Central Agricultural University, Imphal

The Central Agricultural University has been established by an act of Parliament, the Central Agricultural University Act, 1992 (No.40 of 1992). The Act came into effect on 26th January, 1993 with the issue of notification by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt. of India. The University became functional with the joining of first Vice-Chancellor on 13th September, 1993. The jurisdiction of the University extends to six North-Eastern Hill States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura, with headquarters at Imphal in Manipur.

The mission of the University is to be a centre of excellence in teaching, research and extension education in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The University aims to develop sustainable farming systems for improving productivity and profitability in agriculture and allied sectors and also train the farmers and extension functionaries for the effective dissemination of advanced agricultural technologies in North-East India.

The University acts as an important link in the chain for converting agriculture and allied vocations into profitable enterprises and offering food and nutritional security for the people of North-East region. To realize the above mission, University established seven colleges and three Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the six states of North-East India and offers Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degree Programmes in agriculture and allied sciences.

Genesis

North – Eastern (NE) region consisting of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura has been gifted by the nature with tremendous biodiversity and widely varying agro-climatic condition. Though, the region has vast potential for development of agriculture and allied vocation, its hilly terrain offers a great challenge for its full utilization. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an apex body, which plans, undertakes aids, promotes, and coordinates agricultural education, research and extension education in India, constituted a research review committee in 1982 under the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) to suggest the ways and means to strengthen the research capability of the NE Region. The committee was also given an additional mandate to look into the manpower needs of agriculture and allied sectors and suggests the remedial measures.

The committee in its report submitted to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1984, observed that the agriculture and allied sectors in the region have lagged behind due to non existence of enough support of agricultural university system which gave impetus for development of these sectors in other parts of the country. Therefore, it recommended establishing a Central Agricultural University in this region as it may not be practicable to establish a separate agricultural university in each north- Eastern state due to its smaller size. Accordingly the Central Agricultural University was established on 26 January 1993 with its headquarters at Imphal, the capital of Manipur under the Central Agricultural University Act 1992 of Parliament (Act No. 40 of 1992). The university has its jurisdiction over the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura.

System of Education

The university follows semester system of education with 10 point scale of grading. It has internal- cum- external system of examination and evaluation. The university has adopted model academic regulations and syllabi as proposed by the Indian council of Agricultural Research/ Veterinary council of India with some minor changes to suit the regional needs.

The minimum qualification for admission to undergraduate programmes is a pass in 10+2 in science or equivalent examination with physics, Chemistry and Biology / Mathematics combination, while for postgraduate programmes, the candidates must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in the concerned/ related subjects. Candidates seeking admission should be a permanent resident or domicile of any of the states of the NE Region, covered under the jurisdiction of the university. However, this condition is not applicable to the nominees of ICAR/VCI or any special category of nominees as decided by the university / Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India.
Based on the population of each constituent state, quota has been fixed for undergraduate programmes for various states and the admission is given to the candidates sponsored by the respective states based on the common entrance test conducted by them. In addition to states’ quota, 15% seats for undergraduate programmes are filled up by the ICAR/VCI, based on all – India entrance examination. The postgraduate seats to the extent of 75%are filled by the university based on the merit in qualifying degree, whereas 25% seats are earmarked for ICAR which are filled on the basis of all – India entrance test.