Lok Sabha Question No. 3098 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Promoting Agricultural Education
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3098

TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th  AUGUST, 2023

## PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

## 3098.  SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  an  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Education or a similar body to oversee, regulate and facilitate agricultural education in Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of efforts made by the Government to promote agricultural education during the last five years; and
- (d) the other steps taken by the Government to link agriculture with the New Education Policy?

## 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): There is no proposal to set up an Indian Council of Agricultural Education. Indian  council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  already  providing  assistance  to promote agriculture education in the Agriculture Universities of the country including Gujarat. New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, envisages a General Education Council (GEC)  and  sectoral  Committees  such  as  ICAR  for  Agricultural  Education  as Professional Standard Setting Bodies (PSSBs) as members in the GEC to lay down academic standards and to coordinate between teaching, research and extension of their domain/discipline.
- (c): ICAR  provides  need  based  financial  assistance  to  promote  Agricultural Education  in  Agricultural  Universities  under  Plan  Scheme  'Strengthening  and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India' in following ways:
- i. Upgradation, strengthening, modernization and enhancement of amenities and infrastructure pertaining to teaching, learning and support to students' research and assurance of quality in higher agricultural education.
- ii. Establishment  of  smart  and  virtual  classrooms,  library  automation,  Industry Interaction Cells, Placement cells, alumni cells in the Universities.
- iii. 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.  Development  of  more  than  200  pilot course-curriculums/certificate  courses  on  emerging  areas  of  Agriculture  and Allied Sectors under National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP).
- iv. The number and amount of fellowships have been enhanced to attract talent to promote Agricultural Education.
- v. To create awareness among children, Agricultural Education Day is celebrated on 3rd December to commemorate the birth anniversary of (Late) Dr.  Rajendra Prasad, who was the first Food and Agriculture Minister of Independent India.

(d): The following initiatives have been taken by the Government to integrate the Agriculture with New Education Policy (NEP)-2020:

- i. More than 250 vocational courses have been started across the Country to get students acquainted with latest knowledge of Agriculture and Allied Sciences.
- ii. Directives have been issued to all the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) to increase 10% seats for admission in Under Graduate Programmes every year to enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).
- iii. The residential requirement of staying in the campus has been relaxed.
- iv. 6 th  Deans Committee has been constituted for restructuring and reframing the graduation programme by introducing certificate courses, diploma and degree courses during Under Graduate Programme as per directives of NEP- 2020.
- v. The provision of Academic Bank of Credit as per NEP for students pursuing Degree Programme has been introduced in Agricultural Universities.

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