The Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board annually administers the National Eligibility Test (ASRB NET) for post-graduates seeking career opportunities as Lecturers or Assistant Professors at Agricultural Universities across India. The official ASRB NET 2026 notification is scheduled for release in August 2026 via the official portal at www.asrb.org.in. Refer to this comprehensive guide for all essential exam updates.
ASRB NET 2026 Notification
In August 2026, the Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board will publish the ASRB NET 2026 official notification on their website (www.asrb.org.in). This PDF document serves as the primary resource for candidates, detailing crucial information including exam schedules, registration steps, eligibility prerequisites, subject-specific syllabi, and updated exam patterns.
ASRB NET 2026 Exam Summary
The ASRB NET, also widely known as the ICAR ASRB NET Exam, is conducted to certify candidates for faculty positions such as Lecturers and Assistant Professors within state agricultural universities and premier national agricultural research institutions.
| ASRB NET 2026 Exam Summary | |
| Conducted By | Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board |
| ASRB NET Full Form | Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board- National Eligibility Exam |
| Category | Eligibility Test |
| Exam Level | National level |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Date | To be Notified |
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT) |
| Official Website | www.asrb.org.in |
ASRB NET Important Date 2026
The ASRB NET 2026 notification and online registration window will open in August 2026. As per the tentative exam calendar, the preliminary examination is expected to take place in November 2026, followed by the mains examination scheduled for March 2027.
| Events | Dates |
| ASRB NET Notification 2026 | August 2026 |
| Apply Online Strats | To be Notified |
| Last Date to Apply | To be Notified |
| Prelims Exam Date | November 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | March 2026 |
ASRB NET Vacancy 2026
The board will soon announce the specific vacancy count for the 2026 recruitment cycle. For context, the previous recruitment drive featured 582 vacancies, distributed among 458 Agricultural Research Services (ARS) roles, 41 Subject Matter Specialist positions, and 83 Senior Technical Officer vacancies.
ASRB NET 2026 Eligibility
To qualify for the ASRB NET, applicants must meet specific requirements regarding nationality, educational attainment, and age. Prospective candidates aiming for Lecturer or Assistant Professor roles should review the detailed eligibility criteria outlined below.
| Parameter | Eligibility |
| Education Qualification | Candidates must have passed their Master’s in the concerned field from a recognised university or institution. |
| Nationality | A citizen of India, Nepal or Bhutan. He/She must be Refugees from Tibet (those who came to India before January 1st, 1962) |
Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 21 years old to be eligible for any ASRB NET post. Please refer to the official table below for the maximum age limit specifications categorized by the respective roles.
| Exam | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
| NET Examination | 21 years | No upper age limit |
| ARS Examination-2025 | 21 years | 32 years (as of 01.08.2025) |
| SMS (T-6) & STO (T-6) Examination | 21 years | 35 years (as of 21.05.2025) |
ASRB NET Application Form 2026
The Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board conducts the ICAR NET annually. Eligible aspirants must complete the application process exclusively online, ensuring all details are accurate and the application fee is submitted before the designated deadline. Registration dates for the 2026 cycle will be confirmed upon the release of the official notification.
ASRB NET 2026 Application Fees
To finalize your ASRB NET 2026 application, you must pay the mandatory application fee. Applications submitted without the required fee payment will be considered incomplete and automatically rejected.
| ASRB NET 2026 Application Fees | |||
| Category of candidate | NET | For ARS/SMS/ STO or any combination of these three | For NET with any combination of ARS/SMS/STO |
| Unreserved | Rs.1000 | Rs.1000 | Rs.2000 |
| EWS/OBC | Rs.500 | 800 | Rs.1300 |
| SC/ST/PwBD/Women/Transgender | Rs.250 | NIL | Rs.250 |
Steps to Apply for ASRB NET 2026
It is highly recommended that interested candidates thoroughly review the complete online registration instructions before attempting to fill out their application form.
- Use the application form link available on the official website https://www.asrb.org.in.
- In the application form, select whether you are applying for NET, ARS, SMS (T-6), or STO (T-6), or any combination of these.
