BHU Ph.D Agricultural Economics: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Agricultural Economics at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 3-year full-time doctoral programme offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture (Institute of Agricultural Sciences). BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ranked #4 in India and #1 in Uttar Pradesh in the NIRF Agriculture Rankings 2025, making it one of the most prestigious institutions for agricultural research in the country. The Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics focuses on farm management, agricultural policy, rural development, agribusiness, resource economics, and agricultural marketing. With 14 seats and an affordable fee structure, the programme attracts top M.Sc. (Agriculture) graduates seeking to contribute to agricultural policy research and rural development. Admission is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (BHU-RET) or through the RET-Exempted category for ASRB-NET/UGC-NET/ICAR-NET qualified candidates.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed (reporting date was February 10, 2026). The 2026-27 admission notification is expected to be released around November-December 2026, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points

BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ranked #4 in India and #1 in Uttar Pradesh in NIRF Agriculture Rankings 2025.
The Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics covers research areas including farm management, agricultural policy analysis, rural development, agribusiness management, resource and environmental economics, and agricultural marketing.
The ASRB-NET (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board - National Eligibility Test) score is specifically accepted for RET-Exempted admission in agricultural disciplines at BHU, in addition to UGC-NET/ICAR-NET/GATE.
50% of seats are filled through the BHU-RET Exempted category (for NET/JRF qualified candidates), and the remaining 50% through the BHU-RET entrance test.
Ph.D. scholars are eligible for ICAR-JRF/SRF stipends if they qualify the ICAR-NET/ASRB-NET examination, providing significant financial support during the programme.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) Fees

The Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) programme at BHU is offered at a very affordable fee, consistent with BHU's policy of accessible higher education. As per the latest available data, the total fee for the 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 33,055. Students are advised to check the official BHU Ph.D. admission bulletin for the latest fee schedule.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (INR)	Year 2 (INR)	Year 3 (INR)
Tuition Fee	1,000	1,000	1,000
Other Charges (Development Fund, Campus Utility, Library, etc.)	10,018	10,018	10,018
Yearly Total	11,018	11,018	11,018
Total Fees (3 Years)			33,055

Hostel Fees

Hostel Type	Annual Fee (INR)
Boys Hostel	7,500
Girls Hostel	8,500

Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately. Mess charges are additional and vary by hostel.
Ph.D. scholars receiving JRF/SRF stipends from ICAR/UGC/CSIR are generally not required to pay tuition fees (subject to university policy; students should verify).
Fees are payable at the time of admission through the BHU online portal.

BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) programme at BHU is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (BHU-RET) or through the RET-Exempted category for candidates who have qualified ASRB-NET/ICAR-NET/UGC-NET/GATE. 50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted mode and 50% through the BHU-RET. Shortlisted candidates are called for a departmental interview/viva-voce. The 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed. The 2026-27 admission cycle is expected to begin with a notification around November-December 2026.

Admission Dates

Event	2025-26 (Actual)	2026-27 (Tentative)
Ph.D. Admission Notification	November-December 2025	November-December 2026
Application / Registration Start	December 2025	December 2026
Last Date for Application	December 16, 2025	December 2026
BHU-RET Entrance Test	December-January 2025-26	December 2026 - January 2027
Publication of Result and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2026	January-February 2027 (Tentative)
End of First Round of Admissions	February 5, 2026	February 2027 (Tentative)
Date of Reporting to Department	February 10, 2026	February 2027 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold an M.Sc.(Ag.) or M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from a recognised university, with a B.Sc.(Ag.) / B.Sc.(Hons.) Agriculture 4-year degree with credit-based course programme under ICAR guidelines.
Candidates with M.Sc.(Ag.) in Dairy Economics or M.Sc.(Ag.) in Fisheries Economics are also eligible as allied discipline candidates.
Minimum 55% marks in aggregate in the qualifying examination (50% for SC/ST/PwD; 52.5% for OBC non-creamy layer).
Candidates who have qualified ASRB-NET/ICAR-NET/UGC-NET/GATE with valid scores are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category.

