The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting of the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute was convened on 22-23 March 2026, in Barrackpore, in collaboration with ICAR-Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research, Bhimtal.
The meeting saw the participation of eminent experts, including Dr. Atul Kumar Singh, Former Director, ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal; Dr. Krishna Srinath, Former Director, ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar; and Dr. Devika Pillai, Assistant Director General (Inland Fisheries), ICAR, who joined virtually.
Key Achievements and Strategic Vision
Dr. Pradip De, Director (Additional Charge) of ICAR-CIFRI, presented the key achievements since the last RAC meeting. He highlighted significant advancements in:
- Open water fisheries
- Strengthened riverine and reservoir management
- Improved stock assessment
- Enhanced biodiversity conservation and stakeholder empowerment
Dr. De reaffirmed ICAR-CIFRI’s leadership through the adoption of climate-resilient technologies such as drones and sensor-based systems. He emphasized the alignment of the institute’s initiatives with the Blue Economy and One Health frameworks, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals in ecological sustainability, nutrition security, gender equality, and livelihood enhancement.
Dr. Arun Pandit, Member Secretary, RAC, presented the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations of the previous RAC meeting. Heads of Divisions and Regional Research Centres also highlighted major achievements, ongoing research programmes, and technologies developed in areas such as inland capture fisheries, ecosystem monitoring, and livelihood enhancement of fishers.
World Water Day Commemoration and Drone Demonstration
On the sidelines of the RAC meeting, World Water Day 2026 was commemorated. The event focused on bridging water and gender, highlighting ICAR-CIFRI’s efforts in advancing women-centric pathways for the blue economy and Viksit Bharat @2047, with the participation of the Chairman and Members.
A demonstration of drones, including an underwater drone, was conducted. During this demonstration, the RAC team interacted with scientists regarding their applications in inland fisheries and future plans.
Future Research Priorities and Guidance
The RAC Chairman and Members provided strategic guidance to further strengthen the institute’s research priorities, particularly in:
- Climate-resilient fisheries
- Biodiversity conservation
- Evidence-based policy support
The Committee also emphasised the importance of impact assessment of research programmes and encouraged enhanced collaborative and interdisciplinary research approaches for sustainable inland fisheries development.
