New Delhi, August 11: The Union Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday released Rs 21.35 crore in scholarships and fellowships directly to more than 6,000 agriculture students, marking the rollout of a National Scholarship Portal-based Direct Benefit Transfer (NSP-DBT) system for agricultural education.
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the initiative at ICAR-IARI, Pusa, saying the new system would enable agriculture students to receive scholarship assistance every month without delays associated with conventional disbursement mechanisms.
The minister stressed that timely delivery of financial assistance was central to the effectiveness of the system.
“Examination, admission and payment—all must happen on time; that is the real test of any system,” Chouhan said.
Under the new arrangement, scholarship payments will be transferred directly to eligible students through DBT, with the government aiming to make disbursement faster, more transparent and seamless.
Chouhan said scholarships should not be viewed merely as financial assistance but as a means of strengthening agricultural education and creating better opportunities for students.
He also called for greater emphasis on practical training, saying classroom education alone was insufficient to prepare students to become successful farmers, scientists and agricultural entrepreneurs.
The minister urged agriculture students to look beyond conventional employment and pursue innovation, start-ups and research to address emerging challenges in the sector.
He credited ICAR scientists and farmers with strengthening India’s foodgrain reserves and contributing to the country’s agricultural progress, while urging young agricultural professionals to play a larger role in scientific advancement and innovation.
Chouhan also called upon students at ICAR institutions to participate in plantation activities on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya, linking environmental conservation with collective responsibility.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary, ICAR Director General M.L. Jat and senior ICAR and IARI officials, scientists and students attended the programme. Thousands of students also joined the event online.
