Agricultural Revolutions, ICAR Institutes, Commodity Boards & Botanical Names

NABARD Grade A • IBPS SO (AFO) • FCI AGM • IFoS

⚡ Quick Answer & AI Exam Snapshot (TL;DR)

Static Agriculture (Revolutions, ICAR Research Institutes, Statutory Commodity Boards, CGIAR International Centres, and Botanical Names / Chromosome Numbers / Centres of Origin) accounts for 4 to 6 direct 1-mark questions in NABARD Grade A Phase-1 (ARD) and Phase-2 Objective. Every aspirant must memorize: (1) All 18 Agricultural Revolutions & Their Fathers (Green: Norman Borlaug / M.S. Swaminathan [term coined by William S. Gaud, 1968]; White: Verghese Kurien; Blue: Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri & Dr. Arun Krishnan; Yellow: Sam Pitroda; Golden: Nirpakh Tutej; Pink: Durgesh Patel; Silver: Indira Gandhi; Red: Vishal Tewari; Protein: PM Modi; Evergreen: M.S. Swaminathan); (2) Headquarters of 50+ Flagship ICAR Institutes & Deemed Universities (IARI New Delhi, IVRI Izatnagar, NDRI Karnal, CIFE Mumbai, CRIDA Hyderabad, NRRI Cuttack, IIWM Bhubaneswar, CAZRI Jodhpur, CPRI Shimla, CTCRI Thiruvananthapuram); (3) The 6 Statutory Commodity Boards under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry vs the National Horticulture/Dairy/Fisheries Boards; and (4) CGIAR International Centres (IRRI Manila [Varanasi Regional Hub], CIMMYT Mexico, ICRISAT Hyderabad).

1. Complete Table of 18 Agricultural Revolutions in India, Target Commodities & Fathers

Memorize every row of this Agricultural Revolutions table — a perennial 1-mark question in NABARD Grade A and SSC/UPSC exams:

Agricultural Revolution	Target Commodity / Sector	Father / Pioneer & Key Exam Facts
1. Green Revolution (1966–67)	Foodgrains (Wheat & Rice via HYV dwarf seeds — Lerma Rojo, Sonora-64, IR-8)	• Global Father: Dr. Norman E. Borlaug (Nobel Peace Prize 1970, worked at CIMMYT Mexico). • Father in India: Prof. M.S. Swaminathan (Awarded Bharat Ratna in 2024!). Political architect: Food Minister C. Subramaniam (also awarded Bharat Ratna!). • Exam Trap: The term ‘Green Revolution’ was coined in March 1968 by Dr. William S. Gaud (USAID Administrator)!
2. Evergreen Revolution	Ecological & Sustainable Productivity in Perpetuity without Ecological Harm	Coined & championed by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan (Second Green Revolution / Rainbow Revolution).
3. White Revolution (Operation Flood, 13 Jan 1970)	Milk & Dairy Production (3 Phases: 1970–1996)	Dr. Verghese Kurien (‘Milkman of India’; his birthday on 26 November is celebrated as National Milk Day, while 1 June is World Milk Day!).
4. Blue Revolution (Neel Kranti)	Fisheries & Aquaculture	Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri (pioneered induced breeding Hypophysation in carps on 10 July 1957 — celebrated as National Fish Farmers’ Day!) & Dr. Arun Krishnan.
5. Yellow Revolution	Oilseeds Production (especially Mustard, Groundnut & Sunflower — Technology Mission on Oilseeds, 1986)	Sam Pitroda (with former PM Rajiv Gandhi).
6. Golden Revolution vs Golden Fibre Revolution	• Golden Revolution: Horticulture (Fruits, Apple & Honey) • Golden Fibre Revolution: Jute Production	• Father of Golden Revolution: Nirpakh Tutej (Father of Indian Horticulture: Dr. M.H. Marigowda; Modern Horticulture: Dr. K.L. Chadha).
7. Silver Revolution vs Silver Fibre Revolution	• Silver Revolution: Egg & Poultry Production • Silver Fibre Revolution: Cotton Production	• Promoter of Silver Revolution: Indira Gandhi (Father of Indian Poultry Industry: Dr. B.V. Rao, founder of Venky’s / NECC).
8. Pink, Red, Round, Brown, Black, Grey, Sweet & Protein Revolutions	Allied Commodities Matching	• Pink Revolution: Onion, Prawn/Shrimp & Pharmaceuticals (Father: Durgesh Patel). • Red Revolution: Meat & Tomato Production (Father: Vishal Tewari). • Round Revolution: Potato Production. • Grey Revolution: Fertilizers. • Brown Revolution: Leather, Cocoa & Non-Conventional Energy (Hiralal Chaudhari). • Black Revolution: Petroleum / Crude Oil & Biodiesel (Jatropha). • Sweet Revolution: Honey & Beekeeping (Apiculture). • Protein Revolution: Technology-driven 2nd Green Revolution (coined by PM Narendra Modi) & Purple / Lavender Revolution (CSIR Aroma Mission in Bhaderwah, Doda, Jammu & Kashmir!).

