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🏛️Top 20 Agricultural Universities in India 2026 — NIRF Rankings, Courses & Admission

Top 10 & top 20 agricultural universities in India ranked by NIRF 2025. Detailed profiles: location, BSc Agriculture programs, fees, admission process, research strengths, and how to choose the best agricultural college for you.

Top Agricultural Universities in India (NIRF 2025)

India has 73 agricultural universities recognized by ICAR and 680+ ICAR-approved colleges offering BSc Agriculture. With so many options, choosing the right institution — whether for the 4-year BSc programme, postgraduate research, or competitive exam preparation — requires clear, data-backed information.

This guide ranks the top 20 agricultural universities in India based on NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors scores, with detailed profiles covering location, programs, fees, admission, and research strengths.


What is NIRF and Why It Matters

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), released annually by the Ministry of Education, is India’s official university ranking system. It evaluates institutions across five equally weighted parameters 1:

ParameterWhat It Measures
Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)Faculty–student ratio, infrastructure, lab facilities
Research & Professional Practice (RP)Publications, patents, funded projects, consultancy
Graduation Outcomes (GO)PhD output, placements, higher study rates
Outreach & Inclusivity (OI)Female enrollment, reserved category admission, rural reach
Perception (PR)Academic peer & employer reputation survey

NIRF Agriculture rankings cover Agriculture & Allied Sectors, which includes pure agriculture, dairy, veterinary, fisheries, and forestry institutions.


NIRF 2025 Top 10 Agricultural Universities — At a Glance

NIRF RankUniversityLocationScoreType
1IARI — Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi89.23ICAR Deemed
2NDRI — National Dairy Research InstituteKarnal, Haryana75.87ICAR Deemed
3PAU — Punjab Agricultural UniversityLudhiana, Punjab75.83State SAU
4BHU — Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi, UP~74Central University
5IVRI — Indian Veterinary Research InstituteIzatnagar, UPICAR Deemed
6CCS HAU — Chaudhary Charan Singh HAUHisar, HaryanaState SAU
7SKUAST-KashmirSrinagar, J&KState SAU
8GBPUAT — Govind Ballabh Pant UATPantnagar, UttarakhandState SAU
9CIFE — Central Institute of Fisheries EducationMumbai, MaharashtraICAR Deemed
10TNAU — Tamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityCoimbatore, Tamil NaduState SAU

Source: NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors Rankings 1


Top 10 Agricultural Universities — Detailed Profiles


1. IARI — Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

NIRF 2025 Rank #1 | Score: 89.23 1

ParameterDetails
Established1905 (Pusa, Bihar); relocated to New Delhi, 1936
TypeICAR Deemed University
LocationPusa Campus, New Delhi – 110 012
AdmissionICAR AIEEA-PG / ICAR NET (JRF)
ProgrammesMSc, PhD (no 4-yr BSc UG)
Annual Fee₹10,000–30,000 (PG)
Websiteiari.res.in

Known as the “Pusa Institute”, IARI is India’s apex agricultural research institution and has held the NIRF #1 rank for three consecutive years. Its 486-hectare campus houses 20 research divisions, 8 regional stations, 5 multi-disciplinary centres, and over 3,000 scientific staff. 2

Why IARI Is Ranked #1

IARI developed the dwarf wheat varieties (Kalyansona, Sonalika) and IR-8 rice that triggered India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, directly ending food imports. Its current research pipeline includes Bt Brinjal, Golden Rice, drought-tolerant chickpea, and biofortified crops. No other agricultural institution in India approaches its research output — which explains the 14-point gap between IARI’s score (89.23) and the second-ranked NDRI (75.87). 23

Programs Offered

  • MSc Agriculture: Agronomy, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Entomology, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Plant Physiology, Agricultural Statistics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, Food Science & Technology
  • MSc in Computer Application, Floriculture
  • PhD in all above disciplines

Best For: MSc/PhD research careers, ICAR Scientist positions, competitive agriculture research fellowships (JRF/SRF).


