Chickpea, Pearlmillet and Sorghum Breeding

Dr. Shailesh Kumar Jain was born on 7th August 1976 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. He received his early education at Government Primary School, Borkhandikalan (1982–1990), followed by studies at MPS Jaipur (1990–1992) and Rajasthan Higher Secondary School, Jaipur (1993–1994). He completed his B.Sc. (Ag.) (Hons.) from S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, under Rajasthan Agriculture University (1994–1998). He obtained his M.Sc. (Ag.) in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the same institution (1998–2000). Dr. Jain earned his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (2000–2004).
Dr. Jain is presently serving as Professor and Head, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, under Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University. He began his professional career as Assistant Research Scientist at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (2008–2018), where he later served as Associate Professor (2018–2021). Since 2021, he has been working as Professor at RARI, Durgapura, Jaipur.
An accomplished plant breeder, Dr. Jain has developed and contributed to the release of several high-yielding crop varieties. In cluster bean, he developed Karan Guar 14 and Karan Guar 15; in chickpea, Karan Kabuli 4 and RSGD 1155 (Karan Chana 20); Gujarat Isabgol-4 in isabgol; GC-6 in cowpea; and DFP-1 in field pea. In sorghum, he developed GJ 43, GJ 45, Banas Surya, GFS 8, GNJ 1, and GFS 6. Notably, he developed the world’s first three-way pearl millet hybrid, RHB 273, marking a significant milestone in millet breeding.
Dr. Jain has guided five Ph.D. and five M.Sc. (Ag.) students in Genetics and Plant Breeding as Major Advisor and has served as a member of advisory committees for more than twenty postgraduate students. He is actively involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in agricultural sciences.
He has published more than 80 research papers in NAAS-rated journals and presented over 30 research papers at national and international conferences. Additionally, he has authored and contributed to more than 10 books and book chapters in agricultural sciences.
Dr. Jain is the recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions. He received the ICAR–ISPRD Fellowship (2026) during the National Conference on Pulses held at ICAR–Indian Institute of Pulses Research, conferred by former Director Generals of ICAR and Secretaries, DARE, Government of India, Dr. Mangla Rai and Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra. He was honored with the Vice-Chancellor’s Appreciation Award (2026) from Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, for outstanding research contributions. He also received the STAR Excellence Award (2025) and the Best Oral Presentation Award (Silver Medal) at the National Conference organized by STAR Society and SKNAU, Jobner (2025). Earlier, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation (2022) under ICAR–AICRP on Pearl Millet, the Sadvichar Parivar Award (2019) by the Gujarat Association for Agricultural Sciences for developing sorghum variety GJ-43, the Young Scientist Award (2018) by GRISAAS, the Certificate of Excellence (Special Mention) at the 2nd Academic Brand Award (2017), and the Best Article Award from ICAR–Indian Institute of Millet Research.
His research areas include breeding of rabi pulses (chickpea), cluster bean, cowpea, and millets.
Address:
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI)
Durgapura (Jaipur), Rajasthan – 302018, India
Tel.: 0141-2723300
Mobile: +91-7573017654
E-mail: skjain.pbg.coalalsot@sknau.ac.in