Recognizing the importance of PGR as a discipline, the Bureau in collaboration with the Post-graduate School, IARI, New Delhi, started M.Sc. (PGR) degree course in 1997 and Ph.D. (PGR) course in 2004.
Post Graduate Education in PGR at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels

In 1997, NBPGR, in collaboration with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), developed and introduced a course leading to M.Sc. degree in PGR. The main objective of the programme is to develop a cadre of well-trained scientific manpower for the efficient management of PGR particularly collecting, evaluation, exchange and conservation of germplasm. It is expected that the trained scientists will have adequate knowledge for the application of traditional approaches supplemented with modern and innovative approaches such as long-term conservation of seeds, virus indexing, in vitro conservation, cryopreservation, biochemical and molecular characterization, identification of core collections and maintenance of data base. From the very beginning, there has been good response from the students. Therefore, based on the interests of the students, availability of efficient faculty, field and laboratory facilities, the Ph.D. course has also been started in the discipline, in 2004.

Brief outline of M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses in PGR.

As in other disciplines of IARI, the M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses in PGR are being conducted in trimesters under course credit systems. The M.Sc. course is of two years duration divided into six trimesters. While to complete the Ph.D. course a student normally takes 3-4 years. The Ph.D. course also is conducted under course credit system. There are a total of 19 courses designed for the PGR discipline. These include both regular courses and also advanced courses.

Thesis
Both M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in PGR have research components also. A M.Sc. student has to submit a thesis as partial fulfillment of the degree. Whereas, the same for Ph.D. would be with a bit more elaborate topic. For M.Sc. degree the thesis is to be such nature as to indicate a students potentiality for conducting research. All the Ph.D. students are supposed to write at least two qualitiy research papers for publication in referred journal(s) before submission of their thesis.

System of Admission
(i) M.Sc. degree courses: The students for admission to M.Sc. degree courses are selected through an all India Entrance Test conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
(ii) Ph.D. degree courses: Admission to Ph.D. courses is made by IARI through an all India Entrance Test conducted by the Institute itself.

Number of seats
There is scope for enrollment of three students each for both M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses in PGR. In addition, there is scope for enrollment of one or two foreign student in each course.

Success of the programme
The M.Sc. (PGR) programme started in 1997. So far, 18 students have already completed their degree and six M.Sc. (in Ist & 2nd year) and four Ph.D. (one in-service student) are continuing. These students completed their theses mainly on the topics related to (i) Collection and assessment of genetic diversity in rice through isozyme analysis, (ii) Characterization and evaluation of some landraces in maize (iii) Use of non- destructive methods for assessment of germplasm seed quality for conservation in genebank (iv) Development of methods for in vitro conservation of taro at 250C (v) RAPD variation in Indian chilli cultivars, (vi) DNA profiling and study of genetic diversity in the Indian ‘AAB’ genome Musa cultivars using AFLP technique, etc.

Among the 18 pass-out students of the M.Sc. (PGR) programme, many of them are pursuing their Ph.D. degree programme. However, five of them have already selected/joined suitable scientific/administrative services and two of them are pursuing their Ph.D. in U.K. & U.S.A. respectively. The only foreign student from Nepal has joined back in his department after completion of his degree.
Students’ response

There has been good response from the students so far. Each year all the available seats are filled by the students. One student from Nepal has already completed the course. In addition, students from Mayanmar, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Iran expressed their interest to join the programme.

Future plan for the programme
We are planning to make a sincere effort to strengthen both M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in PGR. However, the main concern is the lack of adequate job opportunities for the students after obtaining M.Sc./Ph.D. degrees in PGR. Originally the idea of starting M.Sc. (PGR) programme was to develop a cadre of scientists with adequate knowledge in PGR management with multidisciplinary approach. These graduates were supposed to be absorbed mostly in the ARS, SAUs and other national level research institutes. In fact, in ARS, there are about 100 posts of scientists in the Discipline of Economic Botany. It was expected that the discipline of Economic Botany would be changed to that of PGR. So far this expected change of discipline in ARS has not materialized but persuasion is continued.

Library
– Library information system
– List of journals, books, manuals etc.
– On-line access material/CDs

Research Activities
– Passport Information Management
– Gene bank data management
– DUS informational management
– Global Plan of Action (GPA)
– Evaluation Data Management
– Quarantine Information Management (proposed)

General
– Personal Information Management
– Online Document Management (proposed)