![Indian Institute of Horticultural Research - [IIHR]](https://img.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1561357689logo7.png?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
IIHR Admission 2026 is open exclusively for postgraduate programmes. The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru admits students through national ICAR entrance exams conducted by NTA. There are no undergraduate programmes at IIHR and no management or NRI quota seats.
M.Sc. admission uses the ICAR AIEEA PG exam. PhD admission uses the ICAR AICE JRF/SRF exam. Both exams were held on July 4, 2026.
- M.Sc. 2026 (ICAR AIEEA PG): Exam held July 4, 2026. Result expected August 2026 (Tentative). Counselling at icarcounseling.com from September 2026 (Tentative).
- PhD 2026 (ICAR AICE JRF/SRF): Exam held July 4, 2026. Shortlisting and interviews expected August to September 2026 (Tentative).
- IIHR offers no undergraduate programmes. Only M.Sc. and PhD are available.
- IIHR is an ICAR research institute. M.Sc. was introduced only in 2023-24 as the inaugural batch.
- Total intake: 22 M.Sc. seats and 24 PhD seats (46 total as of inaugural batch).
- PhD applications are submitted via the IARI portal at iari.res.in, not directly to IIHR.
- Minimum age: 19 years for M.Sc. and 20 years for PhD (as of August 31, 2026).
- Three-year bachelor’s degrees are not accepted for M.Sc. admission.
- Reservation: OBC-NCL 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, EWS 10%, PwD 3%.
- No management quota. All seats are filled through national merit and ICAR counselling.
IIHR Admission Portal 2026: iihr.res.in
Direct Admission at IIHR: IIHR does not offer a management quota. All seats are filled through merit and ICAR national counselling.
IIHR M.Sc. Admission 2026
IIHR M.Sc. admission 2026 is through the ICAR AIEEA PG exam. The exam is conducted by NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Counselling is handled centrally at icarcounseling.com based on national merit rank.
IIHR offers M.Sc. in eight disciplines: Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture and Landscaping, Post Harvest Technology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Physiology, and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Each programme is 2 years in duration.
IIHR M.Sc. Admission Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window | May 8 to June 7, 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | June 9 to June 10, 2026 |
| Exam Date (CBT mode) | July 4, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Counselling Begins | September 2026 (Tentative) |
IIHR M.Sc. Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Category | Qualifying Degree | Minimum Marks / OGPA |
|---|---|---|
| General, OBC-NCL, EWS | 4/5/6-year B.Sc. Horticulture or Agriculture (relevant field) | 60% marks or 6.0 OGPA |
| SC, ST, PwBD, Third Gender | 4/5/6-year B.Sc. Horticulture or Agriculture (relevant field) | 50% marks or 5.6 OGPA |
Note: Three-year bachelor’s degrees are not accepted. Only 4-year, 5-year, or 6-year degree programmes qualify for IIHR M.Sc. admission.
IIHR M.Sc. Selection Criteria 2026
IIHR M.Sc. admission is entirely merit-based. Selection follows these steps:
- Candidate appears for the ICAR AIEEA PG exam (120 MCQs, 480 marks, 120 minutes).
- NTA releases the national merit rank based on the CBT score.
- Candidates participate in centralised online counselling at icarcounseling.com.
- Seat allocation at IIHR is based on national merit rank and discipline preference.
- The exam carries a negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer.
- The ICAR AIEEA PG exam is conducted in 89 cities across India.
IIHR has 22 M.Sc. seats across 8 disciplines. Reservation norms (OBC-NCL 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, EWS 10%, PwD 3%) apply to seat allocation.
How to Apply for M.Sc. at IIHR?
- Visit the NTA ICAR exam portal: exams.nta.nic.in/icar
- Register and fill the ICAR AIEEA PG application form.
- Pay the application fee: INR 1,300 (General), INR 1,255 (OBC-NCL/EWS), INR 675 (SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender).
- Additional bank charges apply at the time of fee payment.
- Select preferred ICAR institutes and disciplines during counselling at icarcounseling.com.
- Accept seat allotment and complete document verification as per counselling schedule.
IIHR PhD Admission 2026
IIHR PhD admission 2026 is through the ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) exam. This exam is also conducted by NTA on July 4, 2026. PhD applications at IIHR are submitted via the IARI portal at iari.res.in.
IIHR offers PhD in four disciplines: Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, and Post Harvest Technology. Minimum duration is 3 years. IIHR has 24 PhD seats.
IIHR PhD Admission Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Exam Date (ICAR AICE JRF/SRF CBT) | July 4, 2026 |
| Shortlisting and Interviews | August to September 2026 (Tentative) |
IIHR PhD Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Category | Qualifying Degree | Minimum Marks / OGPA |
|---|---|---|
| General, OBC-NCL, EWS | Master’s degree in relevant specialisation | 60% marks or 6.5 OGPA |
| SC, ST, PwBD, Third Gender | Master’s degree in relevant specialisation | 50% marks or 5.5 OGPA |
Only Indian nationals are eligible for IIHR PhD admission. Minimum age is 20 years as of August 31, 2026.
IIHR PhD Selection Criteria 2026
PhD selection at IIHR uses a composite score with three components:
- Entrance Exam Score: 80% weightage. Candidate must score a minimum of 50% in the exam to qualify for interview (45% for reserved categories).
- Previous Academic Qualifications: 10% weightage.
