National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Pran Nath Takkar
Fellow, Elected 1991

Born in Raiwind, Lahore (now in Pakistan) on 5 May 1940. Educated at Arya High School, Ludhiana 1950-1956; Government Agricultural College and Research Institute Ludhiana, Punjab University, Chandigarh, 1957-62; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 1962-66. B.Sc. (Ag.) 1960; M.Sc (Ag., Soil Science) 1962; Ph.D. (Ag. Soil Science) 1966; Post-doctorate (NORAD), Institute of Soil Science, Vollebeck, Norway 1967-1970; MoEd, Division of Soil, Johnstown Castle, Ireland, 1970; Alexander von Humbold Fellow, University of Goettingen, Germany, 1981-1983.

Lecturer Chemistry 1962-63, Assistant Professor Soils, 1967, Soil Chemist, 1970-76, Senior Soil Scientist, 1976-88, and Project Coordinator, Micronutrient (ICAR) 1985-88, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Founder Director, Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal; Principal Scientist 1998-2000, Emeritus Scientist, ICAR 2000-2002 and INSA Senior Scientist 2003-08 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; INSA Honorary Scientist 2009-15, INSA Emeritus Scientist 2016 to date.

Awards/Honours: PAUTA Award, 1982; FAI Silver Jubilee Award of Excellence, 1985; ISSS 12th International Soil Science Congress Commemoration Award, 1986; Hari Om Ashram Trust Award, 1987-88; PPIC-FAI Award, 1997; S.N. Ranade Memorial Award-Excellence in Micronutrient Research (Life Time Achievement), 1998; ISSS Platinum Jubilee Commemoration Award 2011; PAU Certificate of Appreciation 2012; Member Board of Trustees, International Life Sciences Institute, India, 2006-08; Chairman CAC of NAIP (ICAR) Sub-project on Micronutrient, 2009-14); NFBSFARA (ICAR) Member/Chairman Expert Committee on Micronutrients and their use efficiency, 2010 to date; Member Executive Committee, National Food Security Mission 2014 to date.

Fellow: Indian National Science Academy; Indian Society of Soil Science; Alexander von Humbolt.

Research Areas: Soil Science, Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Fertilizer Use, Plant Nutrition, Micronutrient deficiency and Management

Address: H-I/114, Lajpat Nagar I, New Delhi 110024; [Tel: Res. (011) 40515622, Cell: 9953903254; Email: pntakkar@gmail.com]