More
    Close

    Introduction

    The Ministry of Education, Government of India (GOI) has established National Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization under Society Registration Act, 1860 for conducting efficient, transparent and international standards tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admissions to premier higher education institutions.
    The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in the entire country under the aegis of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

    The ICAR-AU System of India has 74 Agricultural Universities comprising 63 State Agricultural, Veterinary, Horticultural and Fisheries Universities (SAUs), 4 ICAR-DUs, viz. IARI, IVRI, NDRI and CIFE, 3 Central Agricultural Universities (CAU, Imphal, Dr. RPCAU, Pusa and RLBCAU, Jhansi), 4 Central Universities (CU) having Faculty of Agriculture (BHU, AMU, Viswa Bharati and Nagaland University). The National Agricultural Research, Education and Extension System (NAREES) of India is one of the largest in the world, admitting more than 28000 students at UG level and over 17,500 students at Master’s and Doctoral level annually, in different disciplines of Agricultural and Allied Sciences.

    The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has entrusted the responsibility of conducting All India Entrance Examinations for admission to Masters (PG) & Doctoral (Ph.D) programmes in Agricultural Universities and award of scholarships and fellowships, to the National Testing Agency for the academic year 2023-24. Details are as follows:

    ICAR AIEEA (PG) – is All India Entrance Examination for 30% seats in Master degree programmes in AUs are admitted through AIEEA (PG). All (100%) seats of the four ICAR-DUs namely, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) and CAUs, viz. RLBCAU, Jhansi and Dr. RPCAU, Pusa are also filled up through the same examination. Further, not more than 40% candidates from any one state shall be admitted in any agricultural university in a particular subject and category. all over the country enabling participation of a large number of candidates seeking admission in Master degree programmes in AUs in different disciplines of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Veterinary, Animal Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Community Science (erstwhile Home Science), Fisheries, Dairy Science and other allied sciences. For postgraduate studies, ICARPG Scholarship shall be awarded to candidates based on merit in this examination as per their overall merit-rank and seat availability in different disciplines. National Talent Scholarship will also be provided to deserving candidates as per revised guidelines. Candidates declared eligible for registration and choice filling for counselling by ICAR will only be considered for allocation of subject and the Agricultural University. There is no provision of direct nomination for admission through ICAR in any Master degree programme without qualifying in ICAR AIEEA (PG).

    ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D) – is All India Competitive Examination for 30% seats [100% seats of Dr. RPCAU Pusa & RLBCAU, Jhansi and ICAR Deemed to be University (DU), viz. ICAR-IVRI, IARI, CIFE and NDRI] will be granted under the ICAR-AU system. Further, not more than 40% candidates from any one state shall be admitted in any agricultural university/subject under a particular category. ICAR JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) shall be awarded to limited number of candidates based on merit in this examination as per their overall merit-rank and seat availability in different disciplines. The other candidates who are declared / notified as qualified for counseling will be eligible as per their merit rank and availability of seat for admission to Ph.D. degree programme, without fellowship, in the specific subject in the AUs. The above eligibility conditions will also apply to in-service candidates. Candidates declared eligible for registration and choice filling for counseling by ICAR will only be considered for allocation of subject and the Agricultural University. There is no provision of direct nomination for admission through ICAR in any Doctoral degree programme without qualifying in ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.).

    The above exams are being conducted in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The Question Paper for these Exams are of objective type, comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).