Lok Sabha Question No. 2740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Vacancies of Researchers in Agricultural Universities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Navneet Ravi Rana

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2740 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## VACANCIES OF RESEARCHERS IN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES

## 2740. SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of vacant posts of researchers in Agricultural Universities at present;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to fill up the vacant posts and the details thereof with particular reference to Maharashtra;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to set up an all India body on the lines of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to monitor and regulate the functioning of Agricultural Colleges;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

## (a)  and (b):

- i. As on July, 2021 the total number of sanctioned posts in all Agricultural Universities (AUs) are 33686, out of which 12576 positions are vacant.
- ii. As  Agriculture  including  Agricultural  Education  is  a  State  subject,  filling  up  of  the vacant  positions  in  State  Agriculture  Universities  (SAUs)  fall  under  the  purview  of respective State Governments.
- iii. However, time to time accreditation is carried out by Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  through  National  Agricultural  Education  Accreditation  Board, wherein it is stressed upon to fill the vacant positions for award of accreditation.
- iv. For  the  filling  up  of  vacancies  related  to  Central  Institute  of  Fisheries  Education, Mumbai, a Deemed University, of ICAR, Government has already taken necessary steps.
5. (c) to (e): As per New Education Policy 2020, the professional councils, such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Veterinary Council of India (VCI), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), Council of Architecture (CoA), National Council for Vocational Education  and  Training  (NCVET)  etc.,  will  act  as  Professional  Standard  Setting  Bodies (PSSBs). They will play a key role in the higher education system and will be invited to be

members  of  the  General  Education  Council  (GEC).  These  bodies,  after  restructuring  as PSSBs, will continue to draw the curricula, lay down academic standards and coordinate between teaching,  research  and  extension  of  their  domain/discipline,  as  members  of  the GEC. As members of the GEC, they would help in specifying the curriculum framework, within which Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) may prepare their own curricula. Thus, PSSBs would also set the standards or expectations in particular fields of learning and practice while having no regulatory role. All HEIs will decide how their educational programmes respond to these standards, among other considerations, and would also be able to reach out for support from these standard-setting bodies or PSSBs, if needed. In this context ICAR is responsible to oversee, regulate and facilitate agricultural education and research in the country.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.

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