The Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI) is one of the 13 research institutes under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Institute was established in 1964 as a section of the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of CSIR and named Plant Introduction Exploration (PIE). In 1985, its name was changed to Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU).

In August 1994 the Unit’s mandate was expanded and its status was elevated to that of a Centre within the CSIR and later to an Institute in August 2005 to reflect the scope of its activities and to conform to international designation of similar institutions.