2. Master Directory of 50+ ICAR Research Institutes, Deemed Universities & CGIAR Centres

ICAR Fast Facts (Established 16 July 1929 as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture chaired by Lord Linlithgow!):
• President of ICAR Society (Ex-Officio): Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Director-General (DG) of ICAR: Also serves ex-officio as the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE, established Dec 1973)!
• The 4 ICAR Deemed-to-be Universities:
1. ICAR–IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute — ‘Pusa Institute’): Founded in 1905 at Pusa (Samastipur, Bihar); shifted to New Delhi in 1936 after the devastating 1934 Bihar earthquake! (Plus IARI Jharkhand at Hazaribagh & IARI Assam at Gogamukh).
2. ICAR–IVRI (Indian Veterinary Research Institute): Izatnagar, Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) (established 1889 at Pune/Mukteshwar).
3. ICAR–NDRI (National Dairy Research Institute): Karnal (Haryana) (established 1923 at Bangalore; shifted to Karnal in 1955).
4. ICAR–CIFE (Central Institute of Fisheries Education): Mumbai (Maharashtra).

Category	ICAR National / Central Research Institute	Exact Headquarters (City & State)
Field Crops & Pulses/Oilseeds	• NRRI (National Rice Research Institute — formerly CRRI) • IIRR (Indian Institute of Rice Research) & IIMR (Millets) & IIOR (Oilseeds) • IIWBR (Wheat & Barley) & CSSRI (Soil Salinity) • IIPR (Pulses Research) & IISR (Sugarcane Research) • SBI (Sugarcane Breeding Institute) • CICR (Central Institute for Cotton Research) & NBSS&LUP • CRIJAF (Jute & Allied Fibres) & NIRJAFT • CTRI (Central Tobacco Research Institute) • DGR (Groundnut) & DRMR (Rapeseed-Mustard) & IISR (Soybean)	• Cuttack (Odisha) • Hyderabad (Telangana) (all 3: IIRR, IIMR, IIOR!) • Karnal (Haryana) (both IIWBR & CSSRI!) • IIPR: Kanpur (UP) \| IISR (Sugarcane): Lucknow (UP) • Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) • Nagpur (Maharashtra) (both CICR & NBSS&LUP!) • Barrackpore / Kolkata (West Bengal) • Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh) • DGR: Junagadh (GJ) \| DRMR: Bharatpur (RJ) \| Soybean: Indore (MP)
Horticulture, Plantation & Spices	• IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research) • CISH (Subtropical Horticulture) \| CITH (Temperate Horticulture) • CIAH (Arid Horticulture) & CAZRI (Arid Zone Research) • CPRI (Potato) \| CTCRI (Tuber Crops) \| IIVR (Vegetables) • CPCRI (Plantation Crops) \| IISR (Spices Research) • NRC for Banana \| NRC for Grapes \| NRC for Pomegranate \| NRC for Litchi \| NRC for Makhana \| NRC for Orchids	• Bengaluru (Hessaraghatta, Karnataka) • CISH: Lucknow (UP) \| CITH: Srinagar (J&K) • CIAH: Bikaner (RJ) \| CAZRI: Jodhpur (RJ) • CPRI: Shimla (HP) \| CTCRI: Thiruvananthapuram (KL) \| IIVR: Varanasi (UP) • CPCRI: Kasaragod (Kerala) \| Spices: Kozhikode / Calicut (Kerala) • Banana: Tiruchirappalli (TN) \| Grapes: Pune (MH) \| Pomegranate: Solapur (MH) \| Litchi: Muzaffarpur (Bihar) \| Makhana: Darbhanga (Bihar) \| Orchids: Pakyong (Sikkim)
Natural Resources, Engineering, Animal & Fisheries	• CRIDA (Dryland Agriculture) & NAARM (Agri Research Mgmt) • IISS (Soil Science) & CIAE (Agricultural Engineering) • IISWC (Soil & Water Conservation) \| IIWM (Water Management) • CAFRI (Agroforestry) & IGFRI (Grassland & Fodder) • CIPHET (Post-Harvest Engineering & Tech) • CIRB (Buffaloes) \| CIRG (Goats) \| CSWRI (Sheep & Wool) \| NRCE (Equines) \| NRCC (Camel) \| NRCM (Mithun) • CMFRI (Marine Fisheries) & CIFT (Fisheries Tech) \| CIFA (Freshwater Aquaculture) \| CIBA (Brackishwater Aquaculture)	• Hyderabad (Telangana) (both CRIDA & NAARM!) • Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) (both IISS & CIAE!) • IISWC: Dehradun (UK) \| IIWM: Bhubaneswar (Odisha) • Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) (both CAFRI & IGFRI!) • Ludhiana (Punjab) • CIRB & NRCE: Hisar (HR) \| CIRG: Makhdoom, Mathura (UP) \| CSWRI: Avikanagar (RJ) \| Camel: Bikaner (RJ) \| Mithun: Medziphema (Nagaland) • CMFRI & CIFT: Kochi (Kerala) \| CIFA: Bhubaneswar (Odisha) \| CIBA: Chennai (TN)

