Agricultural Research Service

National Eligibility Test/ Senior Research Fellowship Examination

The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) holds a Competitive Examination for recruiting Scientists of the ARS in the pay scale of Rs. 8,000-13,500 in the ICAR Institutes, combined with National Eligibility Test (NET) for recruitment of Lecturers and Assistant Professors by the State Agricultural Universities (SAUS) and for award of ICAR Senior Research Fellowships.

The selected candidates for Agricultural Research Service must serve in the institutes to which they are posted until they find appointment for higher positions through selection at other institutes.

(i) Candidates successful in ARS are appointed as Scientists in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in the pay scale of Rs. 8,000-13,500.

(ii) Candidates clearing the National Eligibility Test are recommended to various State Agricultural Universities who will consider them for appointment as Lecturers or Assistant Professors after assessing their suitability through interview or such other tests as may be devised by the SAU concerned. Eligibility certificates are issued to these candidates by the ASRB to enable them to apply for vacancies to be notified or advertised by the SAUs.

(iii) For Senior Research Fellowship of ICAR, the Education Division prepares a merit list based on the following criteria:

(a) 60% marks for written examination
(b) 20% marks for Academic performance
(c) 20% marks for Viva-voce.

Note: The ASRB may increase or decrease the number of examination centers according to requirement. Candidates must select the examination center carefully. No request for change of center is entertained.

The number of candidates called for Viva-Voce is in the ratio of 1:5. The selection of candidates for Viva-Voce is made on the basis of marks obtained in the written examination and weightage is given to marks obtained by the candidate in Intermediate, Graduate and Post-graduate examinations.

Qualifications: Master's degree or equivalent with good academic record in the concerned subject.

Agricultural Research Service and National Eligibility Test: 

(i) Ph.D, with at least a (II div) Master's degree (50%). OR
(ii) A candidate without a Ph.D degree should possess at least a high II div. Master's degree (55% and above) and I1 div. Bachelor's degree (50%).

Senior Research Fellowship Examination: The candidate must possess a high Second Class Master's degree (55% and above or equivalent OGPA) in the concerned discipline.

Age:

(a) Agricultural Research Service 
21-30 yrs. on August 1. In-service candidates of ICAR/State Agricultural Universities less than 35 years in age are also eligible to appear subject to possession of prescribed qualifications.

(b) National Eligibility Test
21 years on August 1. No upper age limit.

(c) Senior Research Fellowship
21-30 yrs on August 1. In-service candidates of ICAR/State Agricultural Universities less than 45 years in age are also eligible to appear subject to possession of prescribed qualifications.

(d) The upper age limit is also relaxable for:

(i) SC or ST candidates upto a maximum of five years.
(ii) Other bonafide displaced persons/repatriates of Indian origin/Defense Services personnel/Border Security Force personnel etc. as per Government of India rules.

Subjects for Examination

Three papers in the written examination: