HORTICET 2026: Application Form Open, Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus and Cutoff

HORTICET 2026 (Horticulture Common Entrance Test) is conducted by Dr. YSR Horticultural University (Dr. YSRHU), Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh, for admission to the 4-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture program. The HORTICET 2026 application window opened in May 2026 and is currently active on the official portal drysrhu.ap.gov.in. The exam is conducted in offline pen-and-paper mode in Telugu language and grants admission to 15% of B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture seats reserved for Diploma in Horticulture holders.

• Application Form: HORTICET 2026 application form is available for download from May 2026; the last date to submit the filled form and Demand Draft is expected in July 2026. Last year (2025), the form was accepted up to mid-July.
• Exam Date: HORTICET 2026 exam is expected in August 2026 in offline mode. Last year, the exam was conducted on 24 September 2025 in Telugu medium for 200 MCQs in 2 hours.
• Admit Card: HORTICET 2026 admit card is expected to be issued in July 2026 in online mode through drysrhu.ap.gov.in. In 2025, the hall ticket was released around 10 days before the exam date.
• Result: HORTICET 2026 result is expected in September 2026. In 2025, the result was declared on 5 October 2025, about 11 days after the exam.

What is HORTICET 2026?

HORTICET 2026 is the Horticulture Common Entrance Test conducted by Dr. YSR Horticultural University (Dr. YSRHU), headquartered at Venkataramannagudem in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The exam is the only gateway for Diploma in Horticulture holders to join the 4-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture program at Dr. YSRHU constituent colleges.

Dr. YSR Horticultural University was established in 2007 and is the second-oldest dedicated horticultural university in India. The university reserves 15% of total B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture seats for candidates who have completed the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture, and HORTICET decides the merit for this quota.

You should know the following key facts about the HORTICET exam:

• The exam is held in offline pen-and-paper mode.
• The question paper has 200 multiple-choice questions.
• The medium of the paper is Telugu.
• There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
• The remaining 85% of B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture seats at Dr. YSRHU are filled through AP EAPCET and ICAR AIEEA.

HORTICET is a state-level entrance exam and is taken every year by Diploma in Horticulture students from Dr. YSRHU’s polytechnic colleges. With the 2026 application window now open, candidates should focus on completing the form and Demand Draft submission within the deadline.

HORTICET 2026 Highlights

The table below summarises the most important details of the HORTICET 2026 exam at a glance.

HORTICET 2026 Important Dates

The HORTICET 2026 application window opened in May 2026 and is currently active. You should track the official portal regularly because Dr. YSRHU updates the schedule in phases. The table below lists the HORTICET 2026 important dates, with upcoming events placed first followed by past events.

Note: The HORTICET 2026 application window is currently active. You should download the form, prepare the Demand Draft, and submit the application by post before the July 2026 deadline to avoid last-minute rejection.

HORTICET 2026 Application Process

The HORTICET 2026 application process is a hybrid offline-online process. You can download the form from the official website but must submit the filled form and Demand Draft by post to the Registrar, Dr. YSRHU. This makes HORTICET different from most modern entrance exams, where the entire process is online.

How to Apply for HORTICET 2026

You should follow these steps to apply for HORTICET 2026:

• Step 1: Visit the official website drysrhu.ap.gov.in and click on the HORTICET 2026 notification link.
• Step 2: Download the application form PDF and the prospectus.
• Step 3: Take a printout of the form on A4 paper.
• Step 4: Fill in your personal, academic, and contact details in capital letters using a black or blue pen.
• Step 5: Paste a recent passport-size photograph and put your signature in the boxes provided.
• Step 6: Prepare a Demand Draft (DD) of Rs. 650 (Rs. 325 for SC/ST/PH) in favour of the Comptroller, Dr. YSRHU, payable at Tadepalligudem.
• Step 7: Attach self-attested copies of your Diploma certificate, marks memo, study and conduct certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), and Aadhaar card.
• Step 8: Send the complete application by Registered/Speed Post to the address mentioned in the prospectus, on or before the deadline.

HORTICET 2026 Application Fee

The fee should be paid only through a Demand Draft. Online payment is not accepted for HORTICET. The fee is non-refundable once paid.

Source: Dr. YSRHU Official Website

HORTICET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The HORTICET 2026 eligibility criteria are strict because the exam is meant only for Diploma in Horticulture holders. You should check the eligibility points carefully before paying the fee, as the fee is non-refundable.

Educational Qualification

• You must have passed the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture from a polytechnic college affiliated with Dr. YSR Horticultural University.
• Candidates appearing for the final-year Diploma exam can also apply, subject to producing the passing certificate at the time of counselling.
• The Diploma should be passed in the first or second division as specified in the prospectus.

Age Limit

• The minimum age is 17 years as on 31 December 2026.
• The maximum age is 22 years for General and BC category candidates.
• A relaxation of 3 years is given to SC and ST candidates as per Andhra Pradesh state rules.

Nativity

• The candidate must be a local of Andhra Pradesh, as defined under the AP Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission) Order.
• You should produce a valid nativity or study certificate at the time of counselling.

Physical Fitness

• Candidates must be medically fit and free from any contagious disease.
• A medical fitness certificate from a registered medical officer is required at the time of admission.

HORTICET 2026 Syllabus

The HORTICET 2026 syllabus is based entirely on the topics covered in the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture course taught at Dr. YSRHU polytechnic colleges. This makes preparation easier because you have already studied these topics in your Diploma.

