ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) at Karnal, Haryana is one of the premier Institutes in dairy sector, which has contributed a lot in the growth of dairy industry and played a crucial role in India’s development in milk production with its continuous research. Over ninety six year old NDRI’s lineage goes back to the Imperial Institute for Animal Husbandry & Dairying which was set up in Bangalore in 1923 as a center for dairy education. In its erstwhile form of Imperial Institute in Bangalore, Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi and ‘Bharat Ratna’ Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, were imparted training at the Institute in 1927. They wanted to get acquainted with modern methods of cattle management and spent two weeks discussing and learning technicalities and complexities of problems pertaining to cows and buffalos in India. Gandhiji was highly appreciative of the most productive crossbred cow ‘Jill’ of the institute. He held several discussions on the problems of Pinjrapoles, which housed low producing, mostly sterile cows and other dairy stock mainly on humanitarian grounds. Mahatma Gandhi evinced great interest in the work of the Institute and wrote several articles in `Young India’ and `Harijan’ on the importance of dairying and scientific cattle management. Gandhiji’s thinking and views had significant influence on the political leadership particularly towards taking key policy decisions during early post Independence era, resulting in the formulation of Key Village Scheme, Gosamvardhana Council and intensive Cattle Development Programmes.  In 1936 it was renamed as Imperial Dairy Institute and it was shifted to its present site in Karnal in 1955 and renamed again as National Dairy Research Institute. The infrastructure of Imperial institute was retained as southern regional station of NDRI and later in 1964 Eastern regional station was set up at Kalyani in West Bengal. In 1970, NDRI was brought under Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Institute has the distinction of being a Deemed University for implementing its academic programmes since 1989. The Institute provides high quality education in the field of dairying, which has no parallel in Asia. It is noteworthy that NDRI is not only an important contributor of manpower in dairying required in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) but also plays an important role in enhancing the teaching capabilities of the faculty from SAUs

The National Dairy Research Institute has a great infrastructure. It has an extensive variety of facilities. The campus has a peaceful and nonviolent atmosphere. Also, the campus sprawls around 560 acres of land with 1800 dairy animals. In addition, National Dairy Research Institute has facilities along with a milking parlor system and haven control machine to enhance the initiatives and studies of sports, etc. Furthermore, the college has a Wifi campus, clinical centers, and labs are available. Likewise, the college has numerous golf equipment to enhance students’ skills. 

NDRI, Karnal has an active placement cell which assists the students with the Summer Training as well as Final placements. Some of the recruiters are Modern Dairies Ltd., Mother Dairy, Delhi, Nestle India Ltd., Perfetti India Ltd etc. Dr. Latha Sabikhi (Senior Scientist, Dairy Technology Division) is currently the Chairperson of the Placement Cell. She may be contacted for placement queries at - placement.ndri@yahoo.co

1.  Director's Gold Medal - It is awarded to the students who secure first position and "Merit Certificate" is awarded to the students who secure second position provided that he/ she has obtained at least 70% marks and completed all the courses prescribed for the degree successfully in the first attempt. This Medal is awarded to students of B. Tech (Dairy Technology) and students of Master in Dairying.

2.  Institute Scholarships - Features and Rules:

• Scholarships will be offered to assist the meritorious B.Tech. (Dairy Technology) students who need financial assistance. This provision will be utilized to assist as many students as possible who have good academic record and are making diligent efforts to pursue higher education.

• The National Talent Scholarship (NTS) @ Rs. 1000/- per month shall be awarded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on merit provided that the domicile of the candidate is other than Haryana State.

• Institute Scholarship at the rate of Rs. 7,560/- per month is offered to all the Master's students and Rs. 10,500/- per months to all the Ph.D students of Indian Nationality. Scholarship is offered to only those who do not receive any Financial Assistance/ Scholarship/ Fellowship from any other source. These scholarships will be governed by Scholarship Rules of the Institute.

