University of Agricultural Sciences

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, is a leading institution in agricultural education and research in India. Officially established on 21 August 1964 through an act of the Mysore State Government, its roots date back to 1899, when the Mysore royal family donated land at Hebbal for an experimental agricultural station. The early foundation was strengthened by the contributions of scientists such as Adolf Lehmann and Leslie Coleman, who led pioneering research in soil science and plant protection.

Initially, the university comprised the Agricultural Colleges at Hebbal and Dharwad, the Veterinary College at Hebbal, and Fisheries College at Mangalore, along with 35 research stations and 45 ICAR projects. It was developed on the land-grant model inspired by American agricultural universities and supported by Indo-American collaborations involving USAID and the Rockefeller Foundation. Architect Achyut Kanvinde designed the GKVK campus, which was inaugurated in 1969 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Over time, the university expanded its academic and research infrastructure, establishing colleges in Mandya, Hassan, Chintamani, Chamarajanagar, and an engineering college at GKVK. Due to geographical and administrative requirements, the university was bifurcated in 1986, creating UAS Dharwad for northern Karnataka. Later, veterinary and horticultural faculties were separated into new universities in Bidar (2004) and Bagalkot (2010), respectively.

Today, UAS Bengaluru operates across ten southern districts of Karnataka, serving over 4,500 students and employing 381 faculty members. It has been recognised with several accolades, including the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award (2012) and a national ranking of 11th in 2024 (NIRF) among agricultural institutes.

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS Bengaluru), was formally established on 21 August 1964 through the University of Agricultural Sciences Act No. 22, passed by the Mysore State Government in 1963. The university is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and has played a key role in agricultural education, research, and extension in the southern region of India. The university was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Dr Zakir Husain, in the presence of Chester Bowles, the US Ambassador to India, and S. Nijalingappa, the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The origins of UAS Bengaluru can be traced back to the late 19th century, when repeated famines prompted the British Government to investigate the state of Indian agriculture. The Famine Commission of 1880 and the 1889 Voelcker Commission led to significant recommendations, which influenced the rulers of the Mysore kingdom (the Wodeyars) to donate land for agricultural research. Around 30 acres were allocated at Hebbal for an Experimental Agricultural Station. In 1900, Dr Adolf Lehmann, a German-Canadian chemist, began soil fertility research at a laboratory that would later become the Directorate of Agriculture. He was succeeded in 1906 by Dr Leslie Coleman, a Canadian entomologist and mycologist, who continued agricultural research for 25 years.

The research station gained prominence and grew to about 1,300 acres. Its increasing reputation led to the establishment of the Mysore Agricultural College at Hebbal in 1946, affiliated to Mysore University. This was followed by the Agricultural College at Dharwad in 1947, affiliated to Karnataka University. In 1958, a Veterinary College at Hebbal was established, also affiliated to Mysore University. These institutions laid the groundwork for agricultural higher education in the region.

In 1948, a University Education Commission headed by Dr S. Radhakrishnan examined global models of higher education, particularly the Land-Grant colleges in the United States. A joint Indo-American team in 1954, followed by another in 1959, studied the American model and recommended the establishment of autonomous agricultural universities integrating teaching, research, and extension. A committee chaired by Ralph W. Cummings of the Rockefeller Foundation and supported by USAID and Indian officials, including K.C. Naik (later the first Vice Chancellor), developed the blueprint for such universities in India.

Upon its establishment in 1964, the university included the Agricultural Colleges at Hebbal and Dharwad, the Veterinary College at Hebbal, and the Fisheries College at Mangalore. It also inherited 35 research stations and 45 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) schemes previously managed by various state departments. In 1969, the Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK) campus was established in Bengaluru and formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The GKVK campus buildings were designed by architect Achyut Kanvinde, who was influenced by the Bauhaus school of design.

The university continued to expand over the following decades. The Fisheries College at Mangalore and the Agricultural Engineering Institute at Raichur were both established in 1969. The latter offered a three-year diploma in agricultural engineering. In 1974, a Home Science College was started at the Dharwad campus to offer education focused on rural home science. Additional units such as the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities and the College of Postgraduate Studies were also established at the Hebbal campus.

