Govt appoints ICRISAT scientist ML Jat as new ICAR Director-General

The government has appointed Mangi Lal Jat as Director-General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for a period of three years. He will also be ex-officio Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Deputy Director General -Research (AI) & Director Global Research Program of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad to the post of Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)-cum-Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the government order said.

Currently the agriculture secretary holds charge of DG, ICAR and Secretary, DARE after the retirement of Himanshu Pathak, who joined as DG, ICRISAT in Hyderabad on March 6 after taking voluntary retirement from ICAR.

While agriculture scientists in ICAR are allowed to serve until 62 years of age, the DG, ICAR may continue up to the age of 60 years as the person also functions as the secretary in DARE.

According to ICRISAT website, Jat is a well-recognised Systems Agronomist with over 25 years of rich experience in Systems Science across the developing world. He has served for over 12 years at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) as Principal Scientist/System Agronomist and System Science Strategy Lead and one year at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). He has also served 12 years at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as Systems Agronomist.

Jat has a PhD in Agronomy with a specialisation on Soil Moisture Conservation in Rainfed Pearl Millet from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Published on April 17, 2025