ARS/NET (Agricultural Research Services/National Eligibility Test) is a national eligibility test conducted by Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB) for the selection of eligible candidates for the post of Scientists in Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Those who pass the ARS/NET are eligible for getting the post of Lectures in State Agricultural Universities. The exam consists of both preliminary examination and Main examination. It is a highly competitive exam and so many candidates apply for the test each year. The candidates have the chance of only four times to attempt the exam.

Structure of ARS/NET

The selection of the candidates is mainly on the basis of the written test. The written test consists of both preliminary and Main test. Those who qualify the Preliminary Test will be called for the Main Exam. The preliminary test consists of objective type questions carries 200 marks. The time for the exam will be of two and a half hours. The main exam consists of descriptive questions which carries 240 marks. The time allotted for the exam is three hours. Those who passed the main exam will be called for a Viva-Voce test. The marks awarded for the test is 60 marks. Those who clear the entire tests will be recruited in ICAR institutes. The selection is based on the marks scored in the Main exam and Viva –Voce.

Syllabus for ARS/NET

The Preliminary test consists of two parts of 200 questions. First part includes 50 questions from the topic of General knowledge. Second part consists of 150 questions from the professional subjects according to the specialization of the candidates. The Main test consists of descriptive type questions from the subjects selected by the candidates. The syllabus of the test is given below.

Agricultural Sciences

Part A: General Knowledge (50 questions)

• History of agricultural development in India
• Plant genetics and breeding science developments
• Genetic engineering
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural microbiology
• Plant Physiology
• Status of Indian horticulture
• Seed certification laws
• Hybrid Technology
• Nano-biotechnology
• Bioinformatics

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Crop Improvement
• Crop Protection
• Basic Plant Sciences
• Horticulture

Veterinary Sciences

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Historical developments in veterinary and animal sciences
• Role of livestock sector in Indian agriculture
• Current scenario of livestock and poultry production
• Constraints in animal production systems
• International organizations, policies and regulations on animal health
• Radiology
• Bacteriology
• Virology
• Animal genetics & breeding
• Livestock products technology including dairy sciences

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Basic Veterinary Sciences
• Para clinical Veterinary Sciences
• Clinical Veterinary Sciences
• Animal Production

Fisheries Science

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Fisheries resources of world and India
• Importance of commercial fishery in India and its impact on rural economy
• Fisheries and aquaculture related developmental programmes in India
• Domestic and export marketing of fish and fishery products
• Protection of national biodiversity
• Feeding behavior of fish
• Fish food organisms
• Fisheries extension methods and approaches

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Fisheries Science
• Fish Harvest and Post Harvest Technology

Natural Resource Management

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Historical developments in Indian Agriculture
• Current production trends
• Drought management
• Management of natural resources including recent advances
• Cropping and farming systems
• Input management
• Environmental sciences
• Forestry and agro-forestry
• Biodiversity
• Air pollution
• Ecology
• Soils of India
• Soil survey and classification

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Forestry and Environmental Science
• Agronomy and Agricultural Meteorology
• Soil Science

Social Sciences

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Role of agriculture in economic development of the country
• Changes in cropping pattern
• Agro economic theories
• Agri-business systems
• Agro-processing
• Farm machinery
• Public distribution system
• Agricultural trade structure in India
• Family resource management
• Consumer education and managements
• Panchayat Raj
• Agricultural communication and extension
• Scope and role of agricultural extension
• Farming systems research and networking
• Computer applications in social sciences/agriculture

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Economics and Agriculture Business Management
• Agricultural Extension
• Statistics and Computer Application

Agricultural Engineering and Technology

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Historical background and current status of agricultural engineering education in India
• Indian Organizations/institutions related with agricultural engineering
• Role of farm mechanization in crop production
• Different types of farm equipment
• IC engines
• Indian tractor industry
• Engineering properties of biological materials
• Unit operations in agricultural processing
• Soil/grain moisture
• Renewable sources of energy
• Basics of computer hardware and operating systems
• Elementary statistics

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Farm Machinery and Energy
• Post Harvest Engineering and Technology
• Land and Water Engineering
• Food Science and Technology

Dairy Sciences and Technology

Part A: General knowledge (50 Questions)

• Status of Dairy Industry in India
• Principles of production
• Processing and marketing
• Important detergents and sanitizers
• Heat transfer
• Constructional and Operational features of cream separation
• Homogenizers
• Butter and cheese making equipment
• Auto process controls
• Steam generation
• Dairy chemistry
• Biological and Chemical methods for detections of adulteration
• Physicochemical properties of dairy products
• Micro flora associated and bacteriological aspects of
• National and international standards for milk and milk products

Part B: Subject Questions (150 Questions)

• Basic Dairy Sciences
• Dairy Engineering and Technology

Eligibility Criteria for ARS/NET

The candidates who have a Post Graduate Degree in the concerned subjects from a recognized University can apply for the preliminary tests. Those who qualify the preliminary exams can apply for the Main exams. The age limit of the candidates should be between 21 and 32 years. The ICAR employees have provided with an age relaxation of 13 years.

