Former Directors

Born and brought up in a farming family, I have completed my Higher Secondary (10+2) from Tripura in 1983, thereafter, I obtained my B.Sc. (Ag.) and M.Sc. (Ag.) from J.N.K.V.V., Jabalpur in 1987 and 1990, respectively. I have completed Ph.D. and Post-doc from IIT, Kharagpur and University of Nottingham, U.K. in 1996 and 2003, respectively. I joined ICAR-IARI, New Delhi as Scientist through Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 1994, where I promoted to the post of Senior Scientist and Principal Scientist as well as selected as Professor (Academic In-charge) in 2003, 2009 and 2017, respectively. In 2023, I Joined ICAR-IISS, Bhopal as Director and superannuated on March 31, 2025. Currently, I am working as a Professor (redeployed; temporary position) in RVSKVV-RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) since June 16, 2025.

B.Sc.(Agriculture): Banaras Hindu University, 1978-83; M.Sc. & Ph.D.: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 1983-89; Post-Doctoral/Visiting Fellow: International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, 1991-93; Institute of Grassland & Environmental Research, UK, 1996; Ecologie Microbienne (CNRS-Universite' Lyon 1), France, 2001-03; University of Notre Dame, USA 2008-09. Emeritus Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, 2023 - Scientist, 1989-94 & Scientist (Sr. Scale), 1994-98, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi; Senior Scientist, 1998-99, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai; Senior Scientist, 1999-2006 & Principal Scientist 2006-14, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal 2014-2022.

Awards/Honours: UN FAO Glinka World Soil Prize 2022; Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award of ICAR for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences 2021; Platinum Jubilee Commemoration Award 2022 of Indian Society of Soil Science for Life Time Achievements; International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)-FAI Award 2018; ICAR-IARI Hooker Award, 2013; Prof. Sushil Kumar Mukherjee Commemoration Award of Indian Science Congress Association 2018; FAI Dhiru Morarji Memorial Award, 2011; Bioved Agri-innovation Award, 2015; British Council TCT Award 1996; DBT Overseas Associateship Award 2008; Member, Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) of GSP/FAO, Rome, 2018-22; Associate Editor, European Journal of Soil Science since 2014; Vice President, Indian Society of Soil Science 2016-17; President, Indian Science Congress Association (Agri and Forestry Sciences Section) 2016-17; President, Indian Society of Soil Science 2019-21. Recognized one among 13 soil scientists of the world advancing soil research and education (Food Tank, USA), 2017. During the tenure as Director (2014-2022), ICAR-IISS received UN FAO King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award 2020; Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2018; Krishi Sansthan Samman Award (National Award Winner), 2016, by Mahindra Samridhi (Mahindra & Mahindra).

Fellow: National Academy of Sciences (India); National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, West Bengal Academy of Science & Technlogy; Indian Society of Soil Science; Range Management Society of India Research Areas: Nitrogen cycling, soil health, sustainable soil management, soil biodiversity, climate change, carbon sequestration, nano-fertilizers. Total publication: 372, Citations 6376 (as on 20/12/2022).

Address: Off. Emeritus Scientist & Ex-Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, M.P: Res. ICAR-IISS Campus, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, M.P.
Tel: 9811733465/9713464733;
Email: patraak[at]gmail[dot]com
Please visit:
https://iiss.icar.gov.in
https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/highlights/detail/en/c/1621992/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu7hIBN1pl8&t=146s
https://foodtank.com/news/2017/12/sustainable-soil-scientists/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oYLDxr3-8Y
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=H323OB4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 1968-71; B.Sc. 1966; M.Sc. 1968; Ph.D. 1971; Post-Doc. Fellow, IMG, Grenoble, France, 1975-76; INRA, Versailles, France, 1976-77; FAO/IAEA training course, Cadarache, France, June-July 1981. Soil Physicist, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, 1972-79; Assoc. Prof.(Soil Physics), 1979-87, Chief Scientist (WM), 1987-93, Chief Scientist and Head, Dept. of Soil Science, CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1993-98; Director, Indian Institute of Soil Science (ICAR), Bhopal, 1998-2003; Director Extension Education, CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2003-05. Consultant (Soil Expert),Ict, New Delhi (Apr-May, Aug-Sep, 2010, Cambodia).

Awards/Honours: ISSS 12th International Congress Commemoration Award, 1989; Hooker Award, 1993; Himachal Kesri Award, 1994; Hari Om Ashram Trust Award,1999; ISSS 1st Prof. P.K. De Memorial Lecture Award, 2000; Dr. B.V. Mehta Memorial Lecture Award, 2002; 2nd Dr. T.D. Biswas Memorial Lecture Award, 2008; 3rd Dr. N.P. Datta Memorial Lecture Award, 2013. Member, G.B. Pant Society for Himalayan Environment & Development, GOI,2008-10; Member, Editorial Board, Soil and Tillage Research (Elsevier), 1997-till date.

Fellow: Indian Society of Soil Science; National Academy of Sciences, India; Indian Society of Water Management.

Research Areas: Natural resource management, soil physics/soil water conservation/management, tillage, water management Member Executive Council 1 Jan, 2008 to 31 Dec, 2010; Dr. N.S. Randhawa Memorial Award, 2005-2006
Address: House No. 28, Nagarkot Colony, Thakurdwara P.O. Maranda, Palampur 176102, Himachal Pradesh.
Phone: (Res.) 01894-238824; Cell: 09418105471;
Email: cl_acharya[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]in