The ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 expected cutoff for General category starts at 300 out of 600 marks (50%) — the minimum qualifying threshold set by NTA — while discipline-wise merit rank cutoffs are higher and vary based on competition and available seats.
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026, scheduled for June 28, 2026, is conducted by NTA for admission to M.Sc. programs at ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) across India. The cutoff operates at two levels: a fixed minimum qualifying percentage that every student must clear, and a merit-rank cutoff that determines actual seat allotment by discipline and institute. Based on 2024 and 2025 data, high-competition disciplines such as Genetics and Plant Breeding and Agronomy are expected to see General category merit cutoffs between 370 and 415 marks in 2026.
- Minimum qualifying marks for General category: 300 out of 600 (50%).
- ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 exam date: June 28, 2026.
- Total marks: 600 (150 questions × 4 marks each; –1 per wrong answer).
- High-demand disciplines like Genetics and Plant Breeding and Agronomy are expected to have merit cutoffs above 370 marks for General category.
- OBC-NCL qualifying marks: 270 out of 600 (45%); SC/ST/PwD: 240 out of 600 (40%).
- Official cutoff will be released on the NTA ICAR portal after result declaration.
| Direct Link to ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Official Portal (ACTIVE) — exams.nta.nic.in/icar |
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Cutoff — Overview
The ICAR AIEEA PG cutoff has two distinct components every student must understand before the result is announced.
- Minimum qualifying marks — a fixed percentage threshold you must clear to be eligible for merit ranking and seat allotment. This is the same for all disciplines.
- Merit rank cutoff — the rank up to which seats are actually filled in each discipline and participating institute. This varies significantly by subject and is finalised after counselling rounds.
Clearing the qualifying marks does not guarantee a seat. Your score generates your All India Rank (AIR) within your chosen discipline, and seat allotment is strictly merit-based and discipline-wise. The table below shows the expected category-wise qualifying thresholds for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 based on NTA’s previous year norms.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks (Out of 600) | Qualifying Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| General | 300 | 50% |
| OBC-NCL | 270 | 45% |
| SC | 240 | 40% |
| ST | 240 | 40% |
| PwD | 240 | 40% |
General Category Minimum Qualifying Marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026
General category students must score at least 300 marks out of 600 to qualify in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026. This 50% threshold has remained consistent across years based on NTA’s established norms and applies equally across all disciplines offered in the exam.
The exam consists of 150 questions, each carrying 4 marks, with a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. To secure 300 marks, you need approximately 80–90 correct answers while keeping wrong attempts minimal. Scoring exactly at the qualifying threshold may be sufficient in less competitive disciplines but will not support merit-based seat allotment in high-demand subjects such as Genetics and Plant Breeding or Agronomy, where expected merit cutoffs in 2026 are above 370 marks.
Once you clear the qualifying marks, your score generates an AIR within your chosen discipline. Seat allotment across ICAR institutes and SAUs follows strictly from this rank, your category, and the number of available seats in that discipline.
Subject-Wise Expected Cutoff for General Category (ICAR AIEEA PG 2026)
The table below shows expected score ranges for General category students across key disciplines. All figures are expected estimates based on 2024 and 2025 trends and will be confirmed only after the official ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 result is declared.
| Discipline | Expected Merit Cutoff Range (Out of 600) | Approx. Percentage | Competition Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genetics and Plant Breeding | 375–415 | 62–69% | High |
| Agronomy | 365–400 | 61–67% | High |
| Horticulture | 360–395 | 60–66% | High |
| Plant Pathology | 350–385 | 58–64% | High |
| Entomology | 345–380 | 57–63% | Moderate–High |
| Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry | 335–370 | 56–62% | Moderate |
| Agricultural Extension | 330–365 | 55–61% | Moderate |
| Agricultural Economics | 325–360 | 54–60% | Moderate |
| Agricultural Engineering | 315–350 | 52–58% | Moderate–Low |
| Animal Science | 310–345 | 52–57% | Moderate–Low |
| Fisheries Science | 305–340 | 51–57% | Low–Moderate |
| Forestry | 300–335 | 50–56% | Low–Moderate |
The ranges above reflect scores at which General category students are expected to receive merit ranks sufficient for seat allotment at ICAR-funded institutes. For SAU seats, where intake is larger and competition patterns differ, scores at the lower end of each range may still lead to admission in several disciplines.
