NTA ICAR AIEEA PG and PHd Exam City 2026

The ICAR AIEEA (All India Entrance Examination for Admission) PG and PhD is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This national-level entrance examination facilitates admission to postgraduate (Master's degree) and doctoral (PhD) programmes in Agriculture and Allied Sciences across ICAR institutes and Agricultural Universities in India. The exam is conducted annually for candidates seeking to pursue advanced studies in disciplines like Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Home Science, Agricultural Engineering, Dairy Technology, Fishery Science, and Veterinary Science. Successful candidates are admitted to approximately 70+ ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities based on their All India Rank and counselling process. This is the primary gateway for higher agricultural education in India's premier agricultural research and education institutions.

Important Dates (Indicative for 2026)

Typical / Indicative — Total seats vary by year and participating institutions.

Seat Distribution (Approximate)

Category-wise Reservation (Typical)

Actual vacancy numbers announced by individual ICAR institutes and Agricultural Universities during counselling.

Educational Qualification

For Master's Degree (PG) Programme:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/Forestry/Home Science/Agricultural Engineering/Dairy Technology/Fishery Science/Veterinary Science or related disciplines from a recognized university
• Minimum 50% marks for General/OBC-NCL/UPS candidates (OGPA 6.00/10 or 3.00/5 or 2.40/4)
• Minimum 40% marks for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (OGPA 5.00/10 or 2.50/5 or 2.00/4)
• Final year/semester students are eligible to apply (provisional admission subject to qualifying degree)

For Doctoral (PhD) Programme:

• Master's degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university
• Minimum 60% marks for General/OBC-NCL/UPS candidates (OGPA 6.60/10 or 3.30/5 or 2.64/4)
• Minimum 50% marks for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (OGPA 5.50/10 or 2.75/5 or 2.20/4)
• Final semester students are eligible to apply

Age Limit

Age Criteria (as on date of admission):

Note: There is generally no upper age limit for ICAR AIEEA examinations for admission to academic programmes. Age is not a restricting criterion.

Age Relaxation:

Nationality

• Indian Nationals
• Foreign Nationals/NRI/OCI/PIO candidates (as per ICAR norms with specific quotas and fee structure)
• Candidates must be Indian citizens or hold valid documentation for foreign national category

Steps to Apply Online

1. Visit Official Website: Go to the official NTA ICAR website at icar.nta.nic.in or nta.ac.in

1. New Registration: Click on 'ICAR AIEEA 2026 Registration' link and complete new candidate registration by providing basic details (name, email, mobile number). An Application Number and Password will be generated.

1. Login to Portal: Use the generated Application Number and Password to login to the candidate portal

1. Fill Application Form: Complete the online application form with personal details, educational qualifications, category, programme choice (PG or PhD), subject stream selection, upload photograph and signature (as per specifications)

1. Select Exam Cities: Choose exam city preferences (typically 4 cities in order of preference)

1. Pay Application Fee: Pay the requisite application fee through online mode (Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI)

1. Submit Application: Review all filled information carefully and submit the application form

1. Download Confirmation: Take printout of confirmation page and application form for future reference

1. Correction Window: If required, make corrections during the designated correction window period

Application Fee Structure

Fee includes GST and processing charges. No fee refund under any circumstances.

Selection Stages

1. Computer-Based Test (CBT): Single-stage entrance examination conducted in computer-based mode at designated exam centres across India. Candidates appear for PG and/or PhD papers based on their application choice.

1. Answer Key and Objections: Provisional answer keys are released post-exam. Candidates can raise objections against answer keys with supporting documents within the specified timeframe (typically with processing fee of ₹200 per question).

1. Result Declaration: Final result is declared after considering valid objections. All India Rank (AIR) is prepared based on total marks scored, with tie-breaking rules applied (higher marks in subject paper, then age criteria).

1. Counselling Process: ICAR conducts centralized online counselling where candidates register, choose institutions and programmes based on their rank, category, and seat availability. Multiple rounds of counselling are conducted.

1. Seat Allotment: Seats are allotted based on merit rank, preferences filled, category, and availability. Candidates must accept the allotted seat and pay seat acceptance fee.

1. Document Verification: Candidates must report to the allotted institute with original documents for physical verification including mark sheets, degree certificates, category certificates, and identity proof.

1. Admission Confirmation: After document verification and payment of institute fees, admission is confirmed. Classes commence as per the academic calendar of respective institutions.