2. NDRI — National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

NIRF 2025 Rank #2 | Score: 75.87 1

ParameterDetails
Established1923 (Bangalore); Karnal since 1955
TypeICAR Deemed University
LocationKarnal, Haryana – 132 001
AdmissionICAR AIEEA
ProgrammesBTech Dairy Technology, MSc, PhD
Annual Fee₹20,000–40,000
Websitendri.res.in

NDRI is India’s only university exclusively focused on dairy science, and the world-class dairy technology centre. It gained international recognition in 2009 when it produced Garima — the world’s first cloned buffalo using a somatic cell nuclear transfer technique developed in-house. 4

Programs Offered

ProgrammeDurationKey Subjects
BTech Dairy Technology4 yearsDairy Chemistry, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Plant Management
MSc Dairy Science2 yearsDairy Technology, Dairy Microbiology, Animal Nutrition, Dairy Chemistry
PhD3+ yearsAll dairy disciplines
Diploma in Dairy Technology2 yearsOperations, quality control

Research Strengths

  • Buffalo and cattle reproductive biotechnology (cloning, embryo transfer)
  • Dairy product development — cheese, paneer, UHT technologies, probiotic foods
  • Milk quality, safety standards, adulteration detection
  • Animal Nutrition and fodder improvement

Best For: Students targeting NDDB, Amul, Mother Dairy, state dairy federations, and food technology MNCs.


3. PAU — Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

NIRF 2025 Rank #3 | Score: 75.83 1

ParameterDetails
Established1962
TypeState Agricultural University (SAU)
LocationLudhiana, Punjab – 141 004
AdmissionPunjab CET (Agriculture) + ICAR AIEEA
Annual Fee₹25,000–45,000
Websitepau.edu

PAU is arguably India’s most impactful agricultural university in terms of real-world outcomes. Established on the US Land Grant model with direct collaboration from the University of Tennessee and USAID, PAU researchers working with Norman Borlaug developed dwarf wheat variety Kalyansona in the mid-1960s — the variety that doubled Punjab’s wheat yield and eliminated India’s food deficit within a decade. 56

Programs Offered

FacultyUG Programs
AgricultureBSc Hons Agriculture (4 yr)
Agricultural EngineeringBTech Agricultural Engineering (4 yr)
HorticultureBSc Hons Horticulture (4 yr)
Home ScienceBSc Home Science (4 yr)
Food TechnologyBSc Food Technology (4 yr)

All faculties offer MSc and PhD programs across 20+ disciplines.

Research Strengths

  • Wheat and Rice Crop Improvement — 150+ released varieties since 1962
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — PAU Pheromone Traps used nationwide
  • Precision Agriculture — laser land leveling, zero-tillage seeder (Happy Seeder)
  • Sustainable Agriculture — paddy straw management, super SMS seeder, stubble burning alternatives

Notable Infrastructure

65-hectare working farm, 9 constituent colleges, 30+ KVKs across Punjab, dedicated dairy unit, on-campus seed processing plant, one of India’s largest agricultural libraries with 3 lakh+ volumes.

Best For: BSc Agriculture UG programs in North India; strongest alumni network in IBPS AFO and NABARD exam selections.


4. BHU — Banaras Hindu University (Institute of Agricultural Sciences), Varanasi

NIRF 2025 Rank #4 1

ParameterDetails
EstablishedUniversity: 1916; Institute of Agri Sciences: 1956
TypeCentral University (Institute within BHU)
LocationVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221 005
AdmissionCUET UG (BSc Agriculture) / CUET PG
Annual Fee₹10,000–25,000
Websitebhu.ac.in/ias

BHU’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) is unique in operating within a massive multi-disciplinary central university of 1,300+ acres — giving agriculture students access to engineering labs, medical facilities, humanities libraries, and research networks unavailable at standalone agricultural universities. It has a long research legacy in Indo-Gangetic Plain agriculture, the most productive agro-ecological zone in India. 6

Programs Offered

  • BSc Hons Agriculture (4 years)
  • BSc Hons Forestry
  • MSc Agriculture (10+ specializations)
  • PhD in Agriculture, Forestry, and related disciplines

Research Strengths

  • Indo-Gangetic Plains — rice-wheat system optimization
  • Soil Health and Organic Matter Management
  • Traditional Varieties and Ethnobotany — Varanasi region heirloom crops
  • Agri-biotechnology with BHU’s central biology labs
  • Natural Resource Management for alluvial plains

Best For: Students who want BSc Agriculture within a full central university ecosystem; strong option for CUET-route admissions.


5. IVRI — Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (Bareilly)

NIRF 2025 Rank #5 1

ParameterDetails
Established1889 (Mukteswar, UP)
TypeICAR Deemed University
LocationIzatnagar, Bareilly, UP – 243 122
AdmissionICAR AIEEA
ProgrammesMVSc, PhD
Annual Fee₹15,000–35,000
Websiteivri.nic.in

IVRI, founded in 1889 during British rule, is India’s oldest and most prestigious veterinary research institution. It develops vaccines and diagnostic kits for livestock diseases that affect India’s 535 million livestock animals — the world’s largest livestock population. 7 IVRI-developed FMD vaccine protects 300+ million cattle and buffalo annually.

