Education for Agriculture and Allied Subjects in India

India, predominantly an agricultural country, has significantly improved the well-being of its people in recent decades. However, poverty remains India's most compelling challenge. With over half a century of development, agricultural education and research have been instrumental in ushering in a Green Revolution in the country. The United States land-grant colleges' model of teaching, research, and extension began in India in 1962 with the establishment of the first university specializing in agriculture. During the past 60 years, agricultural education has expanded rapidly in India to meet the nation's demand for human resources and agricultural technology. Currently, India has a total of 41 agricultural universities with a mandate for teaching, research, and extension in each of the states or regions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an apex body established by the government of India, oversees the working and accreditation aspects of the State Agricultural Universities. This article gives an overview of the past and reviews the present structure of education in agriculture and allied subjects at various levels.