Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Admissions 2026-27 Dates, Appilcation Form, Process & Fee

ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), located at Pusa, New Delhi, is India's premier institution for agricultural research, higher education, and extension. Functioning as a Deemed-to-be University under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IARI offers academic programs across Undergraduate (B.Sc. Hons Agriculture, B.Tech), Postgraduate (M.Sc., M.Tech), and Doctoral (Ph.D.) levels.

Admission to IARI for the 2026–2027 academic session is governed by national-level entrance examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and centralized counseling conducted by ICAR.

Admission Process

Admissions at ICAR-IARI follow a merit-driven, multi-stage structure based on national entrance test performance followed by centralized counseling.

National Entrance Examination Registration

Candidates applying for Postgraduate (M.Sc./M.Tech) programs must appear for the ICAR AIEEA (PG). Doctoral (Ph.D.) applicants must appear for the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) exam. Undergraduate candidates are admitted based on CUET (UG) / ICAR AIEEA (UG) scores. Registrations are completed online on the official NTA ICAR portal.

NTA Computer-Based Examination

The entrance examinations are conducted across major cities in India in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The exam consists of objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering major agricultural discipline groups.

ICAR Centralized Counseling Portal Registration

After NTA declares the results and releases overall rank cards, eligible candidates must register separately on the ICAR Online Counseling Portal. Applicants choose ICAR-IARI, New Delhi (or its newly established hub campuses) as their preferred choice of institute and discipline.

Seat Allotment & Document Verification

Seats are allotted across multiple counseling rounds based on exam merit ranks, reservation quotas, and candidate preferences. Allotted candidates pay a seat acceptance fee and report for physical document verification at the IARI New Delhi campus to finalize enrollment.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility guidelines at ICAR-IARI strictly adhere to ICAR norms:

Undergraduate Programs (B.Sc. Hons Agriculture / B.Tech)

• Educational Qualification: 10+2 / Higher Secondary pass with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics, or Agriculture.
• Minimum Marks: Minimum 50% aggregate marks (40% for SC/ST/PwD).
• Age Limit: Minimum 16 years of age as of August 31, 2026.

Postgraduate Programs (M.Sc. / M.Tech)

• Educational Qualification: 4-year Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or allied subjects (B.Sc. Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, etc.). Note: 3-year undergraduate degree holders are eligible only under specific specialized disciplines as per ICAR rules.
• Minimum OGPA/Marks: Minimum 6.0 out of 10.0 OGPA (or 60% aggregate marks) for General/OBC/EWS candidates; 5.0 out of 10.0 OGPA (or 50% aggregate) for SC/ST/PwD.
• Age Limit: Minimum 19 years as of August 31, 2026.

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.)

• Educational Qualification: Master’s degree in the relevant discipline of Agricultural Sciences/Engineering.
• Minimum OGPA/Marks: Minimum 6.5 out of 10.0 OGPA (or 65% aggregate marks) for General/OBC/EWS; 5.5 out of 10.0 OGPA (or 55% aggregate) for SC/ST/PwD.
• Age Limit: Minimum 20 years as of August 31, 2026.

Application Fees

Application fees for the national entrance examinations are paid online to the National Testing Agency (NTA) via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI:

• ICAR AIEEA (PG): INR 1,200 for General/Unreserved; INR 1,100 for OBC-NCL/UPS/EWS; INR 625 for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender.
• ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.): INR 1,900 for General/Unreserved; INR 1,800 for OBC-NCL/UPS/EWS; INR 975 for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender.
• ICAR Counseling Registration Fee: INR 500 (payable separately on the ICAR counseling portal prior to seat filling).

Required Documents

Candidates must upload clear scanned copies during online counseling and submit physical originals during campus reporting at IARI New Delhi:

• Passport-size photograph and scanned signature.
• Class 10 Board Certificate and Marksheet (Proof of Date of Birth).
• Class 12 / Higher Secondary Marksheet and Passing Certificate.
• Provisional or Original Bachelor's Degree Certificate and Semester Marksheets (for PG applicants).
• Master's Degree Certificate and Transcripts (for Ph.D. applicants).
• NTA ICAR AIEEA (PG) / AICE JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) Scorecard and Rank Card.
• ICAR Allotment Letter and Seat Acceptance Fee Receipt.
• Valid Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued by a competent government authority.
• Medical Fitness Certificate and Conduct Certificate from the last attended institute.
• Government Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, or PAN Card).

Important Dates (2026 Academic Session)

The admission schedule for the 2026–2027 academic year follows the timeline established by the NTA and ICAR:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Does ICAR-IARI conduct a separate internal entrance examination for PG and Ph.D. admissions?

No. IARI does not hold its own independent entrance test. All seats across M.Sc., M.Tech, and Ph.D. programs are filled strictly through the national entrance examinations—ICAR AIEEA (PG) and ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (Ph.D.)—conducted by the NTA.

Q2: Are 3-year undergraduate degree holders eligible for M.Sc. or Ph.D. programs at IARI?

In most agricultural disciplines, a 4-year professional Bachelor’s degree is mandatory. However, candidates with 3-year degrees are considered only for specific non-agricultural core subjects or specialized PG programs where explicit exemptions are granted in the ICAR Information Bulletin.

Q3: Is financial assistance or a scholarship provided to all admitted students at IARI?

Yes. Ph.D. candidates qualifying the ICAR AICE JRF/SRF exam receive the ICAR-JRF/SRF fellowship. Non-fellowship PG and Ph.D. students enrolled at IARI are awarded institutional stipends or Senior/Junior Research Fellowships through ongoing research projects at the institute.

Q4: How are seats allotted if two candidates secure equal marks in the NTA entrance exam?

In case of a tie in exam scores, ICAR applies tie-breaking rules based on higher age, higher aggregate OGPA/percentage in the qualifying Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and performance in subject-specific sections of the entrance paper.

Q5: Can final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students appear for the ICAR entrance exams?

Yes. Final-year students are eligible to apply and sit for the entrance examinations. However, they must produce their final Degree Completion Certificate or PDC with the required OGPA at the time of ICAR counseling and document verification.