Lok Sabha Question No. 363 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Responsibilities of ICAR
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 363

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## RESPONSIBILITIES OF ICAR

## *363. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि 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 कृ षि 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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(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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