How will credit structure and semesters change under ICAR reforms

On a broad restructuring by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities' credit and semester system will see a significant transformation to keep pace with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The reforms will be implemented through the Sixth Deans' Committee, established in 2021, which has been assigned the task of redesigning course structures, credit weights, and academic streams for all undergraduate courses in agriculture and allied sciences.​

Flexible Credit Framework

The ICAR credit system will incorporate NEP 2020's central principle of flexibility. Students shall be in a position to earn credits and transfer them from one institution or field of study to another through the Academic Bank of Credits. This implies that skills-based courseware, entrepreneurship courses, and internship courses will all have academic value. Credits will also be calibrated to enable experiential learning, internships, and innovation projects — the central areas for converting students from job seekers to job creators.

Multi-Exit and Re-Entry Options

Breaking with the classical fixed four-year framework, under the new regime, students will be able to enter and re-enter programs at several points. Students can earn a certificate after one year, a diploma after two, and a full degree after three or four years. The architecture is such that, in case students discontinue studies for personal or professional reasons, they can do so without loss of progress, capturing the spirit of NEP's focus on lifelong learning.​​

Outcome of the Reforms

The Sixth Deans' Committee visualizes graduates as technically competent, entrepreneurial, and world-class. Having uniform credit standards and flexible semesters, the new system is designed to enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio in agricultural education while producing graduates more poised for agri-business, research, and innovation.