Rajasthan Governor pushes practical education, copy-free exams at SKRAU
Synopsis
Rajasthan Governor Haribhanu Bagde used SKRAU's 40th Foundation Day to push two agendas at once: a cultural shift toward copy-free, merit-based examinations and a ₹20 crore IndiaAI-backed Centre of Excellence in agricultural technology — one of the first such approvals for a state agricultural university in India.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Governor Haribhanu Bagde addressed the 40th Foundation Day of Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU) in Jaipur .
He called for universities to adopt copy-free examinations to uphold academic integrity and promote merit-based learning.
The Governor invoked the National Education Policy (NEP) , stressing development of students' analytical and creative skills.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced a ₹20 crore agriculture-based Centre of Excellence under Industry 4.0 , approved by the IndiaAI Mission .
The centre is intended to benefit farmers and agricultural researchers across the region.
Rajasthan Governor Haribhanu Bagde on Saturday called on universities to prioritise practical education and move decisively toward copy-free examinations, asserting that higher education must prepare students to contribute meaningfully to nation-building. He was speaking at the 40th Foundation Day celebrations and the K.N. Nag Memorial Lecture Series at Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU) in Jaipur.
Governor's Vision for Higher Education
Bagde emphasised that intellectually empowered students represent the country's greatest strength. Invoking the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP), he stressed the need to develop students' analytical and creative abilities alongside conventional academic knowledge.
He underlined that practical learning must become an integral component of higher education, equipping students with skills relevant to real-world challenges rather than rote memorisation alone.
The Push for Copy-Free Examinations
The Governor made a pointed call for educational institutions to introduce copy-free examinations at the earliest. He argued that such a shift would strengthen the credibility of universities, uphold academic integrity, and encourage a culture of merit-based learning. Notably, exam malpractice has remained a recurring concern in Rajasthan's education system, making the Governor's remarks particularly timely.
₹20 Crore AI Centre for Agriculture Announced
The event also witnessed a significant policy announcement. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal revealed that the Government of India's IndiaAI Mission has approved the establishment of an agriculture-based Centre of Excellence under Industry 4.0 at SKRAU, with an investment of ₹20 crore.
The centre is expected to benefit farmers and agricultural researchers across the region, bringing cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to bear on agricultural challenges — from crop disease detection to yield optimisation.
What This Means for Rajasthan's Education Landscape
The dual focus — on reforming examination culture and infusing AI-driven agricultural research — signals a broader push to align Rajasthan's universities with both the NEP's reform agenda and India's emerging technology priorities. The ₹20 crore IndiaAI investment at an agricultural university is among the first such approvals for a state-level institution in the sector, and could serve as a template for similar centres elsewhere.
With implementation timelines for both the copy-free examination framework and the AI centre yet to be detailed, the coming months will test whether Saturday's announcements translate into structural change.
Point of View
But Rajasthan has heard similar calls before — the harder question is enforcement and institutional will. Meanwhile, the ₹20 crore IndiaAI centre at an agricultural university is genuinely notable: most AI infrastructure investment has flowed to IITs and metro-based institutions, not state agricultural universities. If SKRAU can operationalise the centre effectively, it could set a meaningful precedent for technology-led agricultural research at the state level. The risk, as with many such announcements, lies in the gap between sanction and execution.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajasthan Governor Haribhanu Bagde say about copy-free examinations?
Governor Bagde called on educational institutions to move swiftly toward conducting copy-free examinations, arguing that doing so would strengthen the credibility of universities and foster a culture of merit-based learning. He made the remarks at SKRAU's 40th Foundation Day in Jaipur.
What is the IndiaAI Mission's ₹20 crore centre announced at SKRAU?
It is an agriculture-based Centre of Excellence under Industry 4.0, approved by the Government of India's IndiaAI Mission with an investment of ₹20 crore. The centre is expected to benefit farmers and agricultural researchers across Rajasthan.
Who announced the IndiaAI agriculture centre at SKRAU?
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the approval during the 40th Foundation Day celebrations at Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University on Saturday.
What is the National Education Policy's role in Governor Bagde's address?
The Governor referred to NEP provisions to stress the importance of developing students' analytical and creative abilities alongside academic knowledge, advocating for practical learning as an integral part of higher education.
Who is likely to benefit from the new AI Centre of Excellence at SKRAU?
The centre is expected to benefit farmers and agricultural researchers across the region, bringing AI-driven tools to address real-world agricultural challenges such as crop disease detection and yield optimisation.
