ASRB NET Eligibility 2026: Check Age Limit & Educational Qualification
ASRB NET eligibility criteria 2026 define the conditions that candidates must meet to apply for this exam. These conditions are set by ASRB under the aegis of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Candidates who have attained 21 years of age, hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the relevant discipline, and have specified nationality norms can apply for the post of Lecturer or Assistant Professor in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) & as SMS/STO/ARS in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and ICAR institutes.
ASRB NET Nationality 2026
Candidates applying for ASRB NET 2026 must fulfill the following nationality criteria:
- A citizen of India, or
- A citizen of Nepal, or
- A citizen of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
ASRB Age Limit 2026
ASRB has set a different age limit for different exams. However, age relaxations have been provided for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ex-servicemen by the government.
ASRB NET Age Limit 2026
Candidates who want to appear for ASRB NET 2026 must be equal to or above 21 years of age as on January 1, 2026. There is no upper age limit for candidates in ASRB NET exam.
ASRB ARS Age Limit 2026
In ASRB ARS exam, the minimum age of candidates shall be 21 years. However, the upper age limit varies, as given below:
| Category | Maximum Age (as on August 1, 2026) | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 32 years | – |
| OBC-NCL | 35 years | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 37 years | 5 years |
| PwBD | Up to 42 years | 10 years |
| Ph.D. Holders (General) | 35 years | 3 years |
| Ph.D. Holders (OBC) | 38 years | 6 years |
| Ph.D. Holders (SC/ST) | 40 years | 8 years |
| Ph.D. Holders (PwBD) | 45 years | - |
| In-Service ICAR Candidates | Less than 45 years | - |
| In-Service Agricultural University Candidates | Less than 35 years | - |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Defence Personnel | As per the Government of India norms | - |
ASRB SMS (T-6) & STO (T-6) Age Limit 2026
The lower age limit of candidates appearing for ASRB SMS (T-6) & STO (T-6) is 21 years. Its upper age limit is different, as given below:
| Category / Condition | Maximum Age | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 35 years (as on 21.05.2023) | - |
| SC / ST | 40 years | 5 years |
| OBC- NCL | 38 years | 3 years |
| PwBD | 45 years | 10 years |
| SC/ST/OBC + PwBD | Up to 50 years | - |
| SC/ST/OBC + Ex-Servicemen | Up to 45–50 years | - |
| Ex-Sailors (IHQ Circular No. 19/6/2011-E1B dated 12.12.2011 & 24.01.2012) | Base age + Actual years of service (max 5 years) | Must be ex-Sailors; no break of more than 6 months between IHQ projects |
| Employees of IHQ | No upper age limit | - |
ASRB NET Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in the concerned discipline from a recognized Indian university or a foreign university. The table given below shows educational qualifications for all disciplines in ASRB NET/ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6).
DISCIPLINES AND THEIR ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS FOR ICAR, ARS, SMS (T-6), AND STO (T-6)
| Discipline Code | Discipline | Eligibility Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Agricultural Biotechnology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnology / Plant Biotechnology / Genetic Engineering / Botany / Life Sciences / Plant Sciences / Plant Physiology / Molecular Biology and Biotechnology / Biochemistry / Genetics / Genomics & Plant Breeding / Plant Genetic Resources and Seed Science and Technology |
| 02 | Agricultural Entomology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Entomology / Entomology / Zoology / Sericulture / Agricultural Chemicals / Genetics & Plant Breeding / Plant Protection |
| 03 | Agricultural Microbiology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Microbiology / Microbiology / Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry / Genetics and Plant Breeding |
| 04 | Economic Botany & Plant Genetic Resources | Master’s degree in Botany / Economic Botany / Genetic Resources / Genetics and Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding & Genetics / Seed Science & Technology / Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry / Environmental Science |
| 05 | Genetics & Plant Breeding | Master’s degree in Agricultural Botany / Genetics / Genetics and Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding and Genetics / Plant Biotechnology / Plant Physiology / Plant Agriculture / Plant Genetic Resources and Seed Science & Technology |
