The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) is a deemed-to-be university and the premier dairy research institution of India, located in Karnal, Haryana. It functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, and undertakes research, teaching and extension activities across the entire spectrum of dairy science, technology, and management.
| Name | National Dairy Research Institute |
|---|---|
| Type | Deemed university; ICAR research institute |
| Location | Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Parent body | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare |
| Field | Dairy science and technology |
| Regional stations | Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Kalyani (West Bengal) |
NDRI traces its origins to the Imperial Institute of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which was established at Bangalore during the colonial period to address dairying issues in India. The institute was later renamed the Imperial Dairy Institute, and after independence it became the National Dairy Research Institute. Its headquarters were subsequently shifted from Bangalore to Karnal, while a regional station was retained in Bengaluru. A second regional station operates at Kalyani in West Bengal to serve the eastern region of the country.
The institute was conferred the status of a deemed university by the University Grants Commission, enabling it to award its own degrees in dairy science and allied disciplines.
NDRI offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in dairy-related disciplines. Major academic divisions and areas of work include:
The institute maintains experimental herds of indigenous cattle breeds such as Sahiwal and Tharparkar, crossbred cattle, and Murrah buffaloes, which are used for research on genetics, breeding, lactation physiology and milk production.
NDRI has played a central role in the development of India's organised dairy sector, contributing to research on milk production, processing, product development, animal health and breed improvement. The institute has been associated with notable scientific work in animal cloning in India, including the production of cloned buffalo calves through advanced embryo biotechnology techniques. Its work has supported the broader objectives of Operation Flood and India's emergence as the world's largest milk-producing country.
The institute also conducts training programmes for dairy farmers, entrepreneurs, extension workers and personnel from cooperative dairies, and provides technological support to the dairy industry through pilot plants and product development units.
The main campus at Karnal spans a large area and houses laboratories, classrooms, an experimental dairy plant, livestock farms, fodder fields, hostels and staff residences. The Bengaluru station focuses on aspects relevant to southern India, including tropical dairying and product technology, while the Kalyani station addresses regional needs of eastern India.