Student READY Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Agricultural education involves more than learning about crops, soil and farming techniques in the classroom. Students also need practical experience, industry exposure and the skills to turn their knowledge into employment or business opportunities. The Student READY Scheme (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) helps meet these needs by providing practical training to eligible final-year undergraduate students in agriculture and allied disciplines. Under the original ICAR guidelines published in 2016, eligible students could receive a stipend of ₹3,000 per month for a maximum of six months. The programme also helps students develop technical skills, understand farmers' challenges, gain industrial experience and explore entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture and related sectors.

The Student READY Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 25 July 2015 and introduced in agricultural universities from the 2016–17 academic session. It is implemented through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. ICAR supports agricultural education and coordinates the programme through participating institutions. For official information about the programme, students can refer to the ICAR Human Resources Development page.

The programme has five main components: Experiential Learning in business mode, hands-on training and skill development, Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE), in-plant training or industrial attachment, and student projects. Under the original 2016 framework, students undertake any three of these five components according to their discipline and prescribed curriculum. These activities help them develop practical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, business skills and professional experience. The stipend amount and training requirements should be confirmed with the concerned university because the original guidelines date back to 2016.

Students generally need to be enrolled in the final year of an eligible undergraduate degree programme in agriculture or an allied discipline at a participating institution. They must also meet the applicable accreditation, academic and conduct requirements. Registration, training placement and related formalities are generally coordinated by the university, as no separate public application portal for individual students has been verified. Students can contact their college's Student READY coordinator or academic department for guidance.

Students looking for other education-related support may also explore the ICAR National Talent Scholarship, which provides assistance to eligible students studying at agricultural universities outside their state of domicile, subject to the applicable rules. Those interested in postgraduate research can read about the DBT Junior Research Fellowship Programme, which supports eligible research students in biotechnology and life sciences. These programmes have different eligibility requirements and benefits from the Student READY Scheme.

Five Components of the Student READY Scheme

The Student READY Scheme combines classroom learning with practical training to build technical knowledge, workplace experience and entrepreneurial skills. ICAR identifies five main components, with activities assigned according to each student's discipline and university curriculum.

• Experiential Learning (Business Mode): Students gain experience in running agriculture-based enterprises and managing practical activities such as production, product quality, accounting, marketing and sales. This component encourages students to explore self-employment and business opportunities in agriculture.
• Experiential Learning (Hands-on Training and Skill Development): Students develop technical and practical skills through training activities, specialised modules and the use of university facilities. The focus is on improving their ability to perform agricultural tasks and use relevant technologies.
• Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE): Students gain field experience by interacting with farmers and observing agricultural practices in rural communities. They learn about local farming conditions, farmers' problems, agricultural technologies and rural development activities.
• In-Plant Training, Industrial Attachment or Internship: Students receive practical exposure to relevant industries, organisations or agricultural enterprises. This helps them understand workplace practices, industrial operations and the application of their academic knowledge in professional settings.
• Student Projects: Students work on projects related to their discipline. These may involve identifying a problem, preparing a work plan, conducting experiments, analysing findings and preparing a final report. This component also helps students develop research and problem-solving skills.

Note: Under the original 2016 framework, students undertake any three of these five components according to the requirements of their degree programme. Certain disciplines follow different arrangements. For example, in-plant training replaces RAWE in Dairy Technology, Food Technology and Agricultural Engineering under the original guidelines, while Veterinary Science follows a separate internship pattern.

Scheme Benefits

The scheme helps eligible undergraduate students in agriculture and allied disciplines prepare for employment or self-employment. Its main benefits include:

• Eligible students can receive a stipend of ₹3,000 per month for a maximum of six months, as specified in the 2016 ICAR guidelines. Students should confirm the current rate with their university.
• Students gain hands-on experience in agriculture and allied fields, helping them apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.
• The scheme encourages students to start their own agriculture-based businesses and explore rural entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Students develop practical and technical skills through experiential learning, hands-on training and university learning units.
• Through Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE), students interact with farmers and learn about their problems, farming practices and local agricultural needs.
• Students receive opportunities for industrial exposure through internships, in-plant training and industrial attachments.
• Experiential learning activities help students develop business planning, marketing, accounting, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
• Students gain research and project experience, including identifying problems, planning activities, conducting experiments and preparing reports.
• Under the 2016 guidelines, 50% of the profits generated by Experiential Learning units are allocated to final-year students, subject to the applicable institutional arrangements.
• The programme helps students prepare for careers in agriculture, agribusiness, food processing and other allied sectors.

Stipend and Financial Assistance

The Student READY Scheme's original guidelines provide for a monthly stipend to support eligible students during prescribed field training, internships and related activities. The 2016 ICAR booklet specifies the following financial arrangements. Students should confirm with their university whether these rates and conditions remain applicable to their current academic session.

Under the historical stipend rate, a student receiving ₹3,000 per month for the full six-month period could receive up to ₹18,000 in total. The actual payment depends on eligibility, the period of participation and the applicable institutional rules.

