ASRB NET Exam Pattern 2026: Syllabus, Marks & Selection
ASRB NET Exam Pattern 2026 varies depending on the exam conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board. While ASRB NET is conducted as a single computer based test comprising 150 objective questions, ARS, SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) recruitment follows a multi-stage pattern involving Prelims, Mains and Interview. The detailed pattern covers the number of questions, marks, duration, language, negative marking and qualifying criteria for each exam.
ASRB NET Exam Pattern 2026
ASRB NET 2026 is conducted through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions carrying 150 marks. The paper is of 2 hours duration, with 1 mark for each correct answer and 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect response.
ASRB ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6) Exam Pattern 2026
For the ARS post, the selection structure expands to a Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive), and Interview stage. For SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) posts, selection relies entirely on the objective CBT screening followed by an interview.
| Description | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims (CBT) for ARS-2026 (Qualifying) | 150 | 2 hours |
| Mains (Descriptive) for ARS-2026 | 300 | 3 hours |
| Personal Interview | 45 | – |
- Mains:
ASRB ARS Mains involves descriptive answers to evaluate the depth of knowledge, problem-solving, and application.
Note: SMS and STO do not have a descriptive main phase
| Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Word Limit (Approx.) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Answer Questions | 25 | 5 | 50 words | 125 |
| Medium Answer Questions | 10 | 10 | 100 words | 100 |
| Long Answer Questions | 5 | 15 | 150 words | 75 |
| Total | 40 | — | — | 300 |
- Interview:
ASRB ARS, SMS, STO interview assess the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, the ability for social cohesion, integrity of character, initiative, and capacity for leadership and scientific research.
ASRB NET vs ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6) Exam Pattern
ASRB NET and ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6) follow different exam structures despite being conducted through the same Combined CBT framework. The table below highlights the key differences in their stages, marks, duration, question format, and subsequent selection process.
| Particulars | ASRB NET | ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6) |
|---|---|---|
| First Stage | Combined CBT | Preliminary exam through Combined CBT |
| Question Type | Objective MCQs | Objective MCQs |
| Total Marks | 150 | 150 in Prelims |
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours in Prelims |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark | 1/3 mark |
| Further exam | No Mains/Interview | Mains followed by Interview |
| Mains | Not applicable |
ARS Only: Descriptive (300 marks) (Not Applicable for SMS/STO) |
| Interview | Not applicable |
ARS: 45 marks SMS & STO: 30 marks |
ASRB NET Syllabus 2026
ASRB NET 2026 syllabus is prescribed separately for each of the 60 disciplines and covers subject-specific topics at the Master’s degree level. The major syllabus areas include:
| Syllabus Area | Major Topics |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences | Agronomy, Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Biotechnology |
| Plant Sciences | Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Seed Science |
| Horticulture | Floriculture, Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Plantation & Medicinal Crops |
| Animal Sciences | Animal Nutrition, Animal Physiology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Biotechnology |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture, Fish Nutrition, Fish Health, Fish Genetics & Breeding |
| Agricultural Engineering | Farm Machinery & Power, Land & Water Management, Agricultural Structures |
| Basic & Applied Sciences | Agricultural Physics, Agricultural Chemicals, Environmental Science, Agrometeorology |
| Management & Economics | Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural Extension |
| Technology & IT | Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Computer Applications & IT, Bioinformatics |
| Home Science | Home Science, Food & Nutrition, Human Development, Textile & Clothing |
ASRB NET Minimum Qualifying Marks 2026
The table below are the minimum qualifying marks in category-wise that candidates must obtain in order to be eligible for ASRB NET certificate:
| Category | Percentage | Minimum Marks (Out of 150) |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 50% | 75 |
| EWS / OBC | 45% | 67.5 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | 40% | 60 |
ARSB ARS, SMS, STO Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category of candidate | Minimum qualifying marks |
|---|---|
| Un-reserved (UR) | 67.5 (45%) |
| EWS/ OBC | 60.0 (40%) |
| SC/ST/ PwBD | 52.5 (35%) |
ASRB NET, ARS, SMS (T-6) & STO (T-6) Marking Scheme 2026
ASRB NET, ARS, SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) objective exams award 1 mark for each correct answer, with a negative marking of 1/3 mark for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded for unattempted questions.
| Particulars | ASRB NET | ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 mark | +1 mark |
| Incorrect Answer | -1/3 mark | -1/3 mark |
| Unattempted | 0 mark | 0 mark |
| Question Type | MCQs | MCQs |
| Total Questions | 150 | 150 in CBT/Prelims |
ASRB NET, ARS, SMS (T-6) & STO (T-6) Selection Process 2026
ASRB NET 2026 selection process varies across the four exams. ASRB NET is a qualifying exam, while ARS, SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) involve further stages after the Combined CBT.
ASRB NET: Combined CBt / NET Qualification / NET Certificate
ARS: Combined CBT/Prelims / Mains / Interview / Final Selection
SMS (T-6): Combined CBT / Interview / Final Selection
STO (T-6): Combined CBT / Interview / Final Selection
In case of two or more candidates securing equal aggregate marks in ARS Mains and Interview, preference is first given to those scoring higher in the Mains exam. If the tie persists, marks obtained in the Prelims exam determine the final ranking. This structure ensures fairness and accuracy in preparing the final ASRB NET merit list.
ASRB NET Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Ques: What is the purpose of ASRB Personal Interview?
Ans: The Personal Interview aims to assess candidates’ mental abilities, communication skills, and understanding of professional issues through a natural, purposive conversation rather than a strict cross-exam.
Ques: How are candidates shortlisted for ASRB Personal Interview?
Ans: Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks in the Mains exam are shortlisted for the Personal Interview in a 1:3 ratio per vacancy, category-wise, subject to Board discretion.
Ques: Do SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) candidates have to write the descriptive Mains exam?
Ans: No. The descriptive written Mains exam is exclusively for the ARS post. Candidates for SMS and STO skip the Mains phase completely and go straight from the objective CBT to the personal interview.
Ques: How is a tie broken if two or more ARS candidates score the same final aggregate marks?
Ans: If scores are tied, the candidate with higher marks in the descriptive written Mains exam gets the higher rank. If the tie continues, secondary rules like older age or advanced degrees are used to decide the placement.
Ques: What is the shortlisting ratio for the ASRB SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) Interview?
Ans: Only those candidates who qualify the online objective CBT examination as per the prescribed standards will be shortlisted for the personal interview phase in a 1: 5 ratio (5 candidates for one post) in order of merit.
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