Mangi Lal Jat Appointed Secretary of DARE & DG of ICAR

Dr. Mangi Lal Jat officially assumed charge as the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). With over 25 years of experience in agronomy, conservation agriculture, and climate-resilient farming systems, his appointment is seen as a major step toward enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and research innovation in India. Jat succeeds Dr. Himanshu Pathak, who opted for voluntary retirement, and is set to serve a term of three years.

Key Highlights

Dual Leadership Role

• Appointed as both Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR.
• Term duration: Three years.

Predecessor

• Replaces Himanshu Pathak, who took voluntary retirement.

Professional Background

• Over 25 years of experience in,
• Agronomy
• Conservation agriculture
• Climate-resilient farming systems
• Recognized for contributing to sustainable farming and agricultural research.

Previous Roles

• Served as Deputy Director General (Research) at ICRISAT, Hyderabad.
• Director of Global Research Program at ICRISAT.

Former leadership roles at,

• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
• ICAR (12 years as a Systems Agronomist)

Educational Qualifications

• Holds a PhD in Agronomy.
• Alumnus of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Vision and Expectations

• Expected to lead ICAR’s efforts.
• Tackling climate change
• Addressing soil degradation
• Transforming food systems
• Ministry of Agriculture stated that his leadership would drive innovation, sustainability, and farmer-first research.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Mangi Lal Jat Appointed Secretary of DARE & DG of ICAR
Name	Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
New Positions	Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR
Term Duration	3 years
Predecessor	Dr. Himanshu Pathak (voluntary retirement)
Experience	25+ years in agronomy and sustainable agriculture
Previous Roles	DDG (Research) & Director, Global Research, ICRISAT
Other Institutes	Worked With CIMMYT, IRRI, ICAR (as Systems Agronomist)
Academic Background	PhD in Agronomy from IARI, New Delhi
Key Focus Areas	Climate-resilient farming, conservation agriculture, soil health