The 2016 guidelines specify that:

• The stipend begins from the month in which the student joins RAWE, in-plant training, an internship or industrial attachment, as applicable.
• The stipend is payable for a maximum of six months under those guidelines.
• The university receives the funds from ICAR and transfers the stipend to eligible students' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), linked to Aadhaar under the original rules.
• ICAR does not transfer the stipend directly to students under the 2016 payment arrangements.
• Students must comply with the applicable attendance, academic progress and conduct requirements to remain eligible for payment.

Students should contact their university's Student READY coordinator to confirm the current stipend rate, payment schedule, required bank details and any conditions applicable to their course.

Duration and Credit Structure

The original ICAR Student READY guidelines describe the programme as a one-year practical learning programme conducted during the final year of the undergraduate degree. It generally covers Semesters VII and VIII in a four-year undergraduate programme, although the actual arrangement depends on the discipline and applicable university curriculum.

The 2016 booklet provides the following general credit framework for the programme:

These figures describe the general framework in the 2016 booklet and should not be treated as an identical credit allocation for every discipline. The booklet includes separate semester-wise structures for different degree programmes.

For example, the original B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture framework assigns Semester VII to RAWE and Agro-Industrial Attachment, with a combined allocation of 20 credits, and Semester VIII to Experiential Learning or hands-on training modules, with a further 20 credits. Other disciplines, such as Dairy Technology, Forestry and Horticulture, follow their own prescribed training arrangements.

Students should check their university's current syllabus to confirm the required credits, training duration, semester schedule and component selection. ICAR published the Sixth Deans' Committee report in 2026 to revise undergraduate agricultural curricula and credit frameworks in line with the National Education Policy 2020. Therefore, the 2016 structure should be treated as the historical framework unless the university confirms that it still applies to the student's course.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate, students must meet the following academic and institutional requirements:

• Students must be enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate degree programme in agriculture or an eligible allied discipline.
• The course must be offered by an eligible State Agricultural University, Deemed-to-be University, Central Agricultural University, or Central University with an agriculture faculty.
• The relevant degree programme must be accredited by the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB) of ICAR, as specified in the 2016 guidelines.
• Students must maintain satisfactory academic merit and good conduct, as certified by the head of their college or institution.
• Students must attend the prescribed training activities regularly and devote their time to completing the programme requirements.
• Students must follow the university's rules regarding training, attendance, academic progress and assessment.
• Veterinary Science students generally follow a separate internship structure under the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) pattern rather than the standard Student READY component arrangement.

Note: The exact course requirements, component selection and stipend eligibility may vary according to the applicable curriculum and university rules. Students should contact their college's Student READY coordinator or academic department to confirm their eligibility before participating.

Required Documents

ICAR's 2016 guidelines do not provide a standard document checklist for individual applications. Depending on the university's requirements, students may be asked to provide:

• Aadhaar card for identity verification and stipend-related formalities, if required.
• Bank account details for receiving the stipend through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), subject to the applicable payment rules.
• College identity card or proof of enrolment in an eligible undergraduate programme.
• Academic records or mark sheets, if required by the institution.
• Any registration form, undertaking or declaration prescribed by the university.
• Other documents requested by the Student READY coordinator for training placement or stipend processing.

This is an indicative list, not a universal official checklist. Confirm the exact requirements with your college's Student READY coordinator before submitting documents.

Steps to Apply

The Student READY Scheme is part of undergraduate agricultural education, so students generally do not need to submit a separate online application. Instead, their college or university coordinates registration, training activities and stipend-related formalities. Students can follow these steps to participate in the programme:

• Check with your college's academic department whether you are eligible to participate in Student READY during your final year of study.
• Contact the Student READY coordinator or the concerned faculty member to learn about the registration process, training schedule and applicable university rules.
• Complete the registration or other formalities prescribed by your college. The institution will explain which documents, if any, you need to submit.
• Follow the training plan prepared by your university. Depending on your discipline, you may be assigned rural fieldwork, an experiential learning module, industrial training, an internship or a student project.
• Complete the assigned components, practical activities, attendance requirements and assessments according to your course curriculum.
• If you qualify for the stipend under the applicable guidelines, provide the required bank and Aadhaar details to your institution for payment processing. Under the 2016 ICAR guidelines, the university receives the funds and transfers the stipend to eligible students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• For official programme guidelines, refer to the ICAR Student READY page or download the Student READY guidelines.

No separate public application portal or common deadline for individual students has been verified. Because participating institutions coordinate registration, training placements and stipend processing, contact your college's Student READY coordinator for the current procedure.

Relevant Links

• ICAR Agricultural Education Division
• Student READY Scheme Guidelines
• ICAR Student READY Scheme Information

Contact Information

Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) – Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agricultural Education Division

• Phone: 11-25841760
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Division of Agricultural Education, Room No. 207, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-II, New Delhi – 110012, India.

For university-specific questions, contact your college's Student READY coordinator or academic department.