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Why Agriculture Students Are Upset With ICAR Counselling Process
Imagine a student, Uma, who is passionate about farming and wants to become an agricultural scientist. In Class 11, she opts for Agriculture as her main subject, believing it is the most direct path to securing a spot in a top university through the CUET exam (entrance for ICAR-UG admission). As she prepares for counselling, she opens the official ICAR brochure and finds something interesting. Many of the best agricultural colleges under ICAR list Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) or Math (PCM) as essential subjects, but Agriculture is often just one of several options, and sometimes not even a required one at all. This raises a critical question that thousands of students like UMA ask every year: What is the point of studying Agriculture in school if it’s not the main key to getting into a university for an agriculture degree?
This Story also Contains
- Is Agriculture Mandatory for ICAR UG Admission?
- Universities in Question for ICAR Counselling
- Why ICAR Colleges Maybe Focusing on Foundational Science Courses?
- Agriculture Not Mandatory for ICAR Counselling: From a Student’s Perspective
- So What’s the Point?
- ICAR’s Order to the Universities
Is Agriculture Mandatory for ICAR UG Admission?
In short, No. In most ICAR affiliated universities, students do not need to have studied agriculture in their Class 12. Students who have studied alternative science stream subject combinations like PCM (Physics, chemistry, mathematics), PCB (physics, chemistry, biology) and more. In most cases, agriculture as a subject is either optional or just not on the list. This seems strange, doesn’t it?
For example, you cant take admission into agriculture courses at institutions like Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya or Assam Agricultural University - yet if you didn’t study physics, chemistry and biology, you are not eligible. Let me explain.
Universities in Question for ICAR Counselling
Here is a list of universities which have managed to raise the eyebrows of students based on their declared subject-wise eligibility. Before I mention, let me clarify that A stands for agriculture, B for biology, C for chemistry, M for mathematics.
No | Name of the university | Mandatory Subject Combination |
1 | Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013 | PCB |
2 | Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia-741252 (West Bengal) | PCB |
3 | Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi-834006 (Jharkhand) | PCB, PCM |
4 | Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri415 712, (MS) | PCB, PCM |
5 | Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi-221005 (UP) | PCB, PCM |
6 | Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga-577204 (Karnataka) | PCB |
7 | Kerala Agricultural University, KAU P.O., Vellanikkara, Thrissur-680656 (Kerala) | PCB |
8 | Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Distt. Ahmednagar-413722 (MS) | PCB, PCM |
9 | Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751003 (OD) | PCB, PCM |
10 | Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santineketan, Birbhum, West Bengal-731204 | PCB, PCM |
11 | Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, NH58, Roorkee Road, Modipuram, Meerut-250110 (UP) | PCB, PCM, PMB |
12 | Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar-190025, (J&K) | PCB, PCM |
13 | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003 Tamil Nadu | PCB |
14 | University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore560 065 (Karnataka) | PCB, PCM |
15 | University of Agricultural Sciences, Krishi Nagar, Dharwad-580 005 (Karnataka) | PCB |
Why ICAR Colleges Maybe Focusing on Foundational Science Courses?
The rise of modern agriculture has evolved beyond the traditional practices. Having knowledge about subjects like physics, chemistry, biology may turn out to be helpful.
For subjects like Soil Science and Agrochemicals, chemistry sets a baseline of understanding soil health, fertilizers, and pesticides.
For studying Farm Mechanization and Food Processing, subjects like physics, mathematics help in understanding efficient machinery, irrigation systems, and food technology processes.
Due to university curriculum demands, most agricultural courses require a good fundamental understanding of botany, zoology, biochemistry, statistics, and engineering principles, which make universities set this benchmark.
As most students who studied science streams have opted for PCB/ PCM subject combinations, universities have a larger pool of candidates eligible to apply. This ensures that more seats for agricultural studies are filled.
Agriculture Not Mandatory for ICAR Counselling: From a Student’s Perspective
All the points mentioned above sound fair, but from the university's point of view. But what about the students? Students who opt for Agriculture in Class 11 and 12 have already shown a clear inclination and commitment to the field. The current system can feel like it overlooks this demonstrated passion in favor of general science aptitude. The name "Indian Council of Agricultural Research" creates an expectation that the subject of Agriculture would be the prime qualifier.
One may also argue that, just because foundational subjects like physics, chemistry, biology do help, but what about subjects like agronomy, horticulture, and animal husbandry? Basic understanding of these subjects are only known to students who have studied agricultural sciences. Students who studied PCB and PCM are already in a disadvantaged position.
So What’s the Point?
Though there are universities, where you can not apply even if you studied agriculture, there are several universities which require students to have studied the said subject. Unlike the table above, let’s look at the list of universities where you can apply if you have studied agriculture in your Class 12 education.
