ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026 Schedule – PG & PhD Round Dates

ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27 opens on 29 September 2026 (Tuesday) at 5:00 PM for admission to Postgraduate (PG) programmes (excluding Veterinary stream) and Doctoral (PhD) programmes across all streams, and the complete round-wise schedule now runs until 24 October 2026. This guide is for agriculture graduates and postgraduates holding a valid ICAR AIEEA PG or AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 rank card who want to secure an All India Quota seat for Academic Year 2026-27.

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This article covers the official round-wise counselling schedule with exact dates and times, eligibility, documents required, seat matrix overview, step-by-step process, scholarship details, and a complete FAQ for ICAR PG and PhD counselling 2026-27. For the full rulebook behind every step, read our ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure 2026 guide for M.Sc. seats and our ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 guide for JRF/SRF fellowships.

📥 Want the official rulebooks? Download the ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure 2026 (Telegram post 887) and the ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 (Telegram post 888), or jump to the brochure section below.

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📋 Table of Contents

What is ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026-27?

ICAR AIQ counselling is the centralised, online seat-allotment process conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to fill All India Quota (AIQ) seats in Postgraduate (M.Sc.) and Doctoral (PhD) programmes across 76 agricultural universities in India for Academic Year 2026-27.

ICAR conducts two national entrance exams every year — AIEEA-PG (for M.Sc. admissions) and AICE-JRF/SRF (for PhD admissions) — through the National Testing Agency (NTA). Both exams were held on 4 July 2026, and results were declared on 29–30 August 2026 at the official NTA portal. Candidates who have a valid rank card can now participate in the AIQ counselling process starting 29 September 2026.

The AIQ seats represent 30% of total seats at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and 100% of seats at ICAR’s own premier institutions — including IARI New Delhi, ICAR-NDRI Karnal, IVRI Bareilly, RLBCAU Jhansi, CIFE Mumbai, and Dr. RPCAU Pusa. This makes the ICAR counselling process the single most important gateway for admission to India’s top agricultural research universities. Every rule, fee and annexure is spelled out in ICAR’s counselling brochures, which we explain in our PG counselling brochure guide and PhD counselling brochure guide.

Who Should Participate in ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026?

• 🎓 B.Sc. Agriculture (4-year) graduates with 60% or above (General/OBC) who appeared in AIEEA-PG 2026 and have a valid rank card
• 🔬 M.Sc. Agriculture / Allied Sciences graduates who appeared in AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 and wish to pursue doctoral research at a premier agricultural university
• 🐄 Veterinary graduates (B.V.Sc.) who qualified in AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 — PhD (Veterinary stream) is covered under AIQ counselling
• 📊 SC/ST/PwBD candidates with 50% in B.Sc. Agriculture (4-year) who qualified AIEEA-PG 2026
• 🌾 Out-service candidates (working professionals in agriculture sector) who registered and qualified for ICAR PG National Talent Scholarship consideration
• 🏛️ Candidates seeking IARI, NDRI, or IVRI admission — 100% of PG/PhD seats at these premier institutions are filled exclusively through ICAR AIQ counselling
• 📋 Final-year B.Sc. Agriculture students who applied provisionally and have now completed their degree with required marks
• 🎯 JRF/SRF fellowship aspirants who want to pursue PhD with a monthly stipend of Rs.37,000–Rs.42,000 from ICAR

ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026-27 Schedule – Round-Wise Dates for PG & PhD

ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27 for PG (excluding Veterinary) and PhD (all streams) runs from 29 September to 24 October 2026. Registration and choice filling close on 2 October, four seat-allotment rounds run from 5 to 16 October, and the mop-up round finishes on 24 October 2026.

The schedule below is taken directly from the official ICAR Online Counselling Schedule for the Academic Session 2026-27. All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST). Every round follows the same pattern: seat allotment, university document verification, resubmission of documents (if required), seat acceptance fee deposit, and reporting by universities.

Pre-Counselling Timeline – Exam, Result & Notice

Registration, Choice Filling & Document Upload Dates

Candidates get four days to register, pay the counselling fee, fill choices and upload documents before the first round of seat allotment.

First Round – Seat Allotment & Reporting Dates

The first round starts on 5 October 2026 and is completed by 7 October 2026. Round 1 gives candidates the longest verification window of all rounds.

Second Round – Seat Allotment & Reporting Dates

Round 2 opens on 9 October 2026 and is compressed into two days. The entire verification, resubmission and fee cycle closes on 10 October 2026.

