Virender Lal Chopra, Agricultural Scientist
Agricultural Scientist

Virender Lal Chopra

Born 9 August 1936 · Haryana — Died 18 April 2020

Developed high-yield wheat varieties that significantly increased India's wheat production.

Virender Lal Chopra was an Indian biotechnologist, geneticist, agriculturalist and a director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), known to have contributed to the development of wheat production in India. He was the chancellor of Central University of Kerala, a Chancellor of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal and a member of the Planning Commission of India. An elected fellow of several science academies such as Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India, European Academy of Sciences and Arts and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), he was a recipient of a number of honors including Borlaug Award, FAO World Food Day Award and Om Prakash Bhasin Award. The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1985, for his contributions to agricultural science.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

In 1990, Chopra helped found Vietnam’s Agriculture Genetics Institute during a 15-month FAO mission, bridging Indian agricultural expertise with Southeast Asia.

The Story

1
🌾 In 1967, Virender Lal Chopra completed his PhD thesis at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on genetic effects in Drosophila and micro-organisms, marking a vital step towards his future work in agricultural genetics.
2
🎓 By 1979, he was appointed director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), overseeing research in genetics and biotechnology during a crucial phase for Indian agriculture.
3🌱 In 1990, Chopra served as chief technical adviser on a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project in Vietnam, helping establish the Agriculture Genetics Institute in Hanoi, a major stride in international agricultural collaboration.
4📚 Chopra authored key texts like "Plant Breeding: Theory and Practice" and "Search for New Genes," which shaped academic and practical approaches to crop improvement in India and beyond.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Chopra’s PhD thesis in 1967 was on genetic effects of irradiated or chemically treated media in fruit flies and micro-organisms, an uncommon focus for agricultural scientists of his generation.

🖼️

Through the Years

4 photographs from the archives
Virender Lal Chopra taking oath as Member of Planning Commission from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi (2004).
Virender Lal Chopra taking oath as Member of Planning Commission from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi (2004).
2004
Virender Lal Chopra inaugurating a Global Warming programme in New Delhi during the Solahvi Rashtriya Vaigyanik Hindi Sangoshthi (2007).
Virender Lal Chopra releasing the book 'Antarctic Abhiyaan' in New Delhi at a Global Warming event (2007).
Portrait of Virender Lal Chopra, member of the Planning Commission of India (2007).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Adhwal, Punjab Province
Virender Lal Chopra was born in Adhwal, Rawalpindi District, Punjab Province, British India, into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family.
1936
📚
Education
Graduated from Delhi University
Chopra earned his graduate degree with honours in agricultural science from Central College of Agriculture, Delhi University.
1955
📚
Education
PhD from University of Edinburgh
He completed his doctoral thesis on genetic effects of irradiated or chemically treated media in Drosophila and micro-organisms.
1967
⚡
Career
Director of IARI
Chopra became director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, managing genetics and biotechnology research.
1979
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to agricultural science.
1985
⚡
Career
FAO Adviser in Vietnam
Chopra served as chief technical adviser on an FAO project, assisting in establishing Vietnam’s Agriculture Genetics Institute.
1990
🕊️
Death
Death
Virender Lal Chopra passed away, closing a chapter in Indian agricultural science history.
2020
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

He was a senior Humboldt scholar at the University of Cologne in Germany before moving to Edinburgh for his doctorate, reflecting a rare international academic path for Indian scientists in the 1960s.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

From 1986 to 1990, he served on the scientific advisory committee to the Prime Minister of India, directly influencing national science policy during a transformative decade.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Chopra was elected fellow of multiple prestigious science academies worldwide, including the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), highlighting his global scientific recognition.

No quote recorded for Virender Lal Chopra yet.

🌱 What changed because of them

Virender Lal Chopra’s leadership at ICAR and IARI helped institutionalize genetics and biotechnology research in India, directly influencing wheat production methods that bolstered national food security. His advisory roles, both in India’s Planning Commission and internationally in Vietnam, fostered policy frameworks that integrated scientific innovation with agricultural development strategies, shaping modern crop improvement programs.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Virender Lal Chopra?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Virender Lal Chopra...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?