Due to the diversity of agro-climatic zones and the administrative growth of the university, the state government decided to bifurcate the university in 1986. This resulted in the creation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, which was assigned jurisdiction over the northern districts of Karnataka, while UAS Bengaluru continued to serve the southern districts. 

Later, in 2004, the Karnataka government established the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar by separating veterinary and animal science faculties from both UAS Bengaluru and UAS Dharwad. In 2010, the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot was also formed. Further, in 2013, the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga was set up to address the needs of the Malnad and coastal zones.

Today, UAS Bengaluru has jurisdiction over ten districts in southern Karnataka and operates several constituent colleges. These include the College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, College of Agriculture, Mandya, College of Agriculture, Hassan, College of Sericulture, Chintamani, College of Agriculture, Chamarajanagar, and the College of Agricultural Engineering, GKVK, Bengaluru. As of 2024, the university has a student population of 4,524 and 381 faculty members.

UAS Bengaluru has received national recognition for its contributions. In 2012, it was conferred the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for its excellence in teaching, research, and extension. In 2021, it was recognised as the best agricultural university in South India and the third-best state university in the country. According to the 2024 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), UAS Bengaluru ranked 11th among all agricultural institutions in India.

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru offers a structured and diverse range of academic programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. These programmes are designed to provide education, research training, and extension knowledge in agriculture and allied sciences. The university operates through its constituent colleges located at GKVK (Bengaluru), Mandya, Hassan, Chintamani, Chamarajanagar, and the College of Agricultural Engineering at GKVK, Bengaluru.

At the undergraduate level, UAS Bengaluru offers the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Agriculture [B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture], a four-year degree programme aimed at providing comprehensive education in crop science, soil science, plant breeding, entomology, plant pathology, agronomy, and agricultural economics. Another undergraduate programme is the B.Sc. (Hons.) in Sericulture, which focuses on mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk technology. The university also provides the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Agricultural Engineering, which includes coursework in farm machinery, soil and water conservation, irrigation engineering, and post-harvest technology.

At the postgraduate level, the university offers Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees in multiple disciplines across agriculture and allied subjects. These include Agronomy, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Horticulture, Seed Science and Technology, Crop Physiology, and Sericulture. The Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Agricultural Engineering is offered with specialisations in Soil and Water Engineering, Farm Power and Machinery, and Processing and Food Engineering. The university also offers M.Sc. programmes in Biotechnology and Basic Sciences as part of interdisciplinary studies.

UAS Bengaluru also provides Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes in a wide range of specialisations within the agricultural sciences, including but not limited to Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding, Entomology, Pathology, Soil Science, and Agricultural Economics. These programmes are focused on advanced research, training, and academic contribution in various domains of agricultural development.

In addition to the formal degree programmes, the university offers diploma courses in Agricultural Extension Services and various short-term training programmes through its Krishi Vigyan Kendras and extension education units. These are aimed at field-level officers, farmers, and technicians.

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, maintains a notable position in national and international academic rankings. According to EduRank, the university is ranked 164th in India and 4041st globally as of 2025. 

In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, conducted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, UAS Bengaluru was placed at 11th position among agricultural institutions across the country. Additionally, in the Asian University Rankings – Southern Asia 2024, published by Top Universities (QS), UAS Bengaluru has been ranked 125th. 

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru has not published its placement report for the year 2023. However, data from the NIRF 2023 report provides insight into the university’s job integration performance during the 2022 placement cycle.

In 2022, 68 undergraduate students (BTech) and 28 postgraduate students (2-year PG courses) were successfully placed. The median annual salary offered to BTech graduates was INR 5 lakh, while PG students received a median package of INR 7.5 lakh.

The median package for BTech graduates in 2022 showed an increase of approximately 11% compared to 2021. Similarly, the median package for PG (2-year) students registered a growth of nearly 7% over the previous year.

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