How to Apply for ARS/NET?

The application forms for ICAR ARS/Net examination is available in the official website of ICAR www.icar.org.in. The candidates can download the application form from the website. They should have to send a Demand Draft of Rs.1000/- in favor of The Secretary of ASRB in New Delhi with the application form. The SC/St candidates and women candidates have not send the application fee. They can also submit the application website through the website.

How to fill the Form?

The candidates have to fill the form by following all the guidelines given in the exam notification for filling the form. The name and contact address of the candidates should be entered correctly. The photograph of the candidate affixed in the form must be clear. All the needed documents should be enclosed with the application form.. The application form should be tidy and complete. The crossed Bank Draft should be send along with the application form. The candidates make sure that the application form with all needed documents should reach the concerned office before the due date.

Important Dates (Tentative)

• Issue of the ARS/NET application form: From the last Week of February, 2012
• Last date of receiving the ARS/NET application form: Fourth Week of April, 2012
• Date of ARS/NET Preliminary Examination: Third week of September, 2011
• Date of ARS/NET Main Exam: Lat Week of November, 2011

List of ARS/NET centers

• Anand
• Bangaluru
• Bikaner
• Bhopal
• Bhubaneshwar
• Chennai
• Cochin
• Coimbatore
• Dharwad
• Dehradun
• Delhi
• Guwahati
• Hyderabad
• Imphal
• Izatnagar (Bareilly)
• Jabalpur
• Jammu
• Junagadh
• Karnal
• Kolkata
• Lucknow
• Ludhiana
• Mumbai
• Nagpur
• Palampur
• Patna
• Port Blair
• Raipur
• Ranchi
• Srinagar
• Tirupati
• Udaipur
• Varanasi

Contact Address for the ARS/NET

• Address: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 114, India
• Telephone: 91 - 11 - 23388991 - 9, 91 - 11 - 23388958 - 60
• Website URL: www.icar.org.in

Colleges Accepting the ARS/NET score

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

Reference Books for ARS/NET

• Micro irrigation for Crop Production, Design, Operation, and Management by Lamm, Ayars & Nakayama
• Agricultural and Environmental Resource Economics (Biological Resource Management Series) by Gerald A. Carlson, David Zilberman and John A. Miranowski
• Biotic Indicators for Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture by Buchs
• Aquaculture Water Reuse Systems: Engineering Design and Management by Timmons & Losordo
• Soil Compaction in Crop Production by Soane & Van Ouwerkerk
• Conflicts over Natural Resources: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues) by Jacqueline Vaughn
• International Waters of the Middle East: From Euphrates-Tigris to Nile (Water Resources Management) by Asit K. Biswas
• Diary processing by Gerrit Smit
• The Technology of Diary Products by Ralph early
• Microbiology and biochemistry of cheese and fermented milk by Barry A. Law
• Dairy technology by Pieter Walstra
• Dairy microbiology handbook by Richard Kenneth R
• Social Science Methodology: A Criterial Framework by John Gerring
• Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences (Contemporary Societies Series) by Andrew Abbott and Jeffrey C. Alexander
• Philosophy of Social Science by Alexander Rosenberg

Coaching Centers for ARS/NET

• U G C Net Coaching
• Gate Life Sciences Coaching
• Edvantage Education Private Ltd
• Saini School of Economics and Commerce
• Kapron British College
• ED Star
• Toppers IAS
• Angel Cere Giving Institute
• Foreign Language Courses
• I.D.M.Solution Private Ltd
• Elite academy
• Science Point
• Zenith Point
• Sociology Made Easy
• I.Q.T.I Bangalore
• Gold Leaf Exam Private Ltd
• Acme Academy
• English Point
• Sky Light IAS
• A.V Classes
• Share Point Server
• C.C.C. Coaching Institute
• Sociology Made Easy
• Aggarwal College
• Edu Dreams
• Brilliant Tutorials Private Ltd
• Arya Coaching Center
• Trump and Gates
• Gate Life Sciences Coaching
• Excellent Coaching Institute
• M.C.I

Study Plan for ARS/NET

The ASR/Net exam is a tough exam and the candidates need lot f preparation for getting the exam. The syllabus for the Preliminary and main exam will be available in the website. The candidates have to collect the notes and other study materials from the possible sources. Try to spend at least three hours daily for preparing for the exam. After daily preparation, candidates have to spare time for revising the topics. Self tests conducted at the each weekends help the candidates to identify the weak portions. Make use of the coaching provided by various coaching centers. Attempt  the exam with full of confidence.

How and Where To Get the Results?

The result of the exam will be released in Official website of ICAR www.icar.org.in. The candidates have to type their register number and date of birth in the website to avail their result.

Score Validity

The exam score is only for the recruitment period only.