3. Statutory Commodity Boards (Ministry of Commerce vs Agriculture) & International CGIAR Centres

1. Statutory Commodity Boards Under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Crucial Exam Trap — They are NOT under Ministry of Agriculture!):
1. Coffee Board of India (Coffee Act, 1942): HQ → Bengaluru (Karnataka).
2. Rubber Board of India (Rubber Act, 1947): HQ → Kottayam (Kerala).
3. Tea Board of India (Tea Act, 1953): HQ → Kolkata (West Bengal).
4. Tobacco Board of India (Tobacco Board Act, 1975): HQ → Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) (Notice: Tobacco Board is in Guntur, whereas ICAR-CTRI [Central Tobacco Research Institute] is in Rajahmundry!).
5. Spices Board of India (Spices Board Act, 1986): HQ → Kochi (Kerala).
6. National Turmeric Board (Notified Oct 2023 under Ministry of Commerce & Industry): HQ → Nizamabad (Telangana)!
7. APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 1986): HQ → New Delhi | MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority, 1972): HQ → Kochi (Kerala).

2. Boards Under Ministry of Agriculture / Fisheries & Animal Husbandry / Textiles:
• Coconut Development Board (CDB, 1981 — Min. of Agriculture): HQ → Kochi (Kerala).
• National Horticulture Board (NHB, 1984 — Min. of Agriculture): HQ → Gurugram (Haryana).
• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB, 1965 — Min. of FAHD): HQ → Anand (Gujarat).
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB, 2006 — Min. of FAHD): HQ → Hyderabad (Telangana).
• Central Silk Board (1948 — Ministry of Textiles): HQ → Bengaluru | National Jute Board (2008 — Min. of Textiles): HQ → Kolkata.

3. Top CGIAR International Agricultural Research Centres:
• ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, 1972 — ONLY CGIAR centre headquartered in India!): HQ → Patancheru, Hyderabad (Telangana) (Mandate crops: Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Groundnut, Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet).
• IRRI (International Rice Research Institute, 1960): HQ → Los Baños, Manila (Philippines) (South Asia Regional Centre [ISARC] inaugurated at Varanasi, UP in Dec 2018!).
• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 1966): HQ → El Batán, Mexico.
• ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas): HQ → Beirut (Lebanon) (Food Legume Research Platform in India at Amlaha, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh).

