Over 6,000 Agriculture Students to Get Monthly Scholarships Through DBT

New Delhi: The Centre has introduced a monthly Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism for scholarships and fellowships to agriculture students, with Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday releasing ₹21.35 crore to more than 6,000 students through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

The funds were released at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, marking the rollout of the new system aimed at making scholarship disbursement faster, transparent and free from delays.

Under the new arrangement, eligible agriculture students will receive their scholarship and fellowship amounts directly into their bank accounts every month through DBT. The initiative is expected to streamline the existing disbursement process and ensure timely financial support to students pursuing agricultural education.

Speaking at the programme, Chouhan said scholarships should serve a purpose beyond providing financial assistance and should contribute to strengthening agricultural education and creating better opportunities for students.

He said the new DBT mechanism would eliminate unnecessary delays and allow students to focus on their studies without uncertainty over the release of scholarship funds.

The Minister also stressed the importance of practical learning in agricultural education. He said classroom education alone was not sufficient to prepare good farmers, scientists and agricultural entrepreneurs, and called for greater opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and understand real-world agricultural challenges.

Chouhan encouraged students to share their suggestions for improving agricultural education and training. He said the education system should equip young people not only with academic knowledge but also with practical skills, confidence and an understanding of the changing needs of the agriculture sector.

Highlighting the government’s focus on food security, nutrition and farmers’ income security, Chouhan credited the efforts of ICAR scientists and farmers for strengthening India’s foodgrain reserves and advancing the country’s agricultural sector.

He urged agriculture students to set larger goals and contribute to the country beyond building individual careers. The Minister encouraged them to explore opportunities in innovation, research, entrepreneurship and start-ups, describing agriculture as a sector with significant scope for new ideas and technology-driven solutions.

Chouhan said the NSP-DBT system would make scholarship distribution more seamless and transparent while providing students with timely financial assistance. He also emphasised the need to develop an agricultural education system that combines academic learning with practical capabilities and prepares students for emerging challenges.

The Minister further appealed to students of ICAR institutions across the country to participate in plantation activities on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya. He said environmental conservation was a collective responsibility and encouraged students to contribute to creating a greener and more sustainable future.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary, ICAR Director General Dr M.L. Jat, ICAR Secretary Gyanendra Tripathi, Deputy Director General Dr Yashpal Singh Malik and IARI Director Dr C. Srinivasa Rao attended the programme.

Senior officials, scientists and students from ICAR and IARI were present at the event, while thousands of students from across the country participated virtually.