Entrance Exam · Agriculture

ICAR All India Entrance Examination for Admission - Postgraduate

ICAR AIEEA (PG) is the All India Entrance Examination for Admission to postgraduate degree programmes in agriculture and allied sciences. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the computer-based examination on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); ICAR subsequently manages rank-based online counselling for All India Quota seats in participating agricultural universities and institutes.

This is a postgraduate examination. Undergraduate ICAR-quota admission uses CUET (ICAR-UG), while doctoral admission uses AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD). Candidates should not use an old “AIEEA-UG” pattern to prepare for AIEEA (PG).

Annual dates, fees, participating programmes, seat counts and qualification deadlines change. Verify them in the https://exams.nta.nic.in/icar/" class="inlink">NTA ICAR examination portal, the https://icar.org.in/" class="inlink">ICAR website and the https://icarcounseling.com/" class="inlink">ICAR counselling portal.

What admission does AIEEA (PG) provide?

AIEEA (PG) is used for ICAR All India Quota seats in master's programmes across the ICAR–Agricultural University system. Official rules have used it for a share of master’s seats in agricultural universities and for the seats notified by ICAR-deemed and central agricultural institutions. The exact institution, programme and quota position must be checked in the applicable seat matrix.

Degrees may be titled M.Sc., M.Tech., M.V.Sc. or M.F.Sc., depending on discipline and university. The same sub-subject can have different degree nomenclature, course content or eligibility conditions at different universities.

The examination also determines merit for a limited number of ICAR-PG Scholarships and, under applicable rules, National Talent Scholarship (PG). Qualifying does not automatically produce either a seat or scholarship.

Major subject groups

The candidate selects one major subject group compatible with the undergraduate degree. The official bulletin has organised the postgraduate choices into 20 groups:

1. Plant Biotechnology

2. Plant Sciences

3. Physical Science

4. Entomology and Nematology

5. Agronomy

6. Social Sciences

7. Statistical Sciences

8. Horticulture

9. Forestry, Agroforestry and Silviculture

10. Agricultural Engineering and Technology

11. Community Science

12. Animal Biotechnology

13. Veterinary Science

14. Animal Sciences

15. Fisheries Science

16. Dairy Science

17. Dairy Technology

18. Food Science Technology

19. Agribusiness Management

20. Water Science and Technology

Each group contains sub-subjects—for example, Plant Sciences includes areas such as Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Seed Science and Plant Genetic Resources. Fisheries includes aquaculture, resource management, processing, aquatic animal health, genetics, nutrition, economics and other specialisations. Candidates choose the examination group first; compatible sub-subject and university choices are made during counselling.

The https://icarcounseling.com/Images/Notifications/22.PDF" class="inlink">official AIEEA (PG) bulletin contains the complete group-to-sub-subject table and the undergraduate-stream compatibility rules. Check these before applying: choosing an examination group does not override a university's prerequisite-degree conditions.

Eligibility

An applicant must satisfy both the central examination criteria and the programme-specific admission criteria. Merely receiving an NTA score does not establish eligibility.

The standard ICAR route is designed for Indian nationals with a relevant four-year or six-year bachelor's pattern, or the prescribed five/five-and-a-half-year veterinary degree. Three-year bachelor’s degrees are generally not eligible across the ICAR-AU system, although specified programmes at certain ICAR deemed universities may apply their own exceptions. Do not assume a three-year B.Sc. is accepted simply because the subject name is related.

The official bulletin defines minimum bachelor's performance using OGPA scales or percentage marks, with category-based relaxation. It also publishes a degree-completion deadline and separate provisions for veterinary candidates. Since these numerical and date conditions may change, compare your transcript, degree duration, graduation stream and completion status with the applicable bulletin and the desired university's row in the seat matrix.

The most important eligibility checks are:

  • relevant undergraduate stream for the chosen major subject group;
  • length and pattern of the bachelor's degree;
  • minimum OGPA or percentage for the candidate's category;
  • completion of all degree requirements by the prescribed deadline;
  • recognition/accreditation requirements imposed by the admitting university; and
  • any university-specific age, subject, internship or degree condition.

Candidates near completion may be permitted to appear, but must produce the prescribed degree/provisional-degree or registrar's certificate at counselling. Admission can be cancelled if the documentary evidence does not establish eligibility.

Exam pattern

The established AIEEA (PG) scheme is:

FeaturePattern
ModeComputer-based test
PaperOne discipline-specific paper
Duration120 minutes
Questions120 multiple-choice questions
Correct answer+4 marks
Incorrect answer-1 mark
Unanswered0 marks
Maximum480 marks
MediumEnglish

All questions relate to the selected major subject group. A candidate should verify the scheme in the bulletin issued for the application cycle.

