Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) | Cut-Off Details | Vidyavision

The ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi—popularly known as the Pusa Institute—is India’s premier seat of higher agricultural research and education. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Allied Sectors under the NIRF frameworks, IARI fills 100% of its postgraduate and doctoral seats via national-level entrance examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Because of its status as the "Mecca of Agricultural Sciences," the cut-offs for IARI are the most competitive in the country. Securing a seat requires top-tier subject-group ranks in ICAR AIEEA (PG) / CUET-PG or ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.).

Admission Criteria & Entry Routes

Admission to IARI is purely rank-driven. There are no direct institutional quotas or management seats.

• Postgraduate Programs (M.Sc. / M.Tech.):
• Entrance Exam: ICAR AIEEA PG (conducted in Computer Based Test mode by NTA).
• Academic Eligibility: Candidates must hold a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or the respective allied science discipline with a minimum OGPA of 6.60/10.00 (General/OBC/EWS) or 5.60/10.00 (SC/ST/PwD).
• Qualifying Threshold: Minimum 50% marks (240/480) for General/OBC/EWS and 40% marks (192/480) for SC/ST/PwD in AIEEA PG to become eligible for counselling.
• Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.):
• Entrance Exam: ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF.
• Academic Eligibility: Relevant Master’s degree with an OGPA of at least 6.50/10.00 (General/OBC/EWS) or 5.50/10.00 (SC/ST/PwD).
• Selection Weightage: Final selection is based on written examination score, academic records, and interview performance.

Previous Year Cut-Offs & Closing Ranks

Since each subject group in ICAR AIEEA PG has a distinct paper and merit list, cut-offs vary sharply across disciplines. High-demand streams like Genetics & Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology close within single-digit All India Ranks for the General category.

Key Factors Driving IARI Cut-Off Trends

1. First-Choice Preference: Almost all top-rank holders in ICAR AIEEA PG list IARI New Delhi as their first option during choice filling, driving the closing ranks down into single/double digits for General seats.
2. Limited Seat Intake: Each specialized division at IARI admits only a few students per academic year, ensuring that reserved categories (OBC, EWS) also face stiff competition (e.g., OBC Genetics closes near Rank 4).
3. Paper Difficulty & Marking Scheme: ICAR exams follow a $+4 / -1$ scheme. Shift in difficulty level can move marks thresholds, but rank ranges remain strictly tight.
4. Reservation Rules: Reservations follow Central Government guidelines (15% SC, 7.5% ST, 27% OBC-NCL, and 10% EWS) with corresponding rank relaxations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What rank is required in ICAR AIEEA PG to get M.Sc. in Genetics & Plant Breeding at IARI New Delhi?

To secure a General category seat in Genetics and Plant Breeding at IARI, candidates typically require an All India Subject Rank between 1 and 2. For OBC candidates, the closing rank stays within the top 5.

Q2: Does IARI New Delhi conduct its own separate entrance exam for M.Sc. admissions?

No. IARI does not hold an independent written test for M.Sc. All postgraduate admissions are routed through the centralized ICAR AIEEA PG exam and subsequent online counselling managed by ICAR.

Q3: What are the minimum qualifying marks in ICAR AIEEA PG for counselling eligibility?

The qualifying cut-off is 50% (240 out of 480 marks) for General, EWS, and OBC candidates, and 40% (192 out of 480 marks) for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Qualifying the minimum score does not guarantee a seat at IARI, as final admission depends on rank.

Q4: Is a 3-year Bachelor's degree eligible for M.Sc. admission at IARI?

Generally, ICAR mandates a 4-year professional Bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.Sc. Hons Agriculture, B.Tech Agriculture) for admission to its Deemed Universities, including IARI.

Q5: Where can candidates access official allotment and cut-off lists?

Official counselling results, seat matrix, and category-wise seat allotments are published on the official ICAR admission portal