IBPS AFO · NABARD Grade A · Agriculture Officer · Agriculture Extension Officer · ADO · FCI · ICAR · State PSC Agriculture Services — complete exam list with dates, eligibility & salary
Agriculture government exams in India provide thousands of job opportunities every year for candidates with BSc Agriculture, MSc Agriculture, and Diploma qualifications. Key upcoming agriculture exams in 2026 include the IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO), NABARD Grade A, Agriculture Officer recruitment by State governments, Agricultural Development Officer (ADO), FCI, and ICAR exams. These exams recruit candidates into banking, central government departments, state agriculture services, and research institutions.
Agriculture government exams recruit candidates into diverse roles — from banking specialists who assess agricultural loans, to field officers who work directly with farmers, to scientists who conduct agricultural research. The key recruiting bodies are IBPS (for banking agriculture posts), NABARD, Food Corporation of India (FCI), ICAR, and State Public Service Commissions and Agriculture Departments.
Most agriculture government exams require a B.Sc Agriculture or equivalent degree. Some posts accept MSc Agriculture, Diploma in Agriculture, or graduation in allied sciences like Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, or Soil Science.
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Post | Eligibility | Expected Notification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) | IBPS / Public Sector Banks | Specialist Officer — Agriculture Field Officer | BSc / MSc Agriculture or allied | July–August 2026 |
| NABARD Grade A | NABARD | Assistant Manager (Grade A) | B.Sc Agriculture / Post-graduation | August 2026 |
| Agriculture Officer (AO) | State Governments / State PSC | Agriculture Officer / Deputy Agriculture Officer | B.Sc Agriculture | Throughout 2026 (State-wise) |
| Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) | State Agriculture Departments | ADO / Agriculture Extension Officer | B.Sc Agriculture | Throughout 2026 (State-wise) |
| Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) | State Govts / KVK Boards | Extension Officer — Farmer Outreach | B.Sc Agriculture / Diploma Agriculture | Throughout 2026 (State-wise) |
| FCI Recruitment | Food Corporation of India | Management Trainee / JE (Agriculture) | Graduation / B.Sc Agriculture | Official notification awaited |
| ICAR Research Exams | ICAR (via AIEEA / AICE) | Junior Research Fellow / Scientists | BSc / MSc Agriculture | As per ICAR calendar 2026 |
| State PSC Agriculture Services | UPPSC, BPSC, RPSC, MPSC, TNPSC etc. | Agriculture Officer / Inspector / Extension Officer | B.Sc Agriculture | Multiple notifications throughout 2026 |
Agriculture exam dates in 2026 vary by recruiting body. Unlike SSC or UPSC which follow a fixed annual calendar, agriculture exams are released independently by central government bodies, public sector banks, and state governments at different times of the year. The table below gives the expected month-wise schedule for major agriculture exams in 2026.
| Month | Exam / Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| January–March 2026 | State Agriculture Recruitment Exams | UPPSC, RPSC, MPSC and other state PSCs release Agriculture Officer / ADO notifications in early 2026 |
| April–June 2026 | ICAR Entrance Exams | ICAR AIEEA (UG/PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF exams typically held in this period |
| July–August 2026 | IBPS AFO 2026 Notification | IBPS releases Specialist Officer CRP SPL notification; AFO is Scale I post in public sector banks |
| August 2026 | NABARD Grade A Notification | NABARD announces Assistant Manager recruitment; eligible for BSc Agriculture graduates |
| September–October 2026 | IBPS AFO Preliminary Exam | IBPS AFO prelims expected September 2026; mains October–November 2026 |
| September 2026 | NABARD Grade A Exam | NABARD preliminary and mains exams expected September–October 2026 |
| October–December 2026 | State Agriculture Officer Exams | Multiple states release Agriculture Officer and ADO exam notifications in Q4 2026 |
| Throughout 2026 | FCI Recruitment | FCI releases recruitment notifications as vacancies arise; official notification awaited for 2026 |
| Throughout 2026 | Agriculture Extension Officer Exams | State-level AEO exams notified by individual state agriculture departments as vacancies arise |
Agriculture Officer (AO) recruitment is one of the most popular government job opportunities for BSc Agriculture graduates. State governments recruit Agriculture Officers through their respective Public Service Commissions or Agriculture Departments to implement agricultural schemes, provide advisory services to farmers, and manage rural development programmes.
