Biotechnologies are currently being utilized globally for crop improvement.  In India concerted efforts by ICAR were initiated in the mid 1980’s to utilize the various tools of genetic engineering and molecular breeding to increase crop production in the country.  Keeping the above objective in view, the first and the foremost requirement emerged as the development of human resources and eminent expertise in various fields of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The Centre since its inception (1986) has been engaged in imparting post graduate teaching and training to students at M.Sc. & Ph.D. level under the auspices of Post Graduate School of IARI. 

While the students took up research on tissue-culture based crop improvement, programmes in mid 1980’s at the Centre, the emphasis has now shifted towards cloning and characterization of novel genes and promoters from bacteria and plants, development of transgenic plants with improved traits, development of molecular markers for crop improvement and structural and functional plant genomics. 

So far, as many as 74 M.Sc. and 53 Ph.D. students have successfully completed their course and research requirements and obtained degrees. Last year 14 students (10 Ph.D. & 4 M.Sc.) comprising the largest contingent from any single discipline were awarded degrees at the convocation held on February 11, 2005. Ms. Priya Vijayan, M.Sc. student was honoured with IARI Merit Medal.

Currently 20 Ph.D. and 4 M.Sc. students are on roll in the discipline of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the Centre.  Out of the 20 Ph.D. students, one student has already submitted the thesis and 3 have taken relief from the P. G. School of IARI. 

The students are taking keen interest in pursuing their P. G. programme with utmost care and dedication under the able guidance of their respective Chairman and the expert Advisory Committee Members drawn from various disciplines.  The faculty members, students and staff of the Centre welcome the fresh batch of students (2005-06) to the world of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBB).

The academic activity at the Institute is regulated by the Academic Council with Director, IARI as its Chairman and the Dean is its Vice-Chairman. The Academic Council is the competent authority to amend the rules and procedures governing all aspects of post-graduate programme etc.

All correspondence regarding admission should be addressed to the Registrar (Academic), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012. This Information Bulletin should not be treated as a legal document.

This Bulletin can be obtained from the following

(a) By Hand:

From special counter Syndicate Bank, Pusa Institute Campus, New Delhi 110012 by paying Rs. 300/- for general category and Rs. 150/- for SC/ST/PH category plus Rs. 10/- as bank charges.

OR

(b) By Post:

from Registrar (Academic), Post Graduate School, IARI New Delhi - 110012 by sending request with a demand draft for Rs.350/- ( Rs. 200/- for SC/ST/PH category) drawn in favour of the Registrar (Academic), P.G. School IARI New Delhi, payable at New Delhi.