Odisha Introduces Monthly Stipend for OUAT PG, PhD Students

Bhubaneswar: To encourage higher education and research in agriculture, the Odisha government has approved a monthly stipend for postgraduate and Ph.D. students of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), providing financial support to scholars pursuing agriculture and allied disciplines.

The initiative, announced by the Department of Agriculture, follows the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and is aimed at promoting research and innovation in the state’s agriculture sector.

Under the scheme, regular PG students will receive a stipend of ₹10,000 per month for a period of two years, while Ph.D. scholars will be entitled to ₹15,000 per month for up to three years.

According to the government, the financial assistance is intended to help students concentrate on research by reducing financial constraints while also encouraging meritorious students to pursue advanced studies in agriculture and allied sciences.

“Investing in our young researchers means securing the future of Odisha’s farmers. With this assistance, our students can focus on new innovations and research without financial worries,” Singh Deo said.

The scheme will cover all regular postgraduate and doctoral students enrolled in agriculture and allied courses at OUAT. Officials said the initiative is expected to strengthen agricultural research, foster innovation and create skilled professionals capable of addressing emerging challenges in the farm sector.