Millet research and development in India has evolved significantly over the past five decades, transitioning from traditional breeding methods to advanced genomic approaches through institutions like ICRISAT and IIMR. The production of millets has increased by 7% (1966-2022) despite the area for millet cultivation in India decreasing consistently since 1971-72, reflecting an enhanced productivity focus. Significant milestones include mapping the genome code for cultivated groundnut, releasing India's inaugural commercial pigeon-pea hybrid, and introducing Africa's pioneering biofortified pearl millet alongside ICRISAT's breakthrough 'Rapid-Ragi' development that cuts the crop's growing duration from 100–135 days to just 68–85 days, enabling up to five generations per year for faster breeding. In Uttar Pradesh, there was a notable increase in area, production, and millet productivity over the entire period, with pearl millet accounting for 46.93% of the area and 43.76% of production, making it the second-largest Bajra producer in India after Rajasthan. The research trajectory has culminated in climate change adaptations that have led to new zoning frameworks and significant yield increases through improved varieties. This represents a paradigm shift toward climate-resilient, nutrition-focused agriculture that addresses adaptation challenges and food security in India's semi-arid regions.