Agriculture Sciences & ICAR Norms
Constitutional jurisdiction, statutory university authority, and ICAR regulatory guidelines
1. Constitutional Framework & State Legislative Authority
Under the Constitution of India, agriculture and agricultural education are State subjects governed under Entry 14 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule. The establishment, administration, and regulation of higher education institutions offering agricultural programs fall under the sovereign competence of State Legislative enactments.
Statutory Authority of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya is an autonomous State University established under an Act of the State Legislature and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f) and Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.
By virtue of its statutory incorporation and UGC degree-granting powers, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya possesses full legal authority to institute departments, conduct comprehensive courses of study, and confer undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma degrees in Agricultural Sciences and allied agricultural disciplines.
Entry 14, List II
Agriculture & agricultural education are constitutional State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of India.
UGC Degree Granting
Section 22 of the UGC Act empowers DSVV to award recognized degrees in agricultural sciences across India.
Complete Legal Validity
Graduates are fully eligible for state & central government jobs, banking examinations, and higher research.
2. ICAR Public Notice on Recognition & Accreditation
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, issued an official Public Notice to address queries from stakeholders, students, parents, and higher education institutions regarding the regulatory procedure for agricultural programs:
ICAR Official Public Notice: F.No.Edn.7/7/2017-EQR
Issuing Body: National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi - 110012
Parent Ministry: Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India
Date of Issue: 5th September, 2017
"Because of its non-statutory status, ICAR does not give 'Recognition' or 'Affiliation' to any university/institution/organization or any course/programme/degree offered by such institution. The ICAR provides only 'Accreditation' to university/institution/organization or faculty/college/school of agriculture for quality assurance once first batch students of programme are passed out from the university/institution/college."
Key Clarifications Established by ICAR:
- Non-Statutory Status of ICAR: ICAR is a Society established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It functions as an apex advisory and coordinating agency, not as a statutory regulatory body with degree-granting or statutory licensing powers.
- No Power to Grant Recognition or Affiliation: Due to its non-statutory nature, ICAR does not give statutory "Recognition" or "Affiliation" to any university, college, or degree programme. Legal recognition of degrees is derived from the UGC Act and the parent University Act.
- No Permission Required to Open/Start Programs: ICAR does not grant permission or approval to start, operate, or close universities or colleges offering agricultural science programmes in a State, as agriculture and agricultural education are constitutional State subjects (Entry 14 under List II).
- Accreditation is a Voluntary Quality Assurance Process: ICAR provides "Accreditation" through the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB). Accreditation is a voluntary self-regulation and peer-review mechanism aimed at quality improvement and international marketability.
- Eligibility Criteria for ICAR Accreditation: In accordance with ICAR regulations, accreditation can only be applied for after the first batch of students of the programme has successfully graduated and passed out from the university or college.
3. Compliance with ICAR Academic Regulations
While ICAR accreditation is voluntary, the ICAR Public Notice requires that all institutions offering agricultural programmes comply with the prescribed academic norms to achieve national uniformity and standard quality:
| ICAR Academic Requirement | Implementation at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya |
|---|---|
| ICAR Deans' Committee Curricula | The B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture and allied syllabi strictly incorporate the standardized curriculum, course credits, and guidelines recommended by the ICAR Deans' Committee. |
| Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) | Mandatory hands-on semester-long rural attachment allowing students to work directly with farming communities, local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and agro-industries. |
| Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) | Hands-on commercial agricultural modules, seed production, organic input preparation, and bio-fertilizer manufacturing units on campus. |
| Qualified Agricultural Faculty | Faculty appointments adhere to UGC and ICAR norms with Ph.D./NET qualifications across Agronomy, Soil Science, Horticulture, Entomology, and Genetics. |
4. Agricultural Education & Research at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya blends modern agricultural science and technology with traditional sustainable practices to train future-ready agricultural graduates:
- Experimental Research Farm: Designated agricultural acreage dedicated to crop cafeterias, agro-forestry, medicinal plant cultivation, and crop variety trials.
- Specialized Laboratories: State-of-the-art labs for Soil & Water Testing, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Microbiology, Entomology, and Tissue Culture.
- Pioneering Natural & Vedic Agriculture: Extensive research and practical training in cow-based organic farming (Panchgavya, Jeevamrit), Rishi Krishi, biodynamic farming, and chemical-free sustainable food systems.
- Nationwide Career Scope: DSVV agricultural graduates are fully qualified to appear in competitive examinations including UPSC, State Public Service Commission (State PSC / ADO / RAEO), Banking (IBPS AFO), ICAR-JRF, seed & fertilizer corporate sectors, and agricultural entrepreneurship.