ICAR PG JRF Plant Science 2027 Eligibility Criteria

The ICAR PG JRF Plant Science exam is a highly competitive national-level entrance for admission to Master's programs in Plant Sciences and for the award of the prestigious ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Understanding the eligibility criteria is the first and most important step for aspirants targeting ICAR AIEEA PG 2027.

Educational Qualification

To be eligible for ICAR PG JRF Plant Science 2027, candidates must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as:

B.Sc. Agriculture
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture
B.Sc. Horticulture
B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture
B.Sc. Forestry
B.Tech. (Biotechnology) or equivalent

The degree should generally be of 4 years (12+4) or 5/6 years duration. Candidates with a 3-year Bachelor’s degree are not eligible for most seats under the ICAR-AU system, except for limited programs at ICAR Deemed Universities like IARI.

Final-year students appearing in their qualifying examination can also apply, provided they complete all degree requirements by the specified date (usually July 31 of the admission year).

Minimum Marks Requirement (OGPA/Percentage)

Candidates must meet the following minimum marks/OGPA in their Bachelor’s degree:

For General, OBC, EWS & UPS Categories:

6.60/10.00 OGPA
5.88/9.00 OGPA
5.22/8.00 OGPA
4.57/7.00 OGPA
3.92/6.00 OGPA
60% marks (where only percentage is awarded)

For SC, ST, PwBD & Third Gender Categories:

5.60/10.00 OGPA
4.98/9.00 OGPA
4.42/8.00 OGPA
3.87/7.00 OGPA
3.32/6.00 OGPA
50% marks (where only percentage is awarded)

No rounding-off of marks or OGPA is allowed. For example, 5.59/10.00 will not be considered as 5.60.

Age Limit

Candidates must be at least 19 years old as on the date specified in the official notification (usually 31st August).
There is no upper age limit for the ICAR PG exam.

Nationality

Only Indian Nationals are eligible to apply.

Additional Important Points

The candidate’s university must be recognized by ICAR or a competent authority.
For Plant Science group (Code 02), the qualifying degree should align with sub-subjects like Genetics & Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Seed Science & Technology, etc.
Candidates must produce the final degree/provisional certificate and transcript at the time of counselling/admission.
Relaxation in marks is applicable only for reserved categories as per Government of India norms.

Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission. Candidates must also secure a good rank in the ICAR AIEEA PG 2027 exam for seat allotment and JRF consideration.

Stay updated with the official notification on the NTA ICAR portal or ICAR website, as minor changes may occur for the 2027 cycle. Start preparing early if you meet these requirements.

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