BHU Ph.D Soil Science And Agriculture Chemistry: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

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Banaras Hindu University's Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry is a 3-year full-time doctoral programme offered through the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS). The department was established in 1945 as a section of Agricultural Chemistry and gained full departmental status in 1968. It is one of the most distinguished soil science departments in India, with a pioneering research legacy - notably, the department's founder, Prof. Sant Singh, was invited by the Swedish Royal Academy for consideration for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1970) for his work on clay humus-complex formation in black soils. The programme covers research areas including digital soil mapping, nutrient use efficiency, soil and water pollution, greenhouse gases in agroecosystems, climate change, biofertilizers, carbon sequestration, nanotechnology in agriculture, and pesticide residues in soil, water, and plants. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 33,055 for the entire 3-year duration. Admission is based on ASRB NET scores (RET mode) or ICAR JRF/SRF qualification (RET-Exempted mode). BHU is ranked 6th among Indian universities by NIRF 2025 and is recognised as an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education.

Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed. The registration was open from December 3 to December 16, 2026, with interviews held in January 2027 and results published between January 24 and February 5, 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, applications are tentatively expected to open in August 2027, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points

Offered by the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU - one of the most distinguished soil science departments in India with a history dating to 1945.
Research areas include digital soil mapping, nutrient use efficiency, soil and water pollution, greenhouse gases in agroecosystems, climate change, biofertilizers, carbon sequestration, nanotechnology in agriculture, and pesticide residues.
The department has nine research laboratories and well-equipped facilities for both teaching and research.
The department's alumni consistently perform well in state and national level competitive examinations for recruitment in various sectors.
For PhD in Agricultural Sciences at BHU, ASRB NET (conducted by Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board) is the qualifying exam - not UGC/CSIR NET.
Candidates with ICAR JRF/SRF qualify for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category.
Non-NET PhD scholars are eligible for BHU's Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month for up to 4 years.

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Fees
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FAQs

BHU PhD Fees

The Ph.D. (Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry) programme at BHU is highly affordable, with a total course fee of approximately Rs. 33,055 for the full 3-year duration. The fee is structured annually, with a slightly higher first-year fee due to one-time admission charges. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at nominal charges and is not mandatory; mess charges are payable separately.

Course Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	7,167	6,317	6,317	19,801
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	2,000	6,000
Other University Charges	2,418	2,418	2,418	7,254
Total Fees	11,585	10,735	10,735	33,055

Hostel Fees

Hostel Component	Amount (Rs.)
Hostel Seat Rent (per year)	~3,000 - 4,500
Mess Charges (per year, approx.)	~24,000
Total Hostel + Mess (approx. per year)	~27,000 - 28,500

A refundable caution deposit is collected at the time of admission and returned upon completion/withdrawal.
Hostel accommodation is subject to availability and is not mandatory.
Mess charges are variable and depend on actual consumption.
No EMI facility is available; fees are payable annually at the time of registration.
Application processing fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (non-refundable).

BHU PhD Admission 2026

BHU PhD admissions for Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry are conducted annually through the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed, with registration closing on December 16, 2026, interviews held in January 2027, and results published between January 24 and February 5, 2027. For the 2027-28 session, applications are tentatively expected in August-September 2027. A key distinction for this programme is that the qualifying exam is ASRB NET (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board National Eligibility Test), not UGC/CSIR NET.

BHU PhD Admission Dates

Event	2026-27 (Actual)	2027-28 (Tentative)
Online Registration Opens	December 3, 2026	August 2027
Last Date of Registration	December 16, 2026	August 25, 2027
Correction Window	December 17, 2026	August 26, 2027
Call Letter / Admit Card Issue	December 20-24, 2026	September 2027
Physical Verification and Interview	January 5-16, 2027	September 2027
Result / Offer Letter Publication	January 24 - February 5, 2027	September-October 2027
	February 5, 2027	October 2027
Session Commencement	February-March 2027	October-November 2027

ASRB NET Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Dates
ASRB NET 2026	Notification	February 2026
ASRB NET 2026	Application Period	February - March 2026
ASRB NET 2026	Exam	June 2026
ASRB NET 2026	Result	August-September 2026
ASRB NET 2027	Notification	February 2027 (Tentative)
ASRB NET 2027	Application Period	February - March 2027 (Tentative)
ASRB NET 2027	Exam	June 2027 (Tentative)
ASRB NET 2027	Result	August-September 2027 (Tentative)

Note: For PhD Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry at BHU, ASRB NET (Soil Science subject) is the primary qualifying exam. Candidates with valid ICAR JRF/SRF are eligible for the RET-Exempted (direct) category. The NET score from June 2025 or later is accepted for the 2026-27 session.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Soil Science, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, or Agricultural Chemistry from a recognised university.
Minimum 55% marks in aggregate in the qualifying examination (50% for SC/ST/PwBD/OBC candidates).
Valid ASRB NET score for RET mode; valid ICAR JRF/SRF certificate for RET-Exempted mode.

Admission Process

Register online at bhuonline.in and fill the application form.
Pay the application processing fee online (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Upload photograph, signature, and required documents.
Shortlisted candidates (10 per seat per category for RET mode; all ICAR JRF/SRF holders for RET-Exempted) are called for a personal interview at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, BHU.
Final merit list is prepared: 70% NET score percentile + 30% interview marks (RET mode); 100% interview marks (RET-Exempted mode).
Selected candidates complete physical document verification and pay the course fee to confirm admission.
Supervisor allotment is done at the time of admission/counselling.