Programs Offered

  • MVSc (Master of Veterinary Science): 12+ specializations including Animal Genetics, Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology, Surgery, Pharmacology
  • PhD in all Veterinary Science disciplines
  • Short-term training programs for practicing veterinarians

Research Strengths

  • Vaccine development — FMD, PPR, Brucellosis, Newcastle disease, Anthrax
  • Animal Reproductive Technology — ET, IVF, semen cryopreservation
  • Livestock disease surveillance and rapid diagnostics
  • Meat Technology and food safety standards

Best For: BSc Agriculture students interested in the Animal Science / Livestock Production specialization aiming for ICAR research or state veterinary departments.


6. CCS HAU — Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar

NIRF 2025 Rank ~#6 1

ParameterDetails
Established1970
TypeState Agricultural University (SAU)
LocationHisar, Haryana – 125 004
AdmissionHaryana State CET
Annual Fee₹20,000–40,000
Websitehau.ac.in

CCS HAU is Haryana’s premier agricultural university, with 9 constituent colleges and 12 crop research stations spread across the state’s diverse agro-climatic zones — from the Shivalik foothills to the Aravalli borderlands. It is nationally recognized for pearl millet (bajra) hybrid development — the HHB varieties are the backbone of India’s bajra cultivation in Haryana and Rajasthan. 6

Programs Offered

  • BSc Hons Agriculture (4 years)
  • BSc Horticulture
  • BSc Home Science
  • BTech Agricultural Engineering
  • MSc and PhD across 20+ disciplines

Research Strengths

  • Pearl Millet and Wheat Breeding — Haryana’s staple crop belts
  • Mustard and Oilseed Research — important for Rabi season
  • Dryland and Rainfed Farming systems
  • Agri-meteorology and Climate-Resilient Crop Systems

7. SKUAST-Kashmir — Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir

NIRF 2025 Rank #7 — First Time in Top 10 1

ParameterDetails
Established1999
TypeState Agricultural University (SAU)
LocationShalimar, Srinagar, J&K – 190 025
AdmissionSKUAST Entrance Test / ICAR AIEEA
Annual Fee₹15,000–30,000
Websiteskuastkashmir.ac.in

SKUAST-Kashmir entered the NIRF top 10 for the first time in 2025 — the biggest rank jump in this category. Located in the Kashmir Valley at 1,580 metres elevation, it is India’s only major university specializing in temperate horticulture and mountain agriculture — a niche with global relevance as climate change reshapes growing zones. 16

Programs Offered

  • BSc Hons Agriculture (4 years)
  • BSc Hons Horticulture — flagship program
  • BSc Hons Forestry
  • BTech Food Technology
  • MSc and PhD in all disciplines

Research Strengths

  • Temperate Fruit Improvement — Apple (world’s most consumed fruit), Pear, Walnut, Cherry, Almond varieties
  • Saffron (Crocus sativus) — cultivation, yield improvement, post-harvest (Kashmir produces 90%+ of India’s saffron) 6
  • Mountain Watershed Management and slope-adaptive cropping systems
  • Post-harvest technology for fragile cold-region produce

Best For: Students interested in horticulture, high-value crop production, and mountain agriculture research.


8. GBPUAT — Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

NIRF 2025 Rank #8 1

ParameterDetails
Established1960
TypeState Agricultural University (SAU)
LocationPantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand – 263 145
AdmissionGBPUAT Entrance Exam
Annual Fee₹25,000–50,000
Websitegbpuat.ac.in

GBPUAT is India’s first agricultural university, established in 1960 on the US Land Grant model with academic support from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and USAID funding. It pioneered the concept of integrating teaching, research, and extension on a single residential campus — a model followed by all subsequent SAUs in India. 56

Programs Offered

FacultyUG Programs
AgricultureBSc Hons Agriculture (4 yr)
Agricultural Engineering & TechnologyBTech (6 specializations: Agri Engg, Food Process Engg, Farm Machinery, etc.)
HorticultureBSc Hons (4 yr)
ForestryBSc (4 yr)
Home ScienceBSc (4 yr)
Veterinary & Animal SciencesBVSc + AH (5 yr)
Basic SciencesBSc (4 yr)

All faculties offer MSc and PhD programs.

