ICAR PG Scholarship 2026 for Agricultural Sciences Master's Students - Stipend Revised to ₹12,640 Per Month

Indian Council of Agricultural Research is running ICAR PG Scholarship (formerly Junior Research Fellowship for Post-Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences) for meritorious students taking admission into Master's programmes in agriculture and allied sciences. Selection happens through the AIEEA (PG) exam conducted by NTA every year, and the monthly stipend has been revised to ₹12,640 per month along with a yearly contingency grant of ₹6,000.

AIEEA (PG) 2026 cycle notification was released on 8 May 2026, application closed on 10 June 2026, and the computer-based test was held on 4 July 2026 across around 122 cities in the country. About 600 PG scholarships are awarded every year based on merit rank in the exam and seat availability in different disciplines.

ICAR PG Scholarship 2026 - Key Details

This scholarship is for students who have secured admission into a recognised Agricultural University through the All India Competitive Entrance Examination (AIEEA PG). Support runs for 2 years of the Master's programme, provided the student maintains satisfactory academic performance.

It applies to admissions in various State Agricultural Universities, deemed universities like IARI (New Delhi) and NDRI (Karnal), and selected Central Universities. Eligible people are picked strictly on merit rank, and reservation rules for SC, ST, OBC and PH categories follow central government norms.

Revised Fellowship and Contingency Grant

Amount was revised upward following the ICAR office order on revised rates of scholarship, fellowship and internship allowances. Previously, general disciplines were getting ₹8,640 per month. Now the flat rate is ₹12,640 for all disciplines under PG scholarship, with the contingency grant unchanged at ₹6,000 per year.

Contingency grant is meant for buying required chemicals, books, equipment and travel connected with research work during the Master's programme.

Highlights Table

How to Apply for ICAR AIEEA (PG) Exam

Full application is done online through the NTA portal. There is no offline mode. Steps are given below in order.

STEP 1 - Go to the official NTA portal for ICAR at https://exams.nta.nic.in/icar/ and click on the ICAR AIEEA (PG) application link for the current cycle. Complete new candidate registration using a valid email ID and active mobile number, both of which should stay with you till counselling is over.

STEP 2 - Log in with the system-generated application number and password, then fill out personal details, address, category, and academic qualifications including 10+2 marks and Bachelor's degree details.

STEP 3 - Choose your subject group, preferred exam cities (usually 4 preferences), and language of the question paper. Medium is English only for the PG exam.

STEP 4 - Upload scanned images of your recent passport-size photograph, signature, and thumb impression (left thumb for males, right thumb for females) in the correct format and size mentioned in the information bulletin.

STEP 5 - Pay the application fee online using debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. Save the payment receipt for your records.

STEP 6 - Submit the form, download the confirmation page, and keep a printout safely. NTA opens a correction window after the application deadline for editing details, which for 2026 closed on 14 June.

2026 Exam Timeline

Here is a quick view of important dates for the 2026 cycle so you can plan for future cycles too, since dates repeat around similar months every year.

Eligibility

To qualify for ICAR PG Scholarship, you should clear AIEEA (PG) with a good merit rank and take admission into a recognised Agricultural University in the allotted subject and seat category.

Basic eligibility rules for the exam are:

• Bachelor's degree in the relevant field under 10+2+3, 10+2+4 or 10+2+5 system, or being in the final year at the time of application, is required.
• General, OBC and UPS category students should have at least 60% marks or OGPA of 6.60/10.00 in Bachelor's degree. SC, ST and PH candidates need a minimum of 55% marks or OGPA of 5.50/10.00.
• Minimum age is 19 years as on the exam date. There is no upper age limit for AIEEA PG.
• For M.V.Sc. programme, candidates should have completed B.V.Sc. & A.H. along with the internship before the university registration date.

Category certificates are verified by the concerned university at the time of admission, so keep originals ready. Scholarship is only for the notified Agricultural Universities under the ICAR system.

Documents Required

Following papers should be kept ready in soft copy for the online form and in hard copy for admission counselling:

• Recent passport-size photograph with your name and date printed on it, plus scanned signature and thumb impression.
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and passing certificates for age proof and academic proof.
• Bachelor's degree mark sheets of all semesters or years, along with degree certificate or provisional certificate.
• Valid government photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence, Passport or Voter ID card.
• Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS or PH) if applicable, in the central government format.
• Proof of application fee payment and bank account details for stipend disbursal after selection.

Selection and Stipend Release

After the exam, NTA declares the result and All India merit rank list. ICAR then conducts online counselling for seat allocation across universities based on your rank, category, subject preference and seat availability. Top-ranked candidates in each discipline get the PG scholarship subject to overall quota of about 600 scholarships per year.

Once you take admission, the university confirms your scholarship status with ICAR, and the monthly stipend of ₹12,640 plus contingency grant is released as DBT payment to your bank account through the university.

Helpline and Contact

For any issue related to the application form, admit card or exam, you can contact NTA officials at 011-69227700 or 011-40759000. Queries can also be sent to the official email address mentioned in the information bulletin. For scholarship rules and disbursal issues after admission, students should reach out to the education cell of their agricultural university or check circulars on education.icar.gov.in.

Also see related scholarship options like PM YASASVI Scheme if you fall under OBC, EBC or DNT categories and want extra study support.

References

Official Guidelines

Revised Fellowship Guidelines

NTA ICAR AIEEA Portal

FAQ's

What is the revised stipend amount under ICAR PG Scholarship in 2026?

Revised monthly stipend is ₹12,640 for all disciplines, along with a contingency grant of ₹6,000 per year. Earlier, general disciplines were getting ₹8,640 per month.

Is the ICAR JRF for PGS scheme still active?

Yes, it is running under a slightly changed name. Council now calls it ICAR-PG Scholarship, but purpose, exam route and 2-year duration stay the same.

How can I apply for the ICAR AIEEA PG exam?

Only online mode is accepted through exams.nta.nic.in/icar. Complete registration, fill the form, upload photo/signature/thumb impression, pay the fee and submit within the deadline.

How many PG scholarships are given every year?

Around 600 PG scholarships are awarded every year based on overall merit rank in AIEEA (PG) and seat availability in different disciplines and universities.

What is the age limit for AIEEA PG?

Minimum age is 19 years on the date of exam. There is no upper age limit for the PG exam.

Can I make changes in the application form after submitting?

Yes, but only during the official correction window opened by NTA. For 2026, that window closed on 14 June. Outside this window, no edits are allowed.

Where do I check my admit card and exam city?

Admit card is uploaded on exams.nta.nic.in/icar. Log in with your application number and password to download it. For 2026, admit cards were released on 1 July for the 4 July exam.

Which helpline number to call for exam issues?

You can call NTA at 011-69227700 or 011-40759000 for any issue related to the application, admit card or exam.