CAU PhD Admission 2026 – Apply Now for 56 Seats Open
CAU PhD Admission 2026 has been officially announced by the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Lamphelpat, Imphal – 795004, Manipur for the academic session 2026-27. A total of 56 seats are available across 6 constituent colleges in various Ph.D. programmes covering Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, and Community Science. The application fee is Rs.1,900 (General) and the online application window is open from 5 August to 31 August 2026. This is a golden sarkari naukri-equivalent opportunity for MSc Agriculture graduates seeking a research career — read on for complete eligibility, fee details, and how to apply at agrijob.in.

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📋 Table of Contents
CAU PhD Admission 2026 – Quick Overview
Here is the complete at-a-glance summary of the CAU PhD Admission 2026 official notification (No. CAU/Reg/1446-Adm.(PhD)/26) dated 4th August 2026. Verify all details before applying online.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| University | Central Agricultural University (CAU), Lamphelpat, Imphal – 795004, Manipur |
| Notification No. | CAU/Reg/1446-Adm.(PhD)/26 |
| Programme | Ph.D. Programmes – Academic Session 2026-27 |
| Total Seats | 56 Seats across 6 Constituent Colleges |
| Application Mode | Online Only – admission.cau.ac.in |
| Application Start | 5 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 August 2026 |
| Admit Card (Tentative) | 5 September 2026 |
| Entrance Exam Date | 15 September 2026 (Tuesday) |
| Counseling Date | 17 September 2026 (Thursday) |
| Exam Venue | College of Post Graduate Studies in Agril. Sciences, Barapani, Meghalaya |
| Application Fee (General) | Rs.1,900 (non-refundable) |
| Application Fee (OBC/EWS) | Rs.1,800 (non-refundable) |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwBD) | Rs.950 (non-refundable) |
| Official Website | cau.ac.in |
Who Should Apply for CAU PhD Admission 2026?
The CAU PhD Admission 2026 is a prestigious opportunity for postgraduate agriculture and allied science students. The following candidates are the ideal applicants:
- Indian nationals who have completed or are completing their Master’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, or Community Science (Food & Nutrition) on or before 31 August 2026
- Candidates with OGPA of 6.50/10.00, 3.25/5.00, or 2.60/4.00 at Master’s level under General/OBC(NCL)/EWS category
- SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender category candidates with OGPA of 5.50/10.00, 2.75/5.00, or 2.20/4.00 at Master’s level
- In-service candidates from Govt. Departments/SAUs and other organisations (must apply through Head of Institution/Department)
- Candidates seeking sponsored admission who can produce deputation terms or study leave documents
- Candidates aged at least 20 years as on 31 August 2026
- Candidates from Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Sikkim, and All-India seeking a top-tier agriculture vacancy in doctoral research
- Note: Candidates who passed 5-year integrated M.Sc. programmes are NOT eligible for admission in any of the above disciplines
Fellowship & Financial Benefits for CAU PhD 2026

Ph.D. scholars admitted to CAU PhD Admission 2026 at Central Agricultural University are eligible for various fellowships and financial support as per ICAR/UGC/government norms. Here are the key financial benefits associated with the programme:
- ICAR-JRF/SRF Fellowship: Candidates who have qualified ICAR-JRF (PGS) examination are eligible for a fellowship of Rs.37,000–Rs.42,000 per month during their Ph.D. at CAU constituent colleges
- GATE/NET Fellowship: Candidates with valid GATE or NET scores may be eligible for MHRD/UGC fellowships ranging from Rs.31,000–Rs.35,000 per month
- State/Project Fellowships: Scholars working on funded projects at CAU may receive project fellowships as per DST/DBT/ICAR norms
- Career Value: A Ph.D. from a Central Agricultural University is one of the highest qualifications in the agriculture sector, significantly boosting prospects for government research, teaching, and senior positions
- Hostel Facility: CAU constituent colleges provide hostel accommodation subject to availability
- Publication & Research Support: Scholars receive full institutional support for attending national/international conferences and publishing research papers
Note: Fellowship amounts depend on the funding source (ICAR/UGC/DBT) and the candidate’s qualifying examination results. Check with the respective constituent college for current fellowship rates applicable to your discipline.
