ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 expected cutoff for EWS category is likely to range between 250 and 330 marks out of 600, depending on the discipline, based on previous year trends and the provisional answer key released on July 13, 2026.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 provisional answer key on July 13, 2026. Students can now use it to estimate their raw scores and check whether they fall within the expected EWS cutoff range. The EWS cutoff is typically set 10–25 marks below the General category cutoff, and official figures will be confirmed with the final result after the answer key objection window closes.
- Provisional answer key released: July 13, 2026 on exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR/.
- EWS cutoff 2026 (expected): Approximately 250–330 marks out of 600, varying by discipline.
- Total marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026: 600 (150 MCQs × 4 marks each; -1 for wrong answers).
- EWS reservation: 10% of total seats are reserved for General category students with family income below ₹8 lakh per annum.
- 2025 EWS cutoff benchmark: EWS cutoffs were 12–24 marks below the General cutoff across most disciplines.
| Direct Link to ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Provisional Answer Key (OUT) |
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 EWS Expected Cutoff (Discipline-wise)
The table below lists the expected EWS cutoff for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 across popular disciplines. All figures are expected estimates based on 2025 cutoff trends and are not official — the final cutoff will be released with the result on exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR/.
| Discipline | General Expected Cutoff (out of 600) | EWS Expected Cutoff (out of 600) | OBC Expected Cutoff (out of 600) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agronomy | 300–340 | 275–315 | 278–318 |
| Plant Breeding and Genetics | 310–350 | 285–325 | 288–328 |
| Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry | 295–335 | 270–310 | 273–313 |
| Horticulture | 305–345 | 280–320 | 283–323 |
| Agricultural Entomology | 285–325 | 260–300 | 263–303 |
| Plant Pathology | 290–330 | 265–305 | 268–308 |
| Agricultural Economics | 275–315 | 250–290 | 253–293 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 280–320 | 255–295 | 258–298 |
Use the formula — (correct answers × 4) minus (wrong answers × 1) — on your response sheet against the provisional answer key to arrive at your expected raw score. Compare it with the EWS range for your discipline.
Previous Year EWS Cutoff Trends
Reviewing official cutoffs from 2024 and 2025 provides the most reliable basis for estimating 2026 EWS cutoffs. In 2025, EWS cutoffs were 12–24 marks below the General cutoff and nearly equal to the OBC cutoff in most disciplines.
| Discipline | General Cutoff 2025 | EWS Cutoff 2025 | OBC Cutoff 2025 | SC Cutoff 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agronomy | 318 | 295 | 298 | 264 |
| Plant Breeding and Genetics | 330 | 306 | 309 | 275 |
| Soil Science | 312 | 288 | 291 | 258 |
| Horticulture | 324 | 300 | 302 | 270 |
| Plant Pathology | 306 | 282 | 285 | 252 |
| Agricultural Economics | 294 | 270 | 273 | 240 |
All 2025 figures above are based on previously published trends. If the 2026 exam paper was more difficult than 2025, the cutoffs across all categories — including EWS — are expected to drop by 10–20 marks.
Factors Affecting ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 EWS Cutoff
The final EWS cutoff is shaped by several variables that shift each year. Knowing them helps you judge how firm your estimated score really is.
- Number of EWS applicants: A higher applicant count raises competition and typically pushes the cutoff upward.
- Exam difficulty level: A tougher paper in 2026 lowers the overall score distribution, bringing all category cutoffs down.
- Total EWS seats per university: EWS seats are 10% of total intake; fewer available seats in a popular discipline means a higher cutoff.
- Answer key challenge outcomes: If NTA revises answers after the objection window, some students gain or lose marks — this shifts the score distribution and the final cutoff.
- Provisional vs. final answer key difference: The expected cutoffs here are based on the provisional answer key; the official cutoff may differ once all challenges are resolved.
EWS Category Eligibility Criteria for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026
Your score is evaluated against the EWS cutoff only if you satisfy all conditions below as defined by the Government of India. Submit a valid EWS certificate at the time of counselling — no certificate means no EWS benefit.
- Category: Must belong to the General category — students already covered under SC, ST, or OBC are not eligible for EWS.
- Income limit: Annual gross family income from all sources must be below ₹8 lakh per annum.
- Land holding: The family must not own 5 acres or more of agricultural land.
- Residential property: No residential flat of 1,000 sq ft or more; no residential plot of 100 sq yd or more in notified municipalities; no plot of 200 sq yd or more in non-notified areas.
- Certificate authority: The Income and Asset Certificate must be issued by a Tehsildar, SDO, or District Magistrate and must be valid for the academic year 2026–27.
ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 EWS Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 cutoff for EWS category?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected EWS cutoff for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 is approximately 250–330 marks out of 600, varying by discipline. Agronomy and Plant Breeding typically see higher cutoffs while Agricultural Economics tends to be lower. Official figures will be released with the final result on exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR/.
Ques. Is the EWS cutoff lower than the General category cutoff for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. Yes. The EWS cutoff is expected to be 10–25 marks below the General category cutoff. In 2025, the gap ranged from 12 to 24 marks depending on the discipline, and a similar gap is expected in 2026.
Ques. What is the total marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?
Ans. The total marks for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 is 600. The exam has 150 MCQ questions worth 4 marks each, with a negative marking of -1 for every wrong answer.
Ques. How can I estimate my score using the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 provisional answer key?
Ans. Download your response sheet and the provisional answer key from exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR/. Apply the formula: (number of correct answers × 4) minus (number of wrong answers × 1). The result is your expected raw score. Compare it against the EWS expected cutoff for your discipline.
Ques. When will the official ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 EWS cutoff be announced?
Ans. The official EWS cutoff will be published when NTA releases the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 final result. This happens after the provisional answer key objection window closes and all challenges are processed. Check exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR/ for updates.
Ques. Which certificate is needed to claim EWS reservation in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 counselling?
Ans. You need an Income and Asset Certificate for EWS issued by a competent authority — Tehsildar, SDO, or District Magistrate. The certificate must confirm that your family’s annual income is below ₹8 lakh and must be valid for the academic year 2026–27. Present it at the time of ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 counselling and admission.



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