National Dairy Research Institute

Imperial origins (1923–1955) The institution was founded as the Imperial Institute of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Bangalore in 1923. Notably, Dr. Verghese Kurien, who would later become known as the "Father of the White Revolution", spent nine months at the Imperial Dairy Institute in Bangalore in 1946 receiving specialized training in dairy engineering before being posted to Anand. Expansion in Karnal (1955–present) Following Indian independence, the headquarters were relocated to Karnal in 1955 and the facility was renamed the National Dairy Research Institute. In 1970, administrative control was transferred to the ICAR. The institute played a pivotal role in providing the scientific framework for the White Revolution, supporting the technical requirements of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). == Regional Stations ==

To address the diverse agro-climatic conditions of India, the NDRI operates two regional stations: • Southern Regional Station (SRS), Bangalore: The original founding site of the institute, it now focuses on dairy production and processing specific to South India. • Eastern Regional Station (ERS), Kalyani: Established in 1964 in Kalyani, West Bengal, this station specializes in the dairy requirements of the eastern and north-eastern regions of the country. == Research and biotechnology ==

Livestock breeding and cloning The institute is recognized globally for its work in "hand-guided" cloning techniques. In 2009, it successfully produced "Samrupa", the world's first cloned buffalo calf, followed by "Garima". A subsequent clone, "Garima-II", was born in 2010. In 2013, Garima-II successfully gave birth to a female calf named "Mahima", marking a global first and demonstrating the reproductive viability of cloned livestock. The institute also developed major synthetic cattle breeds, including the Karan Swiss (1963) and the Karan Fries (1982), the latter being a crossbreed of Holstein Friesian and indigenous Tharparkar lineages. Animal nutrition and feed technology A core mandate of the NDRI is improving livestock productivity through advanced nutrition. The institute's Animal Nutrition division pioneered the development of "bypass protein" technology in India, which protects high-quality dietary proteins from degradation in the rumen, increasing milk yield and protein content in dairy cattle. Dairy processing and commercial technology The institute is highly regarded for its commercial technology transfers, most notably the development of rapid, strip-based milk adulteration detection kits. These paper-strip kits allow consumers and dairies to easily detect harmful adulterants such as neutralizers, urea, and detergents in milk. == Infrastructure and outreach ==

The Karnal campus spans 1,384 acres and houses the National Library in Dairying, which holds a collection of over 90,000 volumes, including print periodicals and digital databases. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) As part of its extension mandate under the ICAR, the institute operates a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agricultural Science Centre) at the Karnal campus. The KVK acts as a frontline extension hub to transfer agricultural, livestock, and dairy technologies directly to rural farmers, women, and youth through hands-on training. == Academics and rankings ==

NDRI offers undergraduate (B.Tech in Dairy Technology), postgraduate (M.Sc/M.Tech), and doctoral (Ph.D) programs. Admission to undergraduate programs is conducted via the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG), while postgraduate and doctoral admissions are managed through the All India Entrance Examination for Agriculture (ICAR AIEEA). The NDRI is consistently recognized as one of the top agricultural institutes in India. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings published by the Ministry of Education, NDRI routinely secures top positions, notably achieving the 2nd Rank nationwide in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors category in 2025. == See also ==