, water science and technology, computer applications, and agricultural engineering. Admission is conducted through a competitive nationwide entrance examination.
Research at IARI is organised into divisions and regional stations across India. The institute maintains long-term experimental fields, germplasm collections, and centres for plant tissue culture and genomics. Its scientists have developed numerous high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of wheat, rice (including the widely cultivated Pusa Basmati lines), maize, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits.
Significance
IARI's contributions to wheat breeding, dwarfing genes and agronomic practices were central to the success of the Green Revolution in India during the 1960s and 1970s, which transformed the country from a food-deficit nation into a self-sufficient producer of staple grains. The institute has also been associated with the training of several generations of Indian agricultural scientists, including M. S. Swaminathan, who served on its faculty and later as its Director.
Regional stations
In addition to its main New Delhi campus, IARI operates regional research stations and off-season nurseries at locations such as Karnal, Indore, Pune, Wellington (Tamil Nadu), Kalimpong, Pusa (Bihar), Shimla, Katrain and Amartara Cottage, supporting region-specific research and seed multiplication.
Related topics
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research
- Green Revolution in India
- M. S. Swaminathan
- Pusa Basmati
- Agricultural education in India
- National Dairy Research Institute
References
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research, official publications.
- Wikidata entry: Q3521333.