Exam logo

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age, Qualification, Reservation

Updated on 29 May, 2026 by Souvik Podder

What's new?

ICAR AIEEA Latest news and articles

ICAR AIEEA PG, PhD Admit Card 2026 Released; Download Hall Ticket Now

2 Jul, 2026
Read more..

LIVEICAR PG 2025 Round 1 Seat Allotment Result Released for Veterinary

15 Jan, 2026
Read more..

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026 sets the foundation for securing admission to prestigious agricultural universities across India, and meeting every condition is mandatory to avoid disqualification at any stage. The exam is conducted by NTA to offer admission to both UG and PG courses in agricultural disciplines across various colleges and universities. Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply. For the UG programme, candidates must be at least 16 years old as of August 31, 2026, and must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and one of Biology, Mathematics, Agriculture, or Home Science. General/OBC candidates need a minimum of 50%, while SC/ST/PwD candidates require 40%. For PG admission, candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or a related field with at least 60% marks. Students appearing in their qualifying examination in 2026 are also eligible to apply.

 

Table of Contents
  1. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026
  2. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservation Policy
  3. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: UG Courses
  4. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (UG)
  5. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: PG Courses
  6. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (PG)
  7. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: PhD Courses
  8. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (PhD)
  9. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Important Points
  10. ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026

To apply for the postgraduate courses through ICAR AIEEA 2026, candidates must fulfil specific eligibility conditions set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Eligibility is mandatory to proceed with registration and admission counselling for ICAR AIEEA 2026. Students can refer to the table below for more detailed information.

Also Check: ICAR AIEEA 2026 Syllabus

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservation Policy

ICAR adheres to the reservation guidelines set by the Government of India, offering category-based relaxations in age, qualifying marks, and seat allotment. These provisions apply to candidates from SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories. The exact distribution of reserved seats is defined below, along with domicile-based intake restrictions applicable to all agricultural universities.

  • Scheduled Castes (SC):15% of the total available seats are reserved for SC candidates.
  • Scheduled Tribes (ST):7.5% of seats are allocated to applicants from the ST category.
  • Other Backwards Classes (OBC–NCL):27% of the seats are set aside for candidates falling under the Non-Creamy Layer of the OBC category.
  • Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): A 10% reservation is applicable for candidates from the EWS category.
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD):5% of the total seats in each category are reserved horizontally for candidates with benchmark disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • Domicile Cap: To maintain national representation, no more than 40% of the seats in any subject or agricultural university may be filled by candidates from a single state under one category.

Check ICAR AIEEA Application Process 2026

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: UG Courses

To apply for undergraduate programmes through ICAR AIEEA 2026, candidates must satisfy specific eligibility conditions set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The table below outlines the official eligibility criteria applicable to ICAR UG applicants for the 2026 session.

Also Check: ICAR AIEEA 2026 Exam Pattern

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (UG)

To appear for ICAR AIEEA UG 2026, candidates must have completed Class 12 with specific subject combinations relevant to the degree they are applying for. The table below outlines the required subjects for eligibility and entrance based on each course code.

Check ICAR AIEEA Admit Card 2026

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: PG Courses

To apply for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026, candidates must meet the eligibility conditions set by NTA, including age, academic qualifications, and Indian nationality. These criteria ensure that applicants have the required background for admission to postgraduate courses in Agriculture and Allied Sciences.

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (PG)

ICAR AIEEA 2026 PG criteria for most agriculture and allied disciplines require a relevant bachelor’s degree, such as B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Tech, or domain-specific qualifications like B.F.Sc. or B.V.Sc. is mandatory, along with a minimum of 60% marks for General and 50% for reserved categories, as set by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Course / DisciplineRequired Qualification
Agriculture (Agronomy, Genetics, Plant Pathology, etc.)B.Sc. Agriculture / Horticulture / Forestry
HorticultureB.Sc. Horticulture / Agriculture
ForestryB.Sc. Forestry / Agriculture
Fisheries ScienceB.F.Sc. (Bachelor of Fisheries Science)
Dairy TechnologyB.Tech Dairy Technology / B.Sc. Dairy Science
Agricultural EngineeringB.Tech Agricultural Engineering / relevant engineering field
Veterinary ScienceB.V.Sc. & AH degree
Agricultural Economics / AgribusinessB.Sc. Agriculture / BBA (Agri) / Economics
BiotechnologyB.Sc. Biotechnology / Agriculture / Life Sciences
Food TechnologyB.Tech Food Technology / Food Science

