Overview & Important Highlights
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the provisional answer key for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) AIEEA PG and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) Examinations 2026. Candidates who appeared for these national-level entrance examinations can now access the response sheets, question papers, and provisional answer keys on the official NTA ICAR website. This initiative allows candidates to evaluate their performance, verify their attempted responses against the official answer keys, and raise objections if any discrepancies are identified within the specified timeline.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
The ICAR AIEEA PG and Ph.D. examinations serve as the gateway for admissions into Master's and Doctoral degree programs in accredited Agricultural Universities across India. Admission eligibility and final selection depend on several key factors:
- Educational Qualification: Candidates appearing for PG courses must hold a relevant Bachelor's degree, while those appearing for Ph.D. programs must possess a Master's degree in the concerned agricultural discipline.
- Merit Ranking: Selection and seat allotment are strictly determined by the NTA percentile score obtained in the entrance examination.
- Counseling Process: Qualified candidates will be called for online counseling conducted by ICAR based on overall merit rank and choices locked.
Step-by-Step Application / Download Process
Candidates can follow the simple step-by-step procedure given below to download the ICAR AIEEA PG and Ph.D. provisional answer keys and submit objections:
- Visit the official NTA ICAR portal at icar.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the active link titled 'Display of Key Challenge for ICAR AIEEA (PG) / AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) 2026' on the homepage.
- Log in using your Application Number and Password or Date of Birth.
- Your OMR/CBT recorded response sheet and official provisional answer key will appear on the screen.
- Download and print the answer key along with your response sheet for score estimation.
- If you wish to challenge any question, select the question ID, upload supporting evidence in a single PDF file, and pay the required non-refundable challenge fee online.
Important Instructions & Advice
Candidates raising objections must ensure that challenges are submitted before the specified deadline, as late submissions will not be considered. All challenges will be verified by a panel of subject experts appointed by the NTA. If a challenge is found valid, the provisional key will be revised accordingly, and a final answer key will be published prior to the declaration of results. Candidates are strongly advised to keep their login credentials secure and regularly monitor the official website for counseling schedules and further updates.