Course Code Name of the course Course structure (credits) Theory Practical Total VISVA-BHARATI ORDINANCE B. Sc. (Ag.) Honours Course
1. There shall be a course of studies in Agriculture for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. at Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), the duration of which shall be of four years consisting of eight semesters. This course of studies will consist of six semesters of intramural teaching followed by one semester of Experiential Learning and another semester of Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE). The maximum allowable semesters for completion of B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. course are sixteen (16).
2. The system, called the „Course credit and semester‟, accommodates the under-graduate course having eight semesters in four years. Usually, the 1 st , 3 rd , 5 th and 7 th semesters shall run in the first half of an academic year and 2 nd , 4 th , 6 th and 8 th semesters shall run in the second half of the same academic year.
3. A candidate seeking admission to the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. shall produce a certificate that he/she has passed the two year Pre-Degree examination of Visva Bharati or an equivalent examination in general stream (science).
To be eligible for admission a candidate must pass all the subjects at 10+2 examination with a combination of any four of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Agronomy. However, for ICAR nominated candidates, the eligibility criteria adopted by ICAR will be followed as such.
4. Candidates admitted to the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons course shall abide by the regulations regarding the courses curricula and the academic standards as prescribed by the University from time to time.
5. Students for the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. degree shall have to pass all the fixed and choice based courses of studies.
6. There will be a 10 point grading system of evaluation with grade point (GP) equal to percentage of marks obtained divided by 10.
7. There will be two types of courses- “credit course” and “non-credit course”. Grade point obtained only in credit courses will be considered for the classification of results but marks/grade obtained in non-credit courses (e.g. Tagore Studies, Environmental Studies, etc) will not be considered for classification of results.
Further, in credit courses there will be five types of courses- “Only theory course”, “Only practical course”, “Composite course”, “Experiential Learning course” and “RAWE course”. The composite course will consist of both theory and practical components.
8. One credit indicates one hour lecture or two hours laboratory practical or three hours field work per week.
9. Each course, except RAWE and Experiential Learning, bears a distinguishing code (three letters and three digits) which identifies the discipline, academic year and semester, respectively. The numbering system is as follows: The three letters stand for the concerned disciplines. The 1 st digit indicates the academic year (1, 2, 3 or 4), the 2 nd digit indicates the semester within the academic year (1 or 2) and the 3 rd digit denotes the number of courses offered from the same discipline within a semester.
10. Semester wise distribution of courses and credit hours are given below.
Semester I ACB 111 Biochemistry 2 1 3 AGR 111 Introductory Agriculture 1 0 1 AGR 112 Principles of Agronomy and Agricultural Meteorology 2 1 3 CMA111 Introduction to Computer and Applications 0 2 2 HOR 111 Production Technology of Fruit Crops 2 1 3 PPC 111 Agricultural Microbiology 2 1 3 SSC 111 Introduction to Soil Science 2 1 3 Total (7) 11 7 18 Semester II AEC 121 Principles of Agricultural Economics 2 0 2 AEG 121 Fundamentals of Soil Water Conservation Engineering 2 1 3 AGR 121 Water Management including Micro-irrigation 2 1 3 ANS 121 Live Stock Production and Management 2 1 3 CPH 121 Crop Physiology 2 1 3 HOR 121 Production Technology of Vegetables and Flowers 2 1 3 PPC 121 Introductory Nematology 1 1 2 SSC 121 Soil Chemistry, Soil Fertility and Nutrition Management 2 1 3 Total (8) 15 7 22 Semester III AEC 211 Agricultural Finance and Co-operation 1 1 2 AEN 211 Insect Morphology and Systematics 2 1 3 AEX 211 Fundamentals of Rural Sociology and Educational Psychology 2 0 2 AGR 211 Weed Management 1 1 2 AGR 212 Field Crops I (Kharif) 2 1 3 GPB 211 Principles of Genetics 2 1 3 PPC 211 Plant Pathogens and Principles of Plant Pathology 3 1 4 SSC 211 Manures, Fertilizers and Agro-chemicals 2 1 3 Total (8) 15 7 22 Semester IV AEC 221 Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Prices 1 1 2 AEG 221 Farm Power and Machinery 1 1 2 AEN 221 Insect Ecology and Integrated Pest management (including Beneficial Insect) 2 1 3 AEX 221 Dimensions of Agricultural Extension 1 1 2 AGR 221 Field Crops II (Rabi) 2 1 3 GPB 221 Principles of Plant Breeding 2 1 3 HOR 221 Production Technology of Spices, Aromatic, Medicinal and Plantation Crops 2 1 3 PPC 221 Diseases of Field Crops and their Management 2 1 3 Total (8) 13 8 21 Semester V AEC 311 Fundamentals of Farm Business Management (including Product development, Appraisal and Monitoring) 1 1 2 AEG 311 Protected Cultivation and Post Harvest Technology 1 1 2 AEX 311 Extension Methodologies for Transfer of Agricultural Technologies 1 1 2 AGR 311 Organic Farming 2 1 3 AGR 312 Practical Crop Production- I (Kharif) 0 1 1 AST 311 Statistics 2 1 3 GPB 311 Principles of Plant Biotechnology 2 1 3 PPC 311 Diseases of Horticultural Crops and their Management 2 1 3 Total (8) 11 8 19 Semester VI AEC 321 Production Economics and Farm Management 1 1 2 AEG 321 Renewable Energy 1 1 2 AEN 321 Crop Pests and Stored Grain Pests and their Management 2 1 3 AEX 321 Entrepreneurship Development and Communication Skill 1 1 2 AGR 321 Farming System and Sustainable Agriculture 1 1 2 AGR 322 Practical crop Production-II (Rabi) 0 1 1 GPB 321 Breeding of Field and Horticultural Crops 2 1 3 HOR 321 Post Harvest Management and Value Addition of Fruits and Vegetables 1 1 2 SST 321 Principles of Seed Technology 2 1 3 Total (9) 11 9 20 EL Experiential Learning Semester VII 20-23 Total 20-23 Semester VIII RAWE 01 Crop Production 0 5 5 RAWE 02 Crop Protection 0 4 4 RAWE 03 Rural Economics 0 3 3 RAWE 04 Extension Programme 0 4 4 RAWE 05 Research Station / KVK / DAATT Center Activities and Attachment to the Agro-based Industries 0 4 4 Total 0 20 20 GRAND TOTAL 162-165
11. The courses for Experiential Learning will normally be offered in Semester VII and courses for RAWE in Semester VIII. However, courses under these two semesters may be interchanged if situation arises.
Moreover, Experiential Learning and RAWE Programmes will be conducted as per guidelines of ICAR.
12. A student has to register at least 20 credits, with major load of minimum 14 credits from one module and/or rest from among one/two module for Experiential Learning. However, the total load for Experiential Learning should not exceed 23 credits.
13. Various courses under different modules of Experiential Learning to be offered in a particular academic year will be decided by the concerned HODs in consultation with the Adhayaksha, as par facilities available.
14. The students will have to submit to the Adhayaksha their choice, in writing, for different courses under Experiential Learning from among the offered courses before the commencement of the semester for Experiential Learning. The distribution of various courses of Experiential Learning under different modules shall be as follows:
Module Course Code Course Title Course structure (credits) Crop Production Theory Practical Total ELCP01 Seed Production Technology 2 2 4 ELCP02 Integrated Farming Systems 1 2 3 ELCP03 Water Management (Watershed, Micro Irrigation, Problematic Water) 1 3 4 ELCP04 Integrated Nutrient Management 2 1 3 ELCP05 Soil Management (Conservation, Problematic Soil, and Soil Quality) 1 2 3 ELCP06 Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System for Natural Resource Management and Land Use Planning 2 1 3 ELCP07 Farm Mechanization 1 2 3 Total (7) 10 13 23 Crop Protection ELCPT01 Integrated pests and disease management 2 2 4 ELCPT02 Stored Grain Pests and Their Management 1 1 2 ELCPT03 Industrial Entomology (Apiculture, Sericulture & Lac Culture) 2 1 3 ELCPT04 Bio-control of Insect Pests 1 1 2 ELCPT05 Insecticides and Plant Protection Appliances 2 1 3 ELCPT06 Postharvest Diseases and their Management 2 1 3 ELCPT07 Mushroom cultivation 1 2 3 ELCPT08 Biological control of plant diseases and mass multiplication microbial biocontrol agents 1 2 3 ELCPT09 Phytosanitation and Quarantine 1 1 2 ELCPT10 Fungicides in plant disease management 2 1 3 Total (10) 16 12 28 Agri- Business Management ELABM 01 Introduction to Agri-Business Management 1 2 3 ELABM 02 Information Communication Management 2 1 3 ELABM 03 Organization Behaviour and Human Resource Management 2 1 3 ELABM 04 Management of Agro-based industry 1 2 3 ELABM 05 Marketing Management 1 2 3 ELABM 06 Financial Management of Agri-Business 1 2 3 ELABM 07 Natural Resources Economics and Management 1 2 3 ELABM 08 Project formulation, Evaluation and Monitoring 1 2 3 ELABM 09 International Trade and Indian Agri- Business 2 2 4 Total (9) 12 16 28 Social Science ELSS 01 Agricultural Journalism 2 1 3 ELSS 02 Visuals and Graphic Communications 2 1 3 ELSS 03 Project Development, Appraisal and Monitoring 1 2 3 ELSS 04 Emerging Trends in Agricultural Extension 1 1 2 ELSS 05 International Trade 1 2 3 ELSS 06 Government Policies and Programmes Related to Agriculture 1 2 3 ELSS 07 Livestock, Poultry and Fish Marketing 2 2 4 ELSS 08 Farm Planning and Budgeting 1 2 3 ELSS 09 Multimedia Technologies 2 1 3 ELSS 10 Behavioral Skills 2 1 3 Total (10) 15 15 30 Horticulture ELHOR 01 Commercial vegetable production 1 3 4 ELHOR 02 Commercial flower production and landscaping 1 3 4 ELHOR 03 Commercial fruit production 1 3 4 ELHOR 04 Nursery management of horticultural crops 1 3 4 ELHOR 05 Post harvest technology of horticultural crops 1 3 4 Total (5) 5 15 20 Basic Science ELBS 01 Techniques in Genetics and Plant Breeding 3 1 4 ELBS 02 Plant Tissue Culture 1 2 3 ELBS 03 Breeding for Biotic and Abiotic Stresses 2 1 3 ELBS 04 Molecular Diagnostics 2 1 3 ELBS 05 Bioinformatics 2 1 3 ELBS 06 Diagnostic Physiology 1 2 3 ELBS 07 Plant Growth Regulators 2 1 3 ELBS 08 Biochemical Techniques 1 2 3 ELBS 09 Pesticides and Techniques of Residue Analysis in Agriculture 1 2 3 Total (9) 15 13 28 Animal Science ELANS 01 Commercial Poultry Production and Management 1 2 3 ELANS 02 Animal Production and Management 1 2 3 ELANS 03 Disease Diagnosis and Management 1 2 3 ELANS 04 Small Ruminants, Pig Production and Management 1 2 3 ELANS 05 Duck Keeping and Pisiculture 1 2 3 ELANS 06 Livestock Production with Mixed Farming Concept 1 2 3 Total (6) 6 12 18
15. The Foundation course on Tagore Studies (Rabindra Charcha) and Environmental Studies will be noncredit courses. The classes and examinations of these two courses will be governed by the University Ordinance. No separate mark sheet will be issued for these courses.
16. The duration for semester terminal examination of different courses shall be as follows:
a.
b.
Theory courses:
Practical courses:
2 hours 3 hours or more c.
d.
Experiential Learning:
RAWE‟ courses:
4 hours or more 3 hours or more
17. Semester terminal examinations for Semester- I, III, V and VII shall normally be held in the first half of December while that for Semester – II, IV, VI and VIII shall normally be held in the first half of May in every academic year.
18. There will be a 10 point grading system with a minimum Grade Point (GP) of 5.00 for passing a course and an Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) of 5.00 for completing the degree programme. A candidate failing to obtain minimum GP (5.00) in not more than three courses, in a semester, will be allowed to repeat the examination of the course(s) concerned not more than three times in next available semester. A candidate failing in more than three courses, in a semester, has to repeat the semester. But in both the cases he/she has to complete the degree programme including all the repeat courses within the maximum allowable semesters i.e., 16 semesters.
19. There shall be the provision for review system for Semester Terminal Examination (Theory). The reevaluation will be done internally. The Joint Board of Studies (Jt. BOS) will recommend the name of two members of which one member should be the Principal or his nominee and the other member from the concerned/related subject within the Bhavana or University. In any case, the first examiner should not be the member of the review examination board.
20. (i). The results of the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons degree shall be declared on the basis of the OGPA obtained in eight semesters taken together. The classification of results will be as follows:
First Class : OGPA 7.0 and above Second Class : OGPA 5.0 to below 7.0 ii. A candidate failing to obtain a minimum OGPA of 5.00 will not be considered for the award of the degree and shall be declared as failed.
iii. The conversion formula will be „Percent of Marks = 10xOGPA‟
21. All the students shall be required to register themselves as per University norms. Each student shall submit a roster in the prescribed form indicating the courses to the Adhakshya, Palli Siksha Bhavana in each semester.
22. The students seeking admission to each Semester Terminal Examination of the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. course shall:
i. Produce a certificate from the Adhyaksha, Palli Siksha Bhavana that he/she has attended at least 75% of the in –campus classes in each semester. However, relaxation allowed (if any) will be guided by the University Ordinance.
ii. Produce a certificate from the Adhyaksha, Palli Siksha Bhavana that his/her conduct has been good and that he/she is a fit and proper candidate for the examination; and iii. Pay examination fees, decided by the University.
23. Conditions for repeating the semester If a student drops a semester for exigencies beyond his/her control or, otherwise, he/she will be allowed to repeat the semester in the available semester only after VII th Semester as mentioned below.
Dropped Semester Allowed to repeat I, III, V, VII After VIII Semester II, IV, VI After VII Semester VIII Next available semester However, he/she has to complete all the courses within the maximum allowable semesters i.e., 16 semesters.
24. The medium of instruction and examination shall be English
25. The distribution of marks in „Only theory courses‟, „Only practical courses‟, „Composite courses‟, courses under „Experiential Learning‟, and „RAWE‟ programmes of the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons. shall be as follows:
A. For „Only theory courses‟:
Semester Terminal Examination : 60 Internal Assessment : 40 ……………………………………………………… Total 100 B. For „Only practical courses‟(other than RAWE) :
Semester Terminal Examination : 100 (Records and Viva-voce =40) ……………………………………………………… Total 100 C. For „Composite courses‟: Theory : Practical =60:40 Semester Terminal Examination (Theory) : 40 Internal Assessment (Theory) : 20 Semester Terminal Examination (Practical) : 40 (Records and Viva-voce= 10) ……………………………………………………… Total : 100 D. For „Experiential Learning‟ courses:
Internal Assessment (Theory) : 40 Semester Terminal Examination (Practical) : 60 (Records and Viva-voce= 20) ………………………………………………………… Total 100 E. For „RAWE‟courses:
Semester Terminal Examination : 60 Internal Assessment : 40 ………………………………………………………… Total 100
26. There shall be a Course Leader in each course who besides teaching the course will co-ordinate various activities of the particular course. The Adhakshya, Palli Siksha Bhavana will nominate the Course Leaders in consultation with concerned Head of the Departments.
27. There shall be a UG Course Coordinator who will co-ordinate various activities of the B. Sc. (Ag.) Hons Programme. In addition to the UG Course Coordinator, there shall be one RAWE Coordinator who will coordinate RAWE programmes and other out campus activities in consultation with the Adhakshya, Palli Siksha Bhavana and the UG Course Coordinator. The Adhakshya, Palli Siksha Bhavana will nominate the UG Course Coordinator and RAWE Coordinator in consultation with concerned Head of the Departments.
28. Paper setting and evaluation of semester terminal examinations:
Question papers for at least fifty percent of the courses in each semester will be set and evaluated externally, but practical part of these courses will be jointly conducted and evaluated by both external and internal members. Question papers for rest of the courses will be set and evaluated by internal members.
Semester terminal examination of RAWE courses will be jointly conducted and evaluated by both internal and external members.
29. Moderation of question papers for the semester terminal theory examinations shall be done by a committee appointed as per university rules excluding the external moderator(s).
30. In the event of the External Examiner failing to turn up for the practical examination, Adhakshya, Palli Siksha Bhavana, or his nominee may act as an examiner in place of the External Examiner with intimation to the Deputy Registrar (Exam.).