• भारत सरकार

    Government of India

  • कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण मंत्रालय

    Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

कृषि वैज्ञानिक चयन मंडल

Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board

Department of Agricultural Research and Education
Latest News
Vacancy Notification Advt. No. 01-2025 for RMP Positions of ICAR  |  List of applicants being called for interview for the post of ADG, (Animal Nutrition and Physiology), ICAR Hqrs. New Delhi (Advt. No. 04/2024, Item No. 05)  |  List of applicants being called for interview for the post of ADG, (PIM), ICAR Hqrs. New Delhi (Advt. No. 04/2024, Item No. 04)  |  List of applicants being called for interview for the post of Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur (Advt. No. 04/2024, Item No. 06)  |  List of applicants being called for interview for the post of Director, ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow (Advt. No. 04/2024, Item No. 09)  | 

Citizen Charter

Citizen’s Charter of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB)

1. Brief History

Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), a premier recruitment agency, is an attached office of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Established in 1973, ASRB is responsible for recruiting scientists and other officers for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

2. Preamble

A group of Ministers under the Chairmanship of Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Minister of Agriculture was designated by the Prime Minister. After detail discussions on the various issues relating to the reorganization of the ICAR, the group of Ministers made recommendations for approval by the Cabinet. Accordingly, a Cabinet Note dated 22.10.1973 regarding re-organization of Indian Council of Agricultural Research was sent to Cabinet Secretariat for consideration of the proposals made therein. The Cabinet considered the note dated 22.10.1973 from Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and approved on 01.11.1973 the proposals contained in the paragraph 8 thereof. The Cabinet inter-alia approved the proposal as under:

Initiating an emergency recruitment procedure through a special Agricultural Scientists’ Recruitment Board, with an eminent agricultural scientist as whole-time Chairman, to be set-up by the ICAR with the approval of the Cabinet (Mantrimandal), which will function as an independent recruitment agency for filling up those of the 1200 and odd currently vacant posts in the ICAR which carry a salary of Rs. 700-1250 and above.

As approved, the Board was originally established as a Single-Member Body in 1973. On October 6, 1986, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to restructure the Board and increased its membership to three including one Chairperson. Recently, in August, 2018, the Board was delinked from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and declared an Attached Office of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE). Currently, the Board consists of a Chairperson and three Members.

3. Mandate of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board

  1. Service and to such other posts and services as may be specified by the President ICAR from The Recruitment Board functions as an Agricultural independent recruiting agency and is responsible for recruitment to posts in the Agricultural Research Service and to such other posts and services as may be specified by the President from time to time.

  2. The Recruitment Board renders such other assistance to ICAR in personnel matters including promotion as may be required by the President ICAR.

  3. The Recruitment Board gives advice to ICAR in disciplinary matters relating to personnel recruited/ appointed either by the Council itself or in consultation with the Recruitment Board.

4. Statement of initiatives to improve the standards and quality services

  1. To enhance the user experience of its examination system, the Board regularly reviews and implements reforms. Some recent initiatives to promote efficiency and transparency include:

  2. The introduction of an online application system for various direct recruitment positions.

  3. The implementation of OASIS software for online applications screening.

5. Methods of Recruitment

  1. Competitive Examination: Open to all eligible candidates.

  2. Lateral Entry: Direct Recruitment of experienced professionals with specific qualifications and experience.

6. Recruitment by Competitive Examination

The Board is responsible for conducting examinations for direct recruitment to Group A-level Scientific, Administrative, and Technical posts at the ICAR, including:

  1. Combined Examination for Agricultural Research Services (ARS)

  2. Subject Matter Specialists and Senior Technical Officer (SMS/STO) posts

  3. Administrative and Finance & Accounts Officer posts

  4. Assistant Director (Official Language) posts

Notifications for these examinations are published on the ASRB website, in leading newspapers, and in Employment News. Candidates are advised to apply online only and to submit their applications well before the deadline to avoid delays. Changes to application entries are not permitted after the closing date. Candidates should retain their registration numbers for downloading admit cards and accessing other online services.

