The Institute of Agricultural Sciences spare formally established in August 1980 had its inception as Institute of Agricultural Research, Banaras Hindu University in 1931 upon the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, of which, the illustrious founder of this university the late Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Ji was a member. At the time of its establishment, the Institute was one of the pioneers in starting postgraduate teaching and research programmes in Agriculture in India, the only other institution being at Lyalpur (now in Pakistan).