Syllabus and preparation

ICAR publishes the official subject-group syllabus. Use the https://icar.org.in/node/21053" class="inlink">ICAR syllabus page as the boundary of preparation and map every unit to undergraduate notes, standard textbooks and previous questions.

A practical preparation sequence is:

1. Confirm the correct paper before studying. Compare the graduation stream compatibility table with the target sub-subjects and universities.

2. Make a syllabus audit. Mark each unit as strong, revision-ready or conceptually weak.

3. Rebuild core undergraduate concepts. AIEEA (PG) tests disciplinary breadth; memorising isolated facts leaves gaps across a 120-question paper.

4. Practise retrieval and calculation. Use short mixed quizzes, numerical work where relevant and classification/comparison tables for fact-heavy topics.

5. Use timed full papers. Two hours for 120 questions demands quick selection. Practise completing easy questions first and returning to longer items.

6. Control negative marking. Review whether each doubtful attempt has a defensible basis. Track net marks, not only attempted questions.

7. Maintain an error register. Separate factual gaps, misunderstood concepts, calculation errors and rushed reading; revise the cause rather than the answer alone.

Because the paper is discipline-specific, generic “agriculture entrance” material is not enough. A Fisheries candidate and an Agricultural Engineering candidate require entirely different preparation resources.

Result, rank and cutoff

NTA processes the exam, answer-key challenge and score/result. ICAR uses the examination data for counselling. NTA's role does not include allocating a university.

There is no single permanent AIEEA (PG) cutoff for all courses. Admission depends on:

  • major subject-group rank;
  • category and applicable reservation;
  • sub-subject and university preference;
  • eligibility for the chosen programme;
  • seat availability in that counselling round; and
  • movement caused by upgrades and withdrawals.

The https://icarcounseling.com/" class="inlink">ICAR counselling portal publishes the relevant seat matrices, notices and available historical cutoff information. A previous closing rank is evidence of past competition, not a guaranteed future threshold.

Scholarship merit is also distinct from admission merit. A candidate may receive a seat without an ICAR-PG Scholarship. Scholarship availability varies by subject group and the rules notified by ICAR.

Participating universities and how to verify the complete list

The participating list is extensive and programme-specific. It can include State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural Universities, ICAR deemed-to-be universities, central universities with agricultural faculties and other notified institutions. Major ICAR institutions commonly appearing in the system include:

For the full, authoritative list, use two linked official records:

Do not build preferences from a general university list alone. A university may participate in one sub-subject but offer no ICAR quota seat in another, and its row may contain special conditions. The programme-wise counselling seat matrix is decisive.

Application process

Applications are submitted through the https://exams.nta.nic.in/icar/" class="inlink">NTA ICAR portal. The workflow normally includes registration, completion of personal/academic and paper details, exam-city choices, image/document upload, online fee payment and download of the confirmation page.

Use an email address and mobile number controlled by the candidate. Check the selected major subject group, category, graduation duration and qualification data before the correction period closes. Save the application number, confirmation page, payment record and copies of uploaded files.

Test-day essentials

Follow the applicable admit card. Official rules ordinarily require a printed admit card, the specified photograph, an accepted original and unexpired photo ID, and disability documentation where relevant. Calculators, phones, electronic devices, notes and unauthorised stationery are prohibited. Arrive before the gate-closing time printed on the admit card.

Confirm immediately that the paper displayed on the computer matches the subject selected in the application. Report a mismatch to the invigilator before attempting the test.

What to do after the result

The exam result alone does not complete admission. The student must separately follow ICAR counselling:

1. Read the counselling brochure and final seat matrix.

2. Register on the https://icarcounseling.com/" class="inlink">ICAR counselling portal within the notified period.

3. Complete document details and any required verification steps.

4. Fill and lock eligible sub-subject and university choices in genuine preference order.

5. Check every allocation round and respond within its deadline.

6. Pay the prescribed seat-acceptance or admission amount when allotted.

7. Use the available upgrade/freeze option according to the counselling rules.

8. Report to the allotted university and complete original-document verification, fees and registration.

Only candidates declared eligible for counselling and choice filling are considered for allocation. There is no direct nomination through ICAR that bypasses the examination and counselling process.

Choosing programmes intelligently

Start with career and research interest, then check curriculum, faculty laboratories, dissertation requirements, accreditation, scholarship conditions, hostel/fee costs and location. Verify whether a degree is M.Sc., M.Tech., M.V.Sc. or M.F.Sc. and whether it supports the next qualification or job role you want.

Preference order should express actual choice, not an attempted cutoff prediction. Put the option you would accept first if every seat were available at the top; the allocation algorithm already accounts for rank.

Official resources