All India Competitive Examination for Admission to ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF(Ph.D) - Eligibility Criteria and Instructions

Indian nationals who have passed the Master’s Degree program with a minimum Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA) as shown below will be eligible. In other cases, where grade- points are not awarded and only marks are awarded, the candidate must have secured a minimum percent score.

Further, in case any degree from a particular college/university is not considered for admission by an Agricultural University on account of a particular college/university being derecognized by VCI/UGC, or due to any Court directives (present or future), ICAR will not be responsible for admitting students of that college/university in the Universities not willing to admit such candidates.

The candidates having Bachelor’s degree with 3 years duration will not be considered for admission through ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.)-2023 in AUs under the ICAR-AU system except in a few courses at IARI and NDRI for which the eligibility criteria of the concerned ICAR-DU, including admission of graduates having passed with 3 years’ degree, would prevail for admission.

Equivalence of Degrees will be decided by the admitting university only, as per the UGC Public Notice No.F9-3/2016(CPP-II) dated 19th July, 2016.

OGPA

10point Scale : 6.5 points

9 point scale : 5.85 points

8 Point Scale : 5.20 points

7 Point Scale : 4.55 points

6 point scale : 3.90 points

5 point Scale : 3.25 points

4 Point Scale: 2.60 Points

Marks Secured : Percent(100Point) -60

10point Scale : 5.5 points

9 point scale : 4.95 points

8 Point Scale : 4.40 points

7 Point Scale : 3.85 points

6 point scale : 3.30 points

5 point Scale : 2.75 points

4 Point Scale : 2.20 Points

Marks Secured : Percent(100 Points) - 50

Where OGPA is awarded, equivalence between OGPA and % marks will not be acceptable.

There will be no rounding-off of the OGPA/percentage of marks of qualifying examination while deciding the basic eligibility of any candidate for admission e.g. if a candidate obtains 49.99% marks in his/her qualifying examination, then it will not be rounded off to 50%.

Merely qualifying the examination will not guarantee JRF/SRF/Admission. It would be governed by rules and regulations of ICAR and concerned University.

Candidate must ensure that he/she fulfills the eligibility requirements for the examination as well as admission as detailed in the Information Bulletin. Applying for AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.)-2023, appearing in the examination, and qualifying the same does not necessarily mean acceptance of eligibility. The applicant for a particular Subject must satisfy the eligibility criterion as specified in this Information Bulletin (or its amendments/corrections).

No certificates (other than PwBD/Category certificate, as applicable) are required to be uploaded along with the online application at the time of online submission.

The documents/certificates etc. shall be verified directly at the time of admission in the admitting university. In case the candidate is found not eligible at any stage, his/her candidature would be summarily rejected and admission will be canceled.

The candidate must complete the postgraduate degree in all respects and should have all the degree completion requirements on the day of online verification during counselling failing which they will not be considered for admission and the award of fellowship. Please note that ICAR/University will NOT be held responsible for the denial of admission to non-eligible candidates.

The candidates who do not have the Degree/PDC, have to mandatorily produce a certificate from the Registrar of the concerned university, on the day of online verification during counseling, specifically indicating that the candidate has fulfilled all the requirements for the award of a Master's degree including thesis submission and completion of viva-voce and his/her Final OGPA/Percentage of marks at the end of the final semester/year; on or before the online verification of the documents during counseling.

The candidates should note that the university may deny admission in case the PDC/Degree is not produced at the time of physical verification/registration with the university. No correspondence shall be entertained by the Council in this regard.

Indian Nationals of at least 20 years of age as of 31.08.2023 are eligible to apply for the examination. No relaxation is permissible regarding the minimum age limit.

The in-service candidates will qualify for admission only if they come in the overall merit list of their concerned Subject and produce the Sponsorship Certificate/Declaration by their employer for verification at the time of online counselling.

The in-service candidates must be working in ICAR Institutes, ICAR-DUs, SAUs, CAUs, CUs having faculty of agriculture, Central Government/State Government Departments dealing in Agriculture and Allied Sectors, and Public Sector Undertakings dealing with Agriculture and Allied Sectors.

At ICAR-IARI, New Delhi under (i) ICAR In-Service Scheme, and (ii) Faculty Upgradation Scheme, the Scientists working in ICAR Institutes and the Faculty Members of SAUs, respectively only are eligible for admission.

The in-service candidates qualifying for admission will arrange for study leave/leave of the kind due from their respective organizations themselves and ICAR will not intervene in this regard.

In case of in-service candidates, admission and fellowship will be granted provided the candidate joins the University other than where he/she is working.

In-service candidates must retain the computer-generated hard copy of the confirmation page of the application along with Sponsorship Certificate, in original, for showing to the university officials in the event of their qualifying for the examination and recommendation for admission to the concerned university.

In no case, the computer-generated hard copy of confirmation page of the application and Sponsorship Certificate (Declaration by the employer) should be sent by the candidate either to NTA or ICAR.

The counseling of in-service candidates seeking admission on seats reserved for the purpose at ICAR-DUs (ICAR-IARI, ICAR-IVRI, ICAR-NDRI, and ICAR-CIFE) will be done at the respective ICARDU level only. Such candidates are, therefore advised to remain in touch with the respective ICAR-DU’s website for further details such as no. of seats, eligibility requirements, counseling schedule, etc.