Question : SERVICE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS AND GRADUATES

(a) whether the services of Agricultural Scientists and Agricultural Graduates have been categorised in Agriculture Universities;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether uniform policy is adopted in all Agriculture Universities of the country;

(d) if so, whether the promotion policy of Agricultural Scientists and that of Agricultural Graduates are different;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether University Grants Commission (UGC) has framed new rules of promotion due to which previous promotion policy has been affected; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)

(a) Only the services of Agricultural Scientists are categorized.

(b) Services of Agricultural scientists have been categorized as Assistant Professor and its equivalent, Associate Professor and its equivalent and Professor or its equivalent for the services rendered for teaching, research and extension education programmes.

(c), (d) & (e): State governments, through statutes governing Agricultural Universities, regulate their policies and programmes according to the UGC guidelines as adopted by ICAR.

(f) & (g): The Merit Promotion Scheme of the UGC, that was applicable to the SAUs ceased to exist w.e.f. 3.3.99 and was replaced by the UGC with the Career, Advancement Scheme w.e.f. 27.7.98 in SAUs to the benefit of teachers and research scientists by and large.