Shimla– Himachal Pradesh University on July 17, 2019, issued a notification offering special chance to complete BA/B.Sc/B.Com and Shashtri degrees to candidates who had enrolled for academic sessions between 2000 – 2012-13 but could not complete their course in the given time period.

Such candidates can avail this special chance by paying a fee of Rs 5000 per year. The examination will be held in March 2020 in accordance with the old syllabus (2012-13).

Similarly, the candidates, who had enrolled for academic sessions between 2000-2014, can avail this chance to complete their BCA/BBA degrees by paying a fee of Rs 20, 000 per year. The examination for these degrees will be held in September 2019 in accordance with the old syllabus (2013-14).

The notification was issued after a few amendments in decisions taken by the HPU Executive Council in its meeting held on May 31, 2019.       

Solan-The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni has invited applications for its one-year Vocational Training Course on Horticulture Management (Self-Employment) for the session 2019-20. The objective of the training programme is to train the youth from agriculture background to become self-employed in the production of fruits, vegetables, mushroom and beekeeping.

The training course will be run at the university’s Regional Horticulture Research and Training Stations and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the University from September 11. The total seats in the programme are 130, which will be offered at seven stations of the university.

The Regional Horticulture Research and Training Stations at Jachh in Kangra, Bajaura in Kullu, Sharbo in Kinnaur, Mashobra in Shimla and College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri in Hamirpur will offer 20 seats each. The Regional Horticulture Research and Training Station at Dhaulakuan in Sirmaur and Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Chamba will be offering 15 seats each in this programme.

Candidates between the age of 17 to 30 years belonging to agriculture background and possessing minimum qualification of Class 10 are eligible to apply for this programme. Interested candidates can submit their application on a simple paper to the respective Associate Directors/ Coordinators on or before August 8.

The interviews will be conducted on August 19 at the office of the Associate Directors or Coordinator. The candidates will have to submit an affidavit saying that they will be taking up this as a vocation. Candidates will have to bring all the essential certificates along with photocopies including any category certificates (if applicable) at the time of the interview. No stipend will be paid during the course.

Solan-Dr Parvinder Kaushal today took over as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. The notification of his appointment was released by the Governor’s Secretariat, Himachal Pradesh. Dr Parvinder Kaushal was born at Village Kahnani, Tehsil  Nalagarh, in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.

Before joining, he was serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. An alumnus of UHF Nauni, Dr Kaushal has completed his M.Sc. Forestry from the University. He got his doctorate in Forestry from the University of Nancy, France.

He has been actively involved in teaching, research and development, extension and administration for the past 35 years during which he served different Institutions and universities in different capacities. Prominent among these are Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education Dehradun (1979-1981), Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana (1981-1992) as Assistant and Associate Professor and as Dean. Faculty of Forestry at Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi, Jharkhand (2005-2009).

He said that sincere efforts will be made to establish the university among the top institutions in the country through world-class education, research and extension activities.

Dr Kaushal has published more than 100 research papers and technical reports and has authored over 13 books chapters/manual. He has participated in 26 world congresses and international conferences and has handled 63 Projects.

 He is the recipient of National Award for the young scientist in 1989 and Himachal Shri Award in 2014. He was also awarded the French Govt. Fellowship for Doctoral research in 1984. In addition, he has visited several countries including France, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Estonia, Canada, Finland, Turkey, Malaysia and Sri Lanka for presentation of papers and in exposure visits.

Dr. Parvinder Kaushal has served as member of various important committees and groups including Regional Deans’ Committee for South Asia 2009; Member of National Core Group (ICAR) to review and restructure PG course curricula in Agricultural Sciences; Convener of Broad Subject Matter Area Committee (BSMA) in Forestry ICAR 2007; Member of Quinquennial Review Team (QRT), ICAR for Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG) for the period 2001-2007; member of the Peer Review Team (ICAR Accreditation Board) for accreditation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Srinagar (2008); Member various UGC expert committees on Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry, Environment, Skill development etc. 2013-2016; Member Research Advisory Committee constituted by Indian Council For Agricultural Research for ICAR-Central Agro-forestry Research Institute Jhansi. UP (2015-17).

Dr Kaushal has served as Deputy Leader of International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), Research Group on ‘Forest Stand Establishment Operations and Techniques’ (2000-05).

He had been Chairman of IUFRO Working Party on Plantations Establishment (1990-2000).