Over 6,000 agriculture students to get scholarships via NSP-DBT, Rs 21.35 crore disbursed: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

More than 6,000 agriculture students will receive scholarships and fellowships directly into their bank accounts every month under a new National Scholarship Portal (NSP)-Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with Rs 21.35 crore disbursed.

Chouhan launched the initiative at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), Pusa, saying the new system would streamline scholarship payments and eliminate delays associated with the traditional disbursement process.

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“Examination, admission and payment - all must happen on time; that is the real test of any system,” said the Minister.

Under the NSP-DBT system, agriculture students will receive scholarship amounts directly through DBT, with the government seeking to make the process more transparent, faster and seamless. The initiative is intended to ensure timely financial assistance so students can focus on their education without uncertainty over the release of funds.

“A scholarship is not merely financial assistance, but also a means of making agricultural education stronger, more practical and better connected with opportunities,” Chouhan said.

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The minister stressed on the need for innovation in agricultural education to improve practical applications and emphasised the need for students to gain exposure to the realities of farming and to exploit opportunities beyond classroom learning.

“Agriculture is not just about classrooms; practical training is essential for developing real skills,” said Chouhan.

The Minister appreciated the contributions of the scientists at ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), stating that their contributions along with the efforts of farmers have strengthened the country’s foodgrain reserves and have brought improvements to India’s agricultural progress.

“Fields, farmers and science together strengthen the country’s food security and self-reliance”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Chouhan also urged agriculture students to take part in plantation drives at ICAR institutions across the country on ‘Hariyali Amavasya.’