Mains - GS II |Government Policies & Interventions
Why in News?
The "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University Bill 2025 was passed by the parliament recently.
The Bill seeks to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat (IRMA) as the “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University. Currently, IRMA is registered as a society.
Objectives of the University - Provide education, training, and capacity building in the cooperative sector and undertake research and development activities in related areas.
It will offer degree programs, distance learning and e-learning courses, and develop centres of excellence in co-operative sector.
It may establish outlying campuses or affiliate institutes in any other place in India or outside India.
Status of IRMA -IRMA will become one of the schools of the University.
Autonomous identity of IRMA will be preserved within the institutional framework of the University.
IRMA’s administrative and academic autonomy will be subject to the framework specified by the central government.
IRMA will have its own Executive Board and a Director.
Employees of IRMA will become the employees of the University, with no change in their terms and conditions of employment.
Any modification in the ongoing academic programs and courses at IRMA may be made only with the concurrence of the Executive Board of IRMA.
The Bill also declares IRMA as a centre of excellence for rural management.
Governance of the University -The University will have a Vice-Chancellor, who will be the principal executive and academic officer of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor will be appointed by the central government for a term of 3 years, and will be eligible for re-appointment for another 2 years.
The Vice-Chancellor will head the Executive Council, principal executive body of the University.
The central government will specify details for the constitution of the Council, its powers and functions, and terms of office of its members.
The University will have a Governing Board whose key functions include
Reviewing broad policies and programs of the University, and
Nominating members to its various administrative councils.
Governing Board - The Board will be headed by the Chancellor, who will be a person of eminence and will be appointed by the central government. The Chancellor will have a term of 5 years.
Other members
Vice-Chancellor,
Secretary to the Cooperation Ministry,
Four Secretaries of the central ministries dealing with cooperative sector,
Heads of boards such as NABARD, National Dairy Development Board, and National Fisheries Development Board,
Four eminent persons in the field of cooperatives.
Board for Affiliation and Recognition - The University will have a Board for Affiliation and Recognition for admitting or affiliating institutes. This Board will be headed by the Vice-Chancellor.