Master's Degree (PG) Examination Pattern

Subject Streams for Part B: Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Home Science, Agricultural Engineering, Dairy Technology, Fishery Science, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Technology, Sericulture, Agricultural Statistics

Negative Marking: 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer (25% penalty)

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Doctoral (PhD) Examination Pattern

Subject Specializations for Part B: Candidates select from available PhD specializations in their discipline

Negative Marking: 1.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer (25% penalty)

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Additional Information:

• All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options
• Questions appear in English and Hindi (bilingual)
• OMR-based computer screen with facility to review, mark for review, and change answers
• Virtual calculator provided for calculations
• No physical materials allowed inside exam hall

Master's Degree (PG) Syllabus

Part A: General Agriculture (Common for all streams)

#### Agricultural Economics & Farm Management

• Farm management principles, farm planning and budgeting
• Agricultural marketing, price policy, agricultural finance
• Micro and macro economics concepts, demand and supply
• Cooperative societies, rural development programmes

#### Agricultural Extension Education

• Extension teaching methods, communication process
• Diffusion and adoption of innovations
• Panchayati Raj institutions, rural development programmes
• ICT in agricultural extension

#### Agronomy

• Crop production practices for field crops, cereals, pulses, oilseeds
• Tillage, sowing methods, irrigation, weed management
• Cropping systems, organic farming, sustainable agriculture
• Soil fertility management, nutrient cycles

#### Soil Science & Soil Fertility

• Soil formation, classification, soil physical and chemical properties
• Soil organisms, soil organic matter, nutrient management
• Fertilizers, soil testing, integrated nutrient management
• Soil conservation, watershed management

#### Plant Breeding & Genetics

• Mendelian genetics, quantitative genetics, population genetics
• Plant breeding methods: introduction, selection, hybridization
• Heterosis, male sterility, polyploidy, mutation breeding
• Biotechnological applications in plant breeding

#### Plant Pathology

• Principles of plant pathology, disease classification
• Important diseases of crops: symptoms, causative organisms
• Disease management: cultural, chemical, biological, integrated
• Plant quarantine, disease forecasting

#### Agricultural Entomology

• Classification and morphology of insects
• Important pests of crops, stored grain pests
• Pest management: cultural, chemical, biological, integrated
• Insecticides, pest surveillance

#### Agricultural Statistics & Computer Applications

• Measures of central tendency, dispersion
• Probability, sampling techniques, experimental designs
• Correlation, regression analysis, hypothesis testing
• Computer fundamentals, MS Office, database concepts

Part B: Specialized Streams (Subject-specific syllabi)

#### Agriculture Stream

• Advanced Agronomy: cropping systems, precision farming
• Seed science and technology
• Dryland agriculture, conservation agriculture
• Climate change and crop production

#### Horticulture Stream

• Pomology: fruit production, orchard management
• Olericulture: vegetable production systems
• Floriculture and landscaping
• Post-harvest management, processing

#### Agricultural Engineering Stream

• Farm machinery and equipment
• Soil and water conservation engineering
• Agricultural processing and food engineering
• Renewable energy in agriculture

#### Home Science Stream

• Human nutrition and dietetics
• Food science and technology
• Child development, family resource management
• Textiles and clothing

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Doctoral (PhD) Syllabus

Part A: Research Methodology & Agricultural Statistics

#### Research Methodology

• Scientific method, research problem formulation
• Review of literature, research design
• Data collection methods: survey, observation, experimentation
• Sampling techniques: probability and non-probability sampling
• Report writing, thesis preparation, citation methods
• Research ethics, plagiarism, intellectual property rights

#### Agricultural Statistics

• Probability theory, probability distributions (normal, binomial, Poisson, chi-square, t, F)
• Sampling distributions, standard error
• Estimation theory: point and interval estimation
• Hypothesis testing: one sample, two sample tests
• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA): one-way, two-way, factorial
• Completely Randomized Design (CRD), Randomized Block Design (RBD), Latin Square Design (LSD)
• Correlation and regression analysis: simple and multiple
• Non-parametric tests: chi-square, sign test, rank correlation

#### Computer Applications in Research

• Statistical software: SPSS, R, SAS basics
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Presentation tools and techniques

Part B: Subject Specialization

Candidates select one specialization from their discipline. Syllabus covers advanced topics from Master's level coursework and recent research developments in the chosen field.

