The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) has released the notification for the Centralized Combined Examination 2026 to fill 1,393 technical posts in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – 1,254 Technical Assistant (T-3) posts in ICAR institutes and 139 Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) posts in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Graduates in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Fisheries, Home Science, Library Science, IT/Computer Science, and B.Tech or Diploma holders in Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Agricultural Engineering can apply.
Online applications will run from 18 November to 17 December 2026 on the ASRB website. Selection is through a Preliminary CBT and a Mains CBT – there is no interview. T-3 posts carry Pay Level 5 (₹29,200–₹92,300) and T-4 posts carry Pay Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400).
ASRB ICAR Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Board | Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) |
| Organisation | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) |
| Exam Name | Centralized Combined Examination 2026 |
| Notification No. | F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11 November 2026 |
| Posts | Technical Assistant (T-3), Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) |
| Total Vacancies | 1,393 (T-3: 1,254, T-4: 139) |
| Qualification | Relevant Bachelor’s degree / B.Tech / 3-year Engineering Diploma (functional group-wise) |
| Age Limit | 21–30 years (as on 17 December 2026) |
| Salary | Level 5 (T-3) / Level 6 (T-4), 7th CPC |
| Selection | Preliminary CBT + Mains CBT + Document Verification (no interview) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Application Dates | 18 November – 17 December 2026 |
| Official Website | asrb.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 11 November 2026 |
| Online application starts | 18 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 17 December 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Application correction window | 18–20 December 2026 |
| Preliminary CBT | February 2027 (tentative) |
| Mains CBT | To be announced |
Category-wise Vacancy Details
| Category | T-3 | T-4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 558 | 84 | 642 |
| OBC | 281 | 25 | 306 |
| SC | 164 | 14 | 178 |
| ST | 91 | 6 | 97 |
| EWS | 160 | 10 | 170 |
| Total | 1,254 | 139 | 1,393 |
T-3 includes 30 PwBD and 74 Ex-Servicemen posts under horizontal reservation (already counted in the totals). Vacancies are tentative.
Functional Group-wise Vacancies
| Functional Group | T-3 | T-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture – Field Farm Technician | 476 | 47 |
| Agriculture – Laboratory Technician | 223 | 26 |
| Animal Science – Field Farm Technician | 50 | 1 |
| Animal Science – Laboratory Technician | 65 | 8 |
| Fisheries Science – Field Farm Technician | 57 | – |
| Fisheries Science – Laboratory Technician | 33 | 7 |
| Home / Community Science – Field Farm Technician | 2 | 1 |
| Home / Community Science – Laboratory Technician | 3 | 1 |
| Workshop Staff – Civil Engineering | 51 | – |
| Workshop Staff – Agricultural Engineering | 42 | – |
| Workshop Staff – Electrical Engineering | 35 | – |
| Workshop Staff – Electronics & Instrumentation | 25 | – |
| Library / Information Science / Documentation | 59 | – |
| Information Technology | 133 | 48 |
| Total | 1,254 | 139 |
Agriculture has the most posts (699 T-3 and 73 T-4), followed by Information Technology (133 T-3 and 48 T-4).
Educational Qualification
| Functional Group | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| Agriculture (Field Farm / Lab) | Bachelor’s in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Agro-Forestry, Food Science, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Home/Community Science or Natural Farming |
| Animal Science | B.V.Sc. & A.H. |
| Fisheries Science | B.F.Sc. |
| Home / Community Science | Bachelor’s in Home Science or Community Science |
| Workshop – Civil | B.E./B.Tech or 3-year Diploma in Civil Engineering |
| Workshop – Agricultural | B.E./B.Tech or 3-year Diploma in Agricultural / Mechanical Engineering, Textile Technology or Fibre Processing |
| Workshop – Electrical | B.E./B.Tech or 3-year Diploma in Electrical Engineering |
| Workshop – Electronics & Instrumentation | B.E./B.Tech or 3-year Diploma in Electronics / Electronics & Instrumentation |
| Library / Documentation | Bachelor’s in Library Science or Library & Information Science |
| Information Technology | BCA / B.Sc. Computer Science / B.Sc. IT, or B.E./B.Tech in IT, CS or ECE |
Important: A candidate can choose only one functional group/subgroup, but can apply for T-3, T-4 or both within that group. Post preferences entered in the form are final. The qualification must be completed by 17 December 2026.
