ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute

What is ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute?

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), popularly called the Pusa Institute, is India's premier government institute for agricultural research, education and extension, established in 1905 and located on the Pusa campus in New Delhi, Delhi. It holds Deemed-to-be-University status (granted in 1958), is funded and administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and is NAAC accredited and UGC recognised. IARI is best known as the institution whose wheat research powered India's Green Revolution of the 1970s, and it has been ranked #1 in the NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors category for years running, including 2024 and 2025.

Originally founded as the Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research at Pusa, Bihar, the institute was relocated to New Delhi in 1936 after the 1934 earthquake, and the present campus was inaugurated on 29 July 1936. Today it functions purely as a postgraduate and doctoral research institute, offering M.Sc., M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees across roughly 26 disciplines rather than undergraduate programmes.

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute Key Facts (2026)

The table below summarises the institutional fundamentals an aspirant most often checks first about IARI New Delhi: when it was founded, its governance and approvals, campus scale, programme breadth and its standing in national rankings. It answers the question "what kind of institution is IARI and how big is it?" Read it as a quick-reference snapshot before diving into courses and placements. All figures reflect the 2025-2026 position as reported by official and reputable education sources.

The takeaway: IARI is a research-first, postgraduate-only institution of considerable scale (around 1,250 acres in the heart of Delhi) whose century-plus pedigree is matched by current rankings, headlined by its #1 NIRF Agriculture position in 2025. For applicants, this means you are joining a compact, highly selective research community rather than a large multi-stream university.

Why Choose ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute?

IARI New Delhi offers a combination of national leadership, research depth and affordability that few agricultural institutions can match. The differentiators below are specific to IARI and are drawn from its verified rankings, fee structure and placement record.

• India's #1 agriculture institution: IARI was ranked #1 in NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors in both 2024 (score 87.98) and 2025 (score 89.23), ahead of NDRI Karnal and PAU Ludhiana.
• Strong cross-category standing: Beyond agriculture, IARI placed #24 Overall, #16 among Universities, #29 in Research and #2 in the SDG category in NIRF 2025, a rare breadth for a single-domain institute.
• The Green Revolution legacy: IARI's wheat-breeding research underpinned India's Green Revolution, and it continues to release widely grown crop varieties through its 20 divisions and multidisciplinary research centres.
• Highly affordable, fellowship-backed study: Programme fees are modest (M.Sc. and M.Tech. at approx. Rs 31,000 for two years, Ph.D. at approx. Rs 75,200 for three years), and most research scholars are supported by ICAR fellowships.
• Active recruiter base: Postgraduates are recruited by agribusiness and corporate names including Mahindra Group, ITC Ltd., DuPont, Saveer Biotech and Mankind Pharma, alongside ICAR/ARS research careers.

Courses, Fees & Rankings at a Glance

IARI offers only postgraduate and doctoral degrees, namely M.Sc. (Agriculture), M.Tech. and Ph.D., across roughly 26 disciplines. The table below pairs each flagship programme with its indicative total fee, duration and the institute's headline NIRF Agriculture rank, so you can weigh cost against pedigree at a glance. For programme-wise eligibility, seats and specialisation lists, see the detailed Courses and Admissions tabs. All fee figures are indicative totals for the full programme.

The clear takeaway for 2026 applicants: IARI is exceptionally affordable, with master's programmes costing around Rs 31,000 in total and the doctoral programme around Rs 75,200, and that low cost sits alongside a #1 NIRF Agriculture rank (2025 score 89.23). Admission to every programme is entrance-based, so your ICAR AIEEA (for M.Sc./M.Tech.) or ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (for Ph.D.) score is the decisive factor.

Placement & Admission Snapshot

For IARI New Delhi, the median package for the two-year postgraduate cohort was around Rs 8 LPA in 2025, up from a median of about Rs 6.96 LPA for the M.Sc. (Agriculture) batch in 2024, while the 2022-2023 cycle peaked at a median near Rs 9.96 LPA. Admission is entirely entrance-based: M.Sc. and M.Tech. seats are filled through the ICAR AIEEA examination (the 2026 exam is scheduled for 4 July 2026), and Ph.D. seats through the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF entrance followed by an interview.

Top recruiters at IARI include the Mahindra Group, ITC Ltd., DuPont, Saveer Biotech and Mankind Pharma, while a large share of graduates progress into ICAR's Agricultural Research Service and academic or government research roles rather than corporate placements. Because IARI is research-focused, the placement headcount each year is modest relative to the cohort, but the median compensation has held in the Rs 7-10 LPA band across recent years, reflecting steady demand for its specialised postgraduates.

Frequently Asked Questions: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute Overview 2026

Is ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) good?

Yes, IARI New Delhi is regarded as India's best agricultural institution, ranked #1 in NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors in both 2024 (score 87.98) and 2025 (score 89.23). It also ranked #24 Overall, #16 among Universities and #2 in the SDG category in NIRF 2025. As an ICAR-administered Deemed University that drove the Green Revolution, it is a top choice for serious agricultural research aspirants seeking national-level pedigree and fellowship support.

What is IARI New Delhi known for?

IARI is best known for leading the research behind India's Green Revolution of the 1970s and for being ranked #1 in NIRF Agriculture in 2024 and 2025. Established in 1905 and located on the Pusa campus in New Delhi, it is a postgraduate and doctoral research institute famous for crop-variety development, plant breeding and agricultural sciences. It operates 20 divisions and several multidisciplinary research centres administered by ICAR.

What courses does ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute offer?

IARI offers only postgraduate and doctoral degrees: M.Sc. (Agriculture), M.Tech. and Ph.D., spread across roughly 26 disciplines. The M.Sc. and M.Tech. programmes each run for 2 years, while the Ph.D. runs for 3 years. There are no undergraduate courses; the institute functions purely as a research and postgraduate education centre, with admission to all programmes based on national ICAR entrance examinations.

What is the total fee at IARI New Delhi?

The indicative total fee is approximately Rs 31,000 for the two-year M.Sc. (Agriculture) and M.Tech. programmes, and approximately Rs 75,200 for the three-year Ph.D. programme. These fees make IARI one of the most affordable top-tier institutions in India, and most research scholars additionally receive ICAR fellowships, further lowering the effective cost of postgraduate and doctoral study.

What is the NIRF and NAAC status of IARI New Delhi?

IARI ranked #1 in NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors in 2025 (score 89.23) and again held #1 in 2024 (score 87.98). In NIRF 2025 it also secured #24 Overall, #16 among Universities, #29 in Research and #2 in the SDG category. The institute is a NAAC accredited, UGC-recognised Deemed-to-be-University administered by ICAR, confirming both its ranking strength and its formal accreditation status.

What is the average package at IARI New Delhi?

The median package for IARI's two-year postgraduate cohort was around Rs 8 LPA in 2025, compared with about Rs 6.96 LPA for the M.Sc. (Agriculture) batch in 2024 and a peak median near Rs 9.96 LPA in the 2022-2023 cycle. Top recruiters include the Mahindra Group, ITC Ltd., DuPont, Saveer Biotech and Mankind Pharma, though many graduates pursue ICAR research and government careers instead of corporate roles.

Is admission to IARI New Delhi merit or entrance based?

Admission to IARI is entirely entrance based. M.Sc. and M.Tech. seats are filled through the ICAR AIEEA examination (the 2026 exam is scheduled for 4 July 2026), while Ph.D. admission is through the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF entrance test followed by an interview. Eligibility requires a relevant bachelor's or master's degree with a minimum 60% aggregate, so your entrance score is the decisive factor for selection.