Photo: President’s Secretariat, Wikimedia Commons (GODL-India)
If you want to do an MSc in agriculture and allied sciences, the ICAR Post-Graduate Scholarship is for you. It is a scheme of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). A selected student gets ₹12,640 a month and a ₹6,000 yearly contingency. The scholarship is given for the entire duration of the degree. 600 students get this scholarship every year. This scheme is especially useful for agriculture students in Haryana, where agricultural universities and agriculture science students are large in number. The scheme covers a wide range of subjects, from agronomy and horticulture to animal sciences, fisheries and agricultural engineering.
How much money is given
The ICAR Post-Graduate Scholarship pays as follows.
- Scholarship: ₹12,640 a month — for the entire duration of the degree.
- Contingency: ₹6,000 a year — for books and research expenses.
- Number: 600 scholarships are given every year.
- Duration: the full MSc degree — subject to maintaining the minimum OGPA.
This scholarship is given on the merit of the ICAR All India Entrance Examination (AIEEA-PG). The scholarship is paid directly into the student’s bank account, and the student must maintain the minimum OGPA every semester to continue receiving it. Note — this is different from the NTS-PG scholarship, which pays ₹5,000 a month for studying in another state. The two cannot be taken together.
Who can apply
This scholarship is for those doing an MSc in agriculture and allied sciences.
- The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or an allied subject.
- The applicant must get admission through the AIEEA-PG exam on an ICAR All India Quota (AIQ) seat.
- Admission must be at an institute of the ICAR-Agricultural University system — State Agricultural Universities, IARI (New Delhi), IVRI (Izatnagar), NDRI (Karnal), CIFE (Mumbai), AAU (Allahabad), CAU (Imphal) or BHU, AMU, Visva-Bharati and Nagaland University.
- A minimum OGPA must be maintained to continue the scholarship.
How to apply
The AIEEA-PG exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year. The exam tests subject knowledge in agriculture and allied sciences, and the counselling process allots seats across the ICAR-AU system on the basis of merit. The entrance exam is held once a year and covers the full undergraduate syllabus of agriculture and allied sciences. After the exam, ICAR holds centralised counselling, in which seats are given on merit. Applications for the scholarship are made on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The NSP window for the 2026-27 cycle closed on 31 October 2026. Check scholarships.gov.in and icar.gov.in for the next cycle dates. Never pay anyone for applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money is given under the ICAR Post-Graduate Scholarship? A: ₹12,640 a month and a ₹6,000 yearly contingency, for the entire duration of the degree. Q2: How many scholarships are given every year? A: 600 scholarships every year, on AIEEA-PG merit. Q3: Who can apply? A: Graduates in agriculture or allied subjects who get an ICAR quota seat through AIEEA-PG. Q4: Can NTS-PG and this scholarship be taken together? A: No, only one of the two can be taken.
Useful links
- ICAR official website: https://icar.gov.in/
- National Scholarship Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in/
- ICAR Post-Graduate Scholarship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/icar-jrf-pgs
- Also see the ICMR Junior Research Fellowship: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/central-government-icmr-junior-research-fellowship-haryana/
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