Third Round – Seat Allotment & Reporting Dates

Round 3 starts on 12 October 2026 and follows the same two-day cycle, ending on 13 October 2026.

Fourth Round – Seat Allotment, Withdrawal & Reporting Dates

Round 4 starts on 15 October 2026 and is the last regular round. It is also the last chance to withdraw an allotted or admitted seat, which closes at 3:00 PM on 16 October 2026.

Mop-Up / Final Round – Vacancy Matrix, Fresh Choice Filling & Allotment

The mop-up round fills seats that remain vacant after Round 4. Candidates must pay the counselling fee again and fill fresh choices between 19 and 21 October 2026.

ICAR Counselling 2026-27 Deadlines Compared – All Rounds at a Glance

Withdrawal of Allotted Seats – Rules and Timeline

Withdrawal of allotted or admitted seats begins from the 2nd round of counselling and remains open until the last day of the 4th round, ending on 16 October 2026 at 3:00 PM. This activity is unavailable between the closure of one round and the allotment of seats in the next round. Refund and forfeiture rules are explained in the ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure guide.

Helpdesk and University Points of Contact

• For technical assistance, use the HelpDesk menu on the homepage of the ICAR Counselling Portal at icarcounseling.com, where helpline phone numbers are also listed.
• The list of Single Points of Contact (SPOC) at admitting universities for admission-related queries is available on the same counselling portal.

ICAR Counselling Brochure 2026 – PG & PhD Rules Explained

ICAR issues two official counselling brochures for 2026-27: one for AIEEA (PG) M.Sc. seats and one for AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) seats. The brochure decides fees, refund rules, document format, upgradation and fellowship conditions, and it prevails over the NTA information bulletin if the two conflict.

This schedule page tells you when each step happens. The brochures tell you how each step works and what can cancel your seat. Use the table below to see the main differences, then open the full guide for your programme.

Rules in the Brochure That Can Cancel Your Seat

• JPEG only: PDF and DOC uploads are rejected, and documents sent by email or WhatsApp are never considered.
• One university query: a university can raise only one query per candidate. Missing the resubmission deadline marks you “Not Reported.”
• Zero score bar: candidates with zero or negative marks cannot take part in any round, including mop-up.
• Upgradation forfeits your earlier seat immediately, so use it only when you are sure of the higher choice.
• No change after admission: ICAR does not allow a change of subject, university or migration once admission is final.

M.Sc. aspirants should read the ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure 2026 guide for the subject-wise scholarship table and 40% state-cap rule. PhD aspirants should read the ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 guide for the JRF/SRF category split and fellowship conditions. The original PDFs are on the official portal: PG brochure and PhD brochure.

Eligibility Criteria for ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026

To participate in ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility conditions set by ICAR and NTA. Subject-wise eligibility annexures are covered in our brochure guides for PG and PhD.

For PG (M.Sc.) Counselling — AIEEA-PG 2026

• Must hold a 4-year / 5-year / 6-year Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Allied Sciences from a recognised university
• Minimum marks: 60% aggregate for General/OBC/EWS candidates; 50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates
• Must have a valid AIEEA-PG 2026 rank card (non-zero score mandatory)
• Candidates with zero or negative marks are barred from counselling
• 3-year B.Sc. degree holders are generally not eligible, with exceptions at IARI and NDRI
• Minimum age: 19 years as on 31 August 2026
• Final-year students may apply provisionally — degree completion required before physical reporting

For PhD Counselling — AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026

• Must hold an M.Sc. / M.V.Sc. / M.Tech degree in Agriculture or Allied Sciences
• Valid AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 rank card from NTA required
• Veterinary stream candidates: PhD counselling is included under AIQ (PG Veterinary excluded)
• Cut-off: General/OBC candidates — 60%; SC/ST/PwBD — 50% at the Master’s level
• JRF holders get fellowship of Rs.37,000/month; SRF holders get Rs.42,000/month
• Five-year integrated M.Sc. holders cannot seek PhD admission through this route, as explained in the PhD counselling brochure guide

ICAR AIQ Seat Matrix 2026 – PG & PhD Overview

The ICAR AIQ seat matrix for 2026-27 lists 3,964 PG seats across 81 sub-subjects and 2,330 PhD seats across 80 sub-subjects at 76 universities under the ICAR-AU system, as per the official counselling brochures. The seat matrix is displayed on 29 September 2026 along with rank release. Here is the broad distribution:

The final, subject-wise seat matrix is displayed on the official ICAR counselling portal at icarcounseling.com. A fresh seat vacancy matrix is displayed again on 19 October 2026 for the mop-up round. For subject-wise seat and scholarship tables, see the PG counselling brochure guide and the PhD counselling brochure guide.

