The ASRB ICAR NET 2026 cycle has progressed through its key stages. The preliminary (CBT) exam was conducted on 12 and 13 November 2025, with results declared on 19 December 2025. The Mains exam for ARS/SMS/STO was held on 1 March 2026, and the final Mains result is expected in the coming weeks/months as of May 2026. A total of 603 vacancies have been announced across NET, ARS, SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6) posts. The next cycle (ASRB NET 2027) notification is expected to be released by ASRB in 2026, following the usual once-a-year schedule. If you're planning a career in agricultural research or as a Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) under ICAR institutions, this guide covers the 2026 cycle status and what to expect from the next cycle.
By the end of this blog, you will know
- Important ASRB ICAR NET 2026 dates, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
- Detailed exam pattern, syllabus, and selection stages for NET/ARS/SMS/STO.
- Tips on how to prepare and where to access official resources and notifications.
What Is ASRB NET, and Who Should Apply?
The ASRB National Eligibility Test (NET) is a qualifying examination for individuals seeking to teach in agricultural universities across India. Conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), this national-level exam certifies candidates as eligible for Lecturer and Assistant Professor roles in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other Agricultural Universities (AUs). Those holding a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline can appear for the exam.
Candidates can choose from 60 different subjects, and the exam is qualifying in nature — it doesn’t guarantee a job but allows candidates to apply for future vacancies released by individual universities.
ASRB NET: Key Highlights

Here’s an overview of the key features of the ASRB NET exam at a glance.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
ASRB National Eligibility Test (ASRB NET) |
|
Conducting Body |
Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) |
|
Exam Level |
National |
|
Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Mode |
Online (CBT) |
|
Duration |
2 hours |
|
Language |
Bilingual (English & Hindi) |
|
Exam Fee |
₹1000 (UR), ₹500 (OBC), ₹250 (SC/ST) — as per latest notification |
|
Exam Purpose |
Eligibility for Lecturer/Assistant Professor roles |
|
Number of Papers |
1 (150 marks) |
|
Subjects Offered |
60 |
|
Total Questions |
150 MCQs |
|
Marking Scheme |
+1 for correct answer, ⅓ deducted for incorrect answer |
|
Test Cities |
32 |
|
Helpline Number |
011-25840251 |
|
Official Website |
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ASRB NET Registration Window
Registrations for the ASRB NET 2026 cycle have already closed. For the next cycle (ASRB NET 2027), registrations are expected to open after the official notification is released by ASRB (typically once a year). The exact application window and last date will be confirmed via the official ASRB portal.
The application process is conducted online and includes:
- Online registration using a valid email ID and mobile number
- Filling in the academic and personal details in the form
- Uploading scanned copies of required documents
- Paying the examination fee as per category
Click here to visit the official ASRB portal for the latest updates on ASRB NET results and the next cycle's registration.
ASRB NET Application Fee Details
Below is the ASRB NET application fee structure as per the 2026 cycle notification. Fees for the next cycle (ASRB NET 2027) will be confirmed in the official notification when released:
|
Category |
For NET Only |
For ARS/SMS/STO or any two/three combined |
For NET + ARS/SMS/STO |
|
Unreserved (UR) |
₹1000 |
₹1000 |
₹2000 |
|
EWS/OBC |
₹500 |
₹800 |
₹1300 |
|
SC/ST/PwBD/Women/Transgender |
₹250 |
NIL |
₹250 |
ASRB NET 2026 Exam Date: Confirmed Schedule
Here is the confirmed ASRB NET 2026 schedule (notification already released by ASRB). The Mains result is the only event still pending as of May 2026:
|
Event |
Tentative Date |
|
ASRB NET 2026 Notification Release |
Released in 2025 (cycle currently underway) |
|
Application Window |
2025 (closed) |
|
ASRB NET 2026 Preliminary (CBT) Exam |
12 and 13 November 2025 (completed; result declared 19 December 2025) |
|
ARS/SMS/STO Mains Exam |
1 March 2026 (completed; final result pending) |
ASRB NET Eligibility Criteria
To appear for the ASRB NET exam (any cycle), candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Education:
A Master's degree (or equivalent) in the relevant subject for which the candidate is applying.
- Age Limit:
Applicants must be at least 21 years old. There is no upper age limit for appearing in the exam.
- Attempts:
There are no restrictions on the number of times a candidate can appear for the ASRB NET.
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ASRB NET: Step-by-Step Selection Process

The selection process for ASRB NET includes the following stages:
1. Online Registration & Application:
Candidates must register on the official ASRB website. The application includes providing basic details, uploading necessary documents, and paying the examination fee online.
2. Admit Card Download:
Once registered, candidates must download their admit cards from the website. No physical admit cards are issued.
3. ASRB NET Exam:
- Conducted in an online format (CBT).
- A total of 150 multiple-choice questions to be attempted in 2 hours.
- The questions will be subject-specific and based on the discipline selected by the candidate.
- Each correct response carries 1 mark.
- 1/3 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
- Exam papers will be available in both English and Hindi.
- The difficulty level will align with postgraduate standards in the relevant subject.
