Candidates who are going to appear for the ICAR AIEEA Exam must go through this entire Shiksha article to check and meet the eligibility criteria before applying for admission to the course. The general eligibility criteria for appearing for ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) 2025 are as follows: Check out the eligibility criteria for 73 specialisations offered through ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD).
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), along with the National Testing Agency (NTA), conducts the All India Competitive Examination (AICE) to offer students admission in Doctoral Degree Programmes and award JRF/SRF (PGS). Through ICAR AICE, students can get admission in various subjects and specialisations which are offered in the disciplines of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Veterinary, Animal Sciences, and Agril. Engineering, Community Science (erstwhile Home Science), Fisheries, Dairy Science and other allied sciences.
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The candidate needs to check and meet the eligibility criteria before applying for admission to the course. The general eligibility criteria for appearing for ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) 2025 are as follows:
- Indian nationals who have passed a Master’s Degree programme with a minimum of Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) from any public-funded/Govt. The institution will be eligible. In other cases, where grade points are not awarded and only marks are awarded, the candidate must have secured a minimum percentage score as shown in the table below:
| Category |
OGPA |
Marks Secured (100) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/UPS/EWS |
6.5/10 Point Scale |
3.25/5 Point Scale |
2.6/4 Point Scale |
60 |
| SC/ST/PwD |
5.50/10 Point Scale |
2.75/5 Point Scale |
2.2/4 Point Scale |
50 |
- Candidates who passed out from private universities which are not accredited by ICAR are not eligible for the examinations. Students who have studied at private universities accredited by ICAR are eligible.
- The candidate must complete the postgraduate degree in all respects and should have all the degree-completion requirements at the time of counselling/admission in the university, failing which they will not be considered for admission and the award of fellowship.
- Education Qualification – The candidate should have done their postgraduate programme with a minimum Overal Grade Pont Average (OGPA) from any university which is accredited by ICAR.
- Age Criteria: Candidates should be 20 years old or older to apply.
ICAR AICE JRF/SRF Eligibility Qualifications at Master’s Level
Students need to match the eligibility criteria as set by ICAR to appear for AICE JRF/SRF (PhD,) which are as follows:
| Subject of Specialisation |
Eligibility Qualifications for SAUs/CAUs, etc, and/or ICAR-DU (Master’s Degree in) |
Additional Eligibility Qualification at Bachelor's level for IARI/NDRI |
|---|---|---|
| Genetics & Plant Breeding |
Genetics and/or Plant Breeding. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Seed Science & Technology |
Seed Science & Technology |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Economic Botany and Plant Genetic Resources |
Plant Genetic Resources/ Botany/Agricultural Botany. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Plant Pathology |
Plant Pathology/Plant Protection with specialisation in Plant Pathology. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Nematology |
Nematology/Plant Protection with specialisation in Nematology |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Agricultural Entomology/Entomology |
Agricultural Entomology/ Entomology/Plant Protection with specialisation in Entomology. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Sericulture/Agricultural or Horticultural Entomology. |
- |
|
| Plant Biochemistry/ Biochemistry |
Plant Biochemistry/Biochemistry |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Plant Physiology/ Crop Physiology |
Plant Physiology/Crop Physiology. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Agricultural Biotechnology / Biotechnology/Molecular Biology & Biotechnology |
Agricultural Biotechnology/Biotechnology/ Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Agricultural Microbiology/ Microbiology |
Agricultural Microbiology/ Microbiology |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Vegetable Science/Olericulture |
Vegetable Science/Olericulture/Horticulture with specialisation in Vegetable Science. |
- |
| Fruit Science/Pomology |
Fruit Science/ Pomology/ Horticulture with specialisation in Fruit Science |
- |
| Floriculture & Landscaping/ Floriculture & Landscape Architecture |
Floriculture & Landscaping/ Floriculture & Landscape Architecture / Agriculture or Horticulture with specialisation in Floriculture and Landscape Architecture. |
- |
| Spices, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants |
Spices, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants/Agriculture or Horticulture with specialisation in Spices/Plantation Crops / Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. |
- |
| Post-Harvest Technology (Horticulture) |
Post-harvest Technology with specialisation in Horticultural Crops. |
- |
| Animal Genetics & Breeding |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Animal Genetics and Breeding. |
- |
| Animal Nutrition |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Animal Nutrition. |
- |
| Livestock Production Management |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Livestock Production Management. |
- |
| Livestock Products Technology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Livestock Products Technology. |
- |
| Poultry Science |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Poultry Science |
- |
| Veterinary Parasitology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Parasitology. |
- |
