National Scholarship Portal for Agriculture Students Launched

The Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched a National Scholarship Portal-based system for agriculture students on 10 August 2026 at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, New Delhi. At the launch, ₹21.35 crore in scholarship and fellowship funds was transferred to more than 6,000 agricultural students across India through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism.

National Scholarship Portal

The National Scholarship Portal is a centralised digital platform used in India for scholarship application, verification, and disbursement. It is linked with bank accounts for direct transfer of funds and is used by multiple ministries and departments for student welfare schemes.

Direct Benefit Transfer in Scholarships

Direct Benefit Transfer, or DBT, is a system in which government benefits are transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. In scholarship schemes, DBT reduces manual processing and supports monthly payouts for eligible students.

ICAR and Agricultural Education

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, New Delhi, is one of the premier institutions under ICAR and is widely associated with postgraduate and doctoral-level agricultural studies.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Scholarship Portal is a Government of India digital platform for scholarship management.
• Direct Benefit Transfer is used in India for cash transfer of subsidies, pensions, and scholarships.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research functions under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
• Hariyali Amavasya is associated with tree plantation activities in parts of India.

Practical Training and Agricultural Start-ups

Practical training is a standard component of agricultural education in India and includes field work, laboratory work, and farm-based learning. Agricultural start-ups in India operate in areas such as farm mechanisation, agri-inputs, precision farming, and post-harvest management.

Officials Present at the Launch

The event was attended by Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture, M.L. Jat, Director General of ICAR, Gyanendra Tripathi, Secretary of ICAR, and C. Srinivasa Rao, Director of IARI. The launch was linked with scholarship and fellowship support for students enrolled in agricultural institutions across India.