Question : SETTING UP OF AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

(a) the norms/criteria laid down for opening of new agriculture university in the country;

(b) whether the Government proposes to establish new agricultural universities in various States including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and North Eastern States of the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the locations identified for the purpose including the estimated funds required for the purpose; and

(d) the time by which these universities are likely to be set up in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)(i) The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) are set up through an Act passed by the State Legislatures.

(ii) The Central Agricultural Universities are opened by the Central Govt. through an Act of Parliament.

(b) The Government of India has taken a decision to set up Central Agricultural University at Barapani (Meghalaya) and to convert the existing the Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU), Pusa, Bihar (a State Agricultural University) into the Central Rajendra Agricultural University. Further, the Govt. of India has announced the setting up of two State Agricultural Universities in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan and two State Horticultural Universities in Telangana and Haryana.

(c)
# 226 acres of land at Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi District has been handed over by the Govt. of Meghalaya for setting up of the CAU, Barapani, Meghalaya.
# A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 25.01.2015 between the Govt. of Bihar and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt. of India for conversion of the Rajendra Agricultural University to the Rajendra Central Agricultural University at Pusa, Samastipur.
# A State Agricultural University i.e. the ANGRAU in the Residuary State of Andhra Pradesh will be established at Lam Village in the Guntur District.
# The Government of Rajasthan has identified lands for establishing the State Agricultural University in Baran, Jhalawad District.
# A High Level Committee has been constituted by the State Govt. to finalize the details for establishing the Horticulture University in Haryana.
# A notification was issued by the Government of Telangana for establishment of the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University with Head Quarters at Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad.
Budgetary Provisions have been made in the Union Budget, both in 2014-15 & 2015-16 to assist in setting up of Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan & Haryana.

For the Central Agricultural University, Barapani, a provision of Rs. 300.00 crores has been made in the XII Five Year Plan.
For the Central Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, a provision of Rs. 400.00 crores has been made in the XII Five Year Plan.

(d) Initiatives have been taken by the Union Government to set up the proposed universities. The time-frame will depend on the speedy efforts pursued by the State Governments also.