Check ICAR AIEEA Cutoff 2026

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: PhD Courses

Candidates applying for PhD programmes under ICAR must satisfy specific criteria related to age, academic background, and minimum marks. These conditions are essential for admission to doctoral programmes in agricultural and allied sciences.

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course-wise (PhD)

ICAR AIEEA 2026 PhD eligibility is structured to ensure candidates have strong domain-specific postgraduate training before entering research programs. Each discipline requires a closely aligned master’s degree such as M.Sc., M.Tech, M.V.Sc ,or M.F.Sc., in the relevant field, along with a minimum of 60% marks for General and 50% for reserved categories, as specified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, reflecting the advanced and research-intensive nature of doctoral studies.

Course / DisciplineRequired Qualification
Plant Sciences (Genetics, Biotechnology, Agronomy, etc.)Master’s degree in Agriculture / Plant Sciences or related field
HorticultureM.Sc. Horticulture / Agriculture
ForestryM.Sc. Forestry / Agriculture
Animal SciencesM.V.Sc. / M.Sc. Animal Science or related field
Fisheries ScienceM.F.Sc. (Master of Fisheries Science)
Dairy TechnologyM.Tech / M.Sc. Dairy Technology
Agricultural EngineeringM.Tech Agricultural Engineering / relevant engineering field
Veterinary ScienceM.V.Sc. degree
Agricultural Economics / AgribusinessM.Sc. Agriculture / Economics / Agribusiness
BiotechnologyM.Sc. Biotechnology / Life Sciences
Food TechnologyM.Tech / M.Sc. Food Technology / Food Science

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Important Points

Before applying, candidates should keep the following key aspects in mind regarding eligibility, subjects, and reservation norms:

  • Final-Year Eligibility: Students appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree are eligible to apply but must produce proof of qualification during the counselling or admission process.
  • Subject Combinations: Only specific subject groups are accepted for different courses. For example, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) are required for B.Tech courses, while Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) or related subjects are accepted for B.Sc. programs.
  • Reservation Guidelines: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) adheres to the reservation policies set by the Government of India. Candidates claiming reservation must submit valid and approved documents to avail benefits related to age, marks, or seat allocation.

 

ICAR AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs

Who is eligible for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Candidates must have a 4/5/6-year Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or related fields with at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD).

What is the minimum age to apply for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

The candidate must be at least 19 years old as of August 31, 2026.

Are final-year students eligible to apply?

Yes, but they must complete their degree and submit proof by the time of counselling.

Do different PG courses have specific eligibility?

Yes, each course has its discipline-specific undergraduate eligibility.

Can BSc (general) students apply for ICAR AIEEA PG?

No, unless their degree aligns with eligible agricultural or allied disciplines.

Is there a relaxation in marks for reserved categories?

Yes, SC/ST/PwD candidates require only 50% marks or 5.50 OGPA.

What are the criteria for EWS category applicants?

EWS candidates must meet general eligibility and submit a valid EWS certificate.

Are State University students eligible?

Yes, if the university and degree are ICAR-recognised.

Is there a limit to the number of attempts?

No, candidates can apply multiple times if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Can candidates with a BTech degree apply for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Yes, if the BTech is in an eligible field like Agricultural Engineering or Dairy Technology.

Can NRI or foreign students apply?

Yes, through DARE nominations; they don’t appear for the entrance exam.

Exam Calendar

Explore exam calendars tailored to your interest