The ICAR has its headquarters in New Delhi. The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences in the entire country. With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.

The ICAR has a pioneering role to assist the Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agricultural Research in India through its advanced research and technology development that has enabled the country to increase the production of foodgrains by 5.4 times, horticultural crops by 10.1 times, fish by 15.2 times, milk 9.7 times and eggs 48.1 times since 1951 to 2017, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security.

It has played the biggest role in promoting excellent education in agriculture. It is engaged in cutting-edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.

About ASRB NET Exam :
The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) will hold ICAR-NET 2023 Examination from 30/03/2023  to April 2023 (which may be extended to May 2023 depending on the number of candidates) in Online mode at 34 Centres across India in a staggered slot-wise examination format. Rules and Scheme of Examination are indicated in this notification. Online registration for the examination shall start in June/July. Candidates are advised to read the notification carefully before filling out the Online Application Form.

1. National Eligibility Test (NET) is a qualifying examination for determining eligibility for the position of Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other Agricultural Universities (AUs).
2. Candidates clearing the National Eligibility Test will be eligible to apply for the post of Lecturer or Assistant Professors in the SAUs/AUs. NET certificates will be issued by the ASRII to the qualified candidates to enable them to apply against vacancies to be notified or advertised by the State Agricultural Universities/Agricultural Universities.
3. SAUs/AUs will satisfy themselves waboutthe fulfillment of prescribed eligibility conditions/criteria for requisite posts of Lecturers/Assistant Professors including the authenticity of the NET Certificate in the possession of the candidates.

ASRB NET 2023 Important Dates

• Notification Declaration – 30 March 2022

• Application form Commencement Date – 5 April 2022

• Closing Date of Application form – May 2022

• Admit Card will be released 15 days before the exam

• ICAR ASRB NET 2023 Exam Date – To be Declare

Centers For ASRB NET:
The centers of ASRB NET (II) Examination where the examination will be conducted in Online Computer Based Test (CBT) mode are mentioned in APPENDIX-I

NOTE:  Candidates may select two (02) centers in order of their preference The ASRB will make all efforts to allow the preferred center of the first choice. However, the Centres of Examination could be changed at the discretion of ASRB.

Essential qualifications:
A candidate must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in the concerned Discipline and specialization completed on or before 15.12.2020 from any Indian University incorporated by an Act of Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or he/she must have a qualification from a foreign University recognized as equivalent by the Government of India (Gol). The list of Disciplines and their prescribed educational qualifications are as given in APPENDIX — II.

Discipline and Other eligibility Qualifications for ASRB NET:
Agricultural biotechnology, Agricultural entomology, Agricultural Microbiology, Nematology, Genetics, and plant breeding, Plant Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Seed science and technology, Fruit Science, vegetable science, BioInformatics, Food Technology, Animal biotechnology, Agroforestry, Agricultural Statistics, Home Science, Animal biotechnology, Dairy microbiology, fish relevant fields are eligible.

Age Limit:
The minimum age of a candidate to appearing the ICMR entrance examination must have attained the age of 21 years as of 30. March 2022. There is no upper age limit for the National Eligibility Test.

Application Fees:
The candidates seeking admission to ASRB NET examination must pay a fee to the board, The candidates seeking admission to the examination must pay to the Board a fee as follows:

1. Unreserved (UR) – Rs.1000/-
2. Other Backward Class (OBC) – Rs.500/-
3. SC/ST & Divyang/Women – Rs.250/

OBC candidates whose caste is not enlisted in Central List (as available on National Commission for Backward Classes website www.ncbc.nic.in) and who are not covered under the provisions as applicable to OBC-Non Creamy Layer (NCL) candidates, shall be treated as General Category candidates for all purposes. Accordingly, OBC Candidates belonging to Creamy Layer shall indicate their category as ‘General’.

1. Transaction charges for Debit Card/Credit Card/NEFT/ payment, as the case may be, will have to be borne by the candidate.
2. The fee must be paid online through the online application form available on the website:  http://www.asrb.ore.in  and   http://www.icar.ore.in  only.
3. Note: For Online payment: Payment can be made through Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking from 10.00 hrs on 09.11.2018 till 17.00 hrs on 29.11.2018.

Number of Attempts:
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for appearing in the National Eligibility Test.

Plan of Examination:

1. There will be a single paper of 150 marks consisting of 150 objective type multiple choice questions to be solved in TWO hours. For each question, Carrie’s one mark. This shall be derived from the respective discipline in which the candidates have opted to appear.
2. The exam is conducted online mode at the designated centers only. The questions in the ASRB NET examination will be available in bilingual form. i.e Hindi and English medium on the computer. 1/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in the ASRB NET 2020. There will be no rounding off of fractions of marks.
3. The Detailed Plan of Examination is given in APPENDIX• III.
4. Rules of ASRB-NET Examination: The Rules of Examination are given in APPENDIX- IV.

