06 September 2024, New Delhi: In a recent communication addressed to the Chief Secretaries of all states, the Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr. Himanshu Pathak, expressed concerns over the proliferation of new agricultural universities and the potential negative impact on the quality of agricultural education in India.
The letter highlighted the significant role played by the National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARS), which includes ICAR and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), in transforming India into a food surplus nation. Dr. Pathak acknowledged the unparalleled growth achieved in the agricultural sector, attributing much of this success to the contributions of SAUs. However, he warned that the rapid establishment of new universities, particularly those carved out from existing institutions, had raised concerns about inadequate planning, insufficient infrastructure, and limited allocation of resources.
One of the key issues outlined in the letter was the trend of opening single-faculty universities or dividing existing multi-faculty institutions into smaller, single-faculty entities. Dr. Pathak argued that this approach contradicted the well-established principle of integrated agricultural education, which was crucial for maintaining the quality and effectiveness of agricultural training and research in the country.
The ICAR, as the apex body responsible for quality control and setting standards for agricultural universities, emphasized the importance of adhering to the recommendations outlined in the ICAR Model Act (2023) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) Rules of 1975. These guidelines ensured that agricultural universities maintained the necessary staff, infrastructure, and basic facilities required for undergraduate and postgraduate education, research, and extension activities.
Dr. Pathak urged state governments to consult with ICAR before establishing new agricultural universities or public/private agricultural colleges. He stressed the need for proper planning and adequate resources to uphold the standards of agricultural education and research in India.
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