The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducted a review meeting on October 7, 2026, to assess the progress of nine committees constituted to address 28 action points emerging from the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in December 2025. The committees are working on strengthening human capital for Viksit Bharat, with specific focus on higher education, skills development, innovation, and capacity building.
Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, chaired the meeting and emphasized the need for evidence-based, measurable, and implementable recommendations. He stressed that recommendations should be supported by relevant data, documented evidence, and best practices to enable effective implementation and measurable outcomes.
Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education) at ICAR, highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts by the committees to address the identified action points within stipulated timelines. He underscored the need for a structured approach to translate the deliberations of the National Conference of Chief Secretaries into concrete and implementable outcomes.
During the meeting, Member Secretaries of the nine committees presented progress reports covering key achievements, progress against identified areas, existing gaps, and proposed recommendations. The discussions focused on strengthening recommendations through relevant data, evidence, and best practices. The review assessed committee progress, identified areas requiring further attention, and facilitated convergence among ongoing efforts toward strengthening higher education, skills, innovation, and capacity building initiatives.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on timely submission of evidence-based, measurable, and implementable recommendations by the committees for further consideration and action.