The ICAR is an autonomous apex national organisation registered as a society which plans, conducts and promotes research, education, training and transfer of technology for advancement of agriculture and allied sciences.

  The ICAR was set up on 16 July 1929 on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. It was reorganised in 1965, and again in 1973. Over the years it has developed a large research and training infrastructure to work on the production and other emerging problems confronted in agriculture to meet the growing demands for food, fodder, fibre and fuel. It operates through 46 Central Research Institutes, 4 National Bureaux, 10 Project Directorates, 27 National Research Centres, 90 All India Co-ordinated Research Projects, 261 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 8 Trainers Training Centres.