ICAR data breach: Key recruitment and research information compromised; probe panel formed

Srinagar, July 25: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex body for agricultural research in India, experienced a significant security breach earlier this year, resulting in the loss of critical data spanning recruitment records to vital research projects, as per The Indian Express report.

According to internal documents reviewed by the publication, ICAR recently set up a six-member committee tasked with examining the “non-functionality of the DC (Data Centre) and DRC (Disaster Recovery Centre).” The committee has been instructed to provide recommendations on enhancing data security and to propose safeguards that can prevent similar incidents in the future.

ICAR scientists, from Lucknow, Karnal, Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi, and all of them said while speaking to Indian Express, there were “problems on the portal” and that they have raised the issue several times. “It is not only our email communication system that is not working. The problem is that crucial data of recruitment, finances, scientists, research projects and administrative work has vanished from the server and replication server,” said a senior scientist.

When contacted, M L Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, and Director General of ICAR, told The Indian Express: “A few months back, there was some hacking of our website.

The panel, which has been asked to submit its report by July 31, has yet to hold its first meeting, a member of the committee confirmed. The ICAR, which marked its 97th Foundation Day in New Delhi on July 16, describes itself as an organisation that “has been spearheading agricultural research, education and extension activities for productivity enhancement and diversification of Indian agriculture”.

As per sources the affected data was mainly related to Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IASRI) and National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), all of which function under ICAR.