Lok Sabha Question No. 3791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Regional Institute of Cooperation Management
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shri Sunil Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3791 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th  AUGUST, 2025

## Regional Institute of Cooperation Management

## 3791.  Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:

Shri Sunil Kumar:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the  objectives  and  target  outcomes  of  the  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education (AICTE)-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM) launched by the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM);
- (b) whether  there are any  collaborations with the industry, academic,  or  agricultural stakeholders  to  ensure  placement  and  entrepreneurial  linkages  for  graduates,  if  so,  the details  thereof;
- (c) the details of the budgetary allocation made under the programme and the funds utilized so far;
- (d) whether the RICM is undertaking training and capacity building programmes in rural and semi-urban areas, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the government has introduced this programme in Bihar and if so, the details of the colleges where it is available?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

- (a) :  The  objectives  and  target  outcomes  of  the  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education (AICTE)-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM)  launched  by  the  Regional  Institute  of  Cooperation  Management  (RICM)  are  as follows:

## Objectives:

- (i) To develop competent agri-business managers with decision-making and leadership capabilities.
- (ii) To equip students with managerial skills relevant to agriculture, cooperatives, and allied sectors.
- (iii) To promote applied learning through case studies, field exposure, and institutional linkages.
- (iv) To support agri-based organizations with consultancy and policy-oriented solutions.

## Target Outcomes:

- (i) To prepare agriculture graduates to become industry ready managerial professional for agriculture industry and allied agriculture industry.
- (ii) Build a cadre of trained managers for cooperatives, agro-enterprises, and rural development agencies.
- (iii) Encourage entrepreneurial initiatives in the agri-business ecosystem.
- (iv) Enhance policy contribution and institutional development through academic-industry collaboration.

This  course  is  currently  being  offered  by  Regional  Institute  of  Cooperative  Management  (RICM), Gandhinagar and Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Chandigarh. Year-wise intake to the course and placements of the passout students are as follows:

## 1. RICM, Gandhinagar

| Batch   |   Total Available seats |   No. of enrolment | Placement of the students (No.)   |
|---------|-------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2020-22 |                      60 |                 45 | 45                                |
| 2021-23 |                      60 |                 39 | 39                                |
| 2022-24 |                      60 |                 39 | 39                                |
| 2023-25 |                      60 |                 43 | 43                                |
| 2024-26 |                      60 |                 26 | This course will conclude in 2026 |
| Total   |                     300 |                192 | 166                               |

## 2. RICM, Chandigarh

The PGDM-ABM course is being started with effect from this academic year with intake capacity of 30 students.

- (b) :    Yes. Collaboration with the industry, academic and agricultural stakeholders ensuring placement and entrepreneurial linkages for graduates are as under:

## Industry Collaborations :

PGDM-Agri  Business  Management  programme  offered  by  RICMs  under  National  Council  for Cooperative Training (NCCT) has established active partnerships with prominent industry stakeholders for internships, field training, live projects, and placement support. Key industry collaborators include:

- Banaskantha  District  Co-operative  Milk  Producers'  Union  Ltd.  (Banas  Dairy),  Palanpur, Gujarat
- Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Ltd. (Amul Dairy), Anand, Gujarat
- Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Palanpur, Gujarat
- Adani Industries Ltd., Shantigram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- IHSEDU Agrochem Pvt. Ltd.
- Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd. (GNFC)

These  organizations  provide  practical  exposure  to  students  and  contribute  to  their  professional development in areas such as dairy, agri-inputs, marketing, and agro-processing.

## Academic Collaborations :

RICMs also collaborate with reputed academic and research institutions to promote knowledge-sharing, entrepreneurship development, and academic enrichment. Key academic collaborators include:

- Vaikunth  Mehta  National  Institute  of  Cooperative  Management  (VAMNICOM),  Pune, Maharashtra
- Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand, Gujarat
- Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat
- Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, Gujarat

These  academic  partnerships  facilitate  expert  lectures,  joint  programmes,  case  study  development, research collaboration, and entrepreneurial mentoring for students.

- (c): The PGDM-Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM) programme is a self-financed course, duly approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). RICM Gandhinagar and RICM Chandigarh  is  offering  PGDM-Agri  Business  Management  (PGDM-ABM)  programme .The grant-in-aid salary provided by the Government to RICM Gandhinagar is 168.96 lakhs and RICM Chandigarh is 189.75 lakhs in the FY 2024-25.
- (d) : Yes. RICMs ( Bangalore, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Kalyani and Patna) undertake training and capacity- building programmes in rural and semi-urban areas. The details of Capacity Building Programs conducted by all five RICMs under NCCT is given below.

| YEAR    |   Capacity Building Programs |   No. of Participants |
|---------|------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2022-23 |                          928 |                 51657 |
| 2023-24 |                         1106 |                 62781 |
| 2024-25 |                         1113 |                 82645 |
| Total   |                         3147 |                197083 |

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(e): No.