ICAR–Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi

Name: Dr. Anurag Chaurasia

Designation (Subject): Scientist (Plant Biotechnology)

Email ID: anurag.chaurasia@icar.org.in; anuragchaurasia.icar@gmail.com

Mobile No.: 63891 96729 (M), 94521 96686 (M & WhatsApp)

Education:

• B.Sc. (Honours) in Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
• M.Sc. (Biotechnology), School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Field of Specialization: Biotechnology / Transgenics / GMOs, microorganisms (Actinomycetes), biodiversity & conservation. He has served as Faculty (Molecular Biology & Biotechnology) at NRCPB (now NIPB), IARI-PUSA, New Delhi (1997–2005) and played a key role in establishing ICAR–NBAIM, Mau (2005–2017).

Research interests: GMOs / transgenic crops, microbe-mediated solutions and their industrial applications, plant–microbe interactions, biodiversity & conservation, and emerging areas of modern biotechnology and policy.

• Transgenic tomato plants resistant to fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner). Crop Protection 19(5), 2000: 307–312. [IF: 2.5]
• Cyanobacterial biodiversity and associated ecosystem services: introduction to the special issue. Biodiversity and Conservation 24(4), 2015: 707–710. [IF: 3.7]
• India needs home-grown GM food to stop starvation. Nature 529, 439 (2016). [IF: 55]
• Stop teaching Indians to copy and paste. Nature 534, 591 (2016). [IF: 55]
• Push for science in Indian classroom. Nature (2018). doi:10.1038/d41586-018-04119-y. [IF: 55]
• Actinomycetes: an unexplored microorganisms for plant growth promotion and biocontrol in vegetable crops. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 34(9):132 (2018). [IF: 4.6]
• How CRISPR patent issues block Indian farmers from accessing biotech benefits. Nature 636, 277 (2024). [IF: 55]
• PGPR: the treasure of multifarious beneficial microorganisms for nutrient mobilization, pest biocontrol and plant growth promotion in field crops. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 39, 100 (2023). [IF: 4.6]
• Enhanced disease resistance mechanism of the CmoAP2/ERF transcription factor in pumpkin through genetic mutations. ACS Omega. [IF: 4.3]
• Metagenomics analysis of water samples collected from the Yamuna River of Agra city, India. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 40, 113. [IF: 4.6]

Books (Springer Nature):

• GMOs: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Processes.
• Cisgenic Crops: Potential and Prospects.
• Cisgenic Crops: Safety, Legal and Social Issues.
• Tools & Techniques of Plant Molecular Farming.
• Applications of Plant Molecular Farming.

His interview on Indian science was published in Nature 519, S66–S67 (2015), Nature Index. His views on science and religion (“How religious scientists balance work and faith”) were published as a Career Feature in Nature 629, 957–959 (2024).

He has served as handling editor for more than 200 manuscripts, and has reviewed more than 5000 manuscripts for several globally reputed journals.

• Honoured with “Honour of Ashoka Award-2025” by Charles Walters Council for Innovation & Research and Association of Indian Bureaucrats, presented by His Excellency Ex-Governor of Rajasthan & Himachal Pradesh Shri Kalraj Mishra ji at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 12 October 2025.
• Awarded Fellowship by DBT during M.Sc.; qualified GATE-94 (97.63 percentile) and CSIR-NET in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
• Editor of the journals: Biodiversity and Conservation (Springer Nature) [IF: 3.7]; Biology and Fertility of Soils (Springer Nature) [IF: 6.4]; Transgenic Research (Springer Nature) [IF: 2.3]; World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology (Springer Nature) [IF: 4.6]; International Journal of Food Microbiology (Elsevier) [IF: 5.2]; Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (Oxford University Press) [IF: 3.2].
• Series Editor, Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, Springer Nature.
• Has received several letters of appreciation from eminent scientists including Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Prof. David Hawksworth, Prof. Peter J. Large and Prof. Paolo Nannipieri.