| Veterinary Public Health/Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Public Health/Vety. Public Health & Epidemiology/Vety. Epidemiology |
- |
| Veterinary Microbiology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Microbiology/ Bacteriology/Virology/Immunology. |
- |
| Veterinary Pathology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Pathology. |
- |
| Veterinary Medicine |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Medicine/ Preventive Veterinary Medicine/ Veterinary Clinical Medicine. |
- |
| Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology/Veterinary Pharmacology. |
- |
| Vety. Gynaecology & Obstetrics/Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Vety. Gynaecology & Obstetrics/Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics |
- |
| Veterinary Surgery & Radiology/Veterinary Surgery |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology/Veterinary Surgery. |
- |
| Veterinary Anatomy/Veterinary Anatomy & Histology |
Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Anatomy/ Veterinary Anatomy & Histology. |
- |
| Veterinary Physiology/ Animal Physiology |
For IVRI/SAUs/CAUs, etc. Veterinary Science with specialisation in Veterinary Physiology. For NDRI only Veterinary Physiology /Animal Physiology. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Veterinary Biochemistry /Animal Biochemistry |
For IVRI/SAUs/CAUs, etc. Veterinary Sciences with specialisation in Vety. Biochemistry. For NDRI only M.V.Sc./M.Sc./M.Tech. in Bio-Chemistry or Animal Biochemistry/ Veterinary Biochemistry/Dairy Chemistry/ Biomedical Sciences/ Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/ Chemistry. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Animal Biotechnology |
For IVRI/SAUs/CAUs, etc. Veterinary Sciences with specialisation in Animal Biotechnology. For NDRI only - MVSc./M.Sc./M. Tech in Biotechnology or Animal/ Veterinary Biotechnology or Animal/Veterinary Biochemistry or Animal /Veterinary Physiology or Animal Genetics and Breeding or Molecular Biology/Genetic Engineering/Bioinformatics/ Genetics. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| For SAUs/CAUs, etc. Dairy Chemistry/Veterinary/Animal Sciences with specialisation in Dairy Chemistry For NDRI only - Dairy Chemistry/ Veterinary/Animal Sciences with specialisation in Livestock Products Technology/ Chemistry. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
|
| Food Science/Food Technology/ Food Science and Technology/Post Harvest Technology. |
- |
|
| Dairy Microbiology |
For SAUs/CAUs, etc. Dairy Microbiology/ Veterinary/Animal Sciences with specialisation in Dairy Microbiology. For NDRI only – Dairy Microbiology/ Veterinary/Animal Sciences with specialisation in Dairying/Microbiology/Biotechnology/ Medical Microbiology/Industrial Microbiology/Food Safety and Quality Assurance. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Food Safety and Quality Assurance |
Food Safety & Quality Assurance/ Food Safety & Quality Management/ Dairy Microbiology / Dairy Chemistry/Food Science & Technology/Food Technology. |
NDRI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Dairy Technology |
For SAUs/CAUs, etc. Dairy Technology /Dairy Science/Dairy Engineering/Livestock Products Technology/Food Technology with specialisation in Dairy Technology. For NDRI, only Dairy Technology/Dairy Engineering/Livestock Products Technology/Food Technology with specialisation in Dairy Technology. Candidates must have a 4-year BTech. degree. |
- |
| Dairy Engineering |
For SAUs/CAUs, etc. M. Tech. (Dairy Engineering/ Dairy Technology). For NDRI, only M. Tech./M.E. (Dairy Engineering/ Dairy Technology / Agriculture Process & Food Engineering/ Chemical Engineering/ Dairy& Food Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering/Electronics and Communication Engineering./ Post-Harvest Process & Food Engineering/ Food Technology.) Candidates must have 4 4-year B. Tech./B.E. degree. |
- |
| Farm Machinery and Power Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering/Mechanical Engineering with specialisation in Farm Machinery and Power/Renewable Energy. |
- |
| Soil and Water Conservation Engineering / Soil and Water Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering with specialisation in Soil and Water/Soil and Water Conservation/Civil Engineering /Irrigation and Drainage Engg./Water Resources /Water Science and Technology. |
- |
| Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering with specialisation in Agricultural Processing Engineering/Processing & Food Engg./ Food Process Engineering/ Dairy Engineering/Post Harvest Technology/Renewable Energy Engg |
- |
| Renewable Energy Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering with specialisation in Renewable Energy/ Farm Machinery and Power Engg./Processing & Food Engg. |
- |
| Irrigation Water Management Engineering / Irrigation & Drainage Engineering |
Agricultural Engineering with specialisation in Soil and Water/ Soil and Water Conservation/Irrigation and Drainage/Hydrology/Water Resources/Water Science and Technology. |
- |
| Family Resource Management |
Home Science with specialisation in Family Resource Management. |
- |
| Textiles and Apparel Design |
Home Science with specialisation in Clothing and Textiles/ Textiles and Apparel Designing. |
- |
| Human Development and Family Studies/Human Development |
Home Science with specialisation in Child Development/Human Development and Family Studies |
- |
| Food Science and Nutrition/Human Nutrition |
Home Science with specialisation in Food Science and Nutrition |
- |
| Home Science Extension and Community Management |
Home Science with specialisation in Home Science Extension/Home Science Extension 17 and Community Management. |
- |
| Fisheries Resource Management |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fisheries Resources (and) Management/ Fishery Biology |
- |
