Dr. Himanshu Pathak, an eminent agricultural scientist and climate researcher, currently serves as Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. A Ph.D. scholar from IARI, he has led pioneering work in soil science, climate-smart farming, and sustainable agriculture. Formerly Director of NRRI and NIASM, Dr. Pathak now heads India’s agricultural research system, driving innovation through digital agriculture, climate adaptation, and farmer-oriented technology programs under the ICAR Vision 2050+.
Secretary (DARE) & Director General (DG), ICAR
📅 Appointed: 22 July 2022
🏛️ Government of India
🧾 Ministry & Department:
Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE)
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
👔 Position: Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR
🌾 Key Responsibilities:
Overseeing 113 ICAR Institutes and 75 Agricultural Universities across India
Promoting innovation in agri-biotech, AI in farming, and farmer-oriented research
Strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for last-mile technology delivery
Leading national missions on natural farming, genomic research, and agri-digitalization
💬 Advocates science-based, climate-resilient, and youth-driven agricultural growth
📈 Introduced ICAR Vision 2050+ Framework to align agricultural research with sustainability and global competitiveness
Director, ICAR – National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM), Pune
🏢 ICAR – NIASM, Baramati, Maharashtra
🌦️ Focus: Combating abiotic stresses (drought, heat, salinity, and floods) in crops
🧠 Led national research on climate adaptation, resilience, and precision farming
📊 Designed India’s Climate Change Impact Model for agricultural zones
🌍 Played a key role in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change and Agriculture (NAPCC-A)
Director, ICAR – National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack
📅 Appointed: 2010
🏛️ ICAR – NRRI, under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
🌾 Directed national-level programs on rice research, hybrid rice varieties, and climate resilience
💧 Led research on climate-smart rice production, drought-resistant varieties, and carbon sequestration in wetlands
🤝 Worked with global agencies on rice genome improvement and farmer adaptation models
Research Leadership & International Collaborations
🏢 ICAR – IARI, New Delhi
👔 Served as Principal Scientist, leading major national research projects
🌍 Collaborated with UNEP, FAO, and CGIAR on sustainable farming systems
📚 Published over 150 research papers and policy documents
🏆 Awarded FAO Fellowship for work on sustainable soil management
Early Scientific & Research Career
🏛️ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
👨🔬 Began career as Scientist in the Division of Environmental Sciences, IARI
🌾 Focused on soil carbon management, nutrient dynamics, and climate-smart farming
📈 Developed early frameworks for assessing greenhouse gas emissions in Indian agriculture
Early Life & Education
📍 Birthplace: Bihar, India
🎓 Education:
B.Sc. (Agriculture) – Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar
M.Sc. & Ph.D. (Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry) – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
🌿 Specialized in climate change, soil fertility, and sustainable agriculture
🎖️ Recipient of several national awards for agricultural research and innovation