#### Agronomy Specializations

• Crop physiology, production agronomy, seed science, agroforestry

#### Soil Science Specializations

• Soil chemistry, soil physics, soil microbiology, soil fertility

#### Plant Breeding Specializations

• Cytogenetics, molecular breeding, seed technology

#### Horticulture Specializations

• Pomology, olericulture, floriculture, post-harvest technology

#### Agricultural Engineering Specializations

• Farm machinery, soil and water engineering, processing engineering

Detailed subject-wise PhD syllabus provided by NTA in the information bulletin covers advanced theoretical concepts, recent research, experimental techniques, and instrumentation relevant to each specialization.

Fellowship/Stipend for Selected Candidates (Typical / Indicative)

Note: ICAR AIEEA is an entrance exam for admission. Selected candidates receive fellowship/stipend during their study period, not regular salary.

Master's Degree (PG) Students

Most Master's students receive institutional support or assistantship. Fellowship depends on scheme availability.

Doctoral (PhD) Students

Additional Benefits

• Free/subsidized hostel accommodation at institute campus
• Medical facilities at institute health centres
• Library and laboratory access
• Conference/seminar participation support
• Research grants for thesis work

After PhD completion, graduates can join ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, KVKs, or pursue research careers with starting salaries as per 7th Pay Commission (Level 10: ₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500 for Assistant Professor/Scientist positions).

After completing PG/PhD through ICAR AIEEA, graduates have excellent career prospects in agricultural research, education, and extension. They can join ICAR research institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) as Scientists, Assistant Professors, or Subject Matter Specialists. Career progression follows academic pathways: Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor, or Scientist → Senior Scientist → Principal Scientist with promotions based on research publications, teaching performance, and administrative contributions. Many graduates also join the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) through NET or pursue international research opportunities.

Admit cards for ICAR AIEEA PG and PhD examinations are released approximately 10-15 days before the scheduled exam date on the official NTA ICAR website (icar.nta.nic.in). Candidates must download their admit cards by logging into the candidate portal using their Application Number and Password/Date of Birth. No physical admit cards are sent by post. The admit card contains crucial information including candidate's name, roll number, photograph, exam date and time, exam centre details with address, and important instructions. Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Driving License/Passport/Voter ID/School-College ID) to the examination centre. Entry is strictly prohibited without both documents.

ICAR AIEEA results are declared on the official NTA website typically 4-6 weeks after the examination date. The result includes the All India Rank (AIR) of qualified candidates, subject-wise marks, and total marks obtained. Candidates can check their results by logging into the NTA ICAR portal using their Application Number and Date of Birth. NTA also releases category-wise merit lists and qualifying marks. Score cards can be downloaded from the portal and no physical score cards are issued. The result is used for centralized ICAR counselling conducted for admission to participating institutes. Candidates must regularly check the official website for counselling notifications and schedule. Results are subject to court orders and verification of eligibility criteria.

Typical / Indicative — ICAR AIEEA cutoff marks vary by category, programme (PG/PhD), and year based on exam difficulty and number of applicants. For Master's programmes, qualifying marks are generally 50% (200/400) for General/OBC-NCL/EWS category and 40% (160/400) for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. For PhD programmes, cutoff is typically 50% (200/400) for General/OBC-NCL/EWS and 40% (160/400) for reserved categories. Category-wise All India Ranks for admission to premier institutes: General (1-2000), OBC-NCL (2000-4000), SC (4000-6000), ST (6000-8000) ranges are competitive. Actual cutoffs and institute-specific cutoffs are announced during counselling and vary significantly by specialization, institute reputation, and seat availability. Top IARI Delhi and IARI Pusa campuses require higher ranks (typically within top 500 for General category).

Exam Centres Across India

NTA conducts ICAR AIEEA examinations at designated centres in major cities across all states and union territories. Candidates can choose up to 4 exam city preferences during application.

North: Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad), Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Dehradun, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Meerut, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Rohtak, Karnal, Jammu, Shimla, Panipat

South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Guntur, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Puducherry, Warangal, Nellore, Anantapur

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Asansol, Durgapur, Siliguri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur

West: Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Raipur, Bilaspur, Panaji

Northeast: Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur, Shillong, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Itanagar, Gangtok

NTA reserves the right to add, delete, or modify exam centres based on administrative requirements and number of candidates.