Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding

CHOPRA DR V L

Fellow, Elected 1979


Born in Adhwal (now in Pakistan) on 9 August 1936. Educated at Ramjas School, Delhi, 1947- 51; Hindu College, Delhi 1952; Central College of Agriculture, Delhi, 1952-55; Indian Agricultural Research Institute, 1955-57; ISGPB Fellow Directory Inst. Of Genetics, Edinburgh, Scoltland, UK, 1964-67; B.Sc. 1955; Assoc. IARI, 1957; Ph.D. 1967. Chancellor, Central University of Kerala, 2012-2017. Prof. of Genetics, 1970-84, and Head, Div. of Genetics, 1977-80, Indian Agricultural Research Inst., New Delhi; Director, National Biotechnology Centre, New Delhi, 1985-90; Chief Technical Adviser, FAO, Vietnam, 1990-91; Director General, ICAR & Secretary to Govt. of India, 1992-94; National Professor B.P. Pal Chair, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 1994-2002; Member, Planning Commission, Govt. of India,
New Delhi 2004-09.

Awards/Honours: Borlaug Award, 1983; Padma Bhushan, 1985; FICCI Award, 1986; Watumull Foundation, USA Honor Summus Medal, 1987; O.P. Bhasin Award, 1987; D.Sc. (h.c.) CS Azad Univ., Banaras Hindu Univ,
1988, G.B. Pant Univ., 2003, IARI, 2005 & Narendra Dev Univ. 2007; FAO/IAAS World Food Day Award, 1993; ISCA Birbal Sahni Birth Centenary Award, 1997; INSA Silver Jubilee Commemoration Medal, 1991; INSA Aryabhat Medal 2001.

Fellow: Indian National Science Academy; National Academy of Sciences, India; Indian Academy of Science; European Academy of Arts, Science and Humanities; Third World Academy of Sciences.

Research Areas: Plant biotechnology, crop genetics and breeding

Address: , NRC on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012; A-3/210 A, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058; Institute of Himalayan Bioresources Technology (CSIR), Palampur (Himachal Pradesh); House No. 63, Housing Board Colony, Palampur - 176061 (H.P.); [Tel: Off. (011) 25841787 Extn 231, (01894) 231040; Res. (011) 25553747, Cell: 9810343925, 8894273848 (Palampur); Email: virenderchopra1936@gmail.com; virenderchopra@yahoo.com]