Agricultural Research Scientist (ICAR)

Doing field and lab research on crops, soil, pests, water and farm methods. Running trials, analysing data, writing papers and developing varieties or techniques that reach farmers. Some scientists guide students or manage research projects.

A day in the work
You reach the institute in the morning and check your field plots or lab samples. You might record how a new rice variety is growing, or look at pest damage under a microscope. After lunch you enter data, run statistics and work on a research paper or project report. On some days you visit farmers' fields or a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and on others you attend meetings or help guide a Ph.D. student.

1. Step 1 · Class 11–12Take a science stream. Biology (or Agriculture) is the most common route. Some universities also accept PCM. Check the subject rules of the universities you want. Then apply for CUET (ICAR-UG) for ICAR-quota seats, or a state agriculture entrance test. Since 2023, ICAR-quota UG seats go through CUET rather than a separate ICAR exam (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
2. Step 2 · 4 yearsB.Sc (Hons) Agriculture at an ICAR-accredited agricultural university. Check accreditation before you join. Some state seats go through state tests, and about 15% of seats in state universities are ICAR all-India quota (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
3. Step 3 · M.Sc and Ph.D.M.Sc in one subject, such as agronomy, soil science, entomology, plant breeding or plant pathology. Admission is through ICAR AIEEA-PG, which NTA runs (reported). The 2025 ASRB notice listed a Ph.D. in the discipline as the ARS qualification, so plan for a Ph.D. too. Always read the discipline-wise rules in the notice (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
4. Step 4 · ARS Preliminary examASRB runs one combined online application for NET, ARS and other posts. The ARS preliminary is a computer-based test. In the 2025 cycle it was held in November 2025 (reported). For ARS-2025 the upper age limit was 32 years (as on 1 Aug 2025), with relaxations for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD and Ph.D. holders (reported). About 458 ARS vacancies were advertised in 2025 (reported). The next cycle's notice was not confirmed when we checked. (reported — check with the official body)
5. Step 5 · Mains and InterviewA written Mains exam in your subject comes next. In the 2025 cycle it was on 1 March 2026 (reported). Shortlisted candidates then face a personal interview. Final merit is reported to be based on Mains and interview marks. (reported — check with the official body)
6. Step 6 · Documents, medical and trainingSelected candidates go through document checks and a medical test (reported). They then join the Foundation Course for Agricultural Research Service (FoCARS) at ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad. It is a residential programme of about three months. At the end, probationers are posted to ICAR research institutes.
7. Step 7 · Probation and postingYou start as a probationer Scientist and are posted to an ICAR institute somewhere in India. You usually begin as a Scientist and move up the ranks in later years through ICAR's promotion system.

• ICAR institutes through ASRB's ARS examThe main route described above. It gives entry-level Scientist posts at ICAR institutes.
• Agricultural university teaching and research through ASRB NETThe NET is open to anyone with a master's degree and is a qualifying test for Lecturer or Assistant Professor posts in state agricultural universities (reported). It has no upper age limit, and the certificate is reported to be valid for life.
• Direct entry at senior levelASRB also advertises senior posts such as Senior Scientist-cum-Head of a Krishi Vigyan Kendra. The December 2025 notice asked for a doctoral degree plus 8 years of relevant experience. This is for later in a career, not a first job.

Fees from: ICAR: Entrance examination for agriculture and allied subjects · ICAR: FOCARS training for ARS probationers. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay follows a fixed government scale, so it grows steadily with promotions and years of service, and allowances change a little with the city where you are posted.

In the 2025 notice, SC/ST/PwBD, women and transgender candidates paid no ARS exam fee (reported). The upper age limit has relaxations of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 for OBC and 10 for PwBD (reported). The next notice may change these, so check it.

• Class 7–9Do a small seed experiment. Sprout the same seeds in two or three kinds of soil or with different amounts of water. Measure the growth every few days and keep a notebook of your results.
• Class 10–12Visit your nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agricultural university with a parent, if they allow visitors. Ask a scientist which subjects they studied. Also read the latest ICAR admission notice to see what a B.Sc Agriculture entrance test looks like.Open link ↗
• College or afterPick a free SWAYAM or NPTEL course on plant science, soil, statistics or research methods. Finish it and write a one-page summary of what you learned.Open link ↗

• There are two different exams. NET only makes you eligible to teach in agricultural universities. ARS is the recruitment exam for ICAR scientist posts.
• ARS dates, vacancies and age limits change every year. Read the latest notice on the ASRB website before you plan around any number you see here.
• Not every ARS discipline looks the same. There are over 30 disciplines, from agronomy and soil science to agricultural statistics and fisheries. Choose your M.Sc subject with the ARS discipline list in mind.
• Not sure about 10+ years of study? Agriculture officer, agribusiness and teaching are also open to B.Sc or M.Sc holders.