7. Recruitment through Lateral Entry

The Board is responsible for direct recruitment to Research Management Positions (RMPs) such as Deputy Director General (DDG), Additional Director General (ADG), Director, Project Directors (PD), Joint Director (JDR), and Non-RMP Positions like Head of Division (HoD), Project Coordinator (PC), Principal Scientists (PS), and Senior Scientists at theICAR.

The Board is responsible for directly recruiting candidates to various research management and non-research management positions in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) headquarters and its research institutes.

These positions include:

  1. Research Management Positions: Deputy Director General (DDG), Additional Director General (ADG), Directors, Project Directors, and Joint Directors.

  2. Scientific Positions: Principal Scientist and Senior Scientist.

Indicative advertisements for these vacancies are published in Employment News, while detailed advertisements are available on the ASRB website. Applications are accepted online, and candidates must follow the instructions outlined in the specific advertisement.

Upon receiving applications, a screening process is conducted using the "Online Application and Scorecard Information System (OASIS)" software. This process is based on carefully designed rational criteria that prioritize equity, justice, and fairness. Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews, which are conducted by Board Members assisted by experts in the relevant fields.

After the interviews, the Interview Board Report is finalized and submitted to the Board for approval. The Board's recommendations are then forwarded to the DAREfor further action.

8. National Eligibility Test (NET)

The Board conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) online once a year across 60 disciplines nationwide. This exam determines the eligibility of candidates for Lecturer/Assistant Professor positions in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other Agricultural Universities. Master's degree holders in relevant fields can apply for the NET.

The NET is a qualifying exam. Successful candidates become eligible to apply for vacancies advertised by different Agricultural Universities. The syllabus for each discipline is available on the Board's website (www.asrb.org.in).

Since 2018, the Board has issued NET certificates in digital format through Digi-locker to qualified candidates.

9. Career Advancement Schemes (CAS)

The Board processes career advancement cases for Senior Scientists under the ICAR’S Career Advancement Schemes (CAS). Additionally, ASRB establishes Departmental Promotion Committees for the career advancement of ARS Scientists and ICAR Technical cadre staff.

10. Payment of fees

Application fees for all positions are payable through Bharatkosh (bharatkosh.gov.in). However, exemptions apply to female candidates and those belonging to the SC /ST / PwBD categories.

11. Expectations of the ‘Citizens’ or ‘Clients’

  1. Efficient and fair examination administration

  2. Prompt filling of vacancies reported by the ICAR

  3. Selection of qualified candidates for suitable positions

  4. Effective dissemination of examination notices

  5. Prompt declaration of results

12. Annual Report

The Board submits an Annual Report to the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, detailing its activities. This report is also available for download on the ASRB website: www.asrb.org.in/downloads.

13. Website

The Board's website (www.asrb.org.in) provides comprehensive information about its various examinations and recruitments through lateral entry, including:

  1. Notifications for upcoming exams and vacancy notifications: Stay informed about upcoming examinations and available positions through detailed vacancy notifications.

  2. Online application registration process: Find clear and easy-to-follow instructions for registering online for the examinations and recruitment processes.

  3. Downloading e-Admit Cards: Download your e-Admit Cards directly from the website, ensuring you have all necessary documents for the examination.

  4. Results for written exams and personality tests (if applicable): Access your results for written exams and personality tests (if applicable) conveniently through the website.

14. Information Under RTI Act, 2005

The Board adheres to the Right to Information Act (RTI) Act 2005. To facilitate information access for the public, ASRB has appointed Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Appellate Authorities. A list of these officials is available on the Board's website: www.asrb.org.in

15. Details of Grievance Redressal Mechanism

The government has implemented the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). Public grievances submitted through CPGRAMS by candidates or the general public are being addressed in a timely manner.

16. Responsibility of the Users

The Board is dedicated to conducting fair, efficient, and impartial exam selections in a timely manner. To achieve this goal, candidates are expected to strictly adhere to the instructions outlined in the Board's advertisements, both in print and on the Board's website.