Documents Required for ICAR Counselling 2026-27

ICAR’s own public notice (dated 25 September 2026) specifically asks candidates to keep all “documents, testimonials, certificates, etc. ready.” Documents are uploaded online during registration (29 September to 2 October 2026), so keep clear scanned copies ready. Originals are needed for physical reporting at the allotted university.

• ✅ ICAR AIEEA PG / AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 Rank Card — downloaded from exams.nta.nic.in/icar
• ✅ Admit Card of ICAR AIEEA PG or AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 exam
• ✅ Class 10th (Matriculation) Certificate & Marksheet
• ✅ Class 12th (Intermediate) Certificate & Marksheet
• ✅ All B.Sc. / M.Sc. Semester / Year Marksheets from Class 10th onwards
• ✅ Degree / Provisional Degree Certificate (B.Sc. Agriculture or M.Sc. Agriculture)
• ✅ Aadhaar Card (mandatory identity proof)
• ✅ 3 Recent Passport-Size Photographs
• ✅ Transfer Certificate (TC) / Migration Certificate
• ✅ Character Certificate from last attended institution
• ✅ Domicile Certificate (state-specific, if applicable)
• ✅ Category Certificate — OBC-NCL / SC / ST / EWS / PwBD (if applicable, must be valid for 2026)
• ✅ Gap Certificate (if there is a year gap after qualifying degree)

How to Register for ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026 – Step-by-Step

The entire ICAR AIQ counselling process is conducted online through the official portal at icarcounseling.com. Registration opened on 29 September 2026 at 5:00 PM and closes for choice filling on 2 October 2026 at 11:50 PM. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Official Portal: Go to icarcounseling.com — the ICAR-designated counselling website for all PG and PhD seat allotments.
2. Register / Login: Use your ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 or AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 rank card credentials (Application Number + Date of Birth) to log in to the counselling portal.
3. Pay Counselling Registration Fee: Pay the one-time, non-refundable counselling registration fee of Rs.500 online via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
4. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of all required documents listed above as JPEG files. Ensure files are clear, not password protected, and within the specified file size limits. See the PG counselling brochure guide for the complete upload rules.
5. Fill Course & University Preferences (Choice Filling): Select your preferred Agricultural Universities, ICAR Deemed Universities, and eligible subjects/disciplines in order of preference before 2 October 2026, 11:50 PM. Include all choices you are genuinely willing to accept.
6. Lock Your Choices: Review your preference list carefully and print it. The last saved list locks automatically at closing time, and changes are not permitted within that round.
7. Check Seat Allotment Result: Log in from 11:00 AM on each allotment date (5, 9, 12 and 15 October, then 23 October for the mop-up round) to check if a seat has been allotted.
8. Pay Seat Acceptance Fee: If a seat is allotted and you wish to accept it, pay the Seat Acceptance Fee of Rs.10,000 online before the 4:00 PM deadline of that round. PhD candidates should also check fellowship conditions in the PhD counselling brochure guide.
9. Download Provisional Admission Letter: Download and print your provisional admission letter after successful fee payment and document verification.
10. Report to Allotted University: Appear at the allotted Agricultural University with all original documents for final admission and physical verification, as per the reporting date of your round.

ICAR JRF & PG Scholarship Details 2026

One of the biggest financial advantages of securing admission through ICAR AIQ counselling is access to ICAR’s prestigious scholarship and fellowship programmes. The official brochures list 497 PG scholarships and 300 JRF/SRF fellowships for 2026-27.

Completing M.Sc. at a premier ICAR agricultural university opens high-value career paths: ICAR ARS Scientist (pay scale Rs.56,100–Rs.1,77,500/month), Assistant Professor at State Agricultural Universities (Rs.57,700+/month), and agritech R&D roles at companies like Bayer, Syngenta, and UPL. For the complete scholarship maths, read the ICAR PG scholarship section of the PG brochure guide and the JRF/SRF fellowship section of the PhD brochure guide.

