What was the role of ICAR during the Green Revolution?
Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -1st)
Explanation
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is India's premier organization for agricultural research and education.
During the Green Revolution, its main function was to spearhead the scientific efforts required to boost agricultural productivity.
This involved developing, testing, and adapting High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of crops, particularly wheat and rice, to suit Indian agro-climatic conditions.
This research was the technological cornerstone that enabled the massive increase in food grain production characteristic of the Green Revolution.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
Option A: Monitoring food subsidies is an economic and administrative function related to food security management, not agricultural research.
Option B: Regulating prices is a policy and economic control function, which is outside the mandate of a scientific research body like ICAR.
Option D: Distributing land titles is a legal and administrative task related to land revenue and ownership, managed at the state level.
Related Visual
Visual 1: Infographic: A flowchart illustrating the key components of the Green Revolution (HYV seeds, irrigation, fertilizers) and highlighting ICAR's central role in the research and development of HYV seeds.
Visual 2: Timeline: A visual timeline of the Green Revolution in India, marking the establishment of ICAR and key milestones in crop development that it led.
Clinical Relevance
Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Role of ICAR in the Green Revolution as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a general knowledge question. Understanding the specific roles of different national agencies is crucial for general awareness and success in the non-nursing sections of competitive exams.
ICAR's work remains fundamental to India's food security, agricultural policy, and addressing modern challenges like climate-resilient agriculture and nutritional security.
What if the question asked about ensuring farmers receive a Minimum Support Price (MSP)? That role is associated with the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for recommendations and procurement by agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
How to Approach the Question
First, identify the key acronym in the question: ICAR.
Recall or deduce its full form: Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Focus on the word 'Research'. This is the strongest clue to the organization's primary function.
Evaluate the options by categorizing them: 'subsidies' and 'prices' are economic functions, while 'land titles' is a legal/administrative function.
Recognize that 'conducting crop trials and research' is the only scientific activity among the choices.
Select the option that directly aligns with the core mandate of a research council.
Concept Tested & Keywords
Concept Tested: Role of ICAR in the Green Revolution
Stem keywords: ICAR, Green Revolution, role
Lead-in keywords: What was
Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QUrm2P0_123TBD3MKiPGQO
Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -1st)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.