| 06 | Nematology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Nematology / Agricultural Entomology / Entomology / Plant Pathology / Zoology / Plant Protection |
| 07 | Plant Biotechnology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnology / Life Sciences / Plant Biotechnology / Plant Physiology / Molecular Biology and Biotechnology / Genetics / Genomics & Plant Breeding |
| 08 | Plant Pathology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Biochemistry / Botany / Biochemistry / Chemistry / Plant Pathology / Plant Physiology / Molecular Biology and Biotechnology |
| 09 | Plant Physiology | Master’s degree in Plant Physiology / Crop Physiology / Agricultural Botany / SMS (T-6) in Plant Physiology / Biochemistry / Botany / Molecular Biology |
| 10 | Seed Science & Technology | Master’s degree in Seed Science & Technology / Botany and Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding and Genetics / Genetics and Plant Breeding / Plant Breeding & Technology / Genetics and Plant Breeding / Botany / Plant Sciences / Plant Physiology |
| 11 | Floriculture & Landscaping | Master’s degree in Floriculture / Floriculture and Landscape Architecture / Horticulture / Post Harvest Management (Horticulture) |
| 12 | Fruit Science | Master’s degree in Fruit Science / Pomology / Horticulture / Post-Harvest Management (Horticulture) |
| 13 | Spices, Plantation & Medicinal & Aromatic Plants | Master’s degree in Horticulture / Plantation Crops, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops / Spices / Plantation Medicinal & Aromatic crops / Plantation Crops / Medicinal and Aromatic Plants / Post Harvest Management (Horticulture) / Post Harvest Management (Horticulture) |
| 14 | Vegetable Science | Master’s degree in Olericulture / Vegetable Science / Vegetable Crops / Post Harvest Management (Horticulture) / Post Harvest Management (Agricultural) |
| 15 | Animal Biochemistry | Master’s degree in Veterinary Biochemistry / Animal Biochemistry |
| 16 | Animal Biotechnology | Master’s degree in Animal Genetics & Breeding / Animal Biotechnology & Genetics |
| 17 | Animal Genetics & Breeding | Master’s degree in Veterinary Physiology / Animal Physiology |
| 18 | Animal Nutrition | Master’s degree in Veterinary Nutrition |
| 19 | Animal Physiology | Master’s degree in Veterinary Physiology |
| 20 | Animal Reproduction & Gynaecology | Master’s degree in Animal Reproduction & Gynecology / Veterinary Gynecology and Obstetrics / Animal Physiology and Veterinary Obstetrics |
| 21 | Dairy Chemistry | Master’s degree in Dairy Chemistry / Food Safety and Quality Assurance |
| 22 | Dairy Microbiology | Master’s degree in Dairy Microbiology / Food Safety & Quality Assurance/ Microbiology |
| 23 | Dairy Technology | MAster’s degree in Dairy Technology / Dairy Engineering / Food Science and Technology / Food Technology |
| 24 | Livestock Product Technology | Master’s degree in Livestock Product Technology / Meat Science |
| 25 | Livestock Production Management | Master’s degree in Livestock Production Management / Livestock Production & Management / Animal Husbandry & Dairy Science |
| 26 | Poultry Science | Master’s degree in Poultry Science |
| 27 | Veterinary Medicine | Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine / Clinical Medicine / Veterinary Preventive Medicine & epidemiology / Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology & Jurisprudence |
| 28 | Veterinary Microbiology | Master's degree in Veterinary Microbiology / Veterinary Bacteriology / Veterinary Virology / Veterinary Immunology |
| 29 | Veterinary Parasitology | Master’s degree in Veterinary Parasitology |
| 30 | Veterinary Pathology | Master's degree in Veterinary Pathology |
| 31 | Veterinary Pharmacology | Master's degree in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology / Veterinary Pharmacology / Pharmacology |
| 32 | Veterinary Public Health | Master's degree in Veterinary Public Health / Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology / Veterinary Epidemiology |
| 33 | Veterinary Surgery | Master’s degree in Veterinary Surgery / Veterinary Surgery & Radiology |
| 34 | Aquaculture | Master’s degree in Aquaculture |
| 35 | Fisheries Resource Management | Master’s degree in Fisheries Resource Management / Aquatic Environment Management / Fish Processing Technology / Fisheries Engineering |
| 36 | Fish Processing Technology | Master’s degree in Fish Processing Technology / Post Harvest Technology / Fish Quality Assurance and Management / Post Harvest Engineering & Technology / Fish Nutrition & Food Engineering |
| 37 | Fish Nutrition | Master’s degree in Fish Nutrition / Fish Nutrition and Fish Physiology / Fish Nutrition and Biochemistry / Fish Physiology and Biochemistry / Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology |
| 38 | Fish Health | Master’s degree in Fish Pathology & Microbiology / Aquatic Animal Health Management / Fish Health Management |
| 39 | Fish Genetics & Breeding | Master’s degree in Fish Biotechnology / Fish Genetics & Breeding / Fish Genetics and Genomics / Fish Genetics and Biochemistry |
| 40 | Agricultural Chemicals | Master’s degree in Agricultural Chemicals |
| 41 | Agrometeorology | Master’s degree in Agricultural Meteorology / Environmental Science & Technology / Atmospheric Sciences / Climate Sciences |
| 42 | Agroforestry | Master’s degree in Agroforestry / Agroforestry / Horticulture / Botany / Silviculture / Agroforestry, Forest Biology & Tree Improvement / Forest Genetics & Tree Improvement / Agroforestry Management / Forest Plantation Project, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants / Economic Botany |
| 43 | Agronomy | Master’s degree in Agronomy / Soil Water Management / Conservation Agriculture / Environmental Management / Forage Production / Weed Science / Organic farming / Natural Farming / Water Science and Technology / Sustainable Agriculture |
| 44 | Environmental Science | Master’s degree in Environmental Science / Agro-forestry / Silviculture & Agroforestry / Agricultural Meteorology / Soil Science / Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry / Soil Physics and Soil Science |
| 45 | Soil Sciences | Master’s degree in Soil Sciences / Microbiology / Agricultural Chemistry / Agricultural Physics / Soil Physics / Soil and Water Conservation / Soil Fertility / Soil Microbiology / Soil Chemistry / Water Science & Technology / Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry / Soil and Water Engineering / Soil Conservation and Water Management / Environmental Science |
| 46 | Agricultural Business Management | Master’s degree in Agricultural Business Management / Agricultural Marketing / Business Management / Fisheries Business Management / Rural Management / Environmental Management |
| 47 | Agricultural Economics | Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics / Agricultural Economics / Veterinary Economics / Fisheries Economics / Economics |
| 48 | Agricultural Extension | Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension / Veterinary Extension / Dairy Extension / Fisheries Extension / Home Science Extension / Agricultural Extension and Communication / Agricultural Extension and Statistics / Extension Education / Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension / Soil Science and Agricultural Extension |
| 49 | Agricultural Statistics | Master’s degree in Agricultural Statistics / Statistics / Applied Statistics / Biostatistics / Mathematical Statistics |
| 50 | Home Science | Master’s degree in Home Science / Community Science / Textile and Clothing / Child Development / Foods and Nutrition / Human Development & Family Studies / Extension & Communication Management / Textile Science & Design / Family Resource Management & Consumer Science / Food Science & Nutrition / Home Science Extension / Community Science extension with specialization in agriculture |
| 51 | Farm Machinery & Power | Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering / Farm Machinery & Power Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Renewable Energy Note: The candidate possessing any of the aforesaid PG/Master’s Degree shall be considered eligible who has done B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering. |
| 52 | Computer Applications & IT | Master’s degree in Computer Application / Computer Application (Agriculture) / Information Technology / Information Communication Technology / Information Technology & Communication / Computer Science / Computer Application & IT / Computer Application & IT (Agriculture) / Information Systems / Data Science / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity / Applied Computer Science / Software Engineering / Computer Engineering / Computer Science and Engineering |
| 53 | Land & Water Management Engineering | Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering (Soil & Water Conservation Engineering) / Soil & Water Conservation Engineering / Soil & Water Engineering / Irrigation & Drainage Engineering / Land & Water Management Engineering / Water Resources Engineering / Irrigation & Water Management / Hydrology / Water Science and Technology / Water Engineering and Management Note: The candidate possessing any of the aforesaid PG/Master’s Degree shall be considered eligible who has done B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering. |
