Executive Summary:
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3791 regarding the Regional Institute of Cooperation Management's (RICM) Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management (PGDMABM), which was answered on August 12, 2025, by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah. It outlines the program's objectives, collaborations, budgetary allocations, training programs, and availability in Bihar. The document details industry and academic partnerships and capacity building programs undertaken by various RICMs.
Key Points / Main Content:
PGDMABM Objectives and Target Outcomes:
* Objectives:
* Develop competent agribusiness managers with leadership skills.
* Equip students with managerial skills for agriculture and cooperatives.
* Promote applied learning through case studies and field exposure.
* Support agribased organizations with consultancy.
* Target Outcomes:
* Prepare graduates for managerial roles in the agriculture industry.
* Build a cadre of trained managers for cooperatives and rural development.
* Encourage entrepreneurial initiatives in agribusiness.
* Enhance policy contribution via academicindustry collaboration.
* The course is offered at RICM Gandhinagar and RICM Chandigarh.
Enrollment and Placement Details:
* RICM Gandhinagar: From 2020-2026, 166 out of 192 enrolled students were placed.
* RICM Chandigarh: The PGDMABM course started in the current academic year with an intake capacity of 30 students.
Industry and Academic Collaborations:
* Industry: Active partnerships with organizations like Banas Dairy, Amul Dairy, APMC Palanpur, Adani Industries Ltd., IHSEDU Agrochem Pvt. Ltd., Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., and GNFC for internships and placements.
* Academic: Collaborations with VAMNICOM, EDII, International Agribusiness Management Institute, IRMA, and IIM Ahmedabad for knowledge sharing and entrepreneurship development.
Budgetary Allocation:
* The PGDMABM program is self-financed.
* Grantinaid salary provided by the Government to RICM Gandhinagar is 168.96 lakhs and RICM Chandigarh is 189.75 lakhs in the FY 202425.
Training and Capacity Building Programs:
* RICMs in Bangalore, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Kalyani, and Patna conduct training programs in rural areas.
* Capacity Building Programs conducted by all five RICMs under NCCT:
* 2022-23: 928 programs, 51657 participants.
* 2023-24: 1106 programs, 62781 participants.
* 2024-25: 1113 programs, 82645 participants.
Availability in Bihar:
* The program has not been introduced in Bihar.
Impact Analysis:
RICM (Gandhinagar & Chandigarh):
* Impact: Expected to produce industry-ready graduates, foster industry collaboration, and enhance policy contributions.
* Action Required: Continue to manage the program, maintain industry/academic collaborations, and track placement rates.
Students Enrolled in PGDMABM:
* Impact: Enhanced managerial skills, improved placement opportunities, and entrepreneurial potential.
* Action Required: Actively participate in internships, training programs, and networking events.
Agribusiness Industry:
* Impact: Access to a pool of trained managers and potential for collaboration on projects.
* Action Required: Provide internships, training opportunities, and placement support for graduates.
Government of India:
* Impact: Contributes to rural development by providing skilled managers.
* Action Required: Continue to provide support and oversight to RICMs and NCCT.
Key Entities Referenced
All India Council for Technical Education AICTE: A national-level council for technical education, which approved the Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management (PGDMABM) program.
Post Graduate Diploma in ManagementAgri Business Management PGDMABM: A management diploma program focused on Agri Business Management, offered by Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM).
Regional Institute of Cooperative Management RICM: An institute offering the PGDMABM program and undertaking training and capacity building programs.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat: Location of one of the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM) offering the PGDMABM program.
Chandigarh: Location of one of the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM) offering the PGDMABM program.
National Council for Cooperative Training NCCT: An organization under which PGDMAgri Business Management programme offered by RICMs has established active partnerships with prominent industry stakeholders for internships, field training, live projects, and placement support.
Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management VAMNICOM, Pune, Maharashtra: Academic collaborator with RICMs to promote knowledge sharing, entrepreneurship development, and academic enrichment.
