National Dairy Research Institute is an institute that was accorded the status of a deemed University in the year 1989. The quality of education provided at the NDRI in the field of dairying has very few parallels overall Asia.

History of National Dairy Research
The National Dairy Research Institute was originally started as Imperial Institute of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in 1923 at Bengaluru. It was expanded and renamed as Imperial Dairy Institute in 1936 and was known as National Dairy Research Institute post independence in 1947. In 1955, NDRI Headquarter was shifted to Karnal.

In 1964, Eastern Regional Station of the Institute was established at Kalyani in West Bengal. Both these Regional Stations continue to provide region specific R&D support for dairy development in these areas. In 1970, NDRI was brought under the wings of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in order to provide greater operational autonomy to the Institute in research management functions.

Functions of National Dairy Research Institute
The National Dairy Research Institute undertakes research, teaching and extension activities towards dairy development in the country. It also conducts basic and applied research with the objective to enhance animal productivity as well as to develop cost effective technologies. The Institute provides high quality manpower to meet the human resource requirements for the overall dairy development in the country. The Institute also undertakes extension programmes for transferring the know-how from the laboratory to the farmers` fields. It is also provides short-term specialized training programs and vocational courses. The institute aims to collaborate with various national and international agencies for dairy research and development. The objective of the institute is also to develop trained manpower in the field of dairy technology. Along with academic pursuits, the University guides and provides advice to central and state government organizations, cooperative institutions related to the dairy industry. It also provides consultancy services for dairy farmers and businessmen.

In 1989, the Deemed University status was conferred to the Institute for conducting research and academic programmes. The Institute provides quality education in the field of dairy technology making it a premier institution in this field in Asia. Spread over an area of 560 hectares of land, 360 hectares of land is used for fodder cultivation. The Institute has world-class infrastructural facilities, which include imposing buildings, research laboratories that are equipped with modern equipments and technological facilities. The various subjects related to dairy taught here are Dairy Cattle Breeding, Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Dairy Cattle Physiology, Animal Biotechnology, Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Technology, Animal Biochemistry, Dairy Economics, Statistics & Management and Dairy Extension.

Courses Offered at National Dairy Research Institute
The Institute offers Ph.D. programmes in twelve disciplines. All Ph.D. scholars are supported by the Institute through award of Institute Fellowship. The list of Disciplines: Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Technology, Dairy Engineering, Animal Biochemistry, Animal Biotechnology, Animal Genetics & Breeding, Livestock Production & Management, Animal Nutrition, Animal Physiology, Dairy Economics and Dairy Extension Education.

Masters Programme
The institute offers Master in dairying for graduates in pure sciences and for graduates with professional degrees. Master`s programme is also offered in the above mentioned disciplines.