The IBPS Agriculture Field Officer exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit specialist officers for public sector banks. AFOs assess agricultural loan applications, provide credit to farmers, and work on rural banking initiatives. The IBPS AFO 2026 notification is expected in July–August 2026 with the exam in September–October 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) |
| Post | Specialist Officer Scale I — Agriculture Field Officer |
| Eligibility | Degree in Agriculture / Horticulture / Animal Husbandry / Veterinary Science / Dairy Science / Fishery Science / Forestry or Allied Agri Subjects |
| Age Limit | 20–30 years (relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD as per govt. norms) |
| Notification Expected | July–August 2026 |
| Exam Date (Expected) | September–October 2026 (Prelims); November 2026 (Mains) |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam → Mains Exam → Interview |
| Starting Salary | ₹36,000–₹42,000 in-hand (Pay Scale ₹23,700–₹42,020 + allowances) |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
State governments recruit Agriculture Officers (AO), Deputy Agriculture Officers (DAO), and Agriculture Extension Officers (AEO) through their state PSCs or Agriculture Departments. These posts involve field-level implementation of government agricultural schemes, crop advisory services, soil testing, and irrigation management.
Major states recruiting Agriculture Officers in 2026 include Uttar Pradesh (UPPSC), Rajasthan (RPSC), Madhya Pradesh (MPESB/MPPSC), Bihar (BPSC), Haryana (HSSC), Punjab (PPSC), Maharashtra (MPSC), Karnataka (KPSC), Gujarat (GPSC), and Tamil Nadu (TNPSC). Notification dates vary by state and are released throughout the year.
| State | Recruiting Body | Post | Eligibility | Notification Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | UPPSC | Agriculture Officer / Sub-Inspector (Agriculture) | BSc Agriculture | Multiple notifications throughout 2026 |
| Rajasthan | RPSC / RSMSSB | Agriculture Officer / Agriculture Supervisor | BSc Agriculture | As per RPSC calendar 2026 |
| Madhya Pradesh | MPPSC / MPESB | Agriculture Development Officer / Extension Officer | BSc Agriculture | Official notification awaited |
| Bihar | BPSC / BSSC | Agriculture Officer / ADO | BSc Agriculture | Expected 2026 |
| Haryana | HSSC / HPSC | Agriculture Development Officer | BSc Agriculture | As per HSSC notification |
| Punjab | PPSC | Agriculture Officer / Field Officer | BSc Agriculture | As per PPSC calendar 2026 |
| Maharashtra | MPSC | Agriculture Officer (Group B) | BSc Agriculture | Expected 2026 |
| Karnataka | KPSC | Agriculture Officer / Extension Officer | BSc Agriculture | As per KPSC notification |
The following is a comprehensive list of agriculture government exams in India covering central government posts, banking agriculture jobs, state government recruitment, and research organisation openings for agriculture graduates.
| Exam | Organisation | Post | Salary (Approx) | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NABARD Grade A (Agriculture) | National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development | Assistant Manager — Agriculture | ₹55,000–₹75,000/month in-hand | B.Sc Agriculture + optional MSc |
| FCI Management Trainee (Agriculture) | Food Corporation of India | Management Trainee (Agriculture) | ₹40,000–₹50,000/month in-hand | B.Sc Agriculture |
| ICAR Junior Research Fellow | Indian Council of Agricultural Research | JRF / SRF (Research) | ₹31,000–₹35,000/month (fellowship) | M.Sc Agriculture + NET/AICE |
| Agricultural Scientist (ICAR) | ICAR (via ARS) | Agricultural Research Scientist | ₹56,100+ (Pay Level 10) | MSc + Ph.D (Agriculture) |
| Seed Inspector (Central) | Ministry of Agriculture | Seed Inspector | Pay Level 5–6 | BSc Agriculture / Botany |
| Exam | Organisation | Post | In-Hand Salary | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS AFO (Agriculture Field Officer) | Public Sector Banks via IBPS | Specialist Officer Scale I — AFO | ₹36,000–₹42,000/month | BSc Agriculture or allied |
| SBI Specialist Cadre Officer (Agriculture) | State Bank of India | Specialist Officer (Agriculture) | ₹40,000–₹50,000/month | BSc / MSc Agriculture |
| NABARD Grade A | NABARD | Assistant Manager | ₹55,000–₹75,000/month | BSc Agriculture + preferred MSc |
| Regional Rural Banks (RRB Officer) | Regional Rural Banks via IBPS | Officer Scale I / II (Agriculture) | ₹30,000–₹40,000/month | BSc Agriculture preferred |
State Public Service Commissions across India conduct agriculture recruitment exams for posts like Agriculture Officer, Agriculture Development Officer (ADO), Agriculture Inspector, Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO), and Krishi Adhikari. These state-level agriculture government exams are held throughout the year as per individual state PSC calendars.