How to Apply:
A candidate  seeking  admission  to  the  Examination must apply online in the prescribed
Application Form available on the website: http://www.asrb.org.in and http://www.icar.org.in

Important Notes and Guidelines:
i. Candidates must ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility conditions for admission to the examination such as the qualification, discipline, age, category, etc. Their admission to the examination will be purely provisional. If at any stage, it is found that they do not fulfill all eligibility conditions; their candidature will be canceled/ rejected and the fee paid for examination will be forfeited.

ii.  The candidates are not required to attach a copy of any of the documents /certificates in support of their candidature at the time of submission of the online application. However, the candidates in their own interests must satisfy themselves about their eligibility for the test. In the event of any ineligibility being detected by the Board at any stage, including after declaration of result, their candidature shall be canceled and they shall be liable for legal action.

iii. OBC candidates whose caste is not listed in Central List (as available on National Commission for  Backward Classes website (www.ncbc.nic.in) and who are not covered under the provisions as applicable to OBC-Non Creamy Layer  (NCL) candidates, shall be treated as General Category candidates for all purposes. Accordingly, OBC Candidates belonging to Creamy Layer shall indicate their category as ‘General’.

iv. In case the claim of candidates regarding Age, Educational Qualifications, Scheduled  Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST)/ Other  Backward Class (OBC)/Divyang is found to be incorrect, it may render them liable to be disqualified by the Board and their candidature will stand canceled.

v. Due care should be taken by the candidates to fill up their application forms. No request for change in any field i.e.,  Centre of Examination, Discipline, Name, Father’s Name, Date of Birth, Gender,  e-mail Id, Mobile No., Phone  No., Category,  Medium of Examination, etc. will be considered under any circumstances except bonafide spelling mistakes, etc.

vi. In case multiple applications are received from a candidate, the latest application will only be considered,  ignoring all earlier applications(s); without refunding  /adjusting the Application Fee received for the other Applications.

vii. No candidate will be allowed to take the examination unless he/she holds a certificate of admission for the examination. After downloading the  Admission Certificate, check it carefully and bring discrepancies/errors, if any, to the notice of Controller of Examinations, ASRB, KAB – I, Pusa, New Delhi –110012 or email to net2018@asrb.org.in immediately.

viii. In the event of a candidate being issued more than one admission certificate from the Board, he/she should use only one of these Admission Certificates for appearing in the examination and inform about the  same immediately to the Controller of  Examinations,  ASRB, KAB– I, Pusa, New  Delhi – 110012 or  e-mail to net2020@asrb.org.in

Important Links:
Official website: http://www.icar.org.in,
Email: net2020@asrb.org.in

Exam pattern of ASRB NET Exam 

• Objective Type
• Number of Questions – 150
• Total Marks -150
• Time Duration – 2 (Two) Hours

1. TheASRB NET 2023 is of Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions.
2. In the ASRB NET exam, Each Question Carries only One Mark.
3. There will be a 1/3 mark deduction for each wrong answer in the ASRB NET 2020 Exam.
4. The ASRB NET Examination will be conducted in the Online format.
5. In the ASRB NET exam questions are available in bilingual form i.e. Hindi and English medium.
6. The ASRB NET Paper standard will be that of a Master’s degree from Indian Universities in the relevant Discipline.

Frequently Asked Questions about ASRB NET

1. What is the use of ASRB NET?
Answer: The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) was an independent Indian recruitment agency. ASRB’s mandate includes executing recruitment processes for various posts and services of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and providing assistance, assessment, and advice in personnel matters to ICAR. The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) every year conducts the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Eligibility Test which is also known as  ASRB NET.

ASRB NET is a qualifying examination for determining Students’ eligibility for the position of Lecturer / Assistant Professor in the State Agricultural Universities and other Agricultural Universities.

2. What are Essential qualifications for ASRB NET :
Answer: A candidate must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in the concerned Discipline and specialization completed on or before 15.12.2020 from any Indian University

3. Which books should be read for the ASRB NET exam in agricultural microbiology?
Answer :

1. Prescott’s Microbiology 8th Ed.
2. Agricultural Microbiology 2nd Ed. English version by Bagyaraj, D.J and Rangaswami, G..
3. Rathore’s General Agriculture for ICAR Exams
4. Objective Agric for Competitive Exams by S.R. Kanawa
5. Dude’s Plant Science at a Glance
6. Gautam’s Agricultural Biotechnology
7. Biotechnology Expanding Horizons by Singh, B.D.
8. Agricultural Entomology on Competitive Views by Shravan, M.H.

ASRB National Eligibility Test Syllabus 2023

1. Agricultural Biotechnology
2. Veterinary Medicine
3. Dairy Chemistry
4. Livestock Production & Management
5. Agricultural Meteorology
6. Poultry Science
7. Floriculture and Landscaping
8. Dairy Microbiology
9. Veterinary Anatomy
10. Livestock Product Technology
11. Farm Machinery and Power
12. Animal Physiology
13. Veterinary Pharmacology
14. Economic Botany & Plant Genetic Resources
15. Seed Science & Technology
16. Fruit Science
17. Vegetable Science
18. Fisheries Resource Management
19. Environmental Science
20. Home Science
21. Land & Water Management Engineering etc