- If you choose ARS/SMS (T-6)/STO (T-6), you must indicate your preference order. This choice cannot be changed later.
- Enter the personal details- Name, father's name, Aadhar card etc.
- Submit the required documents, Mater's degree, photo, sign etc.
- Pay the application fee and save the application form.
ASRB NET 2026 Selection Process
- National Eligibility Test- Candidates have to clear only one paper of the relevant discipline.
- ARS, SMS (T-6), and STO (T-6)- The selection process will be based on the marks obtained on Mains and Interview
ASRB NET 2026 Exam Pattern
The ASRB establishes the exam patterns for NET, ARS, SMS (T-6), and STO (T-6) categories. Familiarizing yourself with these structures—including total marks, question types, and time limits—is critical for effective exam preparation.
For NET Exam
The ASRB NET 2026 exam consists of 150 objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Candidates should be aware that each incorrect answer incurs a penalty of 1/3 mark. Detailed insights into the exam structure are provided in the table below.
| Parameters | ASRB NET Exam Pattern |
| Number of papers | One |
| Mode of exam | Online |
| Total marks | 150 |
| Total number of questions | 150 |
| Type of questions | Objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) |
| Duration of the exam | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Source of the questions | Respective disciplines |
| Negative marking | 1/3rd mark will be deducted for each wrong answer |
| Rounding of fractional marks | No |
| Language of the question paper | Bilingual (English and Hindi) |
| Standard of paper | Master’s degree level |
For ARS, SMS (T-6) and STO (T-6)
Recruitment for ARS, SMS, and STO roles follows a three-tier process: Prelims, Mains, and Interviews. The qualifying Prelims consist of 150 marks with 1/3 negative marking. Successful candidates proceed to the 300-mark Mains exam, followed by a final 45-mark interview.
| Stages | Max. Marks | Duration |
| Preliminary Exam SMS & STO (Qualifying) | 150 | 2 hours |
| Mains Exam | 300 | 3 hours |
| Personal Interview | 45 |
ASRB NET 2026 Syllabus
As the exam covers a wide range of disciplines, applicants must identify the correct paper corresponding to their field of study. Thoroughly reviewing the official syllabus is the first step toward a successful ASRB NET preparation strategy.
ASRB NET 2026 Subjects List
The ASRB NET covers approximately 60 distinct subjects and disciplines, which are categorized as follows:
| NET disciplines |
|
ASRB NET 2026 Qualifying Marks
The ASRB has predefined the minimum qualifying marks for the 2026 examination across various categories. Candidates must surpass these thresholds to be considered for qualification. Review the category-wise minimum percentage requirements here.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentage | Minimum qualifying marks |
| Unreserved (UR)/ EWS | 50% | 75 |
| OBC | 45% | 67.5 |
| SC / ST/ PwBD | 40% | 60 |
ASRB NET Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check
ASRB NET 2026 Exam Centre
The ASRB NET 2026 exam will be held at various testing centers nationwide. Your specific assigned venue will be clearly printed on your official ASRB NET 2026 Admit Card. Please refer to the table below for a full list of designated examination centers.
| State | ASRB NET Exam Centres |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada |
| Assam | Guwahati |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh/ Mohali |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Delhi | Delhi |
| Gujarat |
|
| Haryana | Karnal |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| Madhya Pradesh |
|
| Maharashtra |
|
| Meghalaya | Barapani/ Shillong |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| Punjab | Ludhiana |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Uttar Pradesh |
|
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| West Bengal | Barrackpore/ Kolkata |
ASRB NET Previous Year Question Paper- Click to Download
FAQs
Ans. Yes, ICAR NET and ASRB NET refer to the exact same examination.
Ans. ASRB NET stands for the Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board National Eligibility Test.
Recommended Reads
- ASRB NET Previous Year Question Papers: Download Discipline-Wise PDFs
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- ASRB NET Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern & Subject-wise PDF Download
- ASRB NET Admit Card 2025 Released at asrb.org.in: Direct Link for ARS, SMS, and STO Hall Ticket
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