Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Genetics and Plant Breeding at Banaras Hindu University is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences (I.Ag.Sc.), at BHU's main campus in Varanasi. The programme is offered under the course code PG0340 and is a Professional Programme. Genetics and Plant Breeding is the science of improving crop plants through genetic manipulation, hybridisation, selection, and biotechnological tools to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant, and stress-tolerant varieties. The curriculum covers quantitative genetics, molecular markers, plant biotechnology, crop improvement techniques, seed technology, and bioinformatics applications in plant breeding. BHU's Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding has a distinguished history of developing improved crop varieties and is one of the leading departments in India for plant breeding research. The total fee for the programme is Rs. 12,500 per semester (Rs. 50,000 for the entire 2-year duration) for regular seats, with paid seats available at Rs. 42,500 per semester. Admission is based on CUET PG scores, and the programme is highly sought after by students aspiring to careers in crop improvement, seed industry, and agricultural research.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. CUET PG 2026 was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-PG 2026) registration is expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official BHU admission portal at https://admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

The Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at BHU has a strong legacy of developing improved varieties of wheat, rice, and other crops, contributing significantly to India's food security.
The programme integrates classical genetics with modern molecular breeding tools, including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and CRISPR-based crop improvement.
Both regular seats (Rs. 12,500/semester) and paid seats (Rs. 42,500/semester) are available, with the same academic curriculum for both categories.
Graduates are well-positioned for careers in seed companies, ICAR research institutes, state agricultural universities, and agricultural biotechnology firms.
The programme is a gateway to Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, which opens doors to scientist and faculty positions at premier institutions.

92 Views Last Year

7 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

BHU M.Sc Genetics and Plant Breeding Fees

The M.Sc. (Genetics and Plant Breeding) at BHU is a Professional Programme with two fee categories: regular seats at Rs. 12,500 per semester and paid seats at Rs. 42,500 per semester. The total tuition fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 50,000 for regular seats and Rs. 1,70,000 for paid seats. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at a separate nominal charge.

Tuition Fee Structure

Fee Component	Regular Seats (INR)	Paid Seats (INR)
Tuition Fee (per semester)	12,500	42,500
Tuition Fee (4 semesters total)	50,000	1,70,000
Other University Charges	As applicable	As applicable
Total Tuition Fees	50,000	1,70,000

Hostel Fees

Hostel Component	Amount (INR)
Hostel Room Rent (per year)	Approx. 5,000 - 7,500
Security Deposit (refundable)	Approx. 2,000 (included in Year 1 hostel fee)
Mess Charges	Payable separately at actuals

Fee amounts are as per the BHU PG Bulletin 2026 and are subject to revision by the university.
Paid seats are supernumerary seats with a higher fee but the same academic programme and curriculum.
Hostel fees are separate from tuition fees and are not mandatory.
No EMI facility is officially offered; fees are payable semester-wise.
SC/ST/OBC students from Uttar Pradesh may be eligible for UP Scholarship which can cover tuition fees.

BHU M.Sc Genetics and Plant Breeding Admission 2026

Admissions to the M.Sc. (Genetics and Plant Breeding) programme at BHU are conducted through CUET PG scores, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-PG). For the 2026-27 session, CUET PG 2026 has been conducted and results are awaited. The CAP-PG 2026 process is expected to begin after CUET PG results are declared. Candidates must apply separately on the BHU CAP-PG portal after CUET PG registration.

BHU PG Admission Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET PG 2026 Registration End	January 25, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result Declaration	May 6, 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration (Tentative)	May - June 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Counselling/Allotment (Tentative)	June - July 2026
Academic Session Commencement (Tentative)	July - August 2026

CUET PG Exam Details

Exam	CUET PG 2026
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
CUET Paper Code for this Course	SCQP01 (Agriculture)
Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result Date	May 6, 2026
Official Website	https://exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a 4-year degree of Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) or Bachelor of Science (Honours) Agriculture from a recognised university, with credit-based course system.
General category candidates must have secured at least 6.0/10 OGPA (or equivalent: 2.5/4, 3.5/5, 4.0/6) in the qualifying examination. SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates require 5.5/10 OGPA (or equivalent: 2.0/4, 3.0/5, 3.5/6).
Candidates must not have secured more than one III-division or equivalent OGPA in their academic career.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET PG 2026 conducted by NTA (Paper Code: SCQP01).
After CUET PG results, apply separately on BHU's CAP-PG 2026 portal (https://admission.bhu.ac.in).
Fill in programme preferences in the CAP-PG application form, selecting Genetics and Plant Breeding as the specialisation under M.Sc. (Agriculture).
Seat allotment is done based on CUET PG merit, category, and programme preferences.
Candidates receiving allotment must report to BHU's Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding for document verification and fee payment within the stipulated deadline.
Up to 25% of open category seats carry institutional preference for BHU graduates (students who passed their qualifying degree from BHU in 2025 or 2026).
15% supernumerary seats are available for BHU Employee Wards and Foreign Nationals separately.
Paid seats are also available as supernumerary seats (not exceeding 15% of total seats) with a higher fee.

