Overview
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-commonly known as the Pusa Institute-is India's premier national institute for agricultural research, education, and extension. Financed and administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), it traces its origins to 1905 (established at Pusa, Bihar) and shifted to its present Pusa campus in New Delhi in 1936. In 1958 it was recognized as a 'deemed university' under the UGC Act of 1956, since which time it has awarded M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees through its Post Graduate School. The institute is regarded as the cradle of India's Green Revolution; research conducted here developed high-yielding crop varieties that transformed Indian agriculture. IARI offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes across roughly 26 disciplines at its main Delhi campus, with additional M.Sc. programmes at its Assam and Jharkhand campuses. The institute comprises about 20 divisions, several multi-disciplinary centres in Delhi, regional research stations, off-season nurseries, and national centres functioning under All India Coordinated Research Projects. IARI consistently ranks first among agriculture and allied-sector universities in India under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It is accredited by NAAC and is a leading hub for postgraduate agricultural science education, research, and extension in the country, attracting students through the ICAR national entrance examinations.
Courses Offered
Courses, Fees & Rankings at a Glance
IARI offers only postgraduate and doctoral degrees, namely M.Sc. (Agriculture), M.Tech. and Ph.D., across roughly 26 disciplines. The table below pairs each flagship programme with its indicative total fee, duration and the institute's headline NIRF Agriculture rank, so you can weigh cost against pedigree at a glance. For programme-wise eligibility, seats and specialisation lists, see the detailed Courses and Admissions tabs. All fee figures are indicative totals for the full programme.
The clear takeaway for 2026 applicants: IARI is exceptionally affordable, with master's programmes costing around Rs 31,000 in total and the doctoral programme around Rs 75,200, and that low cost sits alongside a #1 NIRF Agriculture rank (2025 score 89.23). Admission to every programme is entrance-based, so your ICAR AIEEA (for M.Sc./M.Tech.) or ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (for Ph.D.) score is the decisive factor.
| Programme | Duration | Indicative Total Fee | Eligibility | Entrance Exam |
|---|
| M.Sc. (Agriculture) | 2.0 years | Rs 31,000 | Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 60% aggregate | ICAR AIEEA |
| M.Tech. | 2.0 years | Rs 31,000 | Bachelor's in Engineering/relevant field with 60% aggregate | ICAR AIEEA |
| Ph.D. | 3.0 years | Rs 75,200 | M.Sc./M.Sc.(Ag.)/M.E./M.Tech. in a relevant field with 60% aggregate | ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF |
What courses does ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute offer?
IARI offers only postgraduate and doctoral degrees: M.Sc. (Agriculture), M.Tech. and Ph.D., spread across roughly 26 disciplines. The M.Sc. and M.Tech. programmes each run for 2 years, while the Ph.D. runs for 3 years. There are no undergraduate courses; the institute functions purely as a research and postgraduate education centre, with admission to all programmes based on national ICAR entrance examinations.
IARI Courses & Fees 2026
Bachelor's degree in Engineering/relevant field with 60% aggregate
Bachelor's degree in relevant field with 60% aggregate
M.Sc/M.Sc.(Ag.)/M.E./M.Tech in relevant field with 60% aggregate
| Course | Duration | Total Fees | Eligibility |
|---|
| M.Tech Full Time | 2 Years | ₹31,000 | Bachelor's degree in Engineering/relevant field with 60% aggregate |
| M.Sc Agriculture Full Time | 2 Years | ₹31,000 | Bachelor's degree in relevant field with 60% aggregate |
| PhD Full Time | 3 Years | ₹75,200 | M.Sc/M.Sc.(Ag.)/M.E./M.Tech in relevant field with 60% aggregate |
Fees
What is the total fee at IARI New Delhi?
The indicative total fee is approximately Rs 31,000 for the two-year M.Sc. (Agriculture) and M.Tech. programmes, and approximately Rs 75,200 for the three-year Ph.D. programme. These fees make IARI one of the most affordable top-tier institutions in India, and most research scholars additionally receive ICAR fellowships, further lowering the effective cost of postgraduate and doctoral study.
IARI Scholarships 2026
Awarded to admitted M.Sc and Ph.D students of the IARI Post Graduate School who do not hold an ICAR/external fellowship, subject to maintaining a minimum OGPA. M.Sc students also get Rs 6,000/year and Ph.D students Rs 10,000/year as contingency grant.
For M.Sc students who qualify the ICAR AIEEA (PG) entrance examination on merit and join an ICAR-recognised programme such as IARI, tenable for the 2-year Master's programme.
For Ph.D scholars who qualify the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D) examination; Rs 15,000/month for years 1-2 and Rs 17,500/month from year 3 (higher rates for Veterinary Science).
For students belonging to Scheduled Castes whose family income is within the prescribed limit, pursuing recognised post-matriculation courses including PG study at IARI.