Research Strengths

  • Tarai Zone Agronomy — wheat-rice-sugarcane systems of Uttarakhand’s terai plains
  • Agricultural Engineering and Farm Machinery Design
  • Integrated Farming Systems for small and marginal farmers
  • Seed Technology — large certified seed production farm on campus

Notable Campus

GBPUAT has a fully self-contained university township — the “Pantnagar campus town” includes residential colonies, schools, a hospital, commercial markets, and a 3,600-acre working farm. Modeled on American Land Grant campuses, it remains India’s largest agricultural campus by area.

Best For: BSc Agriculture in North India with a full residential campus experience; strong presence in seed companies and agri-engineering industries.


9. CIFE — Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai

NIRF 2025 Rank ~#9 (Consistent Top 10) 1

ParameterDetails
Established1961
TypeICAR Deemed University
LocationVersova, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400 061
AdmissionICAR AIEEA
Annual Fee₹20,000–40,000
Websitecife.edu.in

CIFE is India’s only university exclusively dedicated to fisheries science — operating under ICAR with field stations across India’s major fishing belts: Gujarat coast, Andaman & Nicobar, Kerala backwaters, and Himalayan freshwater zones. India is the world’s third-largest fish producer, making CIFE’s research economically critical. 7

Programs Offered

  • BSc Fisheries Science (via affiliated colleges)
  • MSc Fisheries Science: Aquaculture, Fisheries Resource Management, Fish Genetics & Biotechnology, Fish Nutrition, Post-Harvest Technology
  • PhD in Fisheries Science
  • PG Diploma in Fisheries Extension Management

Research Strengths

  • Freshwater and Marine Aquaculture — catfish, shrimp, carp, tilapia productivity
  • Fish Genetics and Selective Breeding Programmes
  • Blue Economy — offshore fisheries, deep-sea resource mapping
  • Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology for commercial aquaculture

10. TNAU — Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

NIRF 2025 Rank ~#10 1

ParameterDetails
Established1971
TypeState Agricultural University (SAU)
LocationCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641 003
AdmissionTNAU Entrance Exam (Tamil Nadu CET)
Annual Fee₹20,000–45,000
Websitetnau.ac.in

TNAU is South India’s largest and most productive agricultural university, with 7 constituent colleges, 32 research stations, and 25 KVKs covering Tamil Nadu’s diverse agro-climatic zones — from the Nilgiri Hills to the Cauvery Delta. It is nationally recognized for agricultural biotechnology and has released CO-series hybrid varieties of rice, bajra, maize, and vegetables that are grown on millions of acres across South India. 6

Programs Offered

  • BSc Hons Agriculture (4 years)
  • BSc Hons Horticulture
  • BSc Hons Forestry
  • BSc Food Technology
  • BTech Agricultural Engineering
  • MSc and PhD across 30+ disciplines
  • MBA Agribusiness

Research Strengths

  • Agricultural Biotechnology — tissue culture, transgenic crop development, molecular breeding
  • Precision Agriculture and Remote Sensing — one of India’s first SAUs to operationalize drone-based crop monitoring
  • Hybrid Crop Development — CO-series varieties in rice, pearl millet, sugarcane, vegetables
  • Post-Harvest Technology and Agro-processing
  • Organic Farming and System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

Best For: BSc Agriculture in South India; strongest programme for agri-biotechnology and precision farming. Gateway to TNAU’s extensive alumni network in Tamil Nadu government services (Agriculture Department, Tamil Nadu Agri University placements).


Top 11–20 Agricultural Universities in India

Approx. RankUniversityStateEstablishedKey Strength
11UAS Bengaluru (GKVK Campus)Karnataka1964Coffee, ragi, sericulture, dry-land farming
12RAU, BikanerRajasthan1987Arid zone agriculture, dryland crop research
13JNKVV, JabalpurMadhya Pradesh1964Wheat, soybean, tribal agriculture, MP’s oldest SAU
14OUAT, BhubaneswarOdisha1962Rice research, coastal agriculture, flood-resilient crops
15AAU, JorhatAssam1969Tea agronomy, flood-adaptive farming, NE India crops
16MPKV, RahuriMaharashtra1969Dryland farming, pulses, Marathwada crop systems
17Dr. PDKV, AkolaMaharashtra1969Cotton, soybean, Vidarbha farming systems
18SKUAST-JammuJammu, J&K1999Sub-tropical horticulture, maize, foothills agriculture
19RPCAU, SamastipurBihar2016Flood-resilient crops; NIRF 2025’s biggest rank jumper
20ANGRAU, GunturAndhra Pradesh1964Rice, horticulture, Andhra coastal zone agronomy

