AIEEA Eligibility Criteria
AIEEA Eligibility Criteria
AIEEA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification & Exam Pattern
The ICAR AIEEA (All India Entrance Examination for Admission) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in agriculture and allied sciences across India.
Students preparing for AIEEA 2026 must clearly understand the eligibility criteria, age limit, qualification requirements, and exam pattern before applying. This page explains UG, PG, and PhD eligibility rules, marking scheme, exam mode, and participating institutions in detail.
Table of Contents
AIEEA Overview
AIEEA is conducted for admission into agriculture and allied science programs in accredited agricultural universities across India. Since 2023, UG admissions are conducted through CUET (Common University Entrance Test), while PG and PhD admissions continue through AIEEA.
- AIEEA (UG): Admission through CUET for BSc Agriculture and related courses.
- AIEEA (PG): Entrance for Master’s degree programmes in agriculture and allied sciences.
- AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD): Entrance for doctoral programmes and award of Junior/Senior Research Fellowships.
AIEEA UG Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Agriculture.
- Minimum age: 16 years as of 31 August of the admission year.
- Admission is conducted through CUET scores (not a separate ICAR exam).
- Minimum qualifying marks depend on participating universities.
AIEEA PG Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold a 4 or 5-year Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or allied sciences.
- Minimum 60% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD categories).
- Degree must be from a recognized agricultural university.
- No specific upper age limit (as per recent trends).
AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline.
- Minimum 60% marks (50% for reserved categories).
- Eligible candidates can compete for Junior/Senior Research Fellowships.
- Admission is based on AICE-JRF/SRF entrance scores.
Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
- Exam Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT).
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Marking Scheme: +4 marks for correct answer, -1 mark for incorrect answer.
- Duration and subject combinations vary depending on program level.
AIEEA 2026 Tentative Schedule
- Application Release: Expected in May 2026.
- Exam Date: Tentatively July 2026.
- Result Announcement: Likely by August 2026.
Top participating institutions include IARI (New Delhi), NDRI (Karnal), and various State Agricultural Universities across India.
FAQs on AIEEA Eligibility Criteria
Q1: Is AIEEA UG still conducted separately by ICAR for BSc Agriculture admission?
No, since 2023, UG admissions are conducted through CUET instead of a standalone ICAR AIEEA exam. Students must appear for CUET and select relevant agricultural universities. ICAR uses CUET scores for seat allocation.
Q2: What minimum percentage is required for AIEEA PG eligibility in 2026?
General category candidates must have at least 60% aggregate marks. SC/ST/PwBD candidates require a minimum of 50%. Marks must be obtained in a relevant Bachelor’s degree.
Q3: What is the age limit for applying to AIEEA PG and PhD programmes?
There is generally no upper age limit for PG and PhD programmes. However, candidates must meet the educational qualification criteria. Age rules may vary slightly as per official notification.
Q4: How does the marking scheme work in the AIEEA entrance examination?
Each correct answer carries +4 marks. One mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. Unattempted questions do not attract negative marking.
Q5: Can students from non-agriculture backgrounds apply for AIEEA PG?
Candidates must have a relevant Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or allied sciences. Unrelated degree holders are usually not eligible. Specific discipline requirements are mentioned in the notification.
Q6: Which universities accept AIEEA PG and PhD scores for admission?
Top institutions like IARI, NDRI, and State Agricultural Universities accept scores. Only ICAR-accredited universities participate. Seat allocation is done through centralized counseling.
Q7: When is the AIEEA 2026 application form expected to be released?
The application form is expected to be released in May 2026. Candidates should monitor the official NTA website for updates. Exact dates will be confirmed in the notification.
Q8: Is AIEEA considered a difficult entrance exam for agriculture aspirants?
The exam is competitive due to limited seats. Difficulty level is moderate to high depending on discipline. Strong conceptual preparation improves selection chances.
Conclusion
Understanding AIEEA eligibility criteria is essential before applying for UG, PG, or PhD agriculture programmes. Candidates must carefully check educational qualifications, category relaxations, and exam pattern details.
Next Step: Check official notification for confirmed 2026 dates and start preparing accordingly.