Full Form of ICAR Exam

The ICAR exam, also known as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research exam, is an all-India level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses in agriculture and allied sciences.

ICAR offers a diverse range of courses, including agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary sciences, dairy sciences, and more. The exam is held once a year in online mode, and the scores obtained in the exam are used for admission to 75 agricultural universities across the country.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who wish to appear for the ICAR exam must meet the following eligibility criteria:

For Undergraduate Courses

The candidate must have completed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, biology/ mathematics/ agriculture subjects.
The minimum age limit is 16 years as of 31st August of the year of admission.
The candidate must have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination.

For Postgraduate Courses

The candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree in the relevant field from a recognized university.
The minimum age limit is 19 years as of 31st August of the year of admission.
The candidate must have secured a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination.

Exam Pattern

The ICAR exam is conducted in online mode and consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The total duration of the exam is 2.5 hours for undergraduate courses and 3 hours for postgraduate courses. The exam pattern is as follows:

For Undergraduate Courses

The exam consists of 150 MCQs.
The questions are based on physics, chemistry, biology/ mathematics/ agriculture subjects.
Each correct answer carries 4 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
The maximum marks for the exam are 600.

For Postgraduate Courses

The exam consists of 160 MCQs.
The questions are based on the relevant subject of the course.
Each correct answer carries 4 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
The maximum marks for the exam are 640.

Syllabus

The syllabus for the ICAR exam varies depending on the course applied for. However, the topics covered in the exam include physics, chemistry, biology/ mathematics/ agriculture, and general knowledge.

Admission Process

The admission process for the ICAR exam begins after the results are announced. Candidates who have scored the minimum qualifying marks are eligible for the counseling process. The counseling process involves the following steps:

Online registration for counseling.
Choice filling of courses and colleges.
Allotment of seats based on the merit rank and choice of the candidate.
Reporting to the allotted college for admission.

Application Process

The application process for the ICAR exam is conducted online. Candidates need to visit the official website of NTA and register themselves by providing their personal details, academic qualifications, and contact information. After successful registration, candidates need to upload their scanned photograph and signature and pay the application fee through online mode. The application fee for the general and OBC category is Rs. 1200, while for SC, ST, and PwD categories, it is Rs. 600.

Important Dates

The NTA releases the important dates related to the ICAR exam on its official website. Candidates must keep a track of the important dates to avoid missing any crucial events related to the exam. Some of the important dates related to the ICAR exam are as follows:

Application form release date: March-April (tentative)
Last date to submit the application form: April (tentative)
Admit card release date: May (tentative)
Exam date: June (tentative)
Result declaration: July (tentative)

Cutoff

The cutoff for the ICAR exam varies every year and depends on various factors such as the number of candidates appearing for the exam, difficulty level of the exam, and availability of seats in the colleges. The cutoff is the minimum score required by the candidate to be eligible for the counseling process. Candidates who score above the cutoff are eligible for the counseling process.

Scholarships

ICAR offers various scholarships to meritorious students who score well in the exam. These scholarships provide financial assistance to students to pursue their studies without any financial burden. The scholarships are awarded based on the candidate's performance in the exam and the availability of funds.