Question

Who heads the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ?

• A. Cabinet Minister of Agriculture
• B. Director General
• C. Director of Agriculture
• D. Secretary, Agriculture

Hint:

While the Cabinet Minister of Agriculture is the ex-officio President (Head) of ICAR, the Director General (DG) of ICAR is the principal executive officer who manages daily scientific and administrative functions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
It is the premier body coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
To solve this question, we must differentiate between the structural and executive leadership of ICAR:
1. The overall President (the head) of the ICAR Society is the Union Minister of Agriculture (Cabinet Minister of Agriculture) in an ex-officio capacity.
This ensures that the national research agenda is aligned with governmental policies and farmers' welfare priorities.
2. On the other hand, the administrative and executive head of ICAR is the Director General (DG), who also functions as the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
Since the question asks who "heads" the council in a formal institutional capacity, the official head of the ICAR Society is its President, the Cabinet Minister of Agriculture.
The Director of Agriculture refers to state-level administrative heads, and the Secretary of Agriculture heads the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, distinct from DARE.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is headed by the Union Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, corresponding to option (A).