Parliament Question: Agricultural Universities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1668 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026 AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES 1668. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) the number of Agricultural Universities functioning in the country along with the norms/criteria laid down for opening of new Agricultural University in the country, State-wise; (b) whether the Government has allocated any funds for the improvement/upgradation of Agricultural Universities in the country, State-wise particularly in Akola, Maharashtra; (c) if so, the details thereof along with funds sanctioned by the Government during the last three years and the current year, State-wise particularly in Akola, Maharashtra; and (d) whether it is also a fact that the teaching in agriculture and animal husbandry sectors in agricultural universities severely affected due to a shortage of staff and if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a): There are 80 agricultural universities in the country, which includes 69 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), 03 Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs) and 04 Deemed Universities (DUs), 04 Central Universities with Agricultural Faculty. Annexure-I The agriculture including agricultural education is a state subject, therefore, state governments establish agricultural universities as per their requirement. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed ‘ICAR Model Act (Revised 2023)’ for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions in India and ‘Minimum Requirements for Establishing the Agricultural Colleges’. 1(b): Under the plan scheme of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) “Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India” the financial assistance is provided to accredited Agricultural Universities in the Country for strengthening and upgradation. The funding support to accredited universities during the 5 years of the current Plan Period is Rs. 1869.61 crore. ICAR provides need based financial assistance in critical areas to the agricultural universities under Plan Scheme to upgrade, strengthen, modernize and enhance the amenities and infrastructure pertaining to teaching, learning, supports student research, provision for scholarships and for quality assurance of higher agricultural education. (c): The details of the funding support under the scheme during last three years and current year, state wise is annexed. Annexure-II. Under the scheme funding support is provided to Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola in Maharashtra during last three years and current year is Rs. 9.59 Crore and year-wise details are annexed. Annexure-III. (d): As per information collected from agricultural universities, overall about 47% of total positions of faculty/teaching are vacant in the agricultural universities. Agriculture Education being state subject, creation and filling up of the posts in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) is the responsibility of State Governments. ******** 2ANNEXURE-I [Part (a) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 1668 dated 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026] Sate-wise list of Agricultural Universities functioning in the country: S.No. State Name of the University 1. Andhra Paresh Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur 2. Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati 3. Dr. YSR Horticulture University, Venkataramannagudem 4. Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Narasapur, West Godavari 5. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat 6. Assam Assam Veterinary and Fishery University (AVFU), Khanapara, Guwahati 7. Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur 8. Bihar Dr. R.P. Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samstipur, Bihar 9. Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna 10. Chhattisgarh Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswa Vidhyalaya, Raipur 11. Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Visvavidyalaya, Durg 12. Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture & Forestry, Durg 13. Delhi Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 14. Anand Agricultural University, Anand 15. Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh 16. Sardar Krushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat Dantiwada 17. Gujrat Natural Farming Sciences University, Sultanpura 18. Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari 19. Kamdhenu University, Amreli 20. Haryana Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 21. Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar 22. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 23. Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnal 24. Himachal Ch. Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pradesh Palampur 25. Dr. Yaswant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan 26. Jammu & Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Kashmir Technology, Jammu 27. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology, Srinagar 3S.No. State Name of the University 28. Jharkhand Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 29. Karnataka University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore 30. University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur 31. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad 32. Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga 33. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Bidar 34. University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot 35. University of Agricultural Sciences, Mandya 36. Kerala Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 37. Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanand, Kerala 38. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kochi 39. Madhya Pradesh Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur 40. Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior 41. Nanaji Deshmukh Pashu Chikitsa VisvaVidyalaya, Jabalpur 42. Maharashtra Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani 43. Matatam Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri 44. Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Akola 45. Dr. Balaesahib Sawant Kokan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli 46. Maharashtra Animal & Fisheries. Sciences University, Nagpur 47. Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 48. Manipur Central Agricultural University, Imphal 49. Nagaland Nagaland University, Medziphema 50. Orissa Orissa University of Agricultural & Technology, Bhubaneswar 51. Punjab Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 52. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 53. Rajasthan Agriculture University, Kota 54. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur 55. Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner 56. SKN Agriculture University, Jobner 57. Agriculture University, Jodhpur 58. Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bikaner 59. Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Jaipur 60. Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 61. Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chennai 62. Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Nagapattinam 63. Telangana Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad 4S.No. State Name of the University 64. Sri PV Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad 65. Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural, University, Hyderabad 66. Uttar Pradesh Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agricultural & Technology, Kanpur 67. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut 68. Rani Laxami Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi 69. Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya 70. Banda University of Agricultural and Technology, Banda 71. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 72. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 73. Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura 74. Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly 75. Uttarakhand G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar 76. VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Bharsar 77. West Bengal Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Cooch Behar 78. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidhyalaya, Mohanpur 79. Vishva Bharti, Santiniketan 80. West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata ******* 5ANNEXURE-II [Part (c) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 1668 dated 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026] Details of funding support to the Agricultural Universities under the scheme State-wise grant for the last 3 years of the Plan, and current year (2022-23 to 2025-26 till date) Amount (Rs. in crore) S. No. State Agricultural 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Total Universities (till date) 1. Andhra Pradesh 5.78 9.02 15.48 1.83 32.11 2. Assam 11.64 6.76 13.35 3.23 34.98 3. Bihar 5.65 6.08 15.29 0.74 27.76 4. Chhattisgarh 8.46 9.10 9.18 1.37 28.11 5. Delhi 23.83 29.67 72.38 99.50 225.38 6. Gujarat 10.97 11.15 24.33 2.65 49.1 7. Haryana 8.27 10.77 29.53 0.61 49.18 8. Himachal Pradesh 4.70 9.45 11.49 0.88 26.52 9. Jharkhand 0.55 0.29 0.51 0.08 1.43 10. Jammu & Kashmir 8.12 4.72 19.30 3.49 35.63 11. Karnataka 19.42 26.77 35.21 12.01 93.41 12. Kerala 6.41 6.34 10.85 1.50 25.1 13. Madhya Pradesh 7.44 9.69 17.03 0.94 35.1 14. Maharashtra 22.44 16.59 39.23 4.93 83.19 15. Manipur 14.42 16.75 13.14 6.20 50.51 16. Nagaland 0.13 0.32 4.70 0.10 5.25 17. Orissa 3.68 2.78 5.40 0.06 11.92 18. Punjab 7.10 4.78 11.93 1.01 24.82 19. Rajasthan 9.77 10.53 19.36 0.71 40.37 20. Telangana 5.94 11.81 12.56 0.65 30.96 21. Tamil Nadu 4.98 10.43 19.88 4.95 40.24 22. Uttarakhand 3.35 6.15 27.06 0.66 37.22 23. Uttar Pradesh 15.26 14.46 52.30 2.01 84.03 24. West Bengal 4.10 5.22 9.66 1.17 20.15 ******* 6ANNEXURE-III [Part (c) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 1668 dated 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026] Financial assistance for Dr. PDKV. Akola, Maharashtra, for the last 3 years and current year of the Plan scheme Name of the 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 till Total Rs. in Universities date crore PDKV, Akola 3.38 2.92 2.11 1.18 9.59 ****** 7