Two batches of IAS Officer Trainees Visit ICAR-IARI, New Delhi

12 March 2026, New Delhi

Two batches of IAS Officer Trainees from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, visited the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi as part of their Winter Study Tour, which aims to provide exposure to key institutions working in the agriculture and rural development sectors.

The first batch visited the institute on 9 March 2026, while the second batch visited on 12 March 2026.

Two batches of IAS Officer Trainees Visit ICAR-IARI, New Delhi 12 March 2026, New Delhi Two batches of IAS Officer Trainees from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, visited the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi as part of their Winter Study Tour, which aims to provide exposure to key institutions working in the agriculture and rural development sectors. The first batch visited the institute on 9 March 2026, while the second batch visited on 12 March 2026. The visit began with a welcome address by Dr. R. N. Padaria, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI, who introduced the trainees to the institute, often referred to as the “Seat of the Green Revolution” and a leading centre for sustainable food security research. He highlighted the institute’s historic legacy and emphasised that ICAR-IARI has consistently played a crucial role in ensuring India’s food security while supporting the farming community through continuous research, innovation, and extension activities. Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, delivered a detailed presentation on the institute’s achievements and ongoing strategic initiatives aimed at building a sustainable agri-food system. He explained how the institute’s various divisions and departments work collaboratively to develop technologies that benefit farmers, support agricultural policies, and contribute to poverty alleviation. The Dr Rao further elaborated on the institute’s research outcomes that are directly benefiting the farming community through continuous research and improved crop varieties, advanced farming technologies, and effective extension services. He also highlighted major outreach initiatives such as the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, which attracts more than one lakh visitors each year, including farmers, students, and stakeholders from across the country. As part of the exposure visit, the IAS trainees toured several important facilities and field units of the institute. These included the Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model, Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology, Mustard and Wheat experimental plots, Robotics Laboratory, Climate Change Facility, Pusa Amrit Sarovar, and the Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Phenomics Centre, where they observed advanced research infrastructure and field demonstrations of agricultural technologies. The visit provided the trainees with first-hand exposure to innovative agricultural research and sustainable farming practices. The programme was also attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research); Dr. Anupama Singh, Dean & Joint Director (Education); Dr. P. S. Brahmanand, Project Director, Water Technology Centre (WTC); and Shri Suresh Kumar, Senior Registrar & Joint Director (Administration), along with scientists. The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which the trainees engaged with scientists and discussed various aspects of agricultural development, research dissemination, and farmer outreach. The visit offered valuable insights into the role of national agricultural research institutions in strengthening India’s agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers. (Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)

The visit began with a welcome address by Dr. R. N. Padaria, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI, who introduced the trainees to the institute, often referred to as the “Seat of the Green Revolution” and a leading centre for sustainable food security research. He highlighted the institute’s historic legacy and emphasised that ICAR-IARI has consistently played a crucial role in ensuring India’s food security while supporting the farming community through continuous research, innovation, and extension activities.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, delivered a detailed presentation on the institute’s achievements and ongoing strategic initiatives aimed at building a sustainable agri-food system. He explained how the institute’s various divisions and departments work collaboratively to develop technologies that benefit farmers, support agricultural policies, and contribute to poverty alleviation.

The Dr Rao further elaborated on the institute’s research outcomes that are directly benefiting the farming community through continuous research and improved crop varieties, advanced farming technologies, and effective extension services. He also highlighted major outreach initiatives such as the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, which attracts more than one lakh visitors each year, including farmers, students, and stakeholders from across the country.

As part of the exposure visit, the IAS trainees toured several important facilities and field units of the institute. These included the Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model, Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology, Mustard and Wheat experimental plots, Robotics Laboratory, Climate Change Facility, Pusa Amrit Sarovar, and the Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Phenomics Centre, where they observed advanced research infrastructure and field demonstrations of agricultural technologies.

The visit provided the trainees with first-hand exposure to innovative agricultural research and sustainable farming practices.

The programme was also attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research); Dr. Anupama Singh, Dean & Joint Director (Education); Dr. P. S. Brahmanand, Project Director, Water Technology Centre (WTC); and Shri Suresh Kumar, Senior Registrar & Joint Director (Administration), along with scientists.

The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which the trainees engaged with scientists and discussed various aspects of agricultural development, research dissemination, and farmer outreach.

The visit offered valuable insights into the role of national agricultural research institutions in strengthening India’s agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)