ICAR-ASRB Data Wipeout Raises Serious Questions On Deletion

What Was Lost: Recruitment, Research, Administrative Records

According to internal reports and media investigations, the lost data encompasses a wide array of files — including job-applications and recruitment records, scientist profiles, research project documents, application forms and eligibility files, interview evaluations, communication logs, and vigilance records.

The breach reportedly began in February 2025 when the first signs of server compromise emerged. By March, the primary server in Delhi had been cleared out — and alarmingly, days later, the backup server in Hyderabad (meant for disaster recovery) was also wiped clean. 

Delayed Response, No FIR — Questions Multiply

Despite the scale of the data wipe-out, a First Information Report (FIR) was not filed. It was only after several months that the administration formed a six-member internal committee (in July 2025) to probe the incident — a move widely criticized for lacking independent cyber-security experts. 

Critics argue that both the timing of the breach and the absence of an external forensic audit suggest this was not merely a technical lapse but possibly a deliberate effort to erase records — particularly those related to sensitive recruitments. Former ICAR-Governing Body member has written to the highest offices demanding a full review of all ASRB recruitments since 2014.

Impact on Research, Recruitment and Institutional Trust

The missing data threatens to disrupt ongoing recruitment cycles, hamper administrative operations, and impact projects across multiple research units under ICAR, including the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IASRI) and others. 

Scientists nationwide have reported irregularities in email communications, missing project logs, and obstacles in institutional workflows — casting a shadow over the credibility and continuity of agricultural research infrastructure.

Why This Matters — And What’s Next

For a research ecosystem as vast and vital as ICAR’s, the trust of stakeholders — from scientists to policy-makers — hinges on data integrity. A breach of this scale without transparent accountability or external forensic audit undermines not only institutional reputation but also the larger goal of scientific transparency and fairness in recruitment.

Going forward, stakeholders are demanding a comprehensive independent inquiry, immediate restoration of lost records (to the extent possible), and a robust cyber-security framework that includes regular audits, disaster-recovery protocols, and transparent record-keeping for all recruitments and research projects.

Shunyatax Global Note: Data Governance In Critical Institutions Can’t Be Optional

At Shunyatax Global, we emphasise that when public-interest institutions manage vital resources - whether data, research, or human capital — adherence to rigorous governance standards is non-negotiable. This episode should serve as a wake-up call for all research and public bodies to treat data security as a foundational obligation, and not an afterthought.

We will continue to track developments in this case and report any new findings, including follow-up on whether external audits are ordered, accountability fixed, and data recovery efforts succeed.