ICAR Institutes are Agriculture Research Institutes which come under the purview of Indian Council for Agriculture Research. As of September 2012 there were 49 ICAR Institutes which assist ICAR in meeting its objectives. ICAR institutes in India are involved in the areas of crop, animal and fishery sciences. Some of the ICAR Institutes have acquired the status of ‘Deemed University’ because of their achievements. These offer their own degrees and diplomas in agriculture and allied areas. Certain regional research centres and stations were also merged to widen their scope towards agriculture development. While some of the older institutes existed as separate entities and some have been initiated by ICAR itself. Those agriculture research institutes which worked independently came under the governance of ICAR due to their experienced knowledge base. Under the leadership of ICAR, they had a wider reach and were facilitated in a much better way. Placement of different agricultural research institutes came under the purview of ICAR in 1966. These institutes are part of India’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS) which is one of the largest systems in the world. Under the system, education and extension systems advanced contributing to the rapid growth of agriculture. Their foundation and development is quintessential component of agricultural research in India.

ICAR Institutions have been established as Agriculture is a major sector of the Indian economy. They contribute greatly to GDP and provide more than 50% of employment. To top it all, it is the primary source of living for 70% of the population. Geographically speaking, India has a variety of agro-climatic conditions which range from the frigid to the torrid, the arid to the humid. Research is required to be conducted on all aspects of agriculture in the areas of plant sciences, animal sciences, fisheries, soil sciences, engineering, social sciences, home sciences, agro-forestry, etc. Agriculture Education backed with technology is vital for the much needed work force of trained scientists and technologists. This effort consequently helps in the economic development of the country. Towards this end, students can conduct research for their degree programmes as trainees at ICAR institutions.

An ICAR institute receives a major portion of funding from the government with several collaboration projects attracting funding from international agencies and other donor organizations. These institutes are connected through Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS), a WAN with other ICAR institutions like universities, zonal agricultural stations, project directorates and others. These collaborate in training and education for manpower development of personnel. Furthermore, 40 Agricultural Technology Information Centres in ICAR Institutes provide a Single Window delivery system for technology products, services and information available in the institutions to the farmers.

ICAR Institutions

In the broad sense Agriculture Universities, National Bureaux’s, National Research Centres, Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs) are ICAR Institutions. But when we stick to stricter terms ‘ICAR Institutions’ are mostly Central Research Institutes.These have been setup to meet the agricultural research needs of the country.

These are essentially meant for:

• Implementing research mandates extending beyond the administrative boundaries of the States

• Pursuing basic research not undertaken by most Agricultural Universities

• Evaluating research results through multi - locational testing

• Developing manpower for Agricultural Universities and other agricultural institutions

ICAR Institutes Organisational Structure

• Director - The individual institutes work under the supervision of a Director with specialised divisions.

• Joint Director

• Heads of Departments

• Scientists

• RAC - Research Advisory Committee provides advice on technical matters

• SRC - Staff Research Council is another assistive scientific body represented by the institute scientists and headed by the Director

• Management Committee – It is represented by the research and developmental personnel under the chairmanship of the Director. They assist the institutes on broad policy formulation and financial matters

List of ICAR Institutes in India

1) Crop Science Institutes

1. CRRI - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
2. CRIJAF - Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore
3. CTRI - Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry
4. CICR - Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur
5. IGFRI - Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi
6. IISR - Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow
7. IISR - Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu, Kerala
8. IIPR - Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur
9. IINRG - Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi
10. SBI - Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore
11. VPKAS - Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Shala, Almora

2) Horticulture and Plantation Crops Institutes

1. IIHR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore
2. IARI - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (deemed university)
3. CISH - Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow
4. CIAH - Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, Rajasthan
5. CITH - Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar
6. CTCRI - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum
7. CPCRI - Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod
8. CIRH - Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
9. CPRI - Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
10. IISR - Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut
11. IIVR - Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi
12. CRIDA - Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad

3) Resource Management Institutes

1. CSWCR & TI - Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun
2. CSSRI - Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal
3. CAZRI - Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur
4. CRIDA - Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture, Hyderabad
5. ICAR-NEH - ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Barapani
6. ICAR-GOA - ICAR Research Complex for Goa
7. ICAR-ER - ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna
8. CARI - Central Agricultural Research Institute for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
9. IISS - Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal
10.  NAARM - National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad (National Institute)
11. NIAM - National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Malegaon, Pune

4) Technological Institutes

1. CIAE - Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal
2. CIRCT - Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Bombay
3. NIRJAFT - National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology, Calcutta
4. CIPET - Central Institute of Post-harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana

5) Animal Science Institutes

1. CSWRI - Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar
2. CIRG - Central Institute for Research on Goats, Mathura
3. CARI - Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar
4. CIRB - Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar
5. NIANP - National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore
6. NDRI - National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana (deemed university)
7. IVRI - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (National Institute)

6) Fisheries Institutes

1. CIFRI - Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore
2. CMFRI - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin
3. CIFT - Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin
4. CIBA - Central Institute of Brackish-water Aquaculture, Chennai
5. CIFA - Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneshwar
6. CIFE - Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai (National Institute)

7) Social Science Institutes

1. IASRI - Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi
2. NCAP - National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi