Union Minister Amit Shah is set to table a bill to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand as a university, named “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University, which will be recognized as an institution of national importance.
The proposed university aims to offer technical and management education in the cooperative sector, foster research and development, and strengthen the cooperative movement in India, aligning with the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi.” The bill will be presented for consideration and passage.
As the second half of Parliament’s Budget Session for 2025 resumes today, several ministers will lay papers on the table. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to witness the presentation of multiple standing committee reports and legislative proposals.
According to the List of Business for March 10, 2025, the Bill seeks to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) as a university of national importance, to be named Tribhuvan Sahkari University.
The university will focus on technical and management education in the cooperative sector, promote cooperative research and development, and attain global standards of excellence.
The initiative aligns with the government’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” and aims to strengthen India’s cooperative movement through a network of institutions. The Bill also declares the existing institute as one of the schools of the university and addresses matters related to its establishment and functioning.
Earlier, during the first half of the session, Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Krishan Pal Gurjar, introduced the Bill. It provides for the formulation of regulations to ensure consistency with the Act, as well as statutes and ordinances governing the university’s operations.
Additionally, it mandates the preparation of an annual report and proper maintenance of annual accounts, which will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG). A University Fund will also be established to support its financial activities.
The university will be open to individuals of all castes, creeds, races, and classes, adhering to the Central Government’s reservation policies in admissions and employment.
The Central Government will have the authority to review and inspect the university’s work and issue directions accordingly. Furthermore, the Bill provides for the appointment of a Chancellor, whose terms and conditions of service will be determined by the statutes.
Gujarat-based IRMA, which will be renamed Tribhuvan Sahkari University, was established in 1979 under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution in India.
It was supported by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, and the erstwhile Indian Dairy Corporation.
IRMA is a premier institution of professional learning, offering management programs focused on real-world challenges and the socio-economic realities of underserved communities through intensive fieldwork.