ICAR PG vs PhD Counselling 2026 – Key Differences

Pros and Cons of ICAR AIQ Seat Through Counselling

Advantages

• ✅ Access to Premier Institutions: 100% seats at IARI, NDRI, IVRI, CIFE, RLBCAU, and Dr. RPCAU are filled through ICAR AIQ — the only route to these institutes
• ✅ Financial Support: ICAR PG scholarships and JRF/SRF fellowships reduce financial burden significantly
• ✅ Fully Online Process: No need to physically travel for document verification — saves time and cost
• ✅ Multiple Rounds: 4 rounds + mop-up round (5 October to 24 October 2026) gives candidates multiple chances for seat allotment
• ✅ Wide University Choice: Access to 76 agricultural universities across India in a single counselling process
• ✅ Transparent Meritocracy: Seat allotment strictly based on ICAR entrance rank — no bias or state-level restrictions

Disadvantages

• ❌ High Competition: 38,720 candidates appeared in 2026 for a limited number of AIQ seats — cutoffs are steep at premier institutions
• ❌ Veterinary PG Excluded: Candidates seeking PG (M.V.Sc.) admission must look for separate state-level counselling processes
• ❌ Tight Deadlines: From Round 2 onwards, seat acceptance and document verification are squeezed into about two days per round
• ❌ Choice-Based Risk: Wrong preference order can result in a less preferred university despite a good rank
• ❌ Seat Acceptance Fee Risk: The Rs.10,000 seat acceptance fee is refunded minus Rs.1,000 if you cancel or withdraw up to round 4, but it is forfeited if you accept a seat and never join

Important Terms Related to ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026

Understanding these key terms will help you navigate the ICAR counselling portal and process more effectively:

• AIQ (All India Quota): Reserved share of PG/PhD seats (30% at SAUs, 100% at ICAR Deemed Universities) filled through ICAR’s centralised counselling based on national entrance rank
• AIEEA-PG: All India Entrance Examination for Admission (Post-Graduate) — the M.Sc. Agriculture entrance test conducted by NTA on behalf of ICAR
• AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD): All India Competitive Examination for Junior/Senior Research Fellowship (PhD) — the doctoral admission-cum-fellowship exam by NTA/ICAR
• Counselling Brochure: ICAR’s official rulebook for each counselling, covering fees, refunds, documents, upgradation and scholarships — see our PG and PhD brochure guides
• icarcounseling.com: The official ICAR counselling portal where registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and document upload are conducted
• Seat Matrix: The official list showing the number of AIQ seats available subject-wise, category-wise, and university-wise — displayed on 29 September 2026
• Choice Filling: The process of selecting preferred universities and subjects in order of priority — open from 29 September to 2 October 2026 for the main rounds
• Seat Acceptance Fee: A mandatory fee of Rs.10,000 paid online after document verification — refundable minus Rs.1,000 up to round 4, forfeited if you never join
• Upgradation: Moving to a higher choice in rounds 1-3; your earlier seat is forfeited immediately
• Mop-Up Round: The final counselling round (19–24 October 2026) with a fresh vacancy matrix and fresh choice filling to fill remaining vacant AIQ seats
• Provisional Admission Letter: The letter generated after seat acceptance fee payment, confirming your allotted seat before physical reporting
• ICAR PG Scholarship and NTS: ICAR’s financial support for M.Sc. Agriculture students admitted through AIQ counselling — Rs.12,640 per month for scholarship holders and Rs.5,000 per month NTS for study outside the home state

Important Links – ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026-27

Conclusion – ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026-27

ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27 begins on 29 September 2026 and ends with the mop-up round on 24 October 2026. It is the most critical step for agriculture graduates and postgraduates to secure admission at IARI, NDRI, IVRI, and 70+ SAUs. With 6,294 combined PG and PhD seats under the All India Quota, and ICAR JRF/SRF fellowships of up to Rs.42,000/month, this is a high-value opportunity that demands immediate action.

Complete registration and choice filling before 2 October 2026, 11:50 PM, then track every round on icarcounseling.com. Read the rules that decide your seat in our ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure 2026 guide or ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 guide, download the official schedule PDF from the Important Links table, and bookmark this page — we update it every time official data is released.

Frequently Asked Questions About ICAR AIQ Counselling 2026

When does ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27 start?

ICAR AIQ counselling 2026-27 starts on 29 September 2026 (Tuesday) at 5:00 PM IST. On this date ICAR releases ranks, displays the seat matrix, and opens registration, choice filling, counselling fee payment, and document upload on the official portal at icarcounseling.com.

What is the last date of choice filling in ICAR AIQ counselling 2026?

