Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that 20 per cent of undergraduate seats in agricultural universities will now be filled through an all-India competitive examination conducted by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). This decision provides relief to agriculture students and addresses long-standing eligibility issues for B.Sc. Agriculture admissions.
ICAR National Exam for UG Agriculture Admissions
In line with the initiative “One Nation-One Agriculture-One Team”, the eligibility criteria and subject groups have been made uniform nationwide. Students who studied Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or Agriculture in Class 12 can now seek admission to agricultural universities through the CUET-ICAR national entrance exam in a direct and transparent manner, according to an official release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
This step ensures that deserving students across different states no longer face barriers due to varying eligibility rules or state-specific admission criteria.
Background and Minister’s Response
Speaking to the media in Delhi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted that for several years, students aspiring for B.Sc. Agriculture courses faced challenges because of inconsistent Class 12 subject combinations and differing eligibility standards across states.
Many deserving candidates were left out due to:
- Different subject combinations accepted in various states
- Varied state-specific rules for admission
- Ineligible criteria for students from certain boards
Students raised these concerns on social media, and several state representatives also wrote to the minister seeking intervention. Responding promptly, Shivraj Singh directed ICAR Director General Mangi Lal Jat to coordinate with agricultural universities and vice-chancellors to resolve the issue.
Significance of the Decision
This move will:
- Standardise eligibility criteria for B.Sc. Agriculture across India
- Enable 20% of UG seats to be allocated through a transparent national-level examination
- Ensure fair access for students from all states
- Streamline the admission process for agricultural universities
