ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 is scheduled for June 28, 2026, and previous year paper analysis reveals that Principles of Agronomy, Classical Genetics, Soil Physics, and Pomology consistently carry the highest chapter-wise weightage in their respective discipline papers.
NTA conducts ICAR AIEEA PG for admission to Master’s programs at ICAR-deemed universities and state agricultural universities across India. Each discipline-specific paper carries 80 MCQs for 80 marks, and knowing which chapters appear most often helps you direct your study time far more effectively in the weeks leading up to June 28, 2026.
- Exam date: June 28, 2026 — as notified by NTA on the official portal.
- Each discipline paper has 80 MCQs for 80 marks; marking scheme is +1 correct and ?0.25 incorrect.
- Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Soil Science are among the most-applied disciplines.
- Previous year papers show 10–14 questions from the top-weightage chapter in most discipline papers.
- Statistics and Research Methodology is a high-yield common topic that cuts across nearly all discipline papers.
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Exam Pattern
Each discipline paper in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 follows the same structure. Students appear for one discipline-specific paper of 80 MCQs worth 80 marks in a two-hour computer-based test.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Date | June 28, 2026 |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Total Questions | 80 |
| Total Marks | 80 |
| Correct Answer | +1 mark |
| Incorrect Answer | ?0.25 mark (negative marking) |
| Question Type | MCQ — Single Correct Option |
| Paper Type | Discipline-specific (Agronomy, Soil Science, PBG, Horticulture, etc.) |
Chapter-Wise Weightage: Agronomy
Agronomy is one of the most competitive discipline papers in ICAR AIEEA PG. Principles of Agronomy and Crop Production Technology (Kharif and Rabi combined) together account for approximately 25–30 questions in the paper, based on previous year trends.
| Chapter / Topic | Expected Questions (out of 80) | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Agronomy | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Crop Production Technology — Kharif Crops | 8–10 | 10–12% |
| Crop Production Technology — Rabi Crops | 7–9 | 9–11% |
| Soil-Water-Plant Relationship and Irrigation | 6–8 | 8–10% |
| Weed Science and Management | 6–8 | 8–10% |
| Dryland Agriculture and Watershed Management | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Cropping Systems and Sustainable Agriculture | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Agricultural Meteorology and Climate | 4–5 | 5–6% |
| Seed Technology and Production | 4–5 | 5–6% |
| Farming Systems and Organic Farming | 3–4 | 4–5% |
Must-revise topics for Agronomy: Nutrient management in rice-wheat system, weed-crop competition concepts, critical periods of irrigation for major crops, and definitions under seed certification are high-frequency areas based on previous year patterns.
Chapter-Wise Weightage: Plant Breeding and Genetics
The Plant Breeding and Genetics paper rewards depth in both classical theory and modern techniques. Classical Genetics and Plant Breeding Methods consistently account for 20–24 questions combined, based on previous year analysis.
| Chapter / Topic | Expected Questions (out of 80) | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Classical and Mendelian Genetics | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Plant Breeding Methods (Self and Cross-Pollinated Crops) | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology | 8–10 | 10–12% |
| Quantitative Genetics and Biometrics | 7–8 | 9–10% |
| Heterosis and Hybrid Seed Production | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Cytogenetics and Chromosome Manipulation | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Seed Technology and Certification | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Mutation and Polyploidy Breeding | 4–5 | 5–6% |
| Plant Genetic Resources and Conservation | 3–4 | 4–5% |
| Wide Hybridization and Distant Crosses | 3–4 | 4–5% |
Must-revise topics for PBG: Laws of inheritance and their exceptions, selection methods in self-pollinated crops, genetic symbols and standard nomenclature, heritability estimates, and marker-assisted selection principles are consistently tested.
Chapter-Wise Weightage: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Soil Science tests both conceptual understanding and numerical problem-solving. Soil Physics and Soil Fertility are the two highest-weightage areas, together accounting for approximately 20–24 questions, based on previous year trends.
| Chapter / Topic | Expected Questions (out of 80) | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Physics and Soil Water Relationship | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy | 8–10 | 10–12% |
| Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | 7–8 | 9–10% |
| Soil and Water Conservation | 6–7 | 8–9% |
| Soil Classification and Survey | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Irrigation and Water Management | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Environmental Soil Science and Pollution | 4–5 | 5–6% |
| Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Soil | 3–4 | 4–5% |
Must-revise topics for Soil Science: Cation exchange capacity calculations, soil textural classes, nitrogen cycle, organic matter decomposition, and USDA soil classification are repeatedly tested in numerical and conceptual MCQ formats.
