News

ICAR AIEEA PG & AICE PhD 2025 Answer Keys Released: Objection Window Closes July 20

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the provisional answer keys for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the provisional answer keys for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) All India Entrance Examination for Admission (AIEEA) Postgraduate (PG) and All India Competitive Examination (AICE) Junior Research Fellowship/Senior Research Fellowship (JRF/SRF) PhD programs for 2025. Candidates who appeared for these examinations on July 3, 2025, can now access the answer keys, question papers, and recorded responses on the official website. Alongside the release, the NTA has opened a window for candidates to raise objections against the provisional answer keys, which remains active until July 20, 2025, at 11:50 PM.

Key Details of the ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD 2025 Examinations

The ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD examinations are national-level entrance tests conducted to facilitate admissions into postgraduate and doctoral programs at ICAR-affiliated agricultural universities across India. The 2025 exams were held on July 3 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at 161 examination centers in 83 cities, accommodating approximately 38,500 candidates. The AIEEA PG exam covers 20 subjects, while the AICE PhD exam spans 72 subjects, offering opportunities for candidates to secure seats in prestigious institutions like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), and Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE).

How to Download the Answer Keys

Candidates can follow these steps to access and download the provisional answer keys:

Visit the official NTA ICAR website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR or the alternative portal: icarpg2025.ntaonline.in/answer.
Click on the link labeled “AIEEA PG & AICE Answer Key 2025” on the homepage.
Log in using your application number and password or date of birth.
Submit the details to view the provisional answer key and question paper.
Download and save the answer key PDF for future reference.

The answer keys allow candidates to cross-check their responses and estimate their scores before the final results are announced, expected in August 2025.

Objection Window: Process and Deadlines

The NTA has provided a limited window for candidates to challenge any discrepancies in the provisional answer keys. The objection period began on July 18, 2025, and will close on July 20, 2025, at 11:50 PM. To raise an objection, candidates must:

Log in to the official NTA ICAR website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR using their credentials.
Navigate to the “Challenge Answer Key” option.
Select the question(s) they wish to challenge and provide a justification for the objection.
Pay a non-refundable fee of ₹200 per question challenged via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
Submit the objection before the deadline.

Objections submitted without the processing fee or after the deadline will not be considered. A panel of subject experts will review all challenges, and if any objection is found valid, the answer key will be revised. The final answer key, reflecting any necessary corrections, will be used to prepare the ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD 2025 results.

Importance of the Answer Key

The provisional answer key is a critical tool for candidates to evaluate their performance in the ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD exams. By comparing their recorded responses with the answer key, candidates can calculate their tentative scores using the official marking scheme: four marks for each correct answer and a deduction of one mark for each incorrect answer. This process helps candidates gauge their chances of securing admission to their desired programs and institutions.

Next Steps: Results and Counseling

Following the objection window, the NTA will release the final answer key in August 2025, based on which the results will be compiled. Candidates can expect the ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD 2025 results to be announced later in August, accessible via the official website (exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR) using login credentials. The results will include overall merit ranks, category ranks, and other relevant details.

Successful candidates will then participate in the ICAR counseling process, tentatively scheduled to begin in August 2025. Admission to 30% of seats in Master’s degree programs and 100% of seats at ICAR Deemed Universities (IARI, IVRI, NDRI, CIFE) and Central Agricultural Universities (CAU, Imphal, Dr. RPCAU, Pusa, and RLBCAU, Jhansi) will be granted based on the AIEEA PG and AICE PhD results. Additionally, eligible candidates may qualify for the National Talent Scholarship (NTS) or JRF/SRF awards, subject to merit and seat availability.

Stay Updated

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NTA ICAR website (exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR) or the ICAR website (www.icar.org.in) for updates on the answer key, objection process, results, and counseling schedule. For any queries, candidates can contact the NTA helpdesk at icar@nta.ac.in or call 011-40759000 / 011-69227700.

This release of the answer keys marks a significant step in the ICAR AIEEA PG and AICE PhD 2025 admission process, bringing candidates closer to securing their academic future in agricultural research and education.

Share and join our WhatsApp community.