Dean of BSIDT

Dr. Rakesh Kumar is serving as Dean, at the Bihar State Institute of Dairy Technology (BSIDT), Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU), Patna from 21^st May, 2026. Prior to that he was Professor and Head in the Department of Dairy Microbiology, BSIDT, Patna.

He has established himself with more than thirty-five years as a distinguished dairy technologist, academician, researcher, and extension specialist. His career, spanning over three decades, reflects a harmonious blend of industrial expertise, research excellence, and academic leadership, making me a prominent figure in the field of dairy science and technology landscape. His areas of expertise include fermented and functional dairy food products, probiotics and synbiotics, food safety, dairy entrepreneurship, and skill development. Through these areas, he has contributed significantly to the modernization of dairy farming and industry.

He completed his B.Sc. (Dairy Technology) from SGIDT, Patna, in 1987. Subsequently obtained his M.Sc. Dairying in (Dairy Microbiology) in 1990 from SMC College of Dairy Technology, Anand, Gujarat. He qualified the ICAR–NET examination conducted by ICAR, New Delhi, in 1992 and later earned his Ph.D. in Dairy Microbiology from the West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Mohanpur, West Bengal, in 2010. He possesses nine years of rich industrial experience, having served in senior managerial roles at reputed dairy organizations in Haryana and Punjab, including Karnal Milk Foods Ltd., Rahul Dairy and Allied Products Ltd., Kurukshetra, and Verka Milk Plant, Gurdaspur. His contributions to the industry include strengthening quality assurance systems, promoting value-added product development, enhancing cooperative operations, and ensuring compliance with national and international quality standards. In the academic and extension domain, he served for nine years at Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU), Pusa, and five years at Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, where He worked as Senior Scientist-cum-Head and Programme Coordinator. His efforts significantly advanced dairy research, technology transfer, entrepreneurship development, and large-scale skill training, benefiting thousands of farmers, rural youth, and women. Since joining BASU in 2017, He has provided visionary leadership in curriculum modernization, laboratory upgradation, expansion of probiotic and food safety research, and strengthening industry–institution linkages. He has authored 45 research papers, 3 books, 12 book chapters, 25 extension publications, 40 technical bulletins, and more than 20 popular articles. He has organised a number of conferences, training programmes, workshop and seminar at BASU, Patna.

He is Life Member of various professional societies including the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), He has received several accolades, including the Best KVK Scientist Award, Distinguished Scientist Award, and Excellence in Teaching and Extension Awards. He has also been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Indian Dairy Association (IDA) Fellowship for the year 2025–26, in recognition of his outstanding, sustained, and multifaceted contributions toward strengthening Indian dairy industry.

He is the Founder General Secretary of the Society for Promotion of Small and Companion Animals (SPFCA), BASU, Patna, and at present, He is serving as the Vice-President of SPFCA, BASU, Patna. He is also the President of the Dairy Technocrats’ Association, Bihar. In addition, He had also hold responsibilities of Officer In-Charge of Games and Sports, BASU, Patna from 2018 to May 2026 and as Officer In-Charge (Security), BASU, Patna.