**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the promotion of agricultural education. It confirms the implementation of policies and schemes by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to provide scholarships and fellowships to students. It also addresses the specific case of B.Tech Food Technology students at RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar, stating they receive financial assistance through existing programs. The question was to be answered on February 10th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scholarships and Fellowships:**
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides scholarships and fellowships to promote agricultural education.
* These include:
* ICAR-National Talent Scholarship (NTS-UG)
* ICAR-National Talent Scholarship (NTS-PG)
* ICAR-Postgraduate Scholarship (ICAR-PGS)
* ICAR-Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) / Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)
* Merit cum Means (MCM) Scholarship
* **Financial Assistance Distribution (2021-2026):**
* A table presents the number of beneficiaries and the amount disbursed (in lakhs of rupees) for each scholarship/fellowship program from 2021-22 to 2025-26 in Central/State Agricultural universities and institutions.
* **RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar Students:**
* B.Tech Food Technology students at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar, receive financial assistance under the National Talent Scholarship (NTS) from ICAR and the Student Ready Programme, subject to eligibility and conditions.
* SC/ST/OBC students of Bihar domicile are provided Post Matric Scholarship.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Students in Higher Agricultural Education**
* **Impact:** Availability of scholarships and fellowships supports access to higher agricultural education and promotes academic excellence.
* **Action Required:** Students need to meet eligibility criteria and fulfill prescribed conditions to receive financial assistance.
**Stakeholder: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar Students**
* **Impact:** Receive financial assistance through the National Talent Scholarship (NTS) from ICAR and the Student Ready Programme
* **Action Required:** Must continue to meet eligibility requirements and satisfy the specific program requirements to receive funds.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Provides scholarships/fellowships for agricultural education.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar: Location where B.Tech Food Technology students receive financial assistance.
ICAR-National Talent Scholarship (NTS): Scholarship program providing financial assistance to students.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The ministry under which agricultural education is promoted.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1754
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026
PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
1754. SHRI MANOJ KUMAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि 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
कृषि 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
1(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.
Name of 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
2021-22 2022-23
Scheme
Total Total
Total Total Total
Amount Amount
S.No. amount amount Amount
Total Total Total disbursed Total disbursed Total
disbursed disbursed disbursed
Beneficiary Beneficiary Beneficiary (Rs. in Beneficiary (Rs. in Beneficiary
(Rs. in (Rs. in (Rs. in lakh)
lakh) lakh)
lakh) 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
ICAR- 1690 1557 1179 1638.74
3. 1733 1485.91 1656.21 1613 1579.48 1717.59
PGS
ICAR- 1159 3025.63
4. 1123 2673.20 1131 2641.96 1157 3100.63 1039 2978.89
JRF/SRF
MCM 450 58.36
5. 287 29.79 333 37.88 439 37.96 471 42.75
(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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