Question 1

What is ICAR NET and what are its uses?

Accepted Answer

ICAR NET (National Eligibility Test) is conducted by ICAR for determining eligibility for appointment as Lecturers/Assistant Professors in agricultural universities and for awarding Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) for postgraduate research in agricultural sciences. Qualifying ICAR NET (Lectureship) certifies you as eligible to apply for assistant professor positions at State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural Universities, and ICAR institutes. Candidates who qualify in the top merit category receive ICAR JRF which provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000 (plus HRA) for the first two years of M.Sc. programme, extendable to SRF at Rs. 42,000 for two more years.

Question 2

What is the exam pattern and marking scheme for ICAR NET?

Accepted Answer

ICAR NET consists of 200 objective-type questions to be answered in 120 minutes. The paper has two parts: Part A has 60 questions on Research Methodology, Statistics, and Computer Application, and Part B has 140 questions on the specific agricultural science subject chosen by the candidate. There are 68 subject options ranging from Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology to Entomology, Agricultural Economics, Fisheries Science, Animal Science, and Agricultural Extension. Each correct answer gets +1 mark and each incorrect answer carries -0.5 marks (negative marking). Both parts must be attempted.

Question 3

How many subject options are available in ICAR NET?

Accepted Answer

ICAR NET offers 68 distinct subject options covering all branches of agricultural sciences. The major subjects with maximum candidates include Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Animal Nutrition, Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary Medicine, Fisheries Science, Agricultural Engineering (multiple sub-disciplines), and Food Science & Technology. Candidates choose the subject matching their M.Sc. specialisation and are tested on advanced topics in that discipline.

Question 4

What research methodology topics are covered in Part A of ICAR NET?

Accepted Answer

Part A covers Research Methodology, Statistics, and Computer Application. Research Methodology topics include scientific method, hypothesis formulation and testing, experimental designs (CRD, RBD, LSD, Factorial experiments, Split plot, Strip plot, Augmented design), research proposal writing, literature review methods, and ethical considerations in research. Statistics topics include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, parametric and non-parametric tests (t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, correlation, regression), multivariate analysis, and biometrical genetics. Computer topics include database management, statistical software (SPSS, SAS, R), and bioinformatics basics.

ICAR NET Scholarship 2027 — Merit-Based Awards

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State Government Scholarship

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