Previous Year ICAR AIEEA PG Cutoff Trends (2023–2025)
Tracking previous year cutoffs helps you set a realistic score target before the 2026 result. The minimum qualifying marks for General category have been stable at 300 out of 600 (50%) across all recent cycles. Merit rank cutoffs for high-competition disciplines show a gradual upward trend of 5–15 marks per year. All previous year figures below are approximate and based on available trend data.
| Year | General Category Qualifying Marks (Out of 600) | Merit Cutoff — High-Competition Disciplines (Out of 600) | Merit Cutoff — Other Disciplines (Out of 600) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 300 (50%) | 370–410 | 310–350 |
| 2024 | 300 (50%) | 360–400 | 305–345 |
| 2023 | 300 (50%) | 350–390 | 300–340 |
The consistent upward trend in merit cutoffs for subjects like Genetics and Plant Breeding reflects growing enrolment in agricultural sciences and more students appearing well-prepared each year. Students targeting ICAR-funded seats in high-competition disciplines should aim for scores above 380 marks to remain competitive in 2026.
Factors Affecting ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Cutoff for General Category
Several year-specific variables will shape the final ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 cutoff. Understanding these helps you interpret your score accurately after the result is declared.
- Number of applicants per discipline — More students in a subject directly raises the effective merit cutoff for the seats available.
- Total seat intake — Seat availability across ICAR institutes and SAUs determines how far down the merit list seats are filled.
- Paper difficulty level — A tougher exam lowers average scores across the board, which may bring merit cutoffs down slightly.
- Category-wise reservation — OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD reservations reduce the number of open General category seats, raising the effective General merit cutoff.
- Score normalisation — If the exam is held across multiple shifts, NTA applies normalisation, which can affect final score comparability between shifts.
- Previous year trends — NTA has maintained the 50% minimum qualifying threshold for General category consistently, and this is expected to continue in 2026.
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Expected Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 expected cutoff for General category?
Ans. The minimum qualifying cutoff for General category is expected to remain at 300 out of 600 marks (50%), consistent with previous years. Discipline-wise merit cutoffs for high-competition subjects like Genetics and Plant Breeding are expected between 375 and 415 marks based on 2024 and 2025 trends.
Ques. How many marks are needed to qualify ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 for General category students?
Ans. General category students need at least 300 marks out of 600 (50%) to qualify in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026. This has been the consistent qualifying threshold set by NTA. Scoring above 300 places you in the merit list for your chosen discipline, but the actual seat allotment depends on your rank versus available seats.
Ques. Is the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 cutoff the same for all subjects?
Ans. The minimum qualifying marks (300 out of 600 for General category) is uniform across all disciplines. However, the merit rank cutoff for actual seat allotment varies by discipline. High-competition subjects like Genetics and Plant Breeding and Agronomy have higher effective cutoffs than less competitive disciplines like Forestry or Fisheries Science.
Ques. What is the total marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 has a total of 600 marks. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, each worth 4 marks. A wrong answer attracts a negative marking of 1 mark.
Ques. When will the official ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 cutoff be released?
Ans. The official cutoff for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 will be published on the NTA ICAR portal at exams.nta.nic.in/icar after the result is declared. Check the official portal regularly for updates after the June 28, 2026 exam date.
Ques. What is the ICAR AIEEA PG cutoff for OBC and SC/ST categories?
Ans. Based on previous year norms, the expected minimum qualifying marks for OBC-NCL students is 270 out of 600 (45%). For SC, ST, and PwD students, the expected qualifying cutoff is 240 out of 600 (40%). These thresholds are consistent with NTA’s established category-wise eligibility criteria.
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