Lok Sabha Question No. 3721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Higher Education in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: K. KAMARAAJ

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3721

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22/12/2015

## HIGHER EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

3721. DR. K. KAMARAJ:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  ascending  high  priority  to  higher  education  in agriculture and animal husbandry along with their allied subjects; and

- (b) if so, the details of the initiatives taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam.

- (b) The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) has been co- ordinating,  guiding  and  managing  research  and  education  in  agriculture  including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the country.  Government is supporting State Agricultural Universities to improve agriculture education through:-

- (i) Human Resource Development

- (ii) Educational Planning and Development

- (iii) Educational Quality Assurance and Reforms

Details enclosed as per Annexure

.

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## Details of initiatives taken by the Government giving high priority to higher education in agriculture and animal husbandry and their allied subject.

## (i) Human Resource Development

-  Centralized  admissions,  through  All  India  Entrance  examination,  at  UG  (15%)  &  PG (25%) level to encourage overall merit and national integration.
-  Awarding Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowships to attract talented students.
-  Capacity  building  of  faculty  of  National  Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  in Cutting-edge-areas  through  Centers  of  Advanced  Faculty  Training  (CAFT)/SummerWinter Schools (SWS). Incentive for quality teaching given in the form of best teacher award.
-  Promoting excellence and novel school of thought by National Professors and National Fellows.
-  Superannuated  scientists  engaged  in  addressing  key  issues  through  Emeritus  Scientist scheme.
-  Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) at the UG level encouraged to gain rural life work experience.
-  International  fellowships  for  Ph.D  for  research  in  reputed  global  laboratories  with  an objective to developed competent human resource and showcasing the strengths of Indian ICAR-AUs System.
-  Catalytic support for faculty exchange and adjunct faculty is being provided to address the faculty shortage in Agricultural Universities.

## (ii) Educational Planning & Home Science

-  For maintaining and upgrading quality and relevance of higher agricultural education, a centrally sponsored Plan Scheme ' Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India'' is being implemented.
-  Encouraged  and  facilitated  participation  of  girls  in  agricultural  education  and  ensuring gender mainstreaming by supporting girls' hostels. In addition, support is also provided for boys' hostels in Agricultural Universities.
-  Examination  Halls  supported  for  conducting  examinations  in  a  fair  and  transparent manner.
-  Creation of educational museums for ensuring showcasing of technology.
-  Support for modernizing and strengthening of academic facilities, laboratories, computer labs, internet connectivity, faculty improvement, course curriculum delivery, preparation of  practical  manuals,  career  placement  and  alumni  interaction,    smart  classrooms  for enhancing the quality of teaching, educational tours and contingency for the practicals etc. leading to  improved/upgraded academic environment in AUs

-  Holistic Development of students encouraged by providing funds to AUs with focus on overall personality development  and  counselling with emphasis  on extracurricular activities and refinement of soft skills.
-  In  order  to  achieve  excellence  in  teaching,  research,  consultancy  and  capacity  building niche area of excellence is being supported in specific cutting edge areas.
-  To provide much-needed skill and developing entrepreneurship and building confidence among UG students, Experiential Learning modules have  been established in AUs.
-  To enhance learning resources including writing of text books and preparation of quality instructional  material  and  e-facilities,  the  libraries  of  AUs  and  that  of  their  constituent colleges  are  being  strengthened  benefiting  the  students  across  the  country,  leading  to improved quality of postgraduate education and research.

## (iii) Educational Quality Assurance and Reforms

-  For improving educational standards and assuring an acceptable institutional quality, the accreditation of AUs and their constituent colleges is being done at regular intervals by an Accreditation  Board  established  by the  Council  with  well  defined objectives and functions.
-  To ensure uniformity of structure, governance and efficiency of the AUs the Model Act for AUs was prepared and has been revised in 2009.
-  To  keep  pace  with  the  ever  changing  scenario  in  agriculture  the  norms,  standards  and course curricula are updated and revised as per need by constitution of Dean's Committees from time to time.
-  Research  and  instructional  capabilities  of  farms  are  being  strengthened  by  providing support for modernization of AU farms.

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