Admission Process

Apply online through the BHU Ph.D. admission portal when the notification is released (typically November-December).
Pay the application fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwD.
Candidates qualifying under RET-Exempted category (ASRB-NET/ICAR-NET/UGC-NET/GATE) apply directly; others appear for the BHU-RET.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a departmental interview/viva-voce at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, BHU.
Final merit list is prepared based on BHU-RET score (or NET/JRF score for exempted category) and interview performance.
Selected candidates receive an offer letter and must pay the admission fee within the stipulated time.
Report to the Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi on the date of reporting.

BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars in Agricultural Economics at BHU can avail a range of fellowships and scholarships from national funding agencies. The most significant financial support comes from ICAR-JRF/SRF and ASRB-NET fellowships, which are specifically relevant for agricultural sciences research. Additionally, BHU's own scholarship schemes and government scholarships are available for eligible students.

Fellowship and Scholarship Details

Fellowship/Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Qualified ICAR-NET/ASRB-NET with JRF; enrolled in Ph.D. Agriculture	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF); Rs. 35,000/month (SRF)
UGC-JRF	Qualified UGC-NET with JRF; enrolled in Ph.D.	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
ICSSR Research Fellowship	Merit-based; for social science research including agricultural economics	Varies (project-based)
BHU Merit Scholarship	First/Second rank holders in the programme	Rs. 3,000-4,000 (one-time)
UP Post-Matric Scholarship	UP domicile; SC/ST/OBC/Minority; family income as per government norms	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	As per NSP eligibility norms	Varies

JRF/SRF stipend amounts are as per the latest government revision; students should verify current rates with the respective funding agency.
ICAR-JRF/ASRB-NET is the most relevant fellowship for Ph.D. Agricultural Economics students; the ASRB-NET exam is conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board.
Scholars receiving JRF/SRF from national agencies are generally not required to pay tuition fees; students should confirm with the BHU administration.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU internal scholarships.

BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) FAQs

Ques. What is the entrance exam for Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) at BHU?

Ans. Admission to Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) at BHU is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (BHU-RET). Candidates who have qualified ASRB-NET/ICAR-NET/UGC-NET/GATE are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category. 50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted mode and 50% through the BHU-RET, followed by a departmental interview for all candidates. Notably, the ASRB-NET score is specifically accepted for agricultural disciplines at BHU.

Ques. What is the eligibility for Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) at BHU?

Ans. Candidates must hold an M.Sc.(Ag.) or M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from a recognised university, with a B.Sc.(Ag.) 4-year ICAR credit-based degree. Allied discipline candidates with M.Sc.(Ag.) in Dairy Economics or Fisheries Economics are also eligible. A minimum of 55% marks in the qualifying examination is required (50% for SC/ST/PwD).

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) at BHU?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) programme at BHU has 14 seats. Reservations are as per Government of India norms: 27% for OBC (non-creamy layer), 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 10% for EWS, and 5% for PwD (horizontal reservation). 50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted mode and 50% through the BHU-RET.

Ques. What are the research areas in Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) at BHU?

Ans. Research areas include farm management and production economics, agricultural policy analysis, rural development and poverty alleviation, agribusiness management, agricultural marketing and price analysis, resource and environmental economics, food security and nutrition economics, and international agricultural trade. The department has active research projects funded by ICAR, ICSSR, and government agencies.

Ques. What are the career prospects after Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) from BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) graduates from BHU can pursue careers as agricultural economists in ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, government planning departments (NITI Aayog, Ministry of Agriculture), international organisations (FAO, World Bank, IFPRI), agribusiness companies, and as faculty in agricultural colleges. BHU's strong research reputation and NIRF #4 ranking in Agriculture significantly enhance career prospects.

Ques. Is ASRB-NET different from ICAR-NET? Which one should I qualify for Ph.D. admission at BHU?

Ans. ASRB-NET (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board - National Eligibility Test) is conducted by ASRB for recruitment of agricultural scientists and also serves as a fellowship/eligibility test. ICAR-NET is conducted by ICAR for JRF fellowships. Both are accepted for RET-Exempted admission at BHU for agricultural disciplines. Qualifying either ASRB-NET or ICAR-NET with JRF entitles you to a monthly stipend during your Ph.D. and exemption from the BHU-RET entrance test.

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