Renowned agricultural scientist Dr Ashok Kumar Singh has been selected for the Padma Shri for his pioneering work in basmati rice breeding. In three decades at IARI, he developed 25 varieties of Basmati, which transformed farmers’ incomes and increased India’s export earnings.
Renowned agricultural scientist Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, widely regarded as one of India’s leading experts in plant genetics and rice breeding, has been selected for the Padma Shri this year for his outstanding contributions to agricultural science, especially the development of Basmati rice varieties.
Dr. Singh has been closely associated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi for almost three decades. During this period, he played an important role in the development of 25 improved varieties of Basmati rice, which are currently cultivated in about two million hectares in India. These varieties have significantly increased productivity, grain quality and export competitiveness, directly benefiting millions of Basmati farmers in North India.
The impact of Dr. Singh’s work extends far beyond the farm. The Basmati varieties developed under his leadership are estimated to generate foreign exchange earnings of approximately ₹50,000 crore annually, making Basmati rice one of India’s most valuable agricultural exports. His research helped strengthen India’s position in the global Basmati markets while ensuring stable and profitable income for farmers.
Former Director of ICAR-IARI, Dr Singh was also honored with the prestigious Agricultural Scientist Award by Rural Voice last December. Over the years, he has received numerous national and institutional honors, including the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award, Bharat Ratna Dr. C. Subramaniam Award, Nanaji Deshmukh Interdisciplinary Team Award, Borlaug Award, IARI Best Teacher Award, Dr. BP Pal Award, Vasvik Award, Om Prakash Bhasin Award and DS Brar Award.
Dr AK Singh was also honored with the prestigious Agricultural Scientist Award by Rural Voice last December.
Dr. Singh has authored two books and published more than 250 research papers in leading national and international scientific journals. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), reflecting his standing in the global scientific community.
An alumnus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Dr. Singh completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Agriculture with specialization in Plant Genetics and Breeding. He later earned a doctoral degree from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for his research on rice breeding. His Padmashree recognition underlines the vital role of agricultural research in strengthening India’s food security, rural prosperity and export leadership.
