Download the complete, official subject-wise ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (Ph.D) examination syllabus. Preview online or download PDF for free.
70 Subjects | Free PDF Download
About the ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D Entrance Examination
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducts the All India Competitive Examination (AICE) every year to award Junior Research Fellowships (JRF), Senior Research Fellowships (SRF), and to facilitate admissions into Ph.D. programs at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), Central Universities with Agriculture Faculty, and ICAR Deemed Universities across India.
The ICAR AICE is one of the most prestigious examinations for agricultural research aspirants. Qualifying this exam opens doors to doctoral research opportunities in 70 specialized subject areas spanning Plant Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Dairy Science, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, Home Science, and other allied disciplines. The syllabus for each subject is prescribed by ICAR and covers the fundamental and advanced topics relevant to that particular field of study.
On this page, you will find the official ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D syllabus PDF for every subject, organized by discipline category. You can preview each syllabus directly in your browser or download it as a PDF for offline study.
Total Subjects
MCQ Questions
Total Marks
Exam Duration
ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Understanding the exam pattern is essential before beginning your ICAR JRF preparation. Here is a quick overview:
- Type of Questions: Objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Number of Questions: 120 questions
- Total Marks: 480 marks
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Marking: +4 marks for each correct answer
- Negative Marking: -1 mark for each wrong answer
- No Penalty: Unattempted questions carry zero marks
- Medium: English only
The question paper is divided into two parts. Part-A consists of questions related to the core subject, while Part-B may cover research methodology, general agriculture knowledge, and quantitative analysis depending on the discipline.
How to Prepare for ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D Exam
Cracking the ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (Ph.D) requires a systematic approach. Follow these expert tips to strengthen your preparation:
- Know the Syllabus: Start by downloading the official syllabus PDF for your subject from the list below. Understand every topic and sub-topic mentioned.
- Previous Year Papers: Solve ICAR JRF previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and frequently asked topics.
- Standard Textbooks: Refer to standard university-level textbooks recommended for your subject. Focus on fundamentals rather than obscure details.
- Revision Notes: Prepare concise revision notes covering important facts, formulae, and key concepts for last-minute revision.
- Mock Tests: Regularly practice with timed mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and time management during the actual exam.
- Negative Marking Strategy: Since there is -1 negative marking, avoid random guessing. Attempt only those questions where you are reasonably confident.
Subject-Wise ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D Syllabus PDF Download
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Plant Sciences & Crop Improvement
This group covers core plant science disciplines essential for crop improvement, plant protection, and agricultural biotechnology. Subjects include Genetics & Plant Breeding, Seed Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology among others. Candidates specialising in plant-related research will find their ICAR JRF syllabus PDF here.
| Code | Subject Name | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Genetics & Plant Breeding |
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| 02 | Seed Science & Technology |
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| 03 | Plant Genetic Resources |
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| 04 | Plant Pathology |
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| 05 | Nematology |
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| 06 | Entomology |
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| 07 | Sericulture |
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| 08 | Biochemistry |
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| 09 | Plant Physiology |
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| 10 | Molecular Biology & Biotechnology |
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| 11 | Microbiology |
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Horticulture & Post Harvest Technology
Horticultural sciences deal with the cultivation, processing, and management of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plantation crops. This category includes Vegetable Science, Fruit Science, Floriculture & Landscaping, Plantation Crops, and Post Harvest Management syllabus PDFs for ICAR JRF/SRF preparation.
Animal Sciences & Livestock Management
Animal Sciences subjects focus on animal genetics, nutrition, livestock production systems, poultry farming, and meat technology. Download the ICAR JRF syllabus for Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Livestock Production & Management, Livestock Products Technology, and Poultry Science.
Veterinary Sciences
Veterinary Sciences is the largest discipline group covering 11 subjects. It spans Veterinary Parasitology, Public Health, Microbiology, Pathology, Medicine, Pharmacology, Surgery, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. All ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D syllabus PDFs for veterinary subjects are available below.
| Code | Subject Name | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Veterinary Parasitology |
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| 23 | Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology |
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| 24 | Veterinary Microbiology |
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| 25 | Veterinary Pathology |
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| 26 | Veterinary Medicine |
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| 27 | Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology |
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| 29 | Veterinary Surgery & Radiology |
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| 30 | Veterinary Anatomy |
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| 31 | Veterinary Physiology |
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| 32 | Veterinary Biochemistry |
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| 33 | Veterinary Biotechnology |
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Dairy Science & Technology
Dairy Science covers the chemistry, microbiology, technology, and engineering aspects of milk and dairy product manufacturing. Download the ICAR JRF syllabus for Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Technology, and Dairy Engineering.
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering subjects deal with farm mechanisation, soil and water conservation, food processing technology, renewable energy systems, and irrigation management. Access the ICAR JRF syllabus PDFs for all five engineering disciplines here.
Home Science & Extension
Home Science and Extension Education subjects cover resource management, textiles, human development, food & nutrition, and agricultural communication. These subjects are crucial for rural development and community outreach research.
Fisheries & Aquaculture
Fisheries is a major discipline with 10 subjects covering resource management, fish processing, aquaculture, aquatic health, fish genetics, biotechnology, and fish nutrition. Download the complete ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D syllabus for all fisheries subjects.
| Code | Subject Name | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Fisheries Resource Management |
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| 50 | Fish Processing Technology |
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| 51 | Fisheries Technology & Engineering |
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| 52 | Aquatic Environmental Management |
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| 53 | Aquaculture |
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| 54 | Aquatic Animal Health Management |
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| 55 | Fish Nutrition & Feed Technology |
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| 56 | Fish Genetics & Breeding |
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| 57 | Fish Biotechnology |
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| 58 | Fish Physiology & Biochemistry |
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Agriculture, Forestry & Allied Sciences
This broad category includes foundational agricultural disciplines such as Agronomy, Soil Science, Agricultural Economics, Forestry, Meteorology, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Computer Application, Environmental Sciences, and Water Science & Technology. These subjects form the backbone of agricultural research in India.
| Code | Subject Name | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Forestry |
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| 60 | Agricultural Meteorology |
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| 61 | Agricultural Physics |
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| 62 | Agronomy |
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| 63 | Soil Science |
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| 64 | Agricultural Chemicals |
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| 65 | Agricultural Economics |
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| 66 | Agribusiness Management |
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| 67 | Agricultural Extension Education |
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| 68 | Agricultural Statistics |
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| 69 | Bioinformatics |
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| 70 | Computer Application |
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| 71 | Environmental Sciences |
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| 72 | Water Science & Technology |
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Frequently Asked Questions About ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D
Why Download ICAR JRF Syllabus from AgriGyan?
AgriGyan provides the most comprehensive and well-organized collection of ICAR JRF/SRF Ph.D syllabi available online. Each syllabus PDF has been extracted directly from the official ICAR circular and saved as a separate, clearly named file for your convenience. Whether you are preparing for Genetics & Plant Breeding, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Economics, Fish Biotechnology, or any of the other 70 subjects, you can find the exact syllabus you need on this page.
Our syllabus PDFs are regularly verified against the latest ICAR notifications to ensure accuracy. We also provide an online PDF preview feature so you can quickly check the contents before downloading. This saves your mobile data and storage space, especially if you are browsing on a smartphone.
Bookmark this page for quick access during your ICAR JRF preparation. For previous year question papers, study materials, and exam updates, explore the rest of AgriGyan.in – your trusted resource for agricultural education and competitive exam preparation.

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