- Personal Interview: Top 4 candidates per available seat are shortlisted. Interview is conducted at IIHR, Bengaluru.
Selected PhD scholars receive the ICAR JRF fellowship of INR 31,000 per month in Years 1 and 2. This upgrades to INR 35,000 per month (SRF) from Year 3 onwards. An annual contingent grant of INR 10,000 is also provided.
How to Apply for PhD at IIHR?
- Visit the NTA ICAR exam portal at exams.nta.nic.in/icar and register for ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD).
- Pay the application fee: INR 2,000 (General), INR 1,955 (OBC-NCL/EWS), INR 1,075 (SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender).
- After qualifying the exam, apply via the IARI admission portal at iari.res.in/en/admission.php.
- Shortlisted candidates appear for a personal interview at IIHR, Bengaluru.
- Final selection is based on the composite score (exam 80%, academics 10%, interview).
IIHR Fellowships and Scholarships 2026
ICAR provides financial support to meritorious students at IIHR through two M.Sc. scholarship schemes and the JRF/SRF fellowship for PhD scholars.
| Scholarship/Fellowship | Programme | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ICAR PG Scholarship | M.Sc. (merit-based, national rank) | INR 12,640 per month + INR 6,000 per year contingent grant |
| ICAR National Talent Scholarship | M.Sc. (inter-state candidates only) | INR 5,000 per month for 2 years |
| ICAR JRF Fellowship | PhD (Years 1 and 2) | INR 31,000 per month + INR 10,000 per year contingent grant |
| ICAR SRF Fellowship | PhD (Year 3 onwards) | INR 35,000 per month + INR 10,000 per year contingent grant |
The ICAR PG Scholarship is awarded based on national merit rank and seat availability. The National Talent Scholarship applies when a candidate joins M.Sc. in a state different from their domicile state. PhD scholars automatically receive JRF and SRF fellowships on admission.
IIHR Admission FAQs
Ques. Which exam is required for M.Sc. admission at IIHR Bangalore?
Ans. M.Sc. admission at IIHR requires the ICAR AIEEA PG exam, conducted by NTA. Counselling is done centrally at icarcounseling.com based on the national merit rank. The 2026 exam was held on July 4, 2026.
Ques. Which exam is required for PhD admission at IIHR?
Ans. PhD admission at IIHR requires the ICAR AICE JRF/SRF (PhD) exam, also conducted by NTA. After qualifying, candidates apply via the IARI portal and appear for a personal interview at IIHR.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility for M.Sc. at IIHR?
Ans. Candidates need a 4-year, 5-year, or 6-year B.Sc. in Horticulture or a relevant agriculture field. General and OBC-NCL candidates need minimum 60% marks or 6.0 OGPA. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates need minimum 50% or 5.6 OGPA. Three-year bachelor’s degrees are not accepted.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility for PhD at IIHR?
Ans. Candidates need a Master’s degree in a relevant specialisation. General and OBC-NCL candidates need 60% marks or 6.5 OGPA. SC and ST candidates need 50% or 5.5 OGPA. Only Indian nationals are eligible. Minimum age is 20 years as of August 31, 2026.
Ques. What is the application fee for the ICAR AIEEA PG exam?
Ans. The ICAR AIEEA PG application fee is INR 1,300 for General and Unreserved candidates, INR 1,255 for OBC-NCL and EWS candidates, and INR 675 for SC, ST, PwBD, and Third Gender candidates. Additional bank charges apply.
Ques. What is the ICAR scholarship amount for M.Sc. students at IIHR?
Ans. The ICAR PG Scholarship provides INR 12,640 per month plus an annual contingent grant of INR 6,000. It is awarded based on national merit rank and seat availability. Inter-state M.Sc. candidates may also receive the ICAR National Talent Scholarship of INR 5,000 per month.
Ques. Is a 3-year bachelor’s degree accepted for M.Sc. admission at IIHR?
Ans. No. Three-year bachelor’s degrees are not accepted. Only candidates with 4-year, 5-year, or 6-year bachelor’s degrees in the relevant field are eligible for M.Sc. admission at IIHR through ICAR AIEEA PG.
Ques. What disciplines are available for M.Sc. at IIHR?
Ans. IIHR offers M.Sc. in 8 disciplines: Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture and Landscaping, Post Harvest Technology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Physiology, and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The M.Sc. programme was launched in the 2023-24 inaugural batch.
Ques. How many seats are available at IIHR for M.Sc. and PhD?
Ans. As per the 2023-24 inaugural batch, IIHR has 22 M.Sc. seats and 24 PhD seats, totalling 46 seats. PhD is available in 4 disciplines and M.Sc. in 8 disciplines.
Ques. Does IIHR offer any fellowship for PhD scholars?
Ans. Yes. All PhD scholars at IIHR receive the ICAR JRF fellowship of INR 31,000 per month in Years 1 and 2, along with an annual contingent grant of INR 10,000. From Year 3, the fellowship upgrades to INR 35,000 per month as SRF. The fellowship is built into the PhD programme and not separately competitive.
Ques. Does IIHR offer undergraduate programmes or direct admission?
Ans. No. IIHR does not offer any undergraduate programmes. It is a research institute under ICAR. Only M.Sc. and PhD are available. There is no direct admission or management quota at IIHR. All seats are filled through national ICAR entrance exams.
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