NTA ICAR AIEEA PG / PhD Admission 2025 – Apply for Postgraduate & Doctoral Courses
Organization: National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Exam Name: AIEEA (All India Entrance Examination for Admission) PG and AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) 2025
Admission For: Academic Year 2025–2026
Number of Courses: Postgraduate (PG) & PhD Programs in Agriculture and Allied Sciences
Mode of Examination: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Frequency: Once a year
Official Website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR
Number of Posts: Admission seats for PG and PhD programs (varies by university and program)
Important Dates (Tentative)
- Notification Release: May 6, 2025
- Application Form Start: May 6, 2025
- Last Date to Apply: June 5, 2025
- Correction Window: June 7 to June 9, 2025
- Advance Exam City Intimation Slip: June 24, 2025
- Admit Card Release: June 27, 2025
- Exam Date: July 3, 2025
- AIEEA PG Exam: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) Exam: 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Answer Key: First week of August 2025
- Result Declaration: Third week of August 2025
- Counseling Start: August 2025 onwards
Eligibility Criteria
For PG Programs:
- Nationality: Indian
- Age Limit: Minimum 19 years as of August 31, 2025
- Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field (4/5/6 year pattern)
- Minimum Marks:
- General/OBC/EWS/UPS: 60%
- SC/ST/PwD: 50%
- Note: 3-year degree not valid, except for select IARI & NDRI courses
For PhD Programs:
- Age Limit: Minimum 20 years as of August 31, 2025
- Qualification: Master’s degree in relevant subject from ICAR-accredited university
- Minimum Marks:
- General/OBC: 60%
- SC/ST/PwD: 55%
Exam Pattern
PG (AIEEA):
- Mode: CBT
- Duration: 2 hours
- Medium: English
- Total Questions: 120 MCQs
- Total Marks: 480
- Marking Scheme: +4 correct, -1 incorrect, 0 unattempted
- Sections:
- Part A: General Agriculture – 10 questions
- Part B: Subject-Based – 90 questions
PhD (AICE JRF/SRF):
- Mode: CBT
- Duration: 2 hours
- Total Marks: 480
- Sections:
- Section A: 20 General Knowledge Questions – 80 marks
- Section B: 50 Core Subject Questions – 200 marks
- Section C: 50 Specialized Subject Questions – 200 marks
- Negative Marking: Yes (-1 per wrong answer)
Syllabus Overview
PG Subjects Include:
- General Agriculture
- Plant Sciences: Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, etc.
- Physical Sciences: Meteorology, Soil Science, Chemistry
- Animal Sciences: Physiology, Nutrition, Biotechnology
- Agricultural Engineering
- Horticulture, Food Technology, Dairy Science, Home Science, Fisheries
PhD Subjects Include:
- Research Methodology
- Core & Specialized Subject Areas
- Agriculture & Allied Research Topics
Note: Detailed subject-wise syllabus available in official information bulletin.
Application Process
- Visit Website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR
- Register: Create login and fill personal/educational details
- Upload Documents: Photo, signature, certificates
- Pay Fee: Online via net banking, UPI, debit/credit card
- Submit Form: Save confirmation page after submission
Application Fees (Tentative)
- General/OBC: ₹1000 – ₹2000
- SC/ST/PwD: ₹500 – ₹1000
Admit Card
Available around 15–20 days before the exam. Contains roll number, center details, timings, and instructions.
Exam Centers
Across major cities in India. Candidates can select preferred centers during application.
Counseling & Admission
- Conducted post-results
- Choice of university/program based on merit rank
- Document verification and admission fee payment
Preparation Tips
- Refer official syllabus and standard books
- Solve previous year question papers
- Take mock tests for practice
- Focus on core and research-based subjects
Official Website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR
Useful Links