Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)

The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) was established in the erstwhile Ministry of Agriculture (currently Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare) in December 1973.

DARE coordinates and promotes agricultural research and education in the country. It has the following four autonomous bodies under its administrative control:

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar
• Rani Laxmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, UP

DARE is the nodal agency for International Cooperation in the area of agricultural research and education in India. The Department liaises with foreign governments, UN, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and other multilateral agencies for cooperation in various areas of agricultural research. DARE also coordinates admissions of foreign students in various Indian Agriculture Universities / ICAR Institutes.

Major Functions of DARE

• To look after all aspects of the agricultural research and education (including horticulture, natural resources management, agriculture engineering, agricultural extension, animal science, economic statistics and marketing and fisheries) involving coordination between the central and state agencies
• To attend all matters relating to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• To attend all matters concerning the development of new technology in agriculture, horticulture, natural resources management, agriculture engineering, agricultural extension, animal science, economic statistics and marketing and fisheries, including such functions as plant and animal introduction and exploration and soil and land use survey and planning
• International co-operation in the field of agricultural research and education including relations with foreign and international agricultural research and educational institutions and organizations, including participation in international conferences, associations and other bodies dealing with agricultural research and education and follow-up decisions at such international conferences etc.
• Fundamental, applied and operational research and higher education including co-ordination of such research and higher education in agriculture including agro forestry, animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, agricultural statistics, economics and marketing

Organisations under DARE

Agrinnovate India Ltd. (Public Sector Undertaking)

Agrinnovate India Ltd., a registered company under the Companies Act, 1956 (No. 1 of 1956), is owned by Government of India in Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE). It aims to work on the strengths of DARE's Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and promote the development and spread of R&D outcomes through IPR protection, commercialization and forging partnerships both in the country and outside for the public benefit.

Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (Statutory Body)

The Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (RLBCAU), Jhansi has been established as an Institution of National Importance under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) by an Act of Parliament (Act No. 10 of 2014) and notified on 5^th March 2014. This is the second Central Agricultural University in India established and named in the memory of great freedom fighter known as warrior queen of Jhansi Late Rani Lakshmi Bai who sacrificed her life at the altar of the freedom. The objectives of the university are to impart education in different branches of agriculture and allied sciences, undertake research in agriculture, programmes of extension education and promote linkages with national and international educational institutes. The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in agriculture and allied sciences.

Central Agricultural University (Statutory Body)

The Central Agricultural University(CAU) was established under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) on 26th January, 1993 by an Act of Parliament the Central Agricultural University Act, 1992 (No.40 of 1992) with its headquarters at Imphal, Manipur. The university has unique features of having jurisdiction over six States of North-Eastern Hilly Region (NEH) of India namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. Like other Agricultural Universities of India, the CAU also has integrated programmes of teaching, research and extension education.

As per mandate, the CAU is offering seven U.G. programmes in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Home Science, Horticulture, Forestry, Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry and Food Process Engineering. The University offers 25 post graduate degree programmes in different subjects. For smooth functioning of various programmes, the University has established seven constituent colleges in different parts of NEH Region.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Autonomous Body)

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 Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16^th 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 at New Delhi.  The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world. The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development that has enabled the country to increase the production of food grains by 5.6 times, horticultural crops by 10.5 times, fish by 16.8 times, milk by 10.4 times and eggs by 52.9 times since 1950-51 to 2017-18, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security. It has played a major role in promoting excellence in higher education in agriculture. It is engaged in cutting edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (Statutory Body)

The foundation stone of the Agricultural Research Institute and college was laid by Lord Curzon on 1^st April 1905. In the year 1935, the Agricultural Research Institute was shifted to New Delhi due to Bihar Earthquake in January 1934.

The Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU) has established (1970) itself at Pusa and has become an important landmark in agricultural research and education in the eastern region of the country. The Rajendra Agricultural University now at Pusa has various faculties and constituent colleges namely, Tirhut College of Agriculture (Dholi) Muzaffarpur, Bihar Agricultural college, Sabour (Bhagalpur), Bihar veterinary college, Patna, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology, Patna, College of Fisheries, Dholi (Muzaffarpur) College of Home Science, College of Agricultural Engineering, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities and a postgraduate Faculty at Pusa In RAU located at Pusa, M.Sc. Degree is awarded in 34 and Ph.D. in 17 disciplines.

Considering the importance of this land in agricultural research, Government of India decided to change the status of Rajendra Agricultural University from the State Agricultural University (SAU) to Central Agricultural University (CAU) and was renamed as Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University. To accomplish this a bill was passed by the Parliament on 28th May 2016 which was enacted as Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University Act, 2016 with effect from 7^th October 2016.

Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB Attached Office)

The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) was established with the approval of Cabinet on 1^st November 1973 as an independent recruitment agency in pursuance of the recommendations of the Gajendragadkar Committee.

The Government of India has approved restructuring Board as per their decision in the meeting of the Union Cabinet held on 1^st August 2018 and issued vide Notification No. 25/CM/2018(i) dated 06.08.2018; Case No. 213/25/2018 (Item-7). The decision has been formally notified in the GOI Gazette on 9^th August 2018.

Consequently, ASRB has been delinked from ICAR and attached with the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. Further, the revamped Boards shall have its own Cadre of administrative staff in the secretariat and have independent administrative control on the said Cadre. A separate budget head for ASRB has been created in DARE.

Indian Agricultural Universities Association (IAUA)

Indian Agricultural Universities Association (IAUA) is nearing to complete 50 years in 2017, as it was established on 10^th November 1967. The main objective of the Association is to promote agricultural research, education and extension in the universities and the states, and thereby rural development in the country. It also acts as a bureau of information to facilitate communication, co-ordination and mutual consultation among agricultural universities. The Association also acts as a liaison between member universities and government departments to facilitate communication and expedite the needed action in matters of importance.

All the SAUs and institutions (Deemed-to-be Universities) and (Central Agricultural Universities) in India, which provide an integrated programme of teaching, research and extension education in agricultural sciences are qualified to become regular members of the Association.

National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi

The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), established on 5^th June 1990, continues to be a unique think tank and an important forum for harnessing science for enhancing the productivity, profitability, equity and sustainability of Indian agriculture. The Academy has since emerged as a vibrant national agricultural science organization devoted to promoting agricultural research, education, knowledge pool, national and international partnerships and science-society interface towards transforming agriculture and the related policies leading to a comprehensive food nutrition livelihood-ecology-secured and climate smart India.

Source: Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)