4. Result Declaration:
Candidates who achieve the required cutoff are declared qualified. Clearing the ASRB NET makes candidates eligible to apply for faculty roles when State Agricultural Universities or similar institutions announce openings.
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ASRB NET Exam Centres
The ASRB NET 2026 cycle was conducted across 32 test cities in India. The next cycle is expected to follow a similar list (subject to the official notification). Below is the list of test centres:
|
Centre Code |
City |
State/UT |
|
01 |
Anand / Vadodara |
Gujarat |
|
02 |
Bengaluru |
Karnataka |
|
03 |
Barapani / Shillong |
Meghalaya |
|
04 |
Bareilly |
Uttar Pradesh |
|
05 |
Barrackpore / Kolkata |
West Bengal |
|
06 |
Bhopal |
Madhya Pradesh |
|
07 |
Bhubaneswar |
Odisha |
|
08 |
Chandigarh / Mohali |
Chandigarh |
|
09 |
Chennai |
Tamil Nadu |
|
10 |
Coimbatore |
Tamil Nadu |
|
11 |
Dehradun |
Uttarakhand |
|
12 |
Delhi |
Delhi |
|
13 |
Guwahati |
Assam |
|
14 |
Hyderabad |
Telangana |
|
15 |
Indore |
Madhya Pradesh |
|
16 |
Jaipur |
Rajasthan |
|
17 |
Jammu |
Jammu & Kashmir |
|
18 |
Jodhpur |
Rajasthan |
|
19 |
Karnal |
Haryana |
|
20 |
Kochi |
Kerala |
|
21 |
Lucknow |
Uttar Pradesh |
|
22 |
Ludhiana |
Punjab |
|
23 |
Mumbai |
Maharashtra |
|
24 |
Nagpur |
Maharashtra |
|
25 |
Patna |
Bihar |
|
26 |
Port Blair |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
|
27 |
Raipur |
Chhattisgarh |
|
28 |
Rajkot |
Gujarat |
|
29 |
Shimla |
Himachal Pradesh |
|
30 |
Srinagar |
Jammu & Kashmir |
|
31 |
Varanasi |
Uttar Pradesh |
|
32 |
Vijayawada |
Andhra Pradesh |
ASRB NET Syllabus Overview
The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) has outlined the syllabus for the NET across 60 different disciplines. Candidates are required to choose one subject while filling out the online application form, and the syllabus for each is tailored to that discipline. The exam tests candidates at the level of a postgraduate degree in the subject chosen. The 60 disciplines and their codes have remained unchanged in the 2026 cycle and are expected to continue in the next cycle as well.
ASRB NET Admit Card Guidelines
The ASRB releases the admit cards a few days before each exam date on its official website. Here’s how you can download yours:
- Visit the official ASRB site: http://www.asrb.org.in
- Click on the ‘ASRB NET Admit Card’ link available on the homepage.
- Enter your registration ID and date of birth on the login page.
- Your admit card will appear on the screen.
- Download the admit card and print a copy for exam day use.
ASRB NET Exam Pattern
The ASRB ICAR NET exam follows a single-paper format with the following key features (unchanged in the 2026 cycle and expected to continue in the next cycle):
- Number of Questions: 150 multiple-choice questions
- Total Marks: 150
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marking Scheme: +1 for every correct answer, and a deduction of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer
- Medium: English and Hindi
- Paper Level: Postgraduate in the chosen subject
No marks are rounded off, and candidates must aim to score above the cutoff to be deemed qualified.
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ASRB NET Result: How to Check?
ASRB publishes the ICAR NET results on its official website (the ASRB NET 2026 Prelim result is out; Mains result pending as of May 2026). Candidates can check their results by:
- Visiting the ASRB website: https://www.asrb.org.in
- Navigate to the ‘Results’ tab on the homepage.
- Click on the relevant result link (Prelim or Mains for the 2026 cycle, or future cycles when announced).
- Log in using their registration credentials.
- Viewing and downloading the result PDF for future reference.
Note: The direct result link will be updated here once the result is live.
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ASRB NET Cut-Off Marks and Qualifying Criteria
The ASRB will release the official cut-off marks along with the results. It is essential to note that the cut-off varies by category and differs from the minimum qualifying percentage.
|
Category |
Minimum Qualifying % |
Minimum Marks (out of 150) |
|
Unreserved (UR)/ EWS |
50% |
75 |
|
OBC |
45% |
67.5 |
|
SC / ST / PwBD |
40% |
60 |
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The ASRB NET exam opens up significant career opportunities in agricultural research and allied fields, with clearly structured roles, subjects, and a transparent selection process. With the ASRB NET 2026 Mains complete and results awaited, candidates who appeared can begin preparing for university interview rounds, while aspirants targeting the next cycle (ASRB NET 2027) should start their preparation now. Whether you're aiming for a role in the Agricultural Research Service, as a Subject Matter Specialist, or a Senior Technical Officer, understanding the syllabus, exam pattern, and application process thoroughly is key to planning your preparation effectively.
Stay updated through the official ASRB website, ensure you meet all eligibility and fee requirements, and start preparing with the right focus. A well-informed approach now can lead to a rewarding future in India’s agricultural research ecosystem.





