Student READY Scheme

Student READY Scheme: Benefits, Eligibility and How to Participate

Agricultural education needs more than classroom learning. The Student READY Scheme (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) gives final-year undergraduate students in agriculture and allied fields practical training, industry exposure and entrepreneurship skills. It 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.

A Note on the 2016 Guidelines

The stipend and training figures below come from the original ICAR guidelines published in 2016. ICAR also published the Sixth Deans’ Committee report in 2026 to revise undergraduate agricultural curricula and credit frameworks in line with the National Education Policy 2020. Treat the 2016 structure as the historical framework unless your university confirms it still applies to your course.

Key Benefits

• ₹3,000 per month stipend for up to six months under the 2016 guidelines (up to ₹18,000 in total)
• Hands-on experience that helps apply classroom knowledge to real situations
• Encouragement to start agriculture-based businesses and explore rural entrepreneurship
• Industry exposure through internships, in-plant training and industrial attachments
• Business planning, marketing, accounting, teamwork and problem-solving skills
• Research and project experience, including planning, experiments and report writing
• 50% of the profits from Experiential Learning units go to final-year students, subject to institutional arrangements
• Preparation for careers in agriculture, agribusiness, food processing and allied sectors

Five Components

Under the 2016 framework, students undertake any three of the five components, depending on their discipline and curriculum.

1. Experiential Learning (Business Mode): running agriculture-based enterprises, including production, quality, accounting, marketing and sales
2. Experiential Learning (Hands-on Training and Skill Development): technical skills through training modules and university facilities
3. Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE): field experience with farmers, learning about local farming conditions, problems and rural development
4. In-Plant Training, Industrial Attachment or Internship: practical exposure to industries and agricultural enterprises
5. Student Projects: identifying a problem, planning, experimenting, analysing and writing a final report

In Dairy Technology, Food Technology and Agricultural Engineering, in-plant training replaces RAWE. Veterinary Science follows a separate internship pattern under the Veterinary Council of India (VCI).

Stipend Details

Under the 2016 rules:

• The stipend starts from the month the student joins RAWE, in-plant training, an internship or industrial attachment.
• ICAR sends funds to the university, which transfers the stipend to students’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through DBT. ICAR does not pay students directly.
• Students must meet attendance, academic progress and conduct requirements to receive payment.

Duration and Credit Structure

The 2016 guidelines describe a one-year practical programme in the final year of the undergraduate degree, generally Semesters VII and VIII of a four-year course.

These are general figures, not identical for every discipline. For example, B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture assigns Semester VII to RAWE and Agro-Industrial Attachment (20 credits) and Semester VIII to Experiential Learning modules (20 credits). Dairy Technology, Forestry, Horticulture and others have their own arrangements. Check your university’s current syllabus.

Who Is Eligible?

• Enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate degree 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 degree programme must be accredited by the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB) of ICAR
• Satisfactory academic merit and good conduct, certified by the head of the institution
• Regular attendance in the prescribed training activities

Exact requirements may vary by curriculum and university, so confirm with your college’s Student READY coordinator.

Documents You May Need

ICAR’s 2016 guidelines give no standard checklist. Universities may ask for:

• Aadhaar card, if required for stipend formalities
• Bank account details for DBT
• College ID card or proof of enrolment
• Academic records or mark sheets
• Any registration form, undertaking or declaration prescribed by the university

This is an indicative list, not an official one.

How to Participate

Students generally do not submit a separate online application. The college or university handles registration, training and stipend formalities.

1. Check with your academic department whether you are eligible in your final year.
2. Contact the Student READY coordinator to learn about registration, training schedules and university rules.
3. Complete the registration or formalities your college prescribes.
4. Follow the training plan, which may include rural fieldwork, experiential learning, industrial training, an internship or a project.
5. Complete the components, attendance requirements and assessments.
6. If you qualify for the stipend, give your bank and Aadhaar details to the institution for DBT processing.

No separate public application portal or common deadline for individual students has been verified.

Related Schemes

• ICAR National Talent Scholarship: assistance for eligible students at agricultural universities outside their home state
• DBT Junior Research Fellowship Programme: support for eligible research students in biotechnology and life sciences

These have different eligibility and benefits from Student READY.

Contact

ICAR Agricultural Education Division (DARE)

• Phone: 11-25841760
• Email: ddgedu.icar@gov.in
• Address: Division of Agricultural Education, Room No. 207, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-II, New Delhi – 110012

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