Lok Sabha Question No. 1754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Promotion of Agricultural Education
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Manoj Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1754

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

## 1754.  SHRI MANOJ KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is implementing any policy/schemes/programme to provide stipend to the students for the promotion of agricultural education in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of funds released and number of beneficiaries students, Central, State Agricultural Universities and Institutions, during the last five years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  students  of  B.Tech  Food  Technology Programme at RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar are not getting any stipend from the Union and State Governments due to this, students specially from poor and weaker section are suffering a lot; and
- (d) if so, whether the Union Government and RPCAU Pusa authority is intend to provide stipend  to  the  B.Tech  Food  Technology  students  along  with  their  arrears  from  the  first semester, if so, the details thereof and the time by which students will get stipends and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a): Yes.  To  attract  students  in  higher  agricultural  education  and  to  achieve  educational excellence in teaching and research in areas of agriculture and allied science subjects, Indian Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  provides  number  of  scholarships  /fellowships  as under:
- 1.ICAR -National Talent Scholarship (NTS-UG)
- 2.ICAR -National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG)
- 3.ICAR -Postgraduate Scholarship (ICAR-PGS)
- 4.ICAR -Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) / Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)
5. Merit cum Means (MCM) Scholarship

(b): Following  is  the  details  of  fellowships  /  scholarships  provided  by  Indian  Council  of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  to  students  in  Central  /State  Agricultural  universities  and Institutions of the country during last five years.

| S.No.   | Name of Scheme   | 2021-22           | 2021-22                              | 2022-23           | 2022-23                              | 2023-24           | 2023-24                              | 2024-25           | 2024-25                              |                   | 2025-26                              |
|---------|------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|
|         |                  | Total Beneficiary | Total amount disbursed (Rs. in lakh) | Total Beneficiary | Total amount disbursed (Rs. in lakh) | Total Beneficiary | Total Amount disbursed (Rs. in lakh) | Total Beneficiary | Total Amount disbursed (Rs. in lakh) | Total Beneficiary | Total Amount disbursed (Rs. in lakh) |
| 1.      | NTS-UG           | 6539              | 1746.87                              | 6734              | 1892.83                              | 10034             | 2468.01                              | 8549              | 2665.35                              | 9162              | 3413.94                              |
| 2.      | NTS-PG           | 3683              | 1237.47                              | 3543              | 1337.41                              | 3428              | 1231.64                              | 5369              | 2105.91                              | 3877              | 2028.70                              |
| 3.      | ICAR- PGS        | 1733              | 1485.91                              | 1690              | 1656.21                              | 1613              | 1579.48                              | 1557              | 1717.59                              | 1179              | 1638.74                              |
| 4.      | ICAR- JRF/SRF    | 1123              | 2673.20                              | 1131              | 2641.96                              | 1157              | 3100.63                              | 1039              | 2978.89                              | 1159              | 3025.63                              |
| 5.      | MCM              | 287               | 29.79                                | 333               | 37.88                                | 439               | 37.96                                | 471               | 42.75                                | 450               | 58.36                                |

(c): The  students  enrolled  in  the  B.  Tech  Food  Technology  programme  at  Dr.  Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar are receiving financial assistance under National Talent Scholarship (NTS) from ICAR and Student Ready Programme subject to eligibility and fulfilment of prescribed conditions.

Further, students belonging to SC/ST/OBC of Bihar domicile are being provided Post Matric Scholarship.

(d): The question does not arise.

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