Eligibility criteria differ based on the recruiting organisation and post level. Below is a general overview of the educational qualifications accepted for major agriculture government exams.
| Qualification | Eligible Exams |
|---|---|
| Class 12 (Science/Agriculture Stream) | ICAR AIEEA-UG, Agriculture University Entrance Exams, Diploma Agriculture Admissions |
| Diploma in Agriculture | Agriculture Extension Officer (some states), Agriculture Supervisor (Rajasthan) |
| B.Sc Agriculture (or allied: Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy, Veterinary) | IBPS AFO, Agriculture Officer, ADO, AEO, NABARD Grade A, FCI, State PSC Agriculture Services, ICAR JRF (with NET), Regional Rural Banks |
| M.Sc Agriculture (or allied subjects) | NABARD Grade A (preferred), ICAR ARS, Agricultural Scientist posts, ICAR JRF/SRF |
| Final Year Students | IBPS AFO allows final-year candidates to apply provisionally (subject to degree completion before joining) |
Agriculture graduates searching for government jobs have options across three levels — central government, state government, and public sector undertakings (PSUs). Here is an overview of the best agriculture exams for jobs in each category.
Central government agriculture jobs are the most prestigious and offer better salary, job security and perks compared to state-level posts. Key central government agriculture exams include NABARD Grade A, FCI Management Trainee, ICAR Scientist, and the Agriculture Field Officer post in public sector banks via IBPS.
State government agriculture jobs include Agriculture Officer, Agricultural Development Officer (ADO), Agriculture Extension Officer, Horticulture Officer, and Soil Conservation Officer posts under state agriculture departments and state PSCs. States like UP, Rajasthan, MP, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, and Maharashtra recruit hundreds of agriculture officers every year.
IBPS AFO is the primary banking recruitment for agriculture graduates. Agriculture Field Officers in public sector banks assess agricultural loan applications, advise farmers on crop loans and Kisan Credit Cards, and implement government agricultural schemes in rural areas.
Public sector undertakings like FCI (Food Corporation of India) and research organisations like ICAR offer stable government employment for agriculture graduates with good research aptitude. NABARD, despite being a development bank, is classified as a top agriculture PSU employer.
Agriculture government exam syllabi include both core agriculture subjects and general aptitude sections. Unlike generic competitive exams, agriculture exams test candidates on specialist knowledge of crop sciences, soil, farming techniques, and agricultural policy. The following subjects are tested across IBPS AFO, NABARD, Agriculture Officer, and State PSC agriculture exams.
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Agronomy | Crop production, cropping systems, irrigation methods, water management, dryland farming, crop rotation |
| Soil Science | Soil types, soil fertility, soil pH, fertilisers, micronutrients, soil conservation, organic matter |
| Plant Breeding & Genetics | Mendelian genetics, plant hybridisation, crop improvement, seed technology, GM crops |
| Plant Pathology | Plant diseases, fungal/bacterial/viral diseases, disease management, pesticides and fungicides |
| Entomology | Crop pests, pest management, integrated pest management (IPM), insecticides, biological control |
| Horticulture | Fruit crops, vegetable crops, floriculture, post-harvest management, nursery management |
| Agricultural Economics | Farm management, agricultural marketing, cost of production, price policy, agricultural credit |
| Irrigation and Water Management | Irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler, flood), watershed management, command area development, water logging |
| Extension Education | Extension methods, farmer training, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), rural development schemes |
| Agricultural Engineering | Farm machinery, tractor operations, seed drills, harvesters, storage structures |
| Animal Husbandry & Dairy Science | Cattle breeds, poultry, dairy farming, fodder crops, veterinary basics (for allied posts) |
| Government Agriculture Schemes | PM-KISAN, PMFBY (Fasal Bima Yojana), RKVY, NMSA, e-NAM, Soil Health Card, MSP policy |
| Section | Topics | Weightage (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number series, percentage, ratio, profit/loss, time & work, averages, data interpretation | 25–30% |
| Reasoning Ability | Syllogisms, puzzles, coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations, inequalities | 25–30% |
| English Language | Reading comprehension, grammar, cloze test, fill in the blanks, vocabulary | 15–20% |
| General / Financial Awareness | Banking awareness, RBI/NABARD policies, current affairs, government schemes, rural economy | 15–20% |
| Professional Knowledge (Agriculture) | Core agriculture subjects as listed above | 30–40% (mains) |
Agriculture government exams are competitive but winnable with a structured preparation plan. Here is a complete study strategy that covers agriculture-specific subjects, aptitude, current affairs, and practice tests.
Different agriculture exams have different patterns. IBPS AFO has Prelims (Reasoning + Quant + English) and Mains (Professional Knowledge + General Awareness). NABARD Grade A has a different structure. Always read the official notification before starting preparation so you study the right subjects in the right proportion.
Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, and Agricultural Economics are the most heavily tested subjects in IBPS AFO and Agriculture Officer exams. Allocate 40–50% of study time to these. Use standard BSc Agriculture textbooks from IARI, ICAR, or IGKV for reference.
IBPS AFO PYQs from the last 5–7 years are essential — question patterns repeat often, especially in Professional Knowledge. Agriculture Officer state exam PYQs reveal which schemes, government policies, and technical topics the respective state board prefers to ask.
Questions on PM-KISAN, PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana), RKVY, Soil Health Card, e-NAM, MSP, Kisan Credit Card, MGNREGS, and NABARD rural credit appear regularly in all agriculture exams. Maintain a note on current agricultural schemes and policy updates.
For IBPS AFO and NABARD, the Prelims paper tests Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English — the same sections as banking exams. Dedicate 30–40 minutes daily to aptitude practice. Speed and accuracy in Prelims determines whether you qualify for Mains.
Recommended books: Objective Agriculture by SK Sharma (most popular for IBPS AFO), Agriculture at a Glance by RK Sharma & Rajveer Singh (comprehensive reference), ICAR-published textbooks for subject-wise depth, and NABARD Annual Report for rural banking awareness. For aptitude: RS Aggarwal (Reasoning) and R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude.
Mock tests help build exam temperament and reveal weak areas. Attempt at least 10–15 full-length mocks before your target exam. Agriculture-specific mock tests that include Professional Knowledge sections are more useful than generic banking mocks.
Practice IBPS AFO, NABARD, Agriculture Officer and FCI mock tests — free, no registration required. Latest 2026 pattern with detailed solutions.
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| Exam | Mock Test Link |
|---|---|
| IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) | IBPS AFO Mock Test → |
| Agricultural Field Officer Scale I | AFO Scale I Mock Test → |
| NABARD Grade A | NABARD Grade A Mock Test → |
| NABARD Development Assistant | NABARD Dev Assistant Mock Test → |
| FCI AG III (Agriculture Graduate) | FCI AG III Mock Test → |
| ICAR Examinations | ICAR Mock Test → |
| IFFCO AGT (Agriculture Graduate Trainee) | IFFCO AGT Mock Test → |
| KRIBHCO FRT | KRIBHCO FRT Mock Test → |
| CUET PG Agriculture | CUET PG Agriculture Mock Test → |
| UPCATET (Agriculture Entrance) | UPCATET Mock Test → |
| Exam | Mock Test Link |
|---|---|
| ASRB NET (All Subjects) | ASRB NET Mock Test → |
| ASRB NET Agronomy | ASRB NET Agronomy Mock Test → |
| ASRB NET Agricultural Extension | ASRB NET Agri Extension Mock Test → |
| ASRB NET Genetics & Plant Breeding | ASRB NET Genetics Mock Test → |
| ASRB NET Fruit Science | ASRB NET Fruit Science Mock Test → |
| Exam / State | Mock Test Link |
|---|---|
| UPPSC Agriculture Services (Uttar Pradesh) | UPPSC Agriculture Services Mock Test → |
| UPSSSC Agriculture Technical Assistant | UPSSSC Agri Technical Assistant Mock Test → |
| UP LT Grade Agriculture Teacher | UP LT Grade Agriculture Mock Test → |
| Bihar BAO & SDAO (Block Agriculture Officer) | Bihar BAO & SDAO Mock Test → |
| Bihar Agriculture Coordinator | Bihar Agriculture Coordinator Mock Test → |
| BPSC AEDO (Agriculture Extension Development Officer) | BPSC AEDO Mock Test → |
| HPSC ADO (Haryana) | HPSC ADO Mock Test → |
| APSC ADO (Assam) | APSC ADO Mock Test → |
| RSMSSB Agriculture Supervisor (Rajasthan) | RSMSSB Agriculture Supervisor Mock Test → |
| RSMSSB JE Agriculture (Rajasthan) | RSMSSB JE Agriculture Mock Test → |
| MP RAEO / RHEO (Rural Agriculture Extension Officer) | MP RAEO RHEO Mock Test → |
| MP Vyapam Gramin Krishi Vistar Adhikari | MP Gramin Krishi Vistar Adhikari Mock Test → |
| Exam | Mock Test Link |
|---|---|
| DDA Section Officer Horticulture | DDA SO Horticulture Mock Test → |
| DSSSB SO Horticulture | DSSSB SO Horticulture Mock Test → |
| FSSAI CFSO / Technical Officer | FSSAI CFSO Mock Test → |
| State Food Safety Officer | State Food Safety Officer Mock Test → |
| OSSC Soil Conservation Extension Worker | OSSC Soil Conservation Mock Test → |
| IBPS SO (includes AFO) | IBPS SO Mock Test → |
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