SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Agriculture Minister has announced that 20 % of undergraduate seats in agricultural universities will now be filled through an all-India competitive examination conducted by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
To harmonize eligibility, students who studied Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Agriculture in Class 12 will be eligible under this scheme.
This change addresses longstanding discrepancies across states and institutions, where varying subject-group requirements excluded many deserving applicants.
In the 50 agricultural universities participating in the ICAR quota, 42 already accept Agriculture/Biology/Chemistry combinations; now three more have accepted Physics/Chemistry/Agriculture (PCA).
Of the 3,121 ICAR quota seats in 2025-26, approximately 2,700 (85 %) will now be accessible to students with the newly included subject groups.
Five remaining universities are in discussion to include “Agriculture” in their eligibility criteria by 2026-27.
This reform may democratize access to agriculture education, reduce disparities across states, align with national agricultural capacity-building goals, and support youth inclusion in agri-innovation and food security initiatives.
What is ICAR-Exam Quota? → A fixed share of undergraduate seats in agricultural universities reserved to be filled via ICAR’s nationwide exam. It ensures uniform, transparent, and merit-based access across states.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: With 20 % seats now under ICAR’s competitive exam, how can state universities and regulatory bodies ensure this shift does not disadvantage students from states with weaker preparatory infrastructure or resources?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174617