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Eternal India
encyclopedia
SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY
While the Green Revolution of 1967-68 was confined to Punjab,
Haryana and Western UP, the Green Revolution of 1983-84 cov-
ered West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and UP.
The ICAR sponsors and co-ordinates agricultural research and
education in the country. It has 45 research institutes, 9 project
directorates, 25 national research centres, 69 all-India co-ordi-
nated research projects and is involved in the work of 26 agricul-
tural universities.
Improvement of crops is one of the major areas of research. The
improvement in crop yields was spectacular in the work of the
introduction of Taichung Native I and IR-8 varieties from the Inter-
national Rice Research Institute which have got the dwarfing gene.
New varieties were produced, by manipulating IR-8 to suit local
conditions. Nearly 70 such varieties have been released so far.
Wheat has shown even more remarkable performance following
the introduction of the Mexican varieties.
Research efforts on coarse grains like pearl millet and small
millets had led to development of several high - yielding varieties
and hybrids. There was a record production of 97.57 lakh bales of
cotton in 1990-91. India is the first country in the world to have
commercial cultivation of cotton hybrids. Similarly 2402.87 lakh
tonnes of sugarcane in 1990-91 was made possible by using im-
proved varieties and better crop management.
Production of quality seeds is being ensured by the national
seed project, phase III of which has been taken up for accelerating
the development of high quality breeder seed. The National Bureau
of Plant Genetic Resources established in 1976 is acting as a model
institute for all important activities related to collection, conserva-
tion and exchange of germ plasm.
Sustained research and extension work being carried out by the
ICAR’s Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering at Bhopal has
enabled India to achieve self-sufficiency in production of improved
farm machinery. The number of tractors is estimated to have
exceeded 12 lakhs with an annual addition of 1,50,000. About 120
lakh irrigation pumpsets are in use with 7,00,000 pumpsets being
added every year.
Agriculture will be more science-based and industry - linked by
2000 A.D. Bio-technology, genetic engineering, photosynthesis,
tissue culture, bio-insecticides and pheromones are the emerging
areas of research to promote agricultural productivity. The ICAR
has established three national research areas in bio-technology in
agriculture, animal health and animal production at three national
institutes. It involves biological nitrogen fixation, plant cell and
tissue culture, molecular biology and biochemistry of plant crops
especially seed plants using DNA recombinant technology, devel-
oping monoclonal antibodies and hybridomes for cheaper and more
effective immunodiagnostic and immunoprophylactic agents and
multiple ovulation, embryo transfer technology, genetic manipula-
tion and
cyro-preser\>ation.
Associated Research Organisations &
Laboratories - See-Vol -II
Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR)
As a result of research into communicable diseases and nutri-
tion over the last 25 years, life expectancy has increased from 32 to
50 years. Infant mortality rates have declined since the turn of the
century although they are still quite high, that is, around 125 per
thousand live births. India has adopted family planning as an
official policy. The population growth for the decade 1971-1981
showed for the first time a slight decrease over the rate recorded in
1961-1971. The ICMR has 15 institutions and supports a number
of specific projects of research. The Calcutta unit established that
thalassemia is quite common and not as rare as was earlier be-
lieved. It proved the association of thalassemia with some of the
abnormal haemoglobins.
The ICMR has also done research on persons practising yoga
to verify their claims.
The ICMR (estd. in 1911) is the apex body in India for the
formulation, co-ordination and promotion of biomedical research. It
discharges its primary function of promoting biomedical research
through intramural as well as extramural research. It is one of the
oldest medical research bodies in the world.
During the Seventh Plan period the following selected health
problems were taken up for study:
(i)
Immuno-prophylaxis, e.g. developing new vaccines and
improving existing vaccines against major communicable
diseases;
(ii)
Immunological approaches to fertility regulation, e.g.
anti-fertility vaccine;
(iii)
Integrated control of vectors transmitting parasitic dis-
eases;
(iv)
Immunodiagnostics for several communicable diseases;
and
(v)
Control of deficiency disorders in the Terai region of
Uttar Pradesh.
In the field of communicable diseases research studies are
being undertaken on tuberculosis and leprosy. Genetic recombina-
tion studies were inititated at the Central Jalma Institute of Lep-
rosy (CJIL), Agra. A new technique for stepwise isolation of poly
(A) + RNA, r RNA and DNA from mycrobacteria was standar-
dised, while r RNA gene mapping studies are in progress. A serum
antibody competitive inhibition test, using monoclonal antibodies
was improvised at CJIL, for immunodiagnosis of leprosy.
For a list of ICMR permanent institutes and centres refer to the
end of this section.
All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Following the recommendations of the Bhore Committee in
1943 and subsequently the advice of the Mudaliar Committee in
1947, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was
established in New Delhi in 1956 through an Act of Parliament.
It admits 50 undergraduates every year for basic medical stud-
ies, and about 2200 graduates for advanced learning. It also looks
after 1,000 in-patients at any time and handles thousands of out-
patients everyday. By virtue of its multifarious activities, it caters
to a wide spectrum of talent. It has room for devoted clinicians,
dedicated scientists, as well as inspiring teachers. The contribu-
tions of AIIMS are not confined alone to India. Its expertise has
been made available to many neighbouring developing countries
through mutually beneficial joint ventures.