| 54 | Bioinformatics | Master’s degree in Bioinformatics / Agriculture Biotechnology / Agricultural Statistics / Molecular Biology and Biotechnology / Biotechnology. |
| 55 | Food Technology | Master’s degree in Food Sciences / Food Technology / Food Science and Technology / Post Harvest Technology / Dairy Technology / Livestock Products Technology / Safety & Quality (food) / Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering / Processing and Food Engineering / Food Process Engineering / Food Processing Technology / Dairy Engineering / Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology / Food Science and Nutrition / Food and Nutrition / Post Harvest Technology (Horticulture) / Post Harvest Management (Horticulture) |
| 56 | Agricultural Structure and Process Engineering | Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering / Agricultural Structures and Process Engg. / Agricultural Structures and Environment Management / Agricultural Process Engineering / Food Engineering / Food Technology / Food Process Engineering / Processing & Food Engineering / Processing Technology / Post Harvest Engineering / Post Harvest Engineering & Technology / Dairy Engineering / Process Engineering Note: The candidate possessing any of the aforesaid PG/Master’s Degree shall be considered eligible who has done B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering. |
| 57 | Veterinary Anatomy | Master’s degree in Veterinary Anatomy / Veterinary Anatomy & Histology / Veterinary Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology |
| 58 | Agricultural Physics | Master’s degree in Physics / Agricultural Physics / Bio-physics / Remote Sensing & GIS / Agricultural Meteorology / Environmental Science / Geo-informatics / Soil Science / Soil Physics / Soil & Water Conservation / Soil & Water Conservation Engineering |
| 59 | Electronics & Instrumentation | Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering / Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering / Electrical & Electronics Engineering / Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering / Instrumentation Engineering |
| 60 | Textile Manufacture & Technology | Master’s degree in Textile Technology / Textile Engineering / Textile Chemistry / Technical Textiles / Textile Chemical Processing / Textile and Clothing / Fibre Science and Technology / Fashion Technology / Community Science / Home Science / Apparel and Textile Science / Clothing and Textile |
ASRB NET 2026 serves as a national-level qualifying exam and is conducted in CBT mode. Successful candidates receive digital NET certificates via DigiLocker. These certificates validate eligibility for teaching positions in SAUs and AUs. This ASRB NET certificate serves as official proof of a candidate’s eligibility to teach and conduct research in agricultural and allied disciplines.
ASRB NET Eligibility 2026 FAQs
Ques: Is there any limit on the number of attempts for ASRB NET?
Ans: No. ASRB NET has no attempt limit. Candidates can apply multiple times as long as they meet the age, qualification, and other eligibility criteria.
Ques: Are foreign degrees accepted for ASRB NET eligibility 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates with foreign degrees are eligible if they provide an equivalence certificate issued by the Government of India confirming that the qualification meets the required standard.
Ques: What documents are required for reserved category claims in ASRB NET 2026?
Ans: Candidates claiming a reservation must upload a valid caste or category certificate in the prescribed government format during the online application process to validate their claim.
Ques: What happens if SC/ST candidates do not submit their caste certificate in the prescribed format for ASRB NET?
Ans: If SC/ST candidates fail to submit the caste certificate in the prescribed SC/ST certificate format, their claim for reserved category benefits will not be accepted or considered valid.
Ques: How should OBC candidates not listed in the Central List or belonging to the Creamy Layer indicate their category in ASRB NET application form?
Ans: OBC candidates not in the Central List or belonging to the Creamy Layer must select “General” as their category, as only OBC Non-Creamy Layer candidates receive reservation benefits under ASRB NET 2026.
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