Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao to Receive Prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award for 2024–25

HYDERABAD APRIL 1 (RNI) The Retired ICAR Employees Association (RICAREA) has named Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR–IARI), as the recipient of the Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award for the 2024–25 cycle. This prestigious national award, instituted in 2004-05 in collaboration with Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL), recognizes outstanding agricultural scientists for their lifetime achievements and transformative impact on India’s food security. The current cycle is especially significant as it coincides with the Birth Centenary Year of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.

Joining a Legacy of Excellence

Since its inception, eight eminent scientists have received this honor for their transformative impact on India’s agricultural progress. Dr. Rao joins a distinguished list of past awardees, which includes.

Dr. Genda Lal Jain (2004–2005), a leading poultry scientist.

Dr. S. Nagarajan (2008–2009), an eminent plant pathologist and former Director of IARI.

Dr. V. Praveen Rao (2017–2019), recognized for his outstanding contributions to micro-irrigation.

Dr. P.V. Satyanarayana (2021–2022), honored for developing high-yielding, resilient rice varieties.

Expert Selection Committee

The selection for this term followed a rigorous and transparent evaluation process by a committee of eminent scientific leaders. The panel was chaired by Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairman of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) and former Director General of ICAR. Other distinguished members included Dr. Vijay Gupta, World Food Prize Laureate; Dr. Bala Ravi, former Assistant Director General of ICAR; and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).

Distinguished Contributions:

Dr. Rao was selected for his extensive work in climate-resilient farming and natural resource management. His career highlights include:

 Environmental Impact: Scaling Resource Conservation Technologies across 4 million hectares, saving ₹3.8 billion annually in diesel costs.

 Climate Adaptation: Leading the development of 637 District Agricultural Contingency Plans and 151 Climate Resilient Villages.

Academic Excellence: Publishing 363 research papers and authoring or editing 57 books.

The award, which includes a gold medal, a citation, and a financial reward of Rs. 2,00,000/-, will be presented at a formal ceremony18th April 2026.