Application Fee for CAU PhD Admission 2026
The application fee for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is non-refundable. Payment must be made online during the application process. Additional processing charges and GST are applicable as per norms.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved / In-service | Rs.1,900 (non-refundable) |
| OBC (NCL) / EWS | Rs.1,800 (non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender | Rs.950 (non-refundable) |
| Processing Charges & GST | As applicable – to be paid by the candidate |
Important: Admission fee once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Candidates should ensure all details are correct before making the fee payment. Keep the fee payment receipt/proof as it will be required at later stages.
Age Limit for CAU PhD Admission 2026
The age requirement for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is straightforward — there is a minimum age requirement with no upper age limit specified in the official notification.
| Category | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| All Categories (General/OBC/SC/ST/PwBD) | Minimum 20 years as on 31 August 2026 |
| Upper Age Limit | No upper age limit specified |
| Age Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC | As per Government of India norms (for reservation purposes) |
| Important Note | No relaxation in minimum age limit is permissible |
Candidates must be Indian Nationals of at least 20 years of age as on 31 August 2026. No relaxation in the minimum age limit is permissible under any category or circumstance.
CAU PhD Admission 2026 – Seat Details All Colleges
The CAU PhD Admission 2026 notification covers 56 total Ph.D. seats distributed across 6 constituent colleges. Additionally, at least 1 supernumerary seat per discipline is created for in-service candidates in each faculty. Here is the complete college-wise and discipline-wise seat breakdown:
1. College of Agriculture, Imphal, Manipur – 14 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Genetics & Plant Breeding | 02 |
| Plant Pathology | 01 |
| Agronomy | 02 |
| Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry | 02 |
| Entomology | 02 |
| Agricultural Extension Education | 02 |
| Fruit Science | 01 |
| Vegetable Science | 01 |
| Floriculture & Landscaping | 01 |
| Total | 14 |
2. College of Post-Graduate Studies in Agril. Sciences, Umiam (Barapani), Meghalaya – 16 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Genetics & Plant Breeding | 02 |
| Plant Pathology | 02 |
| Molecular Biology & Biotechnology | 02 |
| Agronomy | 02 |
| Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry | 02 |
| Agricultural Economics | 02 |
| Agricultural Extension | 02 |
| Entomology | 02 |
| Total | 16 |
3. College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh – 7 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Vegetable Science | 02 |
| Fruit Science | 02 |
| Floriculture & Landscaping | 01 |
| Forest Products & Utilization | 01 |
| Silviculture & Agro-Forestry | 01 |
| Total | 07 |
4. College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura – 11 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Aquatic Animal Health Management | 01 |
| Fish Processing Technology | 02 |
| Aquaculture | 02 |
| Fisheries Extension | 02 |
| Fish Genetics & Breeding | 02 |
| Fisheries Resource Management | 02 |
| Total | 11 |
5. College of Agril. Engineering & PHT, Ranipool, Sikkim – 6 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Farm Machinery & Power Engineering | 02 |
| Soil & Water Conservation Engineering | 01 |
| Processing & Food Engineering | 01 |
| Renewable Energy Engineering | 01 |
| Irrigation & Drainage Engineering | 01 |
| Total | 06 |
6. College of Community Science, Tura, Meghalaya – 2 Seats
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| Food & Nutrition | 02 |
| Total | 02 |
Reservation: 15%, 7.5%, 27%, 10%, and 5% seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD respectively as per Govt. of India guidelines. The university reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats at the time of selection.
