Dairy Production: Indian Dairy Products Would Be Made Available Across The World: Shivraj Singh Chauhan

New Delhi. The 21st Convocation of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute(ICAR-NDRI), Karnal was organised in the Dr. D. Sundaresan Auditorium of ICAR-NDRI in the august presence of the Chief Guest, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Government of India. In course of his address, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare remarked that India is to be a prosperous, rich and developed nation by 2047 wherein agriculture and milk will play a pivotal role. He further emphasized that diversification of agriculture along with adoption of latest techniques of animal husbandry should be followed. He hoped that we all need to make untiring endeavours to fulfil the dreams of our Hon’ble Prime Minister by 2047. He was of the view that if efforts are properly made, Indian dairy products would be made available across the world. To fulfil such sort of objective, institutes like NDRI and the students studying here can play a significant role. He opined that education not only refines and nurtures a person but is exceedingly beneficial for the country and society as well. The chief guest further added that convocation is an opportunity to take a pledge when the students completing their education ponder over imparting the nation a novel direction.
Speaking as a guest of honour, Shri Bhagirath Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare told that in the last 100 years, NDRI has made commendable efforts in the sphere of dairy farming and animal husbandry, which have provided new direction to the Indian dairy industry. In course of his address to the august gathering, he told that in India, milk, dairy products are not only a part of the diet, but are also a symbol of culture, economy and self-reliance. He further underlined that since time immemorial, the social and religious importance of cow rearing in our society has been so much that the protection of cows was considered a religion. Cow breeding was promoted by many kings since ancient times. Gaushalas were run under the royal patronage. The rural economy continued to be strengthened by milk production and its trade. He also briefed that the National Dairy Research Institute is a leading research institute in the field of dairy science in India, which has made very important and commendable contributions in various fields like animal nutrition, breed improvement, milk processing and quality testing.
In his presidential address, Dr. Dheer Singh, Director and Vice Chancellor, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal informed that during today’s convocation, a total of 201 students were awarded degrees by the Chief Guest, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, out of which 32 students were awarded B.Tech. degree, 98 students were awarded Masters degree and 71 researchers were awarded PhD degree. Dr. Singh further informed that the 102-year-old institute has two regional stations with a total of 134 faculty members. The institute is doing unprecedented work in the field of human resource development in the dairy sector and dissemination of new dairy technologies, due to which it has been ranked first among all agricultural universities for 05 consecutive times, while last year it was ranked second among 145 universities ranked by NIRF.
While addressing the achievements of the institute, Dr. Singh informed that out of the total 107 patents filed by the institute, 56 have been approved while a total of 144 technologies have been commercialized since 2006. At the end of his address, he apprised the gathering that today India ranks first in the world with a milk production of 239 million metric tons. Dr. Dheer Singh also that the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Deemed University of Karnal offers B.Tech in 03 subjects, postgraduate courses in 14 subjects and PhD in 14 subjects.
During the Convocation, under the Doctoral Programme 2023-24, Gold Medal was awarded to Ms. M Lavanya, Veterinary Gynecology and Obstetrics, Silver Medal to Ms. Martina Pukhrambam, Animal Genetics and Breeding and Bronze Medal to Ms. Rashika Srivastava. Under Master Program 2023-24, Mr. Dhasarath M, Agriculture Economics,Gold Medal, Ms. Ojal Singh, Animal Nutrition was awarded the silver medal and Mr. Amandeep Goyal, bronze medal. Under B. Tech. Dairy Technology 2023-24, Ms. Riya, D.T. was awarded the gold medal, Mr. Aman Singh, D.T. was awarded the silver medal and Mr. Himanshu was awarded the bronze medal. Award of Merit Certificate was given to 14 students under Doctoral Programme during the year 2023-24 whereas Award of Merit Certificate was given to 12 students under Masters Programme during the year 2023-24. Award of Merit Certificate was given to 06 students under B.Tech (Dairy Technology) for the same year.
 
Under the Best Thesis Research Award, the Best Thesis Research Award was given to Ms. Liza S., Animal Physiology in the Doctoral Programme, Ms. Poornima, Dairy Technology in the Processing Group and Mr. P. Akshith Sai in Social Sciences and Management. Under the Masters Programme 2023-24, the Best Thesis Award was given to Ms. Rinki , Animal Genetics and Breeding Paul in the Production Group , Mr. Harsh Jindal, Dairy Technology in the Processing Group while Mr. Mrin Moy Das in Social Sciences and Management. The Best Division Award for the year 2024 was given to the Dairy Extension Division.
            Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. M.S. Chauhan, Vice Chancellor, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Dr. CH. Srinivas Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, Dr. A.K. Singh , Joint Director (Academics), Dr. Rajan Sharma, Joint Director (Research), Shri B.D. Phansal, Joint Director (Administration) & Senior Registrar, Shri Teg Singh, Progressive Farmer, Shri Sugriv Singh Chauhan, Progressive Farmer, Hon’ble MLA of Karnal Jagmohan Anand, Mayor of Karnal, Ms. Renu Bala Gupta, and all staff members of NDRI and sister institutes also graced the function.