Milestones
1905 : Botany Division, Imperial Agricultural Research Institute
1946 : Plant Introduction Section/Service, Botany Division, Imperial Agricultural Research Institute
1956 : Plant Introduction and Exploration Organization Botany Division, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
1961 : Plant Introduction Division, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
1974 : Plant Introduction Division, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
1976 : National Bureau of Plant Introduction
1976 : National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
Indian Vavilov Dr. Harbhajan Singh (1914-1974)
Dr. Harbhajan Singh was the most distinguished plant explorer, renowned as the “Indian Vavilov”. He imparted a distinct identity to the discipline Plant Genetic Resources in India. Dr. Singh introduced large germplasm of wheat and rice that contributed to the Green Revolution in India. He also introduced several new species such as soybean, sunflower, low chilling and temperate fruits (peaches, apples, West Indian cherry, Chinese gooseberry) and a wide range of ornamentals. He also made outstanding contributions in the field of vegetable breeding, Pusa Sawani cultivar of okra being the crowning example.
Born at Pusa, Bihar he received early education at Kharar and Amritsar. Dr. Singh post graduated in Botany from Agra University and then completed Diploma course of associateship in Economic Botany from Imperial Agricultural Research Institute (now Indian Agricultural Research Institute). He later joined Division of Botany, IARI as regular research staff. Later, he adorned the position of Head of Plant Introduction Division of IARI with great distinction, taught and guided many postgraduate students with an unusual blend of scientific and human qualities.
His contributions to the field he loved most have been multifarious. He organized a number of systematic explorations and evaluation programmes in India and abroad. Dr. Harbhajan Singh published over 130 research papers, bulletins, monographs and popular articles. He served as consultant to several organizations and represented the country in international fora. The President of India conferred on Dr. Singh the Padma Shri award in 1971. Punjab Agricultural University decorated him with the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris causa).
Dr. Harbhajan Singh believed and worked relentlessly with the firm conviction that example is better than percept. He was a human being par excellence. We feel greatly honoured by dedicating this volume to the memory of the person who was a pioneer in the field of plant genetic resources and was an outstanding plant breeder.
ICAR-NBPGR Directors
Mr. M.W. Hardas*#
01.08.1976 - 26.01.1977
Dr. K.L. Mehra
27.01.1977 - 31.12.1983
Dr. R.K. Arora*
01.01.1984 - 28.02.1985
Dr. R.S. Paroda
01.03.1985 - 01.11.1987
Dr. R.K. Arora*
02.11.1987 - 01.01.1989
Dr. R.S. Rana
02.01.1989 - 18.09.1995
Dr. K.P.S. Chandel*
19.09.1995 - 30.04.1997
Dr P.L. Gautam
24.05.1997 - 13.04.2000
Dr. G.D. Sharma*
13.04.2000 - 10.09.2000
Dr. B.S. Dhillon
11.09.2000 - 27.07.2005
Dr. J.L. Karihaloo*
27.07.2005 - 31.01.2006
Dr. A.K. Singh*
01.02.2006 - 14.06.2006
Dr. S.K. Sharma
15.06.2006 - 05.02.2010
Dr. D.C. Bhandari*
05.02.2010 - 27.10.2010
Dr. K.C. Bansal
27.10.2010 - 26.04.2016
Dr. S.C. Dubey*
27.04.2016 - 10.08.2016
Dr. Kuldeep Singh
11.08.2016 - 10.08.2021
Dr. Ashok Kumar*
11.08.2021 - 27.10.2022
Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh
28.10.2022 - Continuing
Name | From | To |
| Mr. M.V. Hardas*# | 01.08.1976 | 26.01.1977 |
| Dr. K.L. Mehra | 27.01.1977 | 31.12.1983 |
| Dr. R.K. Arora* | 01.01.1984 | 28.02.1985 |
| Dr. R.S. Paroda | 01.03.1985 | 01.11.1987 |
| Dr. R.K. Arora* | 02.11.1987 | 01.01.1989 |
| Dr. R.S. Rana | 02.01.1989 | 18.09.1995 |
| Dr. K.P.S. Chandel* | 19.09.1995 | 30.04.1997 |
| Dr. P.L. Gautam | 24.05.1997 | 13.04.2000 |
| Dr. G.D. Sharma* | 13.04.2000 | 10.09.2000 |
| Dr. B.S. Dhillon | 11.09.2000 | 27.07.2005 |
| Dr. J.L.Karihaloo* | 27.07.2005 | 31.01.2006 |
| Dr. A.K.Singh* | 01.02.2006 | 14.06.2006 |
| Dr. S.K.Sharma | 15.06.2006 | 05.02.2010 |
| Dr. D.C. Bhandari* | 05.02.2010 | 27.10.2010 |
| Dr. K.C. Bansal | 27.10.2010 | 26.04.2016 |
| Dr. S.C. Dubey* | 27.04.2016 | 10.08.2016 |
| Dr. Kuldeep Singh | 11.08.2016 | 10.08.2021 |
| Dr. Ashok Kumar* | 11.08.2021 | 27.10.2022 |
| Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh | 28.10.2022 | Continuing |
* Acting Director
# National Bureau of Plant Introduction