BHU M.Sc Genetics and Plant Breeding Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in the M.Sc. (Genetics and Plant Breeding) programme at BHU can avail of several government-funded scholarships. ICAR-JRF holders who qualify the ICAR Junior Research Fellowship examination receive a fellowship of Rs. 31,000 per month during their M.Sc. programme. Additionally, national and state-level scholarships are available for meritorious and economically weaker students.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Qualify ICAR-JRF examination; enrolled in ICAR-recognised M.Sc. (Agriculture) programme	Rs. 31,000 per month + HRA
National Scholarship Portal (PM-USP)	80% in Class 12, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs, enrolled in AICTE/UGC recognised course	Up to Rs. 82,000 per annum
UGC National Scholarship for PG Studies	First-time PG students under 30 years, enrolled in UGC-recognised full-time programme	Rs. 10,000 per year (or Rs. 15,000 per month for select categories)
UP Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	SC/ST/OBC/Minority students domiciled in Uttar Pradesh	Covers tuition fee and maintenance allowance as per state norms
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme	Students admitted to recognised institutions, seeking education loan	Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loan; interest subsidy for eligible students

ICAR-JRF is a highly competitive examination conducted by ICAR-ASRB. Students who qualify ICAR-JRF before or during their M.Sc. can avail the fellowship.
UP Scholarship applications are typically open from July to October each year on the official portal (https://scholarship.up.gov.in).
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme applications can be submitted at https://pmvidyalaxmi.co.in.
Students must maintain a minimum of 50% marks and 75% attendance to remain eligible for most scholarships.

BHU M.Sc Genetics And Plant Breeding Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#5 out of 53 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttar Pradesh

NIRF Ranking

#4 out of 40 in India 2025

#1st in Uttar Pradesh

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

BHU M.Sc Genetics and Plant Breeding FAQs

Ques. What makes BHU's Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding stand out for M.Sc. admissions?

Ans. BHU's Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding has a rich legacy of developing improved crop varieties, particularly in wheat and rice, contributing to India's Green Revolution. The department has strong research collaborations with ICAR-IARI, CIMMYT, and other international institutions. Students benefit from exposure to both classical plant breeding and modern molecular breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, making it one of the most sought-after departments for M.Sc. in Genetics and Plant Breeding in India.

Ques. What are the career opportunities after M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in seed companies (such as Mahyco, Pioneer, Syngenta, Bayer CropScience) as plant breeders, in ICAR research institutes (IARI, NBPGR, DRR) as scientists, and in state agricultural universities as faculty. They can also work in agricultural biotechnology companies, government seed corporations, and international organisations like CIMMYT and IRRI. Many graduates also appear for ASRB NET and UPSC examinations.

Ques. Is ICAR-JRF applicable for M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding at BHU?

Ans. Yes. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ICAR-recognised, and students enrolled in M.Sc. (Agriculture) Genetics and Plant Breeding are eligible for the ICAR-JRF fellowship. The ICAR-JRF examination for this discipline falls under the Plant Breeding and Genetics category. Students who qualify receive Rs. 31,000 per month plus HRA during their M.Sc. programme.

Ques. Does the M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding programme at BHU cover molecular breeding and biotechnology tools?

Ans. Yes. The curriculum at BHU integrates classical genetics and plant breeding with modern molecular tools. Students learn about molecular markers (SSR, SNP, DArT), marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, genomic selection, and CRISPR-Cas9 applications in crop improvement. The department has molecular biology laboratories equipped for DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and sequencing.

Ques. What is the difference between M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding and M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at BHU?

Ans. M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding (PG0340) is a Professional Programme under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, focused on crop improvement through genetic and breeding approaches with direct agricultural applications. M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (PG0356S) is a Special Programme at RGSC, focused on molecular and cellular biology with broader biotechnology applications. Students interested in crop improvement and seed industry should opt for Genetics and Plant Breeding, while those interested in molecular research should consider Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

Ques. How competitive is admission to M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding at BHU, and what CUET PG score is typically required?

Ans. Genetics and Plant Breeding is one of the most competitive M.Sc. (Agriculture) specialisations at BHU due to limited seats and high demand. The CUET PG paper SCQP01 covers all agriculture disciplines, and the competition is intense. While BHU does not publish official cutoffs, students with a CUET PG percentile above 90 and a strong OGPA (above 7.5/10) in their B.Sc. (Agriculture) generally have good chances. BHU student preference (institutional preference) can also improve chances for BHU graduates.