The Central Agricultural University Act, 1992

Summary of the Central Agricultural University Act, 1992
The Central Agricultural University Act, 1992 was enacted to establish and incorporate the Central Agricultural University (CAU) for the North-Eastern Region of India. The Act aims to promote higher education, research, and extension in agriculture and allied sciences to support agricultural development in the region. It was enacted on 26 December 1992 and came into force on 26 January 1993.
1. Objective
The Act seeks to:
• Establish a Central Agricultural University for the North-Eastern Region.
• Promote education, research, and extension in agriculture and allied sciences.
• Develop skilled manpower for agriculture and rural development.
• Improve agricultural productivity and technological advancement in the region.
2. Establishment of the University (Section 3)
• The Act establishes the Central Agricultural University as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
• The University has the power to acquire, hold, and dispose of property and to sue or be sued in its own name.
3. Objects of the University (Section 4)
The University aims to:
• Provide instruction in agriculture and allied sciences.
• Conduct research to improve agricultural practices.
• Disseminate agricultural knowledge through extension programmes.
• Promote innovation and rural development in the North-Eastern Region.
4. Powers of the University (Section 5)
The University may:
• Establish colleges, schools, research centres, and extension institutions.
• Confer degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions.
• Grant scholarships, fellowships, and prizes.
• Collaborate with national and international institutions.
• Undertake consultancy, training, and research projects.
5. Jurisdiction (Section 6)
• The University's jurisdiction extends to the North-Eastern States specified under the Act.
• It serves as a regional institution to meet the educational and research needs of the region.

Legislative History:

The Central Agricultural University Act, 1992

Act Title The Central Agricultural University Act, 1992

Act Number 40 of 1992

Act ID (India Code) 199240

Presidential Assent Date December 26, 1992

Enforcement Date January 26, 1993

Nodal Ministry Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Precedent & Historical Rationale

1. Agricultural Education Disparities in the North-Eastern Region:

o Prior to 1992, the North-Eastern region of India suffered from a severe lack of advanced, specialized institutions for higher education and research in agriculture and allied sciences, despite its unique agro-climatic conditions and high reliance on farm economies.

2. Need for Region-Specific Institutional Capacity:

o To bridge this developmental gap, promote specialized human resource development, and boost agricultural productivity suited to the hill and tribal regions, the establishment of a dedicated Central Agricultural University spanning multiple North-Eastern states became a vital policy objective.

Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment

• Formulation: Drafted by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) to establish a Central Agricultural University with jurisdiction extending across participating North-Eastern states (initially Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, and later Nagaland).

• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in Parliament, reviewed by legislative committees, and successfully passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in 1992.

• Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on December 26, 1992.

• Enforcement: Enforced on January 26, 1993.

• Source: Official Records of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Department of Agricultural Research and Education).