Age Limit (as on 17 December 2026)
- Minimum 21 years, maximum 30 years
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years (plus category relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service |
| ICAR in-service technical employees (UR) | Upper age up to 40 years, as per ICAR rules |
Salary
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Assistant (T-3) | Level 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 |
| Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) | Level 6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
Allowances (DA, HRA, TA etc.) are paid extra as per Central Government / ICAR rules.
Application Fee
| Category | T-3 only / T-4 only | Both T-3 and T-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | ₹300 | ₹600 |
| EWS / OBC | ₹150 | ₹300 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women / Transgender / Ex-Servicemen | Nil | Nil |
The fee is paid online through the Bharatkosh government payment portal, and the payment receipt must be uploaded in the ASRB application form.
Selection Process
- Preliminary CBT (qualifying) – February 2027 (tentative)
- Shortlisting for Mains in the ratio of 1:15 of vacancies (functional group-wise)
- Mains CBT – final merit is based only on Mains marks
- Document verification by ICAR and appointment
There is no interview.
Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 25 | 25 |
| General English | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| General Agriculture | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 60 minutes. Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, EWS/OBC 25%, SC/ST/PwBD 20%.
Mains Exam Pattern
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Subject | Domain knowledge of the chosen functional group |
| Questions / Marks | 100 questions / 300 marks (3 marks each) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks for a question (1 mark) per wrong answer |
| Minimum qualifying marks | UR 30% (90), EWS/OBC 25% (75), SC/ST/PwBD 20% (60) |
If two candidates score the same in Mains, preference goes to higher Preliminary marks, then higher Quantitative Aptitude marks, then the older candidate.
How to Apply for ASRB ICAR Recruitment 2026
The application is online only. The link will be active from 18 November 2026.
- Visit the official ASRB website – asrb.gov.in – and read the full notification and Annexure-VIII (qualifications).
- Open the Centralized Combined Examination 2026 (T-3 / T-4) link and complete the One Time Registration (OTR).
- Log in and fill in your personal, educational and category details.
- Choose one functional group/subgroup, select T-3, T-4 or both, and enter your post preferences carefully (they cannot be changed later).
- Select your Preliminary and Mains exam centres.
- Upload your photograph (JPG, max 200 KB), signature (JPG, max 100 KB), photo ID and certificates.
- If you need to pay a fee, pay it on the Bharatkosh portal (bharatkosh.gov.in), download the receipt and upload it in the ASRB form.
- Submit the application before 17 December 2026, 11:59 PM and save the final application PDF.
- If needed, use the correction window from 18 to 20 December 2026.
Note: Only registering (OTR) or only paying on Bharatkosh does not complete your application. You must finish the final submission on the ASRB website.
Documents Required
- Class 10 certificate (date of birth proof)
- Bachelor’s degree / Diploma certificate and mark sheets
- Caste / EWS / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen certificate (if applicable)
- Valid photo ID
- Recent photograph (white background) and signature
- Bharatkosh fee receipt (if applicable)
- NOC for in-service candidates (if applicable)
Official Websites
| Purpose | Website |
|---|---|
| ASRB Official Website (notification, apply online, syllabus, admit card) | asrb.gov.in |
| Fee Payment Portal | bharatkosh.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in ASRB ICAR Recruitment 2026? 1,393 posts – 1,254 Technical Assistant (T-3) and 139 Senior Technical Assistant (T-4).
Q2. When can I apply? Online from 18 November to 17 December 2026 (11:59 PM).
Q3. Can diploma holders apply? Yes, but only for Workshop Staff posts (Civil, Agricultural, Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering). Other groups need a Bachelor’s degree.
Q4. Can BCA or B.Sc. IT graduates apply? Yes, under the Information Technology group, which has 133 T-3 and 48 T-4 posts.
Q5. Is there an interview? No. Final selection is based on the Mains CBT marks, followed by document verification.
Q6. What is the age limit? 21 to 30 years as on 17 December 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories.
Q7. Do women candidates have to pay a fee? No. Women, SC, ST, PwBD, transgender and ex-servicemen candidates are exempt.
Q8. When is the exam? The Preliminary CBT is tentatively planned for February 2027. The Mains date will be announced later.
Conclusion
ASRB ICAR Recruitment 2026 is a big opportunity for agriculture, veterinary, fisheries, engineering, library science and IT graduates to get a permanent central government technical job in ICAR institutes and KVKs. Choose your functional group carefully, prepare for the Preliminary (with General Agriculture) and the domain-based Mains, and apply before 17 December 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the ASRB notification dated 11 November 2026. Candidates should verify all details, including qualifications in Annexure-VIII and the exam pattern, from the official notification on asrb.gov.in before applying.