Lok Sabha Question No. 4471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Modernising Agricultural Universities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Locket Chatterjee, Rama Devi, Geeta Kora, Navneet Ravi Rana, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Jugal Kishore Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4471

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  MARCH, 2023

## MODERNISING AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES

4471.  SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the role of agricultural universities in the development of the agriculture sector in the country particularly of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour in Bhagalpur, Bihar;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  modernize  the  agriculture universities to accelerate agricultural activities and research particularly in the  said university in Sabour;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the current number of vacant posts of researchers in the said universities;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to fill the said posts;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to set up an All India Body on the line of All India Council  of  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  to  monitor  the  functioning  of  agriculture university in Sabour; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) : The  Agricultural  Universities  (AUs)  including  Bihar  Agricultural  University, Sabour have rendered a great service to the nation in the field of Higher Agricultural Education, Research & Extension. Their contribution to the Agricultural growth in India is immense.

The quality manpower produced by the AUs in the field of agriculture and allied areas  have  resulted  in  achieving food  security  and  improved  nutrition,  promoting

sustainable agriculture through development of newer and better varieties, increased yield  and  productivity,  adaptation  policies  aligning  with  the  on-going  development programmes. Skilling and encouraging entrepreneurship have stimulated innovation and domestic demand leading to increased opportunities for productive employment through decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

(b) and (c): Agriculture including Agricultural Education is a state subject. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the aegis of Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) supports in terms of financial grants for strengthening and development of higher agricultural education in India. The details of infrastructure supported for modernizing AUs across states including Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour under the schemes 'Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education  in  India  (SDHAEI)'  and  'National  Agricultural  Higher  Education  Project (NAHEP)' are as under:

- i. Establishment  of  smart  and  virtual  classrooms,  library  automation,  Industry Interaction Cells, Placement cells, alumni cells.
- ii. Establishment of Learning and Assessment Centres, E-learning studios, Career Development Centres, Faculty Development Centres, Artificial intelligence and Robotics Labs, 3D printing Labs, Student hostels, Examination Halls, Auditoriums etc.
- iii. Capacity building of faculty in various cutting-edge areas.
- iv. Upgradation and strengthening of laboratories with latest equipment.
- v. Attracting  talented  students  towards  higher  agricultural  education,  through fellowships/scholarships & admission though national level exam in Agricultural Universities (AUs).

(d) and (e) The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) function under the control of respective State Governments. Creation and filling up of posts of teachers/researchers in SAUs is the responsibility of the State Governments. The current status of vacant posts of researchers/teachers in Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs) and ICAR Deemed Universities (DUs) is given below:

| University   |   Vacancy position |
|--------------|--------------------|
| 03 CAUs      |                489 |
| 04 DUs       |                301 |

During the pandemic, the process of filling up of vacant posts could not be carried out. The Government has now started the process of filling up of vacant posts in CAUs and DUs.

(f) and (g) There is no proposal to set up an All India Body on the line of All India Council  of  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  to  monitor  the  functioning  of  agriculture universities including Bihar Agricultural University in Sabour. New Education Policy (NEP)  -  2020,  envisages  a  General  Education  Council  (GEC)  and  sectoral Committees such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for Agricultural Education as Professional Standard Setting Bodies (PSSBs) and PSSBs as members in  the  GEC  to  lay  down  academic  standards  and  to  coordinate  between  teaching, research and extension of their domain/discipline.

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