Hyderabad is set to become a major hub for scientific and agricultural research, following the announcement of three new research institutions approved by the Central Government.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, shared the news on Friday, highlighting the government’s efforts to boost global partnerships and domestic infrastructure for research. He stated that the Union Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with international organizations to promote the benefits of millets, a highly nutritious grain.
A significant step in this direction is the upcoming Global Centre of Excellence on Millets, to be built in Hyderabad. Backed by a budget of ₹250 crore, this world-class facility will focus on innovation, training, and development in millet cultivation and processing.
The new centre will operate under the guidance of the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It aims to speed up millet research and support the goals of the PM Shri Anna Yojana, launched on March 18, 2023, to encourage millet consumption across India for better health.
Facilities at the Hyderabad centre will include a Millets Museum, Research Farms, Training Halls, an International Hostel, and advanced labs like Gene Editing Greenhouses, Phenomics Labs, and Speed Breeding Labs. The centre will also produce high-quality millet seeds for farmers and provide them with regular training and marketing support, especially for value-added millet-based products. Startups in the agriculture sector will be encouraged and assisted through this initiative.
In addition to millet research, the Central Government is launching a high-tech Kavach Centre of Excellence in the Secunderabad parliamentary constituency. This centre will focus on improving railway safety through India’s own Kavach technology, a system designed to prevent train collisions.
An initial amount of ₹41 crore has been allocated for the Kavach centre, with a total budget of ₹274 crore approved for its complete development. The centre will research and refine the Kavach system, train railway pilots and technicians, and partner with academic institutions to offer specialized courses in railway signaling and safety.
As part of a broader plan, the government will also create a support system to help small and medium companies contribute to the design and development of Kavach-related technology. With this, India, which now has the third-largest railway network in the world after the United States and China, aims to become a global leader in railway safety standards.
The Kavach Centre has already signed agreements with key academic institutions, including Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (Hyderabad), Madan Mohan Malviya University (Gorakhpur), and MBM University (Jodhpur). These partnerships will enable advanced training and certification programs for engineering students and professionals in the railway sector.
Through these initiatives, the government is not only strengthening agricultural innovation but also enhancing railway safety, aiming to position India at the forefront of global research and development.