Chapter-Wise Weightage: Horticulture
The Horticulture paper spans fruit crops, vegetables, floriculture, and post-harvest science. Pomology and Olericulture consistently account for approximately 28–33% of the paper, based on previous year patterns.
| Chapter / Topic | Expected Questions (out of 80) | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Pomology (Fruit Science) | 12–14 | 15–18% |
| Olericulture (Vegetable Science) | 10–12 | 13–15% |
| Post-Harvest Management and Technology | 8–10 | 10–12% |
| Floriculture and Landscape Architecture | 7–8 | 9–10% |
| Protected Cultivation and Controlled Environment | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Plantation and Spice Crops | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Principles of Horticulture and Plant Propagation | 5–6 | 6–8% |
| Medicinal and Aromatic Plants | 4–5 | 5–6% |
| Soil and Nutrition Management in Horticulture | 4–5 | 5–6% |
Must-revise topics for Horticulture: Rootstocks for major fruits, stages of fruit development, ethylene role in ripening, cole crop production, and cold storage temperature requirements are high-frequency areas based on previous year analysis.
High-Yield Topics Across All Discipline Papers
Several topics recur across multiple discipline papers in ICAR AIEEA PG. Strengthening these cross-cutting areas boosts your score regardless of which discipline paper you are sitting for.
| Topic | Relevant Disciplines | Typical Questions per Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | Agronomy, PBG, Horticulture, Soil Science | 6–10 |
| Statistics and Research Methodology | All discipline papers | 5–8 |
| Biotechnology and Molecular Biology | PBG, Plant Pathology, Horticulture | 6–10 |
| Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management | Agronomy, Soil Science, Horticulture | 7–12 |
| Integrated Pest and Disease Management | Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology | 5–8 |
| Seed Technology and Certification | Agronomy, PBG | 4–6 |
Preparation Tips Based on Weightage Analysis
Use chapter weightage data strategically as you build your study plan for June 28, 2026. Allocate at least 40–50% of your study hours to the top two chapters in your discipline paper — these alone can yield 20–25 marks out of 80.
- Solve previous year ICAR AIEEA PG papers from 2021–2024: topic repetition is strong in Classical Genetics, Soil Fertility, Principles of Agronomy, and Pomology — these chapters reappear with very similar question patterns each year.
- Do not skip Statistics and Research Methodology — it appears in almost all papers and offers 5–8 easy marks that require minimal study time compared to discipline-core chapters.
- Strengthen Plant Physiology fundamentals; this topic works as a connector and simultaneously improves your performance in Agronomy, PBG, and Horticulture papers.
- For Soil Science, practise numerical problems on soil texture, cation exchange capacity, and soil-water potential — these consistently appear as calculation-based MCQs in previous year papers.
- Memorise scientific names of crops, genetic symbols, variety names, and important dates in agricultural research in the final two weeks — these direct-recall questions are easy marks and take little time to revise.
- Cap time on very low-frequency chapters (Remote Sensing in Soil, Wide Hybridization) at under 10% of your total hours until all high-yield chapters are fully covered.
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Chapter Weightage FAQs
Ques. How many questions come from Principles of Agronomy in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, Principles of Agronomy accounts for approximately 10–12 questions out of 80 in the Agronomy discipline paper, making it the single highest-weightage chapter in that paper.
Ques. Which topics carry the most weightage in the Plant Breeding and Genetics paper of ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. Classical and Mendelian Genetics and Plant Breeding Methods for self and cross-pollinated crops are the two highest-weightage topics in the PBG paper. Together they are expected to contribute 20–24 questions based on previous year analysis.
Ques. Does ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 have the same paper for all disciplines?
Ans. No, ICAR AIEEA PG has separate discipline-specific papers. Each paper has 80 MCQs for 80 marks and covers the syllabus specific to that discipline, such as Agronomy, Soil Science, Horticulture, or Plant Breeding and Genetics.
Ques. Is Statistics and Research Methodology part of the ICAR AIEEA PG syllabus?
Ans. Yes, Statistics and Research Methodology appears as a component in most ICAR AIEEA PG discipline papers. It typically contributes 5–8 questions and is considered a high-yield topic because it can be prepared efficiently and fetches marks across most papers.
Ques. What is the total marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 carries a total of 80 marks per discipline paper. There are 80 MCQ questions worth 1 mark each, and negative marking of 0.25 marks is applied for each incorrect answer.
Ques. Which previous year papers should I solve for ICAR AIEEA PG chapter-wise preparation?
Ans. Solving ICAR AIEEA PG papers from 2021 to 2024 gives the clearest picture of chapter-wise repetition and difficulty trend. These years show consistent patterns in high-weightage chapters like Soil Fertility, Classical Genetics, Crop Production Technology, and Pomology.
Ques. Which discipline paper in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 has the most chapters covered in a single topic area?
Ans. Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry paper is considered the broadest in topic spread, covering Soil Physics, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Microbiology, Conservation, Classification, and Irrigation. Students appearing for this paper are advised to give proportional time to Soil Physics and Soil Fertility, which together carry nearly 26–30% of expected weightage based on previous year trends.
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