To fulfil the needs of the nation and to conduct organized scientific research exclusively on grasslands and fodder production and their utilization, Government of India established an institute of national importance, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (ICAR-IGFRI), at the heart land/biodiversity hotspot of grasses (Jhansi) in 1962. On 1st April, 1966, it became a part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In addition, All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops and Utilization was created in 1972 with IGFRI as head quarter for multi-location testing of forage varieties and technologies in different agro climatic zones of the country through 22 coordinating centres at various State Agricultural Universities under the National Agricultural Research System. The institute consists of seven multi-disciplinary divisions viz., crop improvement, crop production, farm machinery and post-harvest technology, seed technology, social science, grassland and silvipasture management and plant animal relationship. Among 7 divisions, two divisions mentioned at last are unique. It also has five units viz., PME, HRD, ATIC, ITMU and AKMU and facilities like Library, Central Research Farm, Dairy and Central Instrumentation Lab. As offshoot, institute has three regional stations located in Avikanagar (Rajasthan), Dharwad (Karnataka) and Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) to conduct focussed forage research on arid, semi-arid and temperate climatic conditions, respectively and a grassland centre at Palampur (Himachal Pradesh).