ICAR Universities Where Agriculture is Mandatory
No | Name of the university | Mandatory subjects |
1 | Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Administrative Office, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh - 522 034 (AP) | ABC, PCA, PCB |
2 | Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya-224229 (UP) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
3 | Agriculture University, Borkhera, PB No. 20 GPO Nayapura, Kota324001 (Rajasthan) | ABC, PCA, PCB, |
4 | Agriculture University, Mandor, Jodhpur-342304 (Rajasthan) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
5 | Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388110 (Gujarat) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PMA, PMB |
6 | Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Chilla Road, Banda210 001 (UP) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
7 | Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Sabour, Bhagalpur- 813210 (Bihar) | ABC, CMA, MAB, PCB, PCM |
8 | Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal-795004 (Manipur) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
9 | Chandra Shekar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur-208002 (Uttar Pradesh) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
10 | Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar125004 (Haryana) | ABC, PCA, PCB PCM |
11 | CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062 (HP) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
12 | Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth P.O. Krishi Nagar, Akola-444104 (MS) | ABC CMB, MAB PAB, PCA PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
13 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur - 848 125 (Bihar) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
14 | Faculty of Agricultural Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh202 002 (UP) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
15 | G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, USNagar-263145 (UK) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
16 | IARI Assam Hub | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA,PMB |
17 | IARI Jharkhand Hub | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
18 | Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Krishak Nagar, Raipur-492 012 Chhattisgarh | ABC, PCB, PCM |
19 | Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Krishi Nagar, Adhartal, Jabalpur-482004 (MP) | ABC, PCB, PCM |
20 | Junagarh Agricultural University, Near Motibaugh, Vanthali Road, Junagadh-362001 (Gujarat) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
21 | Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) | ABC, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA |
22 | Nagaland University, (SAS) Mediziphema, Lumani, Zunheboto Dist. Nagaland-798627 | PCA, PCB, PCM |
23 | Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396 450 (Gujarat) | ABC, PCA, PCB |
24 | Professor Jayashankar Agriculture University, Hyderabad-500030 (TS) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PMA, PMB |
25 | Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
26 | Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raja Pancham Singh Marg, Gwalior-474002 (MP) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
27 | Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, NH-75, Near Pahuj Dam, Gwalior Road, Jhansi-284003 (UP) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
28 | Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385506, Dist : Banaskantha (Gujarat) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PMA, PMB |
29 | Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu-180009, (J&K) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
30 | Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University Jobner-303329, Jaipur (Rajasthan) | ABC, CMA, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA |
31 | Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner334006 (Rajasthan) | ABC, PCA, PCB, PCM |
32 | University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur - 584104 (Karnataka) | ABC, PCB, PCM |
33 | Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, PO Pundbari, Cooch Behar-736 165 West Bengal | PCA, PCB |
34 | Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani-431402 (MS) | ABC, CMA, CMB, MAB, PAB, PCA, PCB, PCM, PMA, PMB |
35 | VCSG Uttarakhand Univ. Of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar246123 (Uttarakhand) | PCA, PCB, PCM |
ICAR’s Order to the Universities
The participating universities have received an order by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research asking them to include agriculture as a mandatory subject for UG eligibility. This is applicable for all UG agricultural courses such as BSc Hons in agriculture and other allied UG courses like horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and others.
A total of 74 ICAR affiliated universities are ordered to correct their subject-eligibility criteria and include the Agriculture-Biology-Chemistry subject combination (ABC). 19 of those universities have already made the changes, and 14 for BSc Hons forestry.
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Questions related to ICAR AIEEA
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to ICAR AIEEA ?
Unfortunately, without specific information about the colleges you're interested in and their previous year's cutoff ranks, it's difficult to provide a definitive answer.
However, based on the general trend in ICAR-AIEEA(pg) admissions, a rank of 1475 overall and 616 category under OBC might be competitive for some colleges, especially considering
Hi there,
Hope you are doing fine.
To secure a seat in the Horticulture program through the ICAR AIEEA PG (Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination for Admission Postgraduate) entrance examination, a general category student typically needs to achieve a competitive score.
The exact number of marks
Hello Aspirant
You don't mention the specifics of the course or the fee schedule. You have only expressed your plan to enrol in an undergraduate course. For mentioning the specifics of your option, however, the other aspects are unclear. Therefore, it is not particularly simple to guide you in this
Dear Student,
The CUSAT exam is challenging. But if you study the course well, getting good marks is not difficult. There are additional math questions on the test. Typically simple questions are asked.
The ICAR exam is a simpler, more fundamental form of test. Even with only a passing familiarity
Hello Student,
Yes, it get admission through ICAR, and it is a government institutions. It is also approved by UGC. The Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth is in the list of Top B.SC Agriculture College in Pune based on the 2021 Ranking. 6 more colleges which comes under icar in Maharashtra
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