Scholarships worth Rs 21.35 cr

Education

Scholarships worth Rs 21.35 crore released to over 6,000 agriculture students through NSP-DBT

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday released scholarship and fellowship funds for agriculture students from across the country through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at ICAR-IARI, Pusa. Under this initiative, a total amount of Rs 21.35 crore was released directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to more than 6,000 students. With the introduction of this new initiative, agriculture students will now receive their scholarship amounts every month through DBT without facing unnecessary difficulties or delays. The initiative is aimed at making the process of scholarship disbursement more streamlined and ensuring that students receive financial assistance in a timely and hassle-free manner.

On the occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that a scholarship is not merely financial assistance, but also a means of making agricultural education stronger, more practical and better connected with opportunities. He said that with the DBT system now in place, students would receive assistance on time and the problem of traditional delays would be eliminated. Addressing the students, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised that practical training is extremely important in agricultural education, because classroom-based learning alone cannot produce good farmers, scientists or agricultural entrepreneurs. He stressed that students need opportunities to gain practical experience and understand the realities of agriculture beyond the classroom. He also appealed to students to share their suggestions and ideas for improvement so that the education and training system can be continuously strengthened. He said that the purpose of agricultural education should be not only to impart knowledge but also to equip young people with the practical skills, confidence and understanding required to contribute effectively to the agriculture sector.

Shri Chouhan also said that under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is giving priority to food security, nutrition and farmers’ income security in the agriculture sector. Appreciating the contribution of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) scientists, he said that their research, along with the hard work of farmers, has strengthened the country’s foodgrain reserves and contributed significantly to India’s agricultural progress. He urged young people to set larger goals along with building their careers and encouraged them to do something meaningful for the country. Union Minister Shri Chouhan said that agriculture students should not limit themselves only to seeking employment, but should also take a leading role in innovation, start-ups and research. He encouraged the younger generation to look at agriculture as a field offering a wide range of opportunities and to contribute towards finding new solutions to emerging challenges. He underlined the importance of young agricultural professionals and students in taking forward scientific advancement, entrepreneurship and innovation in the sector.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the NSP-DBT system would make scholarship distribution more transparent, faster and seamless. The system would ensure that students receive financial assistance on time, enabling them to concentrate more effectively on their education without being burdened by uncertainty regarding the release of scholarship funds. The Union Minister emphasised the need to create an education system that prepares students not only with academic knowledge but also with practical capabilities and an understanding of the changing requirements of agriculture.

Shri Chouhan also appealed to agriculture students at ICAR institutions across the country to undertake plantation activities on the occasion of ‘Hariyali Amavasya’. He said that green initiatives are part of a collective responsibility towards both agriculture and the environment, and encouraged students to actively participate in plantation activities and contribute to strengthening awareness and responsibility towards the environment.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, ICAR Secretary Shri Gyanendra Tripathi, Deputy Director General Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik and IARI Director Dr. C. Srinivasa Rao were present at the programme. Senior officials, scientists and students from ICAR and IARI attended the event in large numbers, while thousands of students also joined the programme online.