BHU is an internationally reputed seat of learning and is one of Asia’s largest and most prestigious residential universities. This creative and innovative University was founded by nationalist leader, Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya ji in 1916, through close cooperation with great personalities like Annie Besant, who viewed it as the University of India. BHU was established by Parliamentary legislation – the B.H.U. Act of 1915. The area of the main campus of this premier Central University is 1,300 acres, having well-maintained roads, extensive greenery, a grand temple of Lord Shiva, an airstrip, and buildings which are an architectural delight. The University comprises 6 Institutes, 14 Faculties, 144 Departments, 4 Interdisciplinary Centres, a constituent college for women, and 3 constituent schools, spanning a vast range of subjects pertaining to all branches of Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology, Medicine, Science, Agriculture, Management, Fine Arts, and Performing Arts etc. It has 6 Centres of Advanced Studies, 10 Departments under the Special Assistance Programme, and a large number of specialized Research Centres. BHU is home to around 35,000 students from diverse backgrounds, supported by 1,700 faculty members and 8,000 non-teaching staff. It attracts international students from the USA, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The University plays a leading role in fostering innovation, global integration, and cultural and intellectual growth—truly a universe in microcosm.

Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS-BHU)

IAS, an integral part of BHU, was established in 1931 as the Institute of Agricultural Research by Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya ji, who recognized the critical role of agriculture in India’s economy. It was the first institution in the country to offer M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. (Ag.) degrees, marking a milestone in postgraduate agricultural education and research. Undergraduate teaching began in 1945, and the Institute initially functioned as the College of Agriculture under the Faculty of Engineering. In 1968, it became an independent Faculty of Agriculture and was later upgraded to the Institute of Agricultural Sciences in 1981, bringing together all major disciplines of agriculture, including Food Science and Dairy Technology.

Currently, IAS-BHU ranks 3rd among Agricultural Universities and Institutes in India. It offers internationally relevant academic programs in Plant Sciences, Soil Health, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Biotechnology. The Institute is actively engaged in research areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and innovations for smallholder farmers contributing significantly to both national and global food security. It has established strong collaborations with reputed national and international agricultural organizations, including CGIAR and other leading scientific institutions, to advance research and innovation.

Over its 93-year journey, the Institute has played a pivotal role in developing high-yielding popular crop varieties, eco-friendly agricultural technologies, and skilled human resources. Recognizing the demands of the 21st century, the Institute introduced 11 specialized academic programs during post-2006 in agriculture and management. To strengthen Animal Science education and research, a separate Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences was established in 2015 at the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Barkachha, Mirzapur.

The Institute continues to fulfil its mandate of advancing agricultural growth through cutting-edge research, human capital development, and technology dissemination. Notably, BHU’s foundation day, celebrated on Basant Panchami, symbolically aligns with the blooming of crops during spring, reflecting the deep-rooted agricultural spirit embedded in the University vision.

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding (GPB)

The Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding is one of the major Departments of the IAS–BHU, dedicated in generating world class human resources, developing high-yielding, stress-tolerant, and climate-resilient crop varieties through a blend of classical breeding and modern genomic tools. The Department has released large number of important varieties, including newly released Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan 1 and submergence-tolerant HUR 105 Sub 1 in rice; wheat varieties like HUW 234, HUW 318, HUW 510, and the biofortified, blast-resistant Malviya 838 (HUW 838) with enhanced zinc and iron; and Malviya Nidhi mustard, known for early maturity, bold black seeds, and high oil content. Its active collaborations with National and International Organizations like ICAR, IRRI, ICRISAT, CIMMYT, DBT, BARC etc. support its research in molecular breeding, genome editing, and genetic resource management. The Department continues to play a vital role in promoting sustainable agriculture, improving food and nutritional security and human resource development.