Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at ICAR-IARI, Pusa, disbursing ₹21.35 crore in scholarships and fellowship funds to over 6,000 agriculture students nationwide through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The new DBT mechanism ensures monthly scholarship payments directly to students, eliminating delays associated with traditional systems and providing timely financial assistance.
Minister Chouhan emphasized that scholarships serve as crucial financial support strengthening agricultural education and connecting it with practical learning opportunities. He stressed that classroom-based learning alone cannot produce competent farmers, scientists, or agricultural entrepreneurs, highlighting the essential role of hands-on training in developing real competence in the agriculture sector. The Minister stated that the NSP-DBT system will make scholarship distribution more transparent, faster, and seamless, enabling students to focus more effectively on their education.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the government prioritizes food security, nutrition, and farmers' income security in the agriculture sector. Minister Chouhan acknowledged the vital role of ICAR scientists' research combined with farmers' hard work in strengthening India's food grain reserves. He encouraged agriculture students to pursue innovation, startups, and research rather than limiting themselves to employment seeking, and appealed for participation in plantation drives at ICAR institutions nationwide on Hariyali Amavasya as part of collective environmental responsibility.
The event was attended by Union Minister of State Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, ICAR Secretary Shri Gyanendra Tripathi, DDG Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik, and IARI Director Dr. C. Srinivasa Rao, along with senior officials, scientists, and thousands of students participating both in person and virtually.