Eligibility / Qualification for CAU PhD Admission 2026
Before applying for CAU PhD Admission 2026, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria as per the official notification:
Academic Eligibility
- General / OBC (NCL) / EWS: Master’s degree with OGPA of 6.50/10.00 or 3.25/5.00 or 2.60/4.00 in the concerned/related subject from a recognised university
- SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender: Master’s degree with OGPA of 5.50/10.00 or 2.75/5.00 or 2.20/4.00 in the concerned/related subject from a recognised university
- Degree Completion: Master’s degree must be completed on or before 31 August 2026. Provisional Degree Certificate (PDC) to be produced at the time of counseling
- Ineligible Candidates: Candidates who have passed 5-year integrated M.Sc. degree programmes are NOT eligible for admission in any of the Ph.D. disciplines at CAU
- In-Service Candidates: Same qualification norms apply; at least 1 supernumerary seat per discipline will be created for in-service candidates if available
Subject-wise Eligibility at Master’s Level
Each Ph.D. discipline has specific Master’s-level subject eligibility requirements as listed in Annexure-I of the official notification. Key examples include: Genetics & Plant Breeding requires M.Sc. in Genetics/Plant Breeding; Fisheries disciplines require M.F.Sc. with relevant specialization; Agricultural Engineering disciplines require M.Tech in Agricultural Engineering with relevant specialization; Food & Nutrition requires M.Sc. in Home Science with specialization in Food Science & Nutrition. Download the official notification PDF for the complete discipline-wise eligibility matrix.
Documents Required at Counseling
- Original certificates and relevant documents for physical verification at constituent colleges
- Provisional Degree Certificate (PDC) / Original Degree Certificate at the time of counseling
- Valid SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD certificate issued by the competent authority (original)
- NOC from Head of Department/Organisation (for Govt. Department/SAU candidates)
- Deputation terms/study leave documents (for sponsored candidates)
- Bond on stamp paper agreeing to rules of recovery of fellowship amount and penalty (to be submitted at time of admission)
Selection Process for CAU PhD Admission 2026
The updated selection process for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is purely merit-based on entrance examination performance. Here are the stages:
- Online Application Submission: Apply through admission.cau.ac.in from 5 August to 31 August 2026 (Apply Before Last Date – closing soon)
- Admit Card Download: Admit card will be available for download from the CAU website tentatively from 5 September 2026
- Entrance Examination (Written Test): Conducted on 15 September 2026 at College of Post Graduate Studies in Agril. Sciences, Barapani, Meghalaya. Duration: 2.5 hours. Ph.D. (Agri.) at 10:00 AM–12:30 PM; Ph.D. (Hort./Forestry/Fisheries/Agril. Engg./Community Science) at 1:30 PM–4:00 PM
- Result & Eligible Candidates Notice: Notice for eligible candidates for counseling on 16 September 2026
- Counseling: On 17 September 2026 at 2:30 PM onwards at College of Post Graduate Studies in Agril. Sciences, Barapani, Meghalaya for all Ph.D. programmes
- Document Verification: Original certificates and documents verified during physical reporting at the respective constituent college
- Final Admission: Allotment of seats based on merit in entrance examination and category-wise reservation
Note: Selection is purely based on marks scored in the Entrance Examination. There is no interview or other selection stage beyond the written test and counseling. University reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats at the time of selection.

How to Apply Online for CAU PhD Admission 2026
Application for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is strictly online only. No other mode of application will be accepted. Follow these steps carefully and apply before the last date of 31 August 2026:
- Visit the official CAU admission portal at admission.cau.ac.in and read all instructions carefully before starting the registration
- Step I: Select all the preferred Ph.D. degree programmes you wish to apply for (note: Ph.D. Agri. and Ph.D. Hort. candidates submit a single application for 2 constituent colleges each)
- Step II: Fill all personal details and contact information accurately. Provide your own mobile number and email ID as all communications will be sent to these
- Step III: Fill the academic records of your Graduation and Post-graduation (OGPA/percentage, distinctions, etc.)
- Step IV: Upload scanned images: Candidate’s Photograph (10KB–150KB, JPG/JPEG/PNG); Candidate’s Signature (10KB–150KB, JPG/JPEG/PNG); Provisional/Original Degree Certificate or Course Completion Certificate signed by competent authority (50KB–300KB, PDF only); Valid SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD Certificate if applicable (50KB–300KB, PDF only)
- Step V: Make payment of application fee online (Rs.1,900/General; Rs.1,800/OBC; Rs.950/SC/ST/PwBD) using online payment method. Keep proof of fee paid
- Step VI: Print a copy of the Confirmation Page after successful payment and submission. Keep it for reference at all future stages
Candidates from Govt. Departments/SAUs/Organisations must submit their application through the concerned Head of the Institution/Department/Organisation, failing which candidature will not be considered. Do not pay any money to middlemen or agents — apply directly through the official portal only.
