AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s Degree Programme is an admission test conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the selection of eligible candidates for the admission into the Post Graduate Degree Programme in the subjects of Agriculture, Veterinary and other science related fields. The test is conducted by ICAR in each year. The candidates who qualify this test are eligible for getting admission in various State Agricultural Universities, Central Universities etc. Numerous candidates from all parts of the country apply for the entrance exam each year.

Structure of AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme

For the selection of the candidates for the Masters Degree Programme in various Agricultural Universities in our country, ICAR conducted a written test, group discussion and interview. The written test consists of questions of objective type format. The test consists of one question paper with 150 questions. Out of 150 questions 10 questions are cross matching type questions. Four marks are given for each objective type questions and five marks for the cross matching questions. The questions are mainly to evaluate the basic knowledge of the candidates in their bachelor’s degree subjects. Total marks awarded for the exam is 650. Questions are asked from the major subjects selected by the candidates. In the written test each questions have four choices of answers. One of them is most appropriate answer and the candidates have to identify it mark it in the OMR answer sheet.

Those who clear the written test will have to attend for the group discussion and for a personal interview. The selection of the candidates for the Masters Degree Programme is based on their performance in all the three tests.

Syllabus of AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme

The test consists of questions from different major subjects prescribed by ICAR. The questions are asked from the following subjects

• Agriculture
• Veterinary
• Agricultural Engineering
• Fisheries
• Horticulture
• Home Science
• Sericulture
• Dairy Technology
• Dairy Engineering
• Forestry
• Agri. Marketing Banking and Cooperation
• Food Science & Technology
• Biotechnology
• Process & Food Engineering
• Computer Science
• Basic and Allied Sciences

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who have a Bachelors Degree in any of the following subjects from any affiliated University can apply for the AICE entrance examination conducted by ICAR for the admission into the Masters Degree Programme.

• Agriculture
• Veterinary
• Agricultural Engineering
• Fisheries
• Horticulture
• Home Science
• Sericulture
• Dairy Technology
• Dairy Engineering
• Forestry
• Agri. Marketing Banking and Cooperation
• Food Science & Technology
• Biotechnology
• Process & Food Engineering
• Computer Science
• Basic and Allied Sciences

The degree students who are ready for attempting their final year exams can apply for the entrance test. But they have to produce their certificates at the time of the admission process. The candidates must be a citizen of India and should have attained at least 22 years of age.

How to Apply?

The application and information bulletin are accessible from the Offices of the Registrar of the State Agricultural University by the payment of the cost of the application form. The cost of the application form is Rs.520/- for the general category candidates and Rs.270/- for the SC/ST and PH candidates. The form will also be obtainable from the selected branches of Syndicate banks and CAU Imphal. By sending a requisition letter along with a bank draft of the application fee, the candidates can obtain the application form by post. The name and address of the candidate should be mentioned in the back side of the demand draft. The form will also available from the following centres.

• National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Andhra Pradesh
• Office of the Controller of Examinations (Education Division), New Delhi
• National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana
• Central Agricultural Research Institute, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

How to fill the Form?

For filling the form correctly, the candidates have to understand all the instructions given in the information booklet. The details in the form should be filled by the candidates in Capital letters. The details of the payment of the application fee should be mentioned in the application form.  The bank draft should be send along with the application form. The form must be filled completely and send to the Office of the Controller of Examination before the due date.

Important Dates (Tentative)

• Sale of Information Bulletins with Application Forms (cash or DD): From the First Week of March to the First Week of April, 2012
• Sale by post: From the First Week of March to the Last Week of March, 2012
• Last date for receipt of filled forms in ICAR: Second Week of April, 2012
• Date of Examination: Third Week of May, 2012

List of AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme centres

• Arunachal Pradesh
• Assam
• Punjab
• Bihar
• Andhra Pradesh
• Haryana
• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Jharkhand
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Goa
• Uttaranchal
• Madhya Pradesh
• Manipur
• Meghalaya
• Mizoram
• Bihar
• Orissa
• Kerala
• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu
• Rajasthan
• New Delhi
• West Bengal
• Tripura
• Nagaland
• Chattisgarh
• Sikkim

Contact Address for the AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme

• Address : Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), (Education Division), Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan – II, Pusa, New Delhi – 110 012,
• Website: http://www.icar.org.in

Colleges Accepting the AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme score

The exam score is accepted by all State Agricultural universities and central universities.

Reference Books for AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme

• Education Resource Book of Value Education by Jacob, Mani
• Handbook of agriculture-ICAR by Bharat Singh
• General Agriculture for ICAR by Rathore
• Question bank on agriculture for competitive exams by Neraj Pratap Singh
• Handbook of agriculture by Mercel Dekker
• Hand Book of ICAR by ICAR
• Bioinformatics, concepts, skill, and Application by S. C Ragstogi; N. Mendiratta & P. Rastogi CBS publishers and Distributors
• Biotechnology by T. A.Brown
• Biotechnology by B. D. Singh Kalyani Publishers
• Cell and molecular Biology by D.P. De Robertis and M.F. De Robertis B.I. Publications
• Agronomy treatise 20 years solved papers
• AGRI SCAN 25000 questions & answer
• Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology- B.K. Roy
• Toxicology- Garg.
• Veterinary Bacteriology & Mycology by Carter
• Veterinary Pathology by G.A. Shastry
• Reproduction in farm animal by Sane
• Epidemiology by Martin
• Veterinary Histology by Dellman & Brown
• Anatomy by R. K. Ghosh
• Animal Husbandry by ICAR book- breeds, statistic of AH
• Dairy Science by Sukumar De
• Veterinary Surgery by Venugopalan
• Reproduction in farm animal by Hafez
• Veterinary Microbiology by Sharma
• Animal Husbandry by G. C. Banerjee
• Veterinary Virology by Murphy, Fenner & white

Coaching Centres for AICE-All India Competitive Examination for admission to Master’s degree programme

• Elite Academy
• Narayana IIT Academy
• Career Forum
• DAMS
• Guru Dronacharya
• J.R.S. Tutorials
• Oasis Education Services
• Heirank School of Competitions
• Giraffe Learning
• Sahil Study Circle
• Sachdeva College
• AGG Group of Institutes
• Career Point
• People’s Career Academy
• Brilliant Tutorials Pvt. Ltd.

Study Plan

The applicants have to prepare a study plan at least three months before the exam. The candidates plan must be effective only if it can be followed by the candidates. The candidates have to divide the topics of the syllabus into tough and simple topics. Candidates have to spend more time for preparing the difficult topics. Take a quite place for studying. Cover all the topics at least a week before the exam. Reviewing the already covered topics is also important. The candidates can prepare short notes at the time of referring various text books. Candidates have to practice with the question papers. By following a well planned study plan the candidates will find it easy to attempt the exam.

How and Where To Get the Results?

The result of the exam is published in the official website www.icar.org.in.

Score Validity

The exam score is valid for only one year from the time of publishing the results.