• The students are required to submit a surety bond of Rs. 30,000/- for Master in Dairying and Rs. 50,000/- for Ph.D in Dairying, on non-judicial stamp papers as appended in the information bulletin (Annexure-II) from a permanent ICAR/ Central/State Govt. employee as a pre-condition for release of the scholarship/ fellowship.

• The in-service candidates under ICAR/SAU set up are eligible for the award of Institute Scholarship @ Rs.1000/- per month subject to fulfilment of conditions prescribed by ICAR.

• In order to protect intellectual property, the students admitted to Master and Doctoral programmes at NDRI are required to submit the Secrecy Agreement in the prescribed format.

Hostels - For the students excellent hostel accommodation is available with all modern facilities in terms of well- furnished rooms, sports, indoor games, T.V. rooms, reading rooms, hobby centre, cultural activities etc. A number of messes with modern cooking provisions are available for the boarding requirements of the hotel residents. A Cafeteria is also available for refreshments near the hostel. In all, there are 5 hostels in the Institute providing accommodation for over 600 students. B.Tech. (Dairy Technology) students are located in Brahamputra Hostel, while post-graduate students are accommodated in Sutlej Hostel and Krisha hostel, respectively. There is a separate hostel accommodation for girl students known as Kaveri Girls Hostel. A limited accommodation in the Married Scholar Hostel is available for Ph.D. Scholars sponsored from Indian Universities, Research Institutions and State Government. Apart from above a Newly built International Hostel Furnished with all modern facilities is available for foreign students.

National Library - NDRI has in its fold a National Library for Dairying, which has over 90,000 documents on Dairying and allied disciplines. The library subscribes to 250 Indian and foreign journals and caters to the needs of the scholars of NDRI and the sister institutions within the country. It is adequately equipped with facilities like Internet, Documentation, Reference, Current Awareness Services, CD-ROM, Photocopying, Literature & Documentation Scanning services.

KVK & DTC - Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Dairy Training Centre (DTC) at NDRI conducts regular training programmes for Farmers and rural women in order to acquaint them with modern dairy farming practice. The Dairy Extension Division of the Institute has developed information packages in the form of video films  and multimedia packages on clean milk production, hygienic milk processing and packaging and scientific calf rearing based on Information and Communication Techniques (ICT). Mechanisms for transforming the output of R&D efforts into viable technologies are being further strengthened by establishing National Demonstration Centers. Keeping in view the significance of ICT in relation to Transfer of Technology (TOT) in the current scenario, the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of the Institute works as a single window delivery system for all queries related to technologies available at the Institute.

Consultancy Processing Cell - The Institute continues to share its innovative dairy processing technologies with the Indian Dairy Industry through the Consultancy Processing Cell. Some of the technologies that have been recently transferred are those of long-life paneer, whey- jaljeera drink, instant banana milk mix, payasam mix, gulabjamun mix, calcium-enriched milk, emulsifier mix for frozen desserts, Herbal ghee etc.

Computer Centre - The Computer Centre tagged with Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) and Biotechnology Information System (BTIS) is engaged in multifarious academic and service providing activities like monitoring management information, maintaining databases, software development, data analysis, graphic applications and Bioinformatics for the benefit of staff and students through the establishment of Local Area Network (LAN).

Communication Centre - The Communication centre of the institute has developed the facilities of digital photography/videography, State-of-the-art projection systems displays of achievements and technologies of various Divisions of the Institute and Main Auditorium and Mini auditorium to organize various functions and events of the institute.

These facilities are provided to various departments of the Institute through the following units:

1. Main & Mini Auditorium.      
2. Exhibition Unit.
3. Photo Lab.
4. Projection Unit.
5. Video Lab.

1. Air - Domestic & international flights to & from Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi are Available.
2. Rail/Bus - Karnal is 133 km from Delhi & Institute is 1 km from Railway Station/Bus Stand.