For Scheduled Tribe students within the income ceiling, pursuing post-matriculation courses from Class XI up to postgraduate level, administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
| Scholarship | Type | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|
| IARI Institute Scholarship (PG School) | Merit | Rs 7,560/month (M.Sc) or Rs 10,500/month (Ph.D) | Awarded to admitted M.Sc and Ph.D students of the IARI Post Graduate School who do not hold an ICAR/external fellowship, subject to maintaining a minimum OGPA. M.Sc students also get Rs 6,000/year and Ph.D students Rs 10,000/year as contingency grant. |
| ICAR PG Scholarship (formerly ICAR-JRF/PGS) | Government | Rs 12,640/month + Rs 6,000/year contingency | For M.Sc students who qualify the ICAR AIEEA (PG) entrance examination on merit and join an ICAR-recognised programme such as IARI, tenable for the 2-year Master's programme. |
| ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF/PGS) for Ph.D | Government | Rs 15,000-17,500/month + Rs 10,000/year contingency | For Ph.D scholars who qualify the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D) examination; Rs 15,000/month for years 1-2 and Rs 17,500/month from year 3 (higher rates for Veterinary Science). |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (NSP) | Government | Tuition reimbursement plus maintenance allowance | For students belonging to Scheduled Castes whose family income is within the prescribed limit, pursuing recognised post-matriculation courses including PG study at IARI. |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (NSP) | Government | Tuition reimbursement plus maintenance allowance | For Scheduled Tribe students within the income ceiling, pursuing post-matriculation courses from Class XI up to postgraduate level, administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. |
Admission Process
Placement & Admission Snapshot
For IARI New Delhi, the median package for the two-year postgraduate cohort was around Rs 8 LPA in 2025, up from a median of about Rs 6.96 LPA for the M.Sc. (Agriculture) batch in 2024, while the 2022-2023 cycle peaked at a median near Rs 9.96 LPA. Admission is entirely entrance-based: M.Sc. and M.Tech. seats are filled through the ICAR AIEEA examination (the 2026 exam is scheduled for 4 July 2026), and Ph.D. seats through the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF entrance followed by an interview.
Top recruiters at IARI include the Mahindra Group, ITC Ltd., DuPont, Saveer Biotech and Mankind Pharma, while a large share of graduates progress into ICAR's Agricultural Research Service and academic or government research roles rather than corporate placements. Because IARI is research-focused, the placement headcount each year is modest relative to the cohort, but the median compensation has held in the Rs 7-10 LPA band across recent years, reflecting steady demand for its specialised postgraduates.
Is admission to IARI New Delhi merit or entrance based?
Admission to IARI is entirely entrance based. M.Sc. and M.Tech. seats are filled through the ICAR AIEEA examination (the 2026 exam is scheduled for 4 July 2026), while Ph.D. admission is through the ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF entrance test followed by an interview. Eligibility requires a relevant bachelor's or master's degree with a minimum 60% aggregate, so your entrance score is the decisive factor for selection.
Cutoffs
IARI Cutoff 2023
Top cutoff closing ranks and scores.
| Exam | Year | Closing Rank |
|---|
| CUET PG | 2023 | 10 |
| CUET PG | 2023 | 71 |
Rankings & Accreditation
What is the NIRF and NAAC status of IARI New Delhi?
IARI ranked #1 in NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors in 2025 (score 89.23) and again held #1 in 2024 (score 87.98). In NIRF 2025 it also secured #24 Overall, #16 among Universities, #29 in Research and #2 in the SDG category. The institute is a NAAC accredited, UGC-recognised Deemed-to-be-University administered by ICAR, confirming both its ranking strength and its formal accreditation status.
IARI Rankings 2026
| Ranking Body | Category | Rank | Score | Year |
|---|
| QS World | Agriculture & Forestry | # | - | 2026 |
| NIRF | Agriculture | #1 | 89.2 | 2025 |
Location & Campus Details
Contact IARI
Address
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi - 110012
Phone
+91-11-25843375
Email
Website
This page is published for informational purposes only. Always verify final details on the official institution website before making academic or financial decisions.
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute Key Facts (2026)
The table below summarises the institutional fundamentals an aspirant most often checks first about IARI New Delhi: when it was founded, its governance and approvals, campus scale, programme breadth and its standing in national rankings. It answers the question "what kind of institution is IARI and how big is it?" Read it as a quick-reference snapshot before diving into courses and placements. All figures reflect the 2025-2026 position as reported by official and reputable education sources.
The takeaway: IARI is a reeasy-to-use, postgraduate-only institution of considerable scale (around 1,250 acres in the heart of Delhi) whose century-plus pedigree is matched by current rankings, headlined by its #1 NIRF Agriculture position in 2025. For applicants, this means you are joining a compact, highly selective research community rather than a large multi-stream university.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|
| Established | 1905 (relocated to New Delhi, 1936) |
| Type | Government institute; Deemed-to-be-University (since 1958) under ICAR |
| Affiliation / Approvals | UGC recognised, ICAR administered, NAAC accredited |
| Campus Size | Approx. 500 hectares (around 1,250 acres), Pusa, New Delhi |
| Total Courses / Disciplines | M.Sc., M.Tech. and Ph.D. across approx. 26 disciplines |
| NIRF Agriculture 2025 | Rank #1 (score 89.23) |
| NIRF Overall / University 2025 | Rank #24 / Rank #16 |
| Student Strength | Approx. 850 postgraduate and doctoral students |
About IARI
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-commonly known as the Pusa Institute-is India's premier national institute for agricultural research, education, and extension. Financed and administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), it traces its origins to 1905 (established at Pusa, Bihar) and shifted to its present Pusa campus in New Delhi in 1936. In 1958 it was recognized as a 'deemed university' under the UGC Act of 1956, since which time it has awarded M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees through its Post Graduate School. The institute is regarded as the cradle of India's Green Revolution; research conducted here developed high-yielding crop varieties that transformed Indian agriculture. IARI offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes across roughly 26 disciplines at its main Delhi campus, with additional M.Sc. programmes at its Assam and Jharkhand campuses. The institute comprises about 20 divisions, several multi-disciplinary centres in Delhi, regional research stations, off-season nurseries, and national centres functioning under All India Coordinated Research Projects. IARI consistently ranks first among agriculture and allied-sector universities in India under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It is accredited by NAAC and is a leading hub for postgraduate agricultural science education, research, and extension in the country, attracting students through the ICAR national entrance examinations.
Sources and Verification
Information last reviewed on 25 Jun 2026.
Fees, cutoffs, admission steps, placements, and programme details can change. Always cross-check the latest institutional or authority notice before acting.