Important Topics for HORTICET 2026

• Fundamentals of Horticulture: Branches, importance, climate, soil, propagation methods.
• Pomology (Fruit Science): Cultivation of mango, banana, citrus, guava, sapota, papaya, grapes.
• Olericulture (Vegetable Science): Tomato, onion, brinjal, chillies, cucurbits, leafy vegetables.
• Floriculture: Jasmine, rose, marigold, chrysanthemum, tuberose, cut flowers, landscaping.
• Plantation, Spices and Condiments: Coconut, cashew, turmeric, ginger, pepper, cardamom.
• Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Important species, cultivation, value addition.
• Post-Harvest Technology: Storage, processing, packaging of fruits and vegetables.
• Plant Protection: Pests, diseases, integrated pest management, common pesticides.
• Soil Science and Plant Nutrition: Soil types, NPK, micronutrients, manures, fertilisers.
• Genetics and Plant Breeding: Heredity, hybridisation, modern breeding methods.
• Agricultural Microbiology and Biochemistry: Basics relevant to horticulture.
• Farm Machinery and Irrigation: Drip, sprinkler, micro-irrigation, common implements.
• Horticulture Extension and Economics: Marketing, cooperatives, schemes.

HORTICET Syllabus Preparation Strategy

You should treat your Diploma textbooks as the primary source. Focus on:

• Practical aspects covered during field visits and lab sessions.
• Scientific names of important horticultural crops.
• Common diseases, pests, and their control measures.
• Cropping seasons, climatic requirements, and soil preferences.
• Important schemes of the Andhra Pradesh Department of Horticulture.

HORTICET 2026 Exam Centres

HORTICET 2026 is conducted across selected centres in Andhra Pradesh, mostly at Dr. YSRHU constituent colleges and polytechnic campuses. The conducting body announces the list of centres with the notification, and the centre allotted to you is printed on the admit card.

The actual list of HORTICET 2026 centres will be confirmed in the official notification. You can also indicate a preferred centre in the application form, but the final allotment depends on availability.

HORTICET 2026 Admit Card

The HORTICET 2026 admit card, also called the hall ticket, is expected to be released in July 2026 on the official website. The admit card is one of the most important documents and you must carry it to the exam centre, along with one valid photo ID.

How to Download HORTICET 2026 Admit Card

• Visit drysrhu.ap.gov.in.
• Click on the "HORTICET 2026 Hall Ticket Download" link.
• Enter your application number and date of birth.
• Download the hall ticket and take two clear printouts.
• Paste a recent photograph in the space provided and get it attested by the head of your Diploma college.

Details Printed on HORTICET Admit Card

• Candidate’s name and photograph
• Application/Hall ticket number
• Date and time of the exam
• Reporting time
• Allotted exam centre with full address
• Exam day instructions and dos and don’ts

You should preserve the HORTICET 2026 admit card till the completion of counselling and admission, because it is required at every stage.

HORTICET 2026 Answer Key

Dr. YSRHU releases the HORTICET 2026 answer key after the exam through its official portal. The answer key helps you calculate your expected score before the result is declared.

The answer key process usually has the following stages:

• Preliminary Answer Key: Released within a few days of the exam. You can raise objections within the notified window with supporting evidence.
• Final Answer Key: Released along with the result, after considering valid objections.

How to Calculate Score Using Answer Key

• Download the answer key PDF from the official portal.
• Compare it with the response sheet of your test booklet series.
• Count the number of correct answers.
• Multiply the count by 1 mark, since each correct answer carries one mark.
• There is no deduction for wrong answers, so the total of correct answers is your expected score.

HORTICET 2026 Participating Colleges

HORTICET 2026 ranks are accepted by all colleges affiliated with Dr. YSR Horticultural University for B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture admission under the Diploma quota. The university has constituent colleges and polytechnic campuses spread across Andhra Pradesh.

Specialisations Offered After B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture

Once you complete B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture, you can pursue M.Sc. specialisations at Dr. YSRHU. The popular specialisations are:

• Fruit Science (Pomology)
• Vegetable Science (Olericulture)
• Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
• Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
• Post Harvest Technology
• Horticulture Economics and Marketing

HORTICET 2026 Preparation Tips

HORTICET 2026 is based on your Diploma in Horticulture syllabus, so you have an advantage if you have been regular in your classes. But with only 36 seconds per question and 200 questions to attempt, you should still build a clear preparation plan.

Best Strategy for HORTICET 2026

• Start with the syllabus: Read the official HORTICET prospectus and mark the topics not covered in detail in your Diploma.
• Build a study plan: Spend the first 60% of your time on Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, and Plant Protection because these subjects carry the highest weightage.
• Use Diploma textbooks first: Dr. YSRHU’s own textbooks and lecture notes are the most reliable sources because the paper is set by university faculty.
• Practice MCQs in Telugu: Since the paper is set in Telugu medium, practice question banks in Telugu so that you do not lose time on translation.
• Solve previous-year papers: Past HORTICET papers reveal the question pattern and most-repeated topics.
• Attempt all 200 questions: Because there is no negative marking, you should mark a smart guess for questions you are unsure about.
• Take mock tests: Sit for full-length 2-hour mock tests at least twice a week in the final month to build stamina and speed.
• Revise scientific names: Common scientific names of horticultural crops appear every year, so prepare a one-page revision sheet.

Last-Month Tips

• Spend the last 30 days only on revision and mock tests.
• Focus on weak topics and avoid starting new chapters.
• Sleep well the night before the exam and reach the centre at least 60 minutes early.
• Carry your admit card, photo ID, and two ball-point pens.

Source: Dr. YSRHU Admissions Portal