Important Dates for CAU PhD Admission 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 4 August 2026 (Latest Update 2026) |
| Online Application Opens | 5 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 31 August 2026 (Apply Before Last Date – Closing Soon) |
| Admit Card Download (Tentative) | 5 September 2026 |
| Notice for Eligible Candidates (Counseling) | 16 September 2026 |
| Entrance Examination Date | 15 September 2026 (Tuesday) |
| Exam Timing – Ph.D. (Agri.) | 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Exam Timing – Ph.D. (Hort./Forestry/Fisheries/Agril. Engg./Community Science) | 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Counseling Date | 17 September 2026 (Thursday), 2:30 PM onwards |
| Master’s Degree Completion Deadline | On or before 31 August 2026 |
Act Now – Closing Soon! The online application window for CAU PhD Admission 2026 closes on 31 August 2026. This is a New Vacancy notification for India’s premier Central Agricultural University offering 56 PhD seats in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, forestry, engineering, and community science. Prepare all your documents and apply today.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Online – CAU PhD Admission 2026 | Click Here to Apply Online |
| Official Notification PDF (Download) | Download Official Notification PDF |
| CAU Official Website | cau.ac.in |
| India Government Portal | India.gov.in |
| More Agriculture Jobs | Latest Agriculture Jobs |
| Latest Govt Jobs 2026 | Govt Jobs 2026 |
| Join Telegram for Job Alerts | Join @agrijob_in |
Frequently Asked Questions about CAU PhD Admission 2026
What is CAU PhD Admission 2026?
CAU PhD Admission 2026 is the official admission notification released by Central Agricultural University (CAU), Lamphelpat, Imphal – Manipur for 56 Ph.D. seats across 6 constituent colleges for the academic session 2026-27. It covers disciplines in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, and Community Science. Online applications are open from 5 August to 31 August 2026 at admission.cau.ac.in.
What is the application fee for CAU PhD Admission 2026?
The application fee for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is Rs.1,900 for General/Unreserved/In-service candidates, Rs.1,800 for OBC (NCL)/EWS candidates, and Rs.950 for SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender candidates. All fees are non-refundable. Additional processing charges and GST are also applicable as per norms.
What is the eligibility for CAU PhD Admission 2026?
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in the concerned/related subject from a recognised university with OGPA of 6.50/10.00 (General/OBC/EWS) or 5.50/10.00 (SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender). The degree must be completed on or before 31 August 2026. Candidates who passed 5-year integrated M.Sc. programmes are NOT eligible. Minimum age is 20 years as on 31 August 2026.
What is the last date to apply for CAU PhD Admission 2026?
The last date to apply online for CAU PhD Admission 2026 is 31 August 2026. Applications must be submitted at admission.cau.ac.in. No other mode of application is accepted. Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
How many seats are available in CAU PhD Admission 2026?
There are a total of 56 PhD seats in CAU PhD Admission 2026, distributed across 6 constituent colleges: College of Agriculture Imphal (14 seats), College of PG Studies Barapani Meghalaya (16 seats), College of Horticulture & Forestry Pasighat Arunachal Pradesh (7 seats), College of Fisheries Lembucherra Tripura (11 seats), College of Agril. Engineering Ranipool Sikkim (6 seats), and College of Community Science Tura Meghalaya (2 seats). Additionally, supernumerary seats are available for in-service candidates.
When is the CAU PhD Entrance Exam 2026?
The CAU PhD Entrance Examination 2026 is scheduled on 15 September 2026 (Tuesday) at the College of Post Graduate Studies in Agril. Sciences, Barapani, Meghalaya. Ph.D. (Agri.) exam is from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and Ph.D. (Hort./Forestry/Fisheries/Agril. Engg./Community Science) is from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Counseling is on 17 September 2026. Selection is purely based on entrance exam marks.
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