🎯 High-Yield Exam One-Liners (Last-Minute Revision Box)

The term ‘Green Revolution’ was coined by USAID Administrator Dr. William S. Gaud in March 1968; Dr. Norman Borlaug is the Global Father and Bharat Ratna Prof. M.S. Swaminathan is the Father of the Green Revolution in India.
Dr. Verghese Kurien is the Father of the White Revolution (Operation Flood, launched 13 Jan 1970); his birthday on 26 November is celebrated as National Milk Day (while 1 June is World Milk Day).
Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri and Dr. Arun Krishnan are the Fathers of the Blue Revolution; 10 July is celebrated as National Fish Farmers’ Day to commemorate Dr. Chaudhuri’s 1957 induced breeding breakthrough.
Sam Pitroda is associated with the Yellow Revolution (Oilseeds), Nirpakh Tutej with the Golden Revolution (Horticulture & Honey), Durgesh Patel with the Pink Revolution (Onion & Prawn), and Vishal Tewari with the Red Revolution (Meat & Tomato).
The ‘Purple (Lavender) Revolution’ was launched under CSIR’s Aroma Mission in Bhaderwah, Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir.
ICAR was established on 16 July 1929 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture (chaired by Lord Linlithgow); the Union Agriculture Minister is the ex-officio President of ICAR.
ICAR has 4 Deemed Universities: IARI (New Delhi, founded at Pusa, Bihar in 1905), IVRI (Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP), NDRI (Karnal, Haryana), and CIFE (Mumbai, Maharashtra).
Both ICAR-IISS (Indian Institute of Soil Science) and ICAR-CIAE (Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering) are headquartered in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Both ICAR-CAFRI (Central Agroforestry Research Institute) and ICAR-IGFRI (Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute) are headquartered in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
ICAR-CRIDA, NAARM, IIRR (Rice), IIMR (Millets), and IIOR (Oilseeds) are all headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana (while NRRI [National Rice Research Institute] is in Cuttack, Odisha!).
ICAR-IIPR (Pulses Research) is in Kanpur (UP), ICAR-IISR (Sugarcane Research) is in Lucknow (UP), and Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI) is in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
ICAR-CIPHET (Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology) is located in Ludhiana, Punjab.
The Coffee Board (Bengaluru), Rubber Board (Kottayam), Tea Board (Kolkata), Tobacco Board (Guntur), Spices Board (Kochi), and National Turmeric Board (Nizamabad, Telangana) operate under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry!
The Coconut Development Board (Kochi) and National Horticulture Board (Gurugram) operate under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The Tobacco Board is headquartered in Guntur (AP), whereas ICAR-CTRI (Central Tobacco Research Institute) is headquartered in Rajahmundry (AP).
ICRISAT (founded 1972, Patancheru, Hyderabad) is the ONLY CGIAR international research centre headquartered in India, while IRRI (Manila, Philippines) operates its South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) at Varanasi, UP.

📝 UPSC & Regulatory Level Practice MCQs (With Detailed Solutions)

Q1. Match the following Agricultural Revolutions with their target commodities and pioneers: (1) Yellow Revolution; (2) Golden Revolution; (3) Pink Revolution; (4) Red Revolution; (5) Purple Revolution.

A. (1) Potato; (2) Jute; (3) Tomato; (4) Onion; (5) Grapes
B. (1) Oilseeds (Sam Pitroda); (2) Horticulture, Fruits & Honey (Nirpakh Tutej); (3) Onion, Prawn/Shrimp & Pharmaceuticals (Durgesh Patel); (4) Meat & Tomato (Vishal Tewari); (5) Lavender Cultivation in J&K (CSIR Aroma Mission)
C. (1) Honey; (2) Oilseeds; (3) Meat; (4) Prawn; (5) Egg
D. (1) Fertilizers; (2) Cotton; (3) Leather; (4) Cocoa; (5) Saffron

Correct Answer: (B) — (1) Yellow Revolution = Oilseeds (Sam Pitroda); (2) Golden Revolution = Horticulture/Fruits & Honey (Nirpakh Tutej; whereas Golden Fibre = Jute); (3) Pink Revolution = Onion, Prawn & Pharmaceuticals (Durgesh Patel); (4) Red Revolution = Meat & Tomato (Vishal Tewari); and (5) Purple Revolution = Lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir under CSIR’s Aroma Mission.

