ICAR-SRF-PGS
ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences
6.1/10ICAR awards a certain number of Senior Research Fellowships for Ph.D. in an Agricultural University (AU), in different disciplines of agriculture and allied sciences. This is done to encourage talented students to undertake higher agricultural education.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Nodal department: Department of Agriculture Research and Education
Scheme for: Individual
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): Yes
Scheme open date: 2019-01-01
Categories: Education & Learning
Sub-categories: Education and training grants, fellowship, stipend
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: Agriculture, Research, Fellowship
Details
ICAR awards a certain number of Senior Research Fellowships for Ph.D. in an Agricultural University (AU), in different disciplines of agriculture and allied sciences. This is done to encourage talented students to undertake higher agricultural education.
In order to address the emerging challenges of agricultural research and education, the ICAR supports specific time-bound schemes/projects. The schemes/projects generally have provisions for time-bound/non-regular/ contractual engagement of manpower, contingencies, and limited need-based traveling allowance (TA), besides other specifically needed provisions for a particular scheme/project. In supersession of all previous guidelines, the following guidelines are formulated to regulate all aspects relating to engagement, emoluments, and terms and conditions of Senior Research Fellows and Research Associates working in ICAR schemes.
Benefits
- Veterinary Sciences: ₹12 000/- per month With a contingency grant of ₹6 000/- per annum. All disciplines other than Veterinary Sciences: ₹8 640/- per month With a contingency grant of ₹6 000/- per annum. The rates of fellowship and contingency grants for higher studies will be as prescribed by the Council from time to time
Veterinary Sciences: ₹ 12,000/- per month With a contingency grant of ₹ 6,000/- per annum.
All disciplines other than Veterinary Sciences: ₹ 8,640/- per month With a contingency grant of ₹ 6,000/- per annum.
The rates of fellowship and contingency grants for higher studies will be as prescribed by the Council from time to time.
Eligibility
Method of Award
ICAR-SRF (PGS) will be awarded on the basis of merit in the All India Competitive Entrance Examination for -
(i) ICAR-SRF (PGS), and
(ii) concurrent admission to Master’s degree program at -
a) State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), and b) Deemed Universities viz. IARI (New Delhi) / IVRI (Izatnagar) / NDRI (Karnal) / CIFE (Mumbai) / AAU (Allahabad), Central Agricultural University (Imphal, Manipur), and c) Central Universities having faculty of agriculture viz. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Visva Bharti, and Nagaland University, collectively hereinafter referred to as the Agricultural Universities (AUs).
Eligibility
- Candidates having completed their Master’s degree program with a minimum of 55% marks or an OGPA of 5.5/10.00 or 2.75/5.00 or 2.20/4.00 or an equivalent OGPA from any recognized University in India and abroad would be eligible. For SC/ST and Physically Handicapped (PH) candidates, the minimum percentage of marks will be relaxed by 5 percent or an equivalent OGPA. The equivalence of OGPA to percent marks, where needed, will be certified by the Registrar of the concerned University. Candidates appearing in the final semester would also be eligible provided they complete their postgraduate degree in all respects by the date of examination and produce the complete degree certificate from the Registrar to this effect.
- The fellowship would be granted only when the candidate gets eventually admitted and pursues a Ph.D. degree in an Agricultural University(AU) other than the Agricultural University(AU) from where the candidate has completed M.Sc./M.V.Sc./ M.E./M.Tech. degree.
- The upper age limit would be 30 years as of the date of the examination. For SC/ST & PH categories, the upper age limit will be relaxed by 5 years. For OBC the upper age limit will be relaxed by 3 years. For in-service candidates of Agricultural Universities (AU), the upper age limit would be 45 years as of the date of examination whereas, the academic performance requirement would remain as stated above.
NOTE 1: Reservation of various categories such as SC/ST/OBC and PH etc. will be given as per Government of India rules/instructions issued from time to time. The responsibility of verification of the genuineness of SC/ST/OBC and PH certificates will solely rest with the concerned Agricultural University (AU) where the candidate has been recommended for admission or granted provisional admission.
NOTE 2: The ICAR-SRF (PGS) will NOT be available for admission in any university other than the AUs as mentioned above.
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility5.0
- Financial impact6.0
- Rural utility5.0
- Awareness7.0
- Simplicity7.0
- Inclusivity6.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The ICAR Senior Research Fellowship is a valuable opportunity for individuals pursuing higher education in agricultural sciences, promoting research and education in this critical sector.
Key challenges addressed
- Encourages higher education in agriculture
- Supports talented students financially
Most beneficial for
- Students pursuing Ph.D. in agricultural sciences
- Candidates from SC/ST and PH categories due to relaxed eligibility criteria
Likely challenges
- Complex application process
- High competition for fellowships
Practical insights for citizens
While the fellowship is beneficial, the application process may deter potential candidates, especially in rural areas.
