National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Admissions 2026-27 Dates, Appilcation Form, Process & Fee

The ICAR – National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, Haryana, stands as India’s premier institute for dairy research and higher education. Granted Deemed to be University status in 1989, NDRI offers specialized undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and diploma programs in dairy technology, engineering, microbiology, chemistry, and animal sciences.

Admissions to NDRI’s degree programs are integrated into the centralized national testing and allocation framework managed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Admission Process

NDRI operates multiple entry pathways depending on the academic tier, with 100% of seats in degree programs filled via competitive national entrance examinations and centralized counseling.

Undergraduate Track: B.Tech (Dairy Technology)

• National Portal Registration: Candidates apply online through the official NTA portal for the Common University Entrance Test [CUET (ICAR-UG)].
• Entrance Examination: Applicants appear for the computer-based entrance test in relevant domain subject combinations (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
• Centralized ICAR Counseling: Following the publication of NTA scorecard percentiles and merit ranks, candidates register on the official ICAR counseling portal (com).
• Seat Allotment & Document Verification: Seats are allocated dynamically based on all-India rank, category reservations, and locked institutional choices. Allotted candidates pay a seat-confirmation fee and report to the Karnal campus for physical verification.

Postgraduate Track: M.Tech / M.Sc / M.V.Sc

• AIEEA PG Registration: Aspirants register online via NTA for the ICAR All India Entrance Examination for Admission – PG (ICAR AIEEA PG).
• Computer-Based Examination: Candidates undertake the single-paper examination covering specialized major subject groups in Dairy Science, Animal Sciences, or Agricultural Engineering.
• Merit Allocation: Qualified candidates participate in ICAR online counseling, select NDRI Karnal and their specific discipline as top choices, and undergo document verification upon allotment.

Doctoral Track: Ph.D. in Dairying & Allied Disciplines

• AICE-JRF/SRF Registration: Doctoral applicants register for the ICAR All India Competitive Examination for Junior Research Fellowship / Senior Research Fellowship [ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.)].
• National Written Test: Candidates complete the objective computer-based test evaluating subject knowledge and analytical aptitude.
• Departmental Allocation: Based on normalized ranks, successful candidates participate in counseling to secure supervisor allocation across NDRI's 14 specialized research divisions.

Diploma Track

• Admissions for institutional diploma programs (such as the Diploma in Dairy Technology) are handled directly through institute notifications and NDRI’s internal entrance assessment and merit counseling.

Course-Wise Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet strict educational, age, and minimum percentage requirements to qualify for admission.

B.Tech (Dairy Technology) - 4 Years

• Qualifying Examination: Passed 10+2 Higher Secondary Examination or equivalent from a recognized board.
• Mandatory Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English.
• Minimum Aggregate: At least 50% aggregate marks for General, EWS, and OBC candidates; a minimum of 40% aggregate marks for SC, ST, and PwBD categories.
• Age Limits: Candidates must be between 16 and 23 years of age as of July 31 of the admission year.

Master’s Degree Programs (M.Tech / M.Sc / M.V.Sc) - 2 Years

• Academic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines of Dairy Technology, Food Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Veterinary Science, or relevant basic sciences from an ICAR-recognized university.
• Minimum Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA): Minimum 60% aggregate marks or an OGPA of 6.60 out of 10.00 for General/OBC/EWS candidates; minimum 50% aggregate marks or OGPA of 5.60 out of 10.00 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
• Age Requirement: Minimum 19 years of age as of July 31 of the admission year.

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.) - 3 Years

• Academic Qualification: Master’s degree in the concerned or allied discipline of Dairy Science, Animal Biotechnology, Food Safety, or Agricultural Chemistry.
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: Minimum 60% aggregate marks or equivalent OGPA (50% or equivalent for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
• Age Requirement: Minimum 21 years of age as of July 31 of the admission year.

Application Fees (2026 Cycle)

Application fees are paid online directly to the conducting body (NTA for entrance examinations, and ICAR for centralized counseling).

Important Dates for 2026 Admissions

Below is the official schedule covering the 2026 admission cycles for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral tracks at ICAR-NDRI Karnal:

Required Documents

Candidates must upload clear digital copies during registration and produce original credentials alongside self-attested photocopies during final physical reporting at NDRI Karnal.

Digital Uploads During Online Application

• Recent passport-size photograph on a white background
• Scanned signature of the applicant
• Government-issued Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID)
• Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) or PwBD Certificate, if applicable

Certificates Required During Counseling & Campus Reporting

• NTA Entrance Examination Admit Card and Rank Card (CUET / AIEEA PG / AICE Ph.D.)
• ICAR Online Counseling Provisional Seat Allotment Letter
• Class 10 Board Mark Sheet and Certificate (Proof of Date of Birth)
• Class 12 Board Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
• Bachelor’s Degree Mark Sheets, Transcript, and Degree / Provisional Certificate (for PG applicants)
• Master’s Degree Mark Sheets, Transcript, and Degree Certificate (for Ph.D. applicants)
• Migration Certificate and Character Certificate from the last attended institution
• Valid Conduct and Category Certificates issued by competent authorities
• Medical Fitness Certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does NDRI Karnal conduct its own separate entrance test for B.Tech admission?

No, NDRI does not conduct an independent entrance test for undergraduate admissions. All seats for B.Tech (Dairy Technology) are filled strictly on the basis of scores in the national CUET (ICAR-UG) exam followed by centralized ICAR counseling.

Q2. What is the minimum age requirement for B.Tech (Dairy Technology) at NDRI?

Candidates applying for B.Tech (Dairy Technology) must be at least 16 years of age and not more than 23 years of age as of July 31 of the admission year.

Q3. Are students appearing in the final semester of their qualifying degree eligible to apply for M.Tech or Ph.D.?

Yes, candidates appearing in the final year or semester of their Bachelor's or Master's degree examinations are eligible to apply conditionally for ICAR AIEEA PG or ICAR AICE Ph.D., provided they produce their final degree certificates and mark sheets during counseling and physical verification.

Q4. Is there any management quota or direct admission route available at NDRI Karnal?

No, NDRI Karnal is a public ICAR Deemed University and does not offer any management quota, donor seats, or direct admission pathways. Every candidate must qualify through the respective national-level entrance test and centralized ICAR seat allocation.

Q5. Where does the physical document verification take place after seat allocation?

Once a seat is allotted through the ICAR counseling portal and provisional admission fees are deposited, candidates must report in person to the Academic Section at the ICAR-NDRI main campus in Karnal, Haryana, for physical document verification and fee settlement.