Applications have been invited for the all-India entrance tests for admissions to postgraduate and PhD programmes in agricultural universities all over the country, including Kerala. There are 90 test centres in India, including eight in Kerala.
The deadline to apply is 5 pm on June 16 and the application fee could be submitted till 11:50 pm on that day. Corrections could be made in the application, if necessary, till June 20. Only one application should be submitted by a candidate. Reservation under Central government will be applied for selections.
Entrance tests
The date of the entrance tests will be announced later. The entrance tests are conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Both the entrance tests are computer-based and have a duration of two hours with 120 questions. Each question carries four marks for a correct answer and the total marks are 480. Meanwhile, a wrong answer will attract one negative mark.
The syllabus of both the tests is given on the websites https://icar.nta.nic.in and www.nta.ac.in
(For enquiries: Phone number: 011-4075 9000; Email: icar@nta.ac.in)
Postgraduate programmes
Selection to 30 per cent of the total seats in PG programmes in agricultural universities in India is through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research All-India Entrance Examination (ICAR-AIEEA).
At the same time, the entire postgraduate seats in the following institutions are filled based on ICAR-AIEEA scores: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi; Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar; National Dairy Institute, Karnal; Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai; Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, in Samastipur Pusa in Bihar. Up to 40 per cent of the seats could be filled with candidates from other states.
Degree students who pursued a three-year course need not apply for the PG entrance.
The application fee for the entrance test is Rs 1,175. The amount is Rs 1,150 for applicants from the Other Backward Classes and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The fee is Rs 600 for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, differently-abled and transgender candidates.
Additional service charges will have to be paid.
Selected students will receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 12,600 based on some conditions and an annual grant of Rs 6,000. Eligible students will also receive the National Talent Scholarship.
PhD
The all-India entrance test to select candidates for PhD courses and junior/senior fellowships in agricultural universities is called the Indian Council of Agricultural Research All-India Competitive Examinations for Junior Research Fellowship/Senior Research Fellowship (Doctor of Philosophy). It is often shortened as ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD).
Thirty per cent of the PhD seats in agricultural universities are filled through this entrance test. There are other streams too for admissions.
The entrance test is conducted in around 80 subjects. There are test centres all over India, including Kerala. More information is available on the website.