| Fish Processing Technology/Fish Post-Harvest Technology |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fish Processing Technology/ Harvest & Post-Harvest Technology |
- |
| Fisheries Engineering & Technology |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fisheries Engineering/ Fisheries Engineering (and) Technology/ Fishing Technology and Fisheries Engineering/ Harvest & Post-Harvest Technology |
- |
| Aquatic Environment Management |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Aquatic Environment Management. |
- |
| Aquaculture |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Aquaculture/ Inland Aquaculture/ Mariculture. |
- |
| Fish Health Management/Aquatic Animal Health Management |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Aquatic Animal Health/ Aquatic Animal Health Management/ Fish Pathology and Health Management/ Fisheries Microbiology/ Fish Pathology and Microbiology |
- |
| Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fish Nutrition Feed Tech/ Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology/ Fish Nutrition and Biochemistry. |
- |
| Fish Genetics and Breeding |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fish Genetics & Breeding |
- |
| Fish Biotechnology |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fish Biotechnology/ Fisheries Biotechnology. |
- |
| Fish Physiology and Biochemistry |
M. F. Sc. with specialisation in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry/ Fish Nutrition and Biochemistry |
- |
| Forestry / Agroforestry |
Forestry/Agroforestry/ Agronomy/Horticulture with specialisation in Agroforestry |
- |
| Agricultural Meteorology |
Agricultural Meteorology/ Agricultural Physics with specialisation in Agricultural Meteorology. |
- |
| Environmental Science/ Agroforestry /Agriculture/Forestry with specialisation in Environmental Science. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
|
| Agricultural Physics |
Agricultural Physics / Physics / Bio-physics / Agricultural Meteorology / Soil Science / Environmental Science / Remote Sensing / Geo-informatics. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Agronomy |
Agriculture with specialisation in Agronomy/Soil Water Management/ Forage Production/ Water Science and Technology. |
- |
| Soil Sciences/Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry |
Agriculture/Horticulture with specialisation in Soil Sciences/Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry/ Agricultural Physics with specialisation in Soil Physics and Soil and Water Conservation/Water Science and Technology. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Agricultural Chemicals |
Agricultural Chemicals/Chemistry. |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Water Science & Technology |
Agriculture with specialisation in Water Science and Technology/ Agronomy/Soil Science /Agricultural Engineering with specialisation in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering / Soil and Water Engineering / Irrigation and Drainage Engineering /Water Resources Engineering/ Water Resources Management |
|
| Agricultural Economics |
Agricultural Economics/Dairy/Animal Husbandry Economics/ Veterinary Economics/Fisheries Economics. |
|
| Agri. Business Management |
Agribusiness Management/ Agricultural Marketing & Co-operation/ Agricultural Economics/ Business Management with specialisation in Agriculture. |
|
| Agricultural Extension/ Extension Education / Communication* |
Agricultural Extension/ Extension Education/Communication/Veterinary Extension/Dairy Extension/Fisheries Extension. |
|
| Agricultural Statistics |
Agricultural Statistics/Statistics/Biostatistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
| Bioinformatics/Molecular Biology/Biotechnology/Computer Science/Computer Application/Agriinformatics/Agricultural Statistics/Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Biostatistics with Bioinformatics as a subject |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
|
| Computer Science/Computer Application/Information Technology/ Postgraduate degree in any specialisation of Computer Science |
IARI-B.Sc. (10+2+3 system) |
Important Points to Remember
- The candidate must fulfil the eligibility conditions as indicated in the above-mentioned table. They are generally eligible to pursue a Doctoral degree in the subject in which they have passed their postgraduate.
- For certain subjects/courses, the universities may have different/additional eligibility conditions/criteria than those listed above. It is the responsibility of the candidate to check 19 his/her eligibility with the concerned university at the time of counselling.
- For admission to PhD degree programmes through the entrance examination, only the candidates having passed graduation with 4/5 (B.V.Sc.& A.H.)/6(10+6, BSc. Ag) years degree programme and postgraduation from any public-funded/Govt. the institution will be eligible.
- Candidates passed out from private Agricultural Universities/Colleges not accredited by ICAR, even though affiliated to public-funded/Govt. Institutions are not eligible for admission through this examination. Only those candidates from Private Agricultural Universities/Colleges (accredited by ICAR) are eligible to appear in the examination who have completed their degree in programmes accredited by ICAR.
- In addition to this, 2-year PG degree with thesis work is the essential requirement for admission to doctoral degree programmes in the AUs.
- The candidates having passed with 3 years UG degree programme are not eligible for PhD admission through AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD)-2025, except in a few courses specified above at IARI and NDRI only.
- The candidates who have passed with 5 years integrated M.Sc. degree programme are not eligible to seek admission to PhD degree programmes through this examination.
For more information on ICAR AICE JRF/SRF, candidates can go through the following links as mentioned below:
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