The last date for choice filling and document upload for the main rounds is 2 October 2026 (Friday) at 11:50 PM. For the mop-up round, fresh choice filling runs from 19 October 2026 (5:00 PM) to 21 October 2026 (11:50 PM).

When is the first round seat allotment of ICAR counselling 2026-27?

First round seat allotment starts on 5 October 2026 (Monday) from 11:00 AM. Universities verify documents until 6 October, 11:50 PM. Candidates must complete the seat acceptance fee by 7 October 2026, 4:00 PM, and universities report by 8:00 PM the same day.

How many rounds of ICAR AIQ counselling are conducted in 2026-27?

ICAR conducts four regular rounds and one mop-up (final) round. Allotments begin on 5, 9, 12 and 15 October 2026 for Rounds 1 to 4, and on 23 October 2026 for the mop-up round, which ends with university reporting on 24 October 2026 at 8:00 PM.

Can I withdraw my allotted seat in ICAR counselling 2026?

Yes. Withdrawal of allotted or admitted seats starts from the 2nd round and remains open until the last day of the 4th round, which is 16 October 2026 at 3:00 PM. The facility is unavailable between the closure of one round and the allotment of seats in the next round, and it is not available in the mop-up round.

Is Veterinary PG included in ICAR AIQ counselling 2026?

No. As per the official ICAR schedule and notice, Veterinary stream is excluded from PG counselling. However, PhD programmes in all streams, including Veterinary, are included in AIQ counselling 2026-27. Candidates seeking M.V.Sc. admission must apply through the respective state or university-level admission processes.

What documents do I need for ICAR counselling 2026?

You need your ICAR 2026 rank card, admit card, all marksheets from Class 10th onwards, degree or provisional degree certificate, Aadhaar card, passport-size photographs, transfer certificate, character certificate, domicile certificate, and category certificate (if applicable). Upload clear JPEG scans during registration and keep originals for physical reporting.

How many AIQ seats are available in ICAR PG and PhD counselling 2026-27?

The official brochures list 3,964 PG seats and 2,330 PhD seats under the ICAR All India Quota, a total of 6,294 seats across 76 agricultural universities. The exact subject-wise and university-wise seat matrix is displayed on icarcounseling.com from 29 September 2026.

What is the counselling registration fee for ICAR AIQ 2026?

The ICAR counselling registration fee is Rs.500 (non-refundable), payable online. Candidates who accept a seat must also pay a Seat Acceptance Fee of Rs.10,000 before the 4:00 PM deadline of that round. If you cancel or withdraw up to round 4, ICAR refunds the fee minus Rs.1,000; if you accept a seat and never join, the fee is forfeited. Full refund rules are in the ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure guide.

What is ICAR JRF stipend for PhD scholars in 2026?

ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scholars admitted through AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) 2026 receive Rs.37,000/month in the first and second years. In the third year the fellowship rises to Rs.42,000/month. The brochure lists 300 such fellowships, explained in our ICAR PhD counselling brochure guide.

Where can I download the ICAR PG counselling brochure 2026 PDF?

You can download the ICAR AIEEA PG counselling brochure 2026 from the Agrijob.in Telegram channel (post 887) or read the official copy on icarcounseling.com. Our PG brochure guide explains its seats, fees, refund rules and scholarships in plain language.

Where can I download the ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 PDF?

You can download the ICAR PhD counselling brochure 2026 from the Agrijob.in Telegram channel (post 888) or read the official copy on icarcounseling.com. Our PhD brochure guide covers the JRF/SRF seat table, fellowship conditions and document rules.

Where can I download the ICAR counselling schedule 2026-27 PDF?

You can download the official ICAR Online Counselling Schedule 2026-27 for PG and PhD from the Agrijob.in Telegram channel. The ICAR public notice dated 25 September 2026 is available here. Official updates are also posted at icar.org.in and icarcounseling.com.

Last Updated: 29 September 2026 | Source: ICAR Online Counselling Schedule for PG and PhD 2026-27, ICAR Agricultural Education Division Public Notice dated 25.09.2026, and the ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) Online Counselling Brochures 2026 | This guide is reviewed and updated regularly for accuracy. Bookmark this page for the latest ICAR counselling information.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All data is sourced from official ICAR/NTA notifications. Candidates must verify all dates, fees, eligibility, and seat details on the official ICAR portal (icar.org.in) and counselling portal (icarcounseling.com) before taking any action. Agrijob.in is not affiliated with ICAR or NTA.

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