Shri Amit Shah: The Minister of Cooperation who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3791
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12th AUGUST, 2025
Regional Institute of Cooperation Management
3791. Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:
Shri Sunil Kumar:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) the objectives and target outcomes of the All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE)-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management
(PGDM-ABM) launched by the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM);
(b) whether there are any collaborations with the industry, academic, or agricultural
stakeholders to ensure placement and entrepreneurial linkages for graduates, if so, the
details thereof;
(c) the details of the budgetary allocation made under the programme and the funds utilized so
far;
(d) whether the RICM is undertaking training and capacity building programmes in rural and
semi-urban areas, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the government has introduced this programme in Bihar and if so, the details of
the colleges where it is available?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) : The objectives and target outcomes of the All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE)-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Agri Business Management
(PGDM-ABM) launched by the Regional Institute of Cooperation Management (RICM) are as
follows:
Objectives:
(i) To develop competent agri-business managers with decision-making and leadership capabilities.
(ii) To equip students with managerial skills relevant to agriculture, cooperatives, and allied sectors.(iii) To promote applied learning through case studies, field exposure, and institutional linkages.
(iv) To support agri-based organizations with consultancy and policy-oriented solutions.
Target Outcomes:
(i) To prepare agriculture graduates to become industry ready managerial professional for agriculture
industry and allied agriculture industry.
(ii) Build a cadre of trained managers for cooperatives, agro-enterprises, and rural development agencies.
(iii) Encourage entrepreneurial initiatives in the agri-business ecosystem.
(iv) Enhance policy contribution and institutional development through academic-industry collaboration.
This course is currently being offered by Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM),
Gandhinagar and Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Chandigarh. Year-wise intake
to the course and placements of the passout students are as follows:
1. RICM, Gandhinagar
Batch Total Available No. of enrolment Placement of the students (No.)
seats
2020-22 60 45 45
2021-23 60 39 39
2022-24 60 39 39
2023-25 60 43 43
2024-26 60 26 This course will conclude in 2026
Total 300 192 166
2. RICM, Chandigarh
The PGDM-ABM course is being started with effect from this academic year with intake capacity of
30 students.
(b) : Yes. Collaboration with the industry, academic and agricultural stakeholders ensuring placement
and entrepreneurial linkages for graduates are as under:
Industry Collaborations:
PGDM-Agri Business Management programme offered by RICMs under National Council for
Cooperative Training (NCCT) has established active partnerships with prominent industry stakeholders
for internships, field training, live projects, and placement support. Key industry collaborators include:
• Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd. (Banas Dairy), Palanpur,
Gujarat
• Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. (Amul Dairy), Anand, Gujarat
• Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Palanpur, Gujarat
• Adani Industries Ltd., Shantigram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• IHSEDU Agrochem Pvt. Ltd.• Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd. (GNFC)
These organizations provide practical exposure to students and contribute to their professional
development in areas such as dairy, agri-inputs, marketing, and agro-processing.
Academic Collaborations:
RICMs also collaborate with reputed academic and research institutions to promote knowledge-sharing,
entrepreneurship development, and academic enrichment. Key academic collaborators include:
• Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune,
Maharashtra
• Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand, Gujarat
• Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, Gujarat
These academic partnerships facilitate expert lectures, joint programmes, case study development,
research collaboration, and entrepreneurial mentoring for students.
(c): The PGDM-Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM) programme is a self-financed course,
duly approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). RICM Gandhinagar and
RICM Chandigarh is offering PGDM-Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM) programme
.The grant-in-aid salary provided by the Government to RICM Gandhinagar is 168.96 lakhs and
RICM Chandigarh is 189.75 lakhs in the FY 2024-25.
(d) : Yes. RICMs ( Bangalore, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Kalyani and Patna) undertake training and
capacity- building programmes in rural and semi-urban areas. The details of Capacity Building
Programs conducted by all five RICMs under NCCT is given below.
YEAR Capacity No. of Participants
Building
Programs
2022-23 928 51657
2023-24 1106 62781
2024-25 1113 82645
Total 3147 197083
(e): No.
*****