Q2. Match the following flagship ICAR Institutes with their exact Headquarters: (1) ICAR–CAFRI (Agroforestry) & IGFRI (Grassland/Fodder); (2) ICAR–IISS (Soil Science) & CIAE (Agri Engineering); (3) ICAR–CIPHET (Post-Harvest Engineering); (4) ICAR–IIPR (Pulses Research).

A. (1) Dehradun; (2) Indore; (3) Karnal; (4) Lucknow
B. (1) Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh); (2) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh); (3) Ludhiana (Punjab); (4) Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
C. (1) Bhopal; (2) Jhansi; (3) New Delhi; (4) Varanasi
D. (1) Jodhpur; (2) Nagpur; (3) Hisar; (4) Cuttack

Correct Answer: (B) — Memorize these city pairs for NABARD Grade A: (1) Both CAFRI (Agroforestry) and IGFRI (Grassland & Fodder) are in Jhansi, UP; (2) Both IISS (Soil Science) and CIAE (Agricultural Engineering) are in Bhopal, MP; (3) CIPHET (Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology) is in Ludhiana, Punjab; and (4) IIPR (Indian Institute of Pulses Research) is in Kanpur, UP.

Q3. Under which Union Ministry do the five classic statutory Commodity Boards — Coffee Board (Bengaluru), Rubber Board (Kottayam), Tea Board (Kolkata), Tobacco Board (Guntur), and Spices Board (Kochi) — along with the newly notified National Turmeric Board (Nizamabad, Telangana) function?

A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
C. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
D. Ministry of Rural Development

Correct Answer: (B) — Because Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Tobacco, Spices, and Turmeric are major export-oriented plantation/commercial commodities, all six statutory Commodity Boards (plus APEDA and MPEDA) function under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (whereas the Coconut Development Board and National Horticulture Board are under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).

Q4. Where are the global headquarters of (i) the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), (ii) the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and (iii) IRRI’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in India located, respectively?

A. (i) Tokyo, Japan; (ii) Washington, USA; (iii) Cuttack, Odisha
B. (i) Los Baños, Manila (Philippines); (ii) El Batán (Mexico); (iii) Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
C. (i) Jakarta, Indonesia; (ii) Brazil; (iii) Hyderabad, Telangana
D. (i) Manila, Philippines; (ii) Rome, Italy; (iii) New Delhi

Correct Answer: (B) — IRRI (1960) is headquartered at Los Baños near Manila, Philippines, and established its IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) at the NSRTC campus in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (December 2018). CIMMYT (1966) is headquartered in El Batán, Mexico.

Q5. What is the difference between the location of the ‘Tobacco Board of India’ and ‘ICAR–Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI)’ in Andhra Pradesh?

A. Both are located in Visakhapatnam.
B. The Tobacco Board of India (Ministry of Commerce) is headquartered in Guntur, whereas ICAR–CTRI (Central Tobacco Research Institute) is headquartered in Rajahmundry.
C. The Tobacco Board is in Rajahmundry, whereas ICAR–CTRI is in Guntur.
D. The Tobacco Board is in Bengaluru, whereas ICAR–CTRI is in Vijayawada.

Correct Answer: (B) — This is a classic NABARD Grade A trap: the statutory Tobacco Board of India (established under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975) is headquartered in Guntur (AP), whereas the research institute ICAR–CTRI (Central Tobacco Research Institute, established 1947) is headquartered in Rajahmundry (AP).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Exam FAQs)

Q: What are the botanical names and chromosome numbers (2n) of Rice, Bread Wheat, and Maize?

(1) Rice: Oryza sativa (2n = 24; family Poaceae; origin South-East Asia); (2) Bread Wheat (Hexaploid): Triticum aestivum (2n = 6x = 42; origin South-West Asia); and (3) Maize (Corn): Zea mays (2n = 20; origin Central America / Mexico — also called the ‘Queen of Cereals’).

Q: Why is 16 July celebrated as ICAR Foundation Day and 23 December as National Farmers’ Day (Kisan Diwas)?

16 July marks the establishment of the Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural Research in 1929. 23 December is celebrated as National Farmers’ Day (Kisan Diwas) to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s 5th Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh (who was also conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2024 along with Prof. M.S. Swaminathan!).

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