**5. Procedure for varietal identification**

Based on three year performance, best performing test entries shall be identified in the annual crop workshop or national group meet at the pre-defined institute/ university. The Zonal Coordinators and Principal Investigators attend the national group meet to provide wider aspects of information on the varieties. After the approval from Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a "Varietal Identification committee (VIC)" constituted in advance of annual workshop or national group meet. All the committee members (**Table 1**) shall be informed well in advance by the PC or PD [3]. Principal investigators (PIs) of different disciplines can assist in the process of discussion but they do not have the right to vote. Only committee members have the right to cast vote. The VIC provides detailed information on recommended entries to the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification, and Release. This committee has sole right to release and notify the best-performing entry into national wise or zonal wise based on the recommendations of the VIC.


#### **Table 1.**

*Organizational setup of varietal identification committee (VIC). The committee comprises one chairman and nine members.*
