Vice-Chancellor’s Profile

Dr. Punyavrat Suvimalendu Pandey, an eminent agricultural scientist and academician, presently holding the post of the Vice- Chancellor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Samastipur since 26^th September 2022. Prior to joining as the Vice Chancellor of RPCAU, Pusa, Dr. Pandey was holding the post of Assistant Director General (Education Planning & Home Science; and Education Quality Assurance and Reforms) at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. Dr. Pandey, being a scientist of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of 1986 batch served in various capacities as an outstanding scientist and research manager with ICAR starting as Scientist at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad and as National Coordinator of Organisation and Management Component of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) at ICAR headquarters, New Delhi. He did his graduation from the prestigious Science College, Patna of National repute under Patna university of Bihar.  Dr. Pandey did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Dr. Pandey has more than 40 years of experience in Agricultural Research and Education where he successfully planned and executed several innovative policies for ensuring quality education. He framed policies for quality capacity development at Higher Agricultural Education level including Promotion of Access, Equity, Relevance, Quality and Capacity Building.

The central sector scheme “Strengthening and development of higher agricultural education in India” of Agricultural Education Division of ICAR including Library Strengthening, Niche Area of Excellence, Student READY programmes of the council were planned and monitored by Dr. Pandey. Several reforms and innovations made in the NARS like Supercomputing Facility of Bioinformatics Grid, Agropedia- Knowledge Management Platform, and Consortium for e-Resources in Agriculture (CeRA), Strengthening of Digital Library, e-GRANTH, e-Courses and e-Publishing etc. are at his credit. Dr. Pandey is a well-known expert in the area of ICT in Agriculture. Dr. Pandey has been the pioneer in the country to conceptualized the introduction of UG and PG Programme on Natural Farming and he has been the member secretary of the committee constituted to suggest the relevance of the UG and PG programme on Natural Farming to generate the human resource for promoting Natural farming system in the country to make the nation self-reliance, to save the agricultural ecosystem and to save the environment.

While serving as National Coordinator of the Organization and Management Component of the World Bank sponsored National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) during 2011-2015, twenty-two Incubation and Agri-Business Planning and Development Centers (IABPDC) were established to encourage entrepreneurship in Agricultural Universities and ICAR institutes. These efforts of Dr. Pandey later set the tone for establishment of Agri Start-ups in India.

Prior to joining as National Coordinator, Dr. Pandey worked as Principal Scientist in the Simulation and Informatics division of the prestigious IARI, New Delhi.  Dr. Pandey is also a Faculty Member of Bioinformatics at IARI.

Dr. Pandey has been the proud recipient of Fellow of Farming System Research and Development; Lt. Amit Prabudh Manishi Award 2025 and several other Awards and Honours including the prestigious Gold Medal of IARI for his outstanding academic performance. He has published more than 120 research papers in national and international journals along with several articles, conference proceedings, technical reports, manuals and book chapters on issues relating to agricultural research and education, ICT in agriculture, agribusiness entrepreneurship, experiential learning and women empowerment. He has been Reviewers of various journals and Members of Editorial Board of several Scientific Journals. In addition, he has guided several students for their degree programme.

Dr. Pandey has also served as Member of various High-Powered Committees and Professional Bodies including General Body as well as Governing Body of the ICAR Society; Sub-Committee (Finance & Accounts) of Governing Body of ICAR; Board of Management of ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar; Board of Management & Academic Council of ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai;  Institute Management Committee of ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna; Institute Management Committee of ATARI, Zone-IV, Patna; ICAR – MGIFRI, Motihari, Bihar, Academic Council of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal; Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari; Junagadh Agriculture University, Junagadh; and Research Advisory Council of several ICAR institutes.

Dr. Pandey also served as Member of Board of Management of University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad; University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore; Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour; Bihar Animal Science University, Patna; Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi; Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut; and University of Agriculture, Jodhpur. More than 250 projects in the area of Research and development, Education, Innovation, and Livelihood enhancement have been completed under the leadership of Dr. Pandey.

He has successfully planned and executed several policies for ensuring quality education including the introduction of courses on Natural Farming in Agricultural Education System of the country. He has also framed the policies for Higher Agricultural Education, including Promotion of Access, Equity, Relevance, Quality and Capacity Building.

Under his dynamic leadership, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University has touched the height of Agricultural Research and Education in the country by securing 7^th position from 52^nd in Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF).  The University was also honoured with the prestigious “Premier National Institution Honour” in recognition of significant contributions to patriotism leadership, community service, youth empowerment, value-based education and promotion of national unity. The award of 13 patents, 2 copy rights and a GI tag for unique Marcha rice are the reflections of extraordinary leadership of Dr. Pandey. The introduction of Deekshrambh and a four years B. Sc. Ag. (Hons.) Natural Farming programme with the initiation of School of Natural Farming at University reflects his visionary approaches and commitment to materialized the ideas about the basics of Education system as well as to save the agricultural ecosystem.