Rural challenges
- Limited access to digital resources
- Awareness of the scheme in rural areas
Digital challenges
- High digital dependency may exclude non-digital users
- Need for stable internet access
Implementation bottlenecks
- Verification of documents may delay processing
- High competition for limited fellowships
Awareness challenges
- Limited outreach in rural areas
- Need for better communication of eligibility and benefits
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Online portal
- Documents burden
- Moderate; requires scanned documents
- Verification complexity
- Moderate; requires verification of eligibility and documents
- Office dependency
- Low; primarily online process
- DBT dependency
- No direct benefit transfer involved
- CSC support
- Limited; primarily online application
- Estimated citizen effort
- High; requires multiple steps and document submissions
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- Cash
- Benefit frequency
- Monthly
- Benefit practicality
- Practical for eligible candidates pursuing Ph.D.
- Financial meaningfulness
- Moderately meaningful; provides essential support for education
- Long-term impact
- Positive impact on agricultural research and education in India
Plain-language guidance
The ICAR Senior Research Fellowship supports students pursuing Ph.D. in agriculture with monthly financial aid. Applicants must apply online and meet specific eligibility criteria.
- Who should apply
- Students with a Master's degree in agriculture or related fields.
- Who may struggle
- Semi-literate individuals and those without reliable internet access.
- Best application route
- Apply directly through the ICAR-NTA online portal.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Online
Step 1: Candidates need to aррly fоr Оnline Registrаtiоn by using a unique Emаil Id аnd Mоbile Nо.
Step 2: Nоw, fill in the neсessаry detаils suсh аs Рersоnаl Detаils, Соntасt Detаils, Асаdemiс Quаlifiсаtiоns, etс.
Step 3: Uрlоаd the required documents like the sсаnned рhоtоgrарh, signаture, аnd thumb imрressiоn аfter filling uр the detаils.
Step 4: Nоw, Раy the Аррliсаtiоn Fees.
Step 5: Аfter filling the аррliсаtiоn fоrm, саndidаtes will get the system generаted Аррliсаtiоn Number.
Step 6: Оn соmрleting the аbоve рrосess аррliсаnts will hаve tо send the hаrd сорy оf the оnline аррliсаtiоn аnd рrооf оf fee раyment tо the СОE (Аgril. Edn.) by роst.
Application Correction
After submitting the application form for ICAR SRF candidates will get a chance to correct their mistakes. The NTA will provide a correction window to edit the application for the last time. With the help of credentials, candidates can update the application form and rectify their mistakes. No further chance will be given to candidates if they fail to correct their application in this window.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- Does ICAR release the application forms for PhD courses?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted ICAR AICE and ICAR AIEEA on behalf of ICAR. Candidates had to visit the official website of ICAR-NTA to apply online
- What are different modes to apply for SRF(PhD)]?
Application Forms can only be submitted online mode on the website https://icar.nta.ac.in. The Application Form other than online mode will not be accepted
- Can a person submit more than one application form for the exam
NO. Only ONE application is to be submitted by a candidate for appearing in the exam.
- What documents or certificates do I need to upload along with the Application Form
Candidates need to upload scanned images of their photograph, signature and thumb impression, with the Application Form. No certificates are required to be uploaded along with the Application Form at the time of online submission
- How can I pay Application Fee ?
Fee can be paid using SBI/Canara /HDFC/ICICI Bank Payment Gateway through Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI/Paytm. Candidates need to keep proof of fee paid.
- If I have made any mistake(s) while registering/applying, can I make changes later in the Application Form?
Once the 'Final Submit' button has been clicked, the candidate's details cannot be edited/changed. However, NTA shall open the "Correction Window" as per the schedule and the Correction in particulars of the Application Form can be incorporated on the website only during the "Correction Window". No corrections shall be allowed after the closure of the correction window and all particulars entered by the candidate would be considered as final.
Official links
References
- Guidelines
- https://icar.org.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/Revised%28ebruary2016%29forICARJRFandSRF%28PGS%29-2016.pdf
- Website
- https://icar.org.in/hi
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Education & Learning, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Eligibility for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Benefits under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences is managed by Department of Agriculture Research and Education and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Applications for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is income certificate required for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences.
- Is ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences a central government scheme?
- Yes, ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can small and marginal farmers apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Eligible small and marginal farmers may apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences subject to land ownership records, income eligibility, and agricultural beneficiary criteria.
- Does ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences provide subsidy support for farmers?
- ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may provide agricultural subsidies, financial assistance, crop support, irrigation benefits, insurance coverage, or farming-related welfare assistance depending on the scheme structure.
- Can students apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
- Is scholarship amount provided under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
- Who is eligible for pension benefits under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Eligibility may depend on age, income category, social welfare criteria, disability status, widow status, or senior citizen classification defined under the scheme.
- How are pension benefits provided under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Pension assistance under ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences may be transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT), linked bank accounts, post office accounts, or welfare department payment systems.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Are there deadlines for applying to ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with ICAR Senior Research Fellowship For Post-Graduate Studies In Agricultural Sciences applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.