BHU PhD Scholarships 2026

BHU PhD scholars in Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry have access to multiple fellowship and scholarship options. ICAR JRF holders receive a monthly stipend as per ICAR norms, while Non-JRF scholars admitted through the RET mode are eligible for BHU's Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month. The department also attracts project-based funding from ICAR, DST, DBT, and other national agencies.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
ICAR JRF Fellowship	ICAR JRF qualified (through ASRB NET)	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF); Rs. 35,000/month (SRF)	2 years JRF + upgradable to SRF
BHU Non-NET Fellowship	PhD scholars not receiving any other fellowship	Rs. 8,000/month + Rs. 10,000/year contingency	Up to 4 years
DST INSPIRE Fellowship	INSPIRE awardees	Rs. 80,000/month	5 years
Project-based JRF/SRF	Selected through project interviews at Soil Science Dept.	Rs. 25,000 - 35,000/month (as per ICAR/DST norms)	Project duration
ICAR-SRF (In-Service)	Candidates with 2 years of JRF experience	Rs. 35,000/month	Up to 3 years

BHU Non-NET Fellowship is available only to scholars not receiving any other financial assistance.
Fellowship extension beyond 3 years requires publication of at least one paper in a UGC CARE-listed journal.
Scholars drawing Non-NET fellowship cannot hold any other paid appointment simultaneously.
Contingency grant (Rs. 10,000/year for science subjects) is available for books, consumables, and travel.
ICAR JRF/SRF fellowship amounts are as per the revised ICAR norms.

BHU PhD FAQs

Ques. Is ASRB NET different from UGC NET? Which exam should I qualify for PhD Soil Science at BHU?

Ans. Yes, ASRB NET is different from UGC/CSIR NET. For PhD in Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry at BHU (under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences), the qualifying exam is ASRB NET (National Eligibility Test conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board). UGC/CSIR NET is NOT accepted for this programme. ASRB NET is conducted annually and covers agricultural science subjects including Soil Science. Candidates with ICAR JRF/SRF qualify for the RET-Exempted (direct) category.

Ques. What are the major research areas in the BHU Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry?

Ans. The department has specialized research in: (a) Digital soil mapping and soil survey; (b) Nutrient use efficiency (both macro and micro nutrients); (c) Soil and water pollution and remediation; (d) Greenhouse gases in agroecosystems and climate change mitigation; (e) Biofertilizers and biological nitrogen fixation; (f) Carbon sequestration in soils; (g) Industrial and biowaste utilization; (h) Biopriming and nanotechnology in agriculture; (i) Pesticide residues in soil, water, and plants; (j) Integrated nutrient management and soil fertility assessment.

Ques. What is the historical significance of the BHU Soil Science Department?

Ans. The Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at BHU has a remarkable research legacy. The department's founder, Prof. Sant Singh, was invited by the Swedish Royal Academy for consideration for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1970 for his pioneering work on the formation of clay humus-complex responsible for the coloration of black soils. This makes BHU's Soil Science Department one of the very few agricultural science departments in India with such international recognition.

Ques. What is the difference between ICAR JRF and ASRB NET for PhD admission at BHU?

Ans. ICAR JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is awarded to top-ranked candidates in the ASRB NET examination. JRF holders qualify for the RET-Exempted (direct admission) category at BHU, meaning they are admitted based on interview performance alone (100% weightage). ASRB NET qualifiers who did not receive JRF (i.e., qualified for Lectureship/Assistant Professorship only) fall under the RET mode and are selected based on 70% NET score + 30% interview marks. Both categories require a valid ASRB NET score from June 2025 or later.

Ques. What career options are available after completing PhD Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry from BHU?

Ans. PhD graduates from BHU's Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry department typically pursue: (a) Scientist positions at ICAR institutes (IARI, NBSS&LUP, CSSRI, CPCRI); (b) Academic positions as Assistant Professors in soil science and agricultural chemistry departments; (c) Positions in state agricultural departments, soil testing laboratories, and agricultural universities; (d) Roles in fertilizer companies, agrochemical companies, and agricultural consultancy firms; (e) Environmental consultancy for soil remediation, land use planning, and pollution assessment; (f) Post-doctoral fellowships at national and international agricultural research institutions.

Ques. Does BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences have good research infrastructure for Soil Science?

Ans. Yes. The Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at BHU has nine research laboratories and well-equipped facilities for both teaching and research. The department is part of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, which is one of the premier agricultural science institutes in India. The department has active research collaborations with ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, and international research organizations. Faculty members receive research grants from ICAR, DST, DBT, and other national agencies. The department's alumni consistently perform well in ASRB NET and other competitive examinations.

BHU: 1 Answered Question

How is 5 years integrated law course of BHU and how is the placement there?

Ujjval GuptaA lawyer in the making

BHU LLB Course is better than most Indian Colleges. Some of its salient features are:

Fee is higher than the 3-year course
Tough competition as limited seats are available
It’s a self-financed course
Ranked amongst the 8-10 Law Colleges of India
The amenities at BHU- Infrastructure, Faculty, Exposure, Security all add to its wonderful experience
Massive lush green campus

Placements-

The placements at BHU are above average. You might get to work in law firms, practicing in courts under a senior lawyer. Other corporate sectors or legal advisory jobs are also available. Many BHU students also prefer pursuing Judiciary.

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