RPCAU, Samastipur achieved the largest NIRF rank improvement in 2025 — leaping from outside the Top 30 (2023) to the Top 15 category in just two years. 1


How to Choose the Right Agricultural University

By Program Goal

GoalBest University
BSc Agriculture (North India)PAU Ludhiana, GBPUAT Pantnagar, CCS HAU Hisar
BSc Agriculture (South India)TNAU Coimbatore
BSc Agriculture (Central/UP)BHU Varanasi, JNKVV Jabalpur
BSc HorticultureSKUAST-Kashmir, TNAU, PAU
Dairy Technology (BTech/MSc)NDRI Karnal
Veterinary + Animal ScienceIVRI Izatnagar
Fisheries ScienceCIFE Mumbai
MSc / PhD Research (top-ranked)IARI New Delhi
Agricultural EngineeringGBPUAT Pantnagar, PAU Ludhiana

By Region (Agro-Climatic Zone)

Studying in a university that actively researches your region’s dominant crops gives practical advantages in fieldwork, internships, and state government postings:

RegionBest UniversityLocal Crops Researched
Punjab–Haryana (IGP)PAU, CCS HAU, NDRIWheat, rice, dairy, mustard
Uttarakhand–UP (Terai)GBPUAT, BHUWheat, rice, sugarcane, livestock
Jammu & KashmirSKUAST-K, SKUAST-JApple, saffron, temperate horticulture
Tamil NaduTNAURice, sugarcane, coconut, vegetables
KarnatakaUAS BengaluruRagi, coffee, horticulture, sericulture
MaharashtraMPKV, PDKVCotton, soybean, jowar, pulses
Assam + NE IndiaAAUTea, rice, flood crops, jhum alternatives
Bihar–East UPBHU, RPCAURice, wheat, flood-tolerant varieties

By Admission Route

ExamUniversities Covered
ICAR AIEEA (National)IARI, NDRI, IVRI, CIFE (all PG/PhD)
CUET UG / PGBHU Varanasi
Punjab CETPAU Ludhiana
GBPUAT EntranceGBPUAT Pantnagar
TNAU EntranceTNAU Coimbatore + Tamil Nadu SAU colleges
Haryana State CETCCS HAU Hisar
SKUAST EntranceSKUAST-Kashmir, SKUAST-Jammu

Competitive Exam Preparation

All top SAUs follow the ICAR 5th Dean Committee syllabus — the same curriculum regardless of university, designed specifically to align with IBPS AFO, NABARD Grade A, FCI AGT, and other competitive exams. Your self-study discipline matters more than which university you attend.

Use AgriDots’ 1,400+ structured notes to prepare for competitive exams:


Fee Comparison — Top Agricultural Universities

UniversityBSc Agriculture Annual FeeHostel FeeTotal / Year
BHU Varanasi (Central)₹10,000–15,000₹15,000–25,000₹25,000–40,000
CCS HAU Hisar₹20,000–30,000₹18,000–28,000₹38,000–58,000
TNAU Coimbatore₹20,000–35,000₹20,000–30,000₹40,000–65,000
PAU Ludhiana₹25,000–40,000₹20,000–35,000₹45,000–75,000
GBPUAT Pantnagar₹25,000–45,000₹20,000–35,000₹45,000–80,000
SKUAST-Kashmir₹15,000–25,000₹15,000–25,000₹30,000–50,000
NDRI Karnal (BTech DT)₹30,000–45,000₹20,000–30,000₹50,000–75,000

Fees are approximate and subject to annual revision. Confirm at respective university websites before applying.


Summary — Best Agricultural University for Each Student Profile

Student ProfileRecommended University
Top researcher / wants PhD at India’s bestIARI New Delhi
BSc Agriculture, North IndiaPAU Ludhiana
BSc Agriculture, South IndiaTNAU Coimbatore
BSc Agriculture, first university experienceGBPUAT Pantnagar
Dairy / food technology focusNDRI Karnal
Veterinary + animal scienceIVRI Izatnagar
Fisheries scienceCIFE Mumbai
Temperate horticulture / J&K regionSKUAST-Kashmir
Central university environment + agricultureBHU Varanasi
Haryana region / govt service targetCCS HAU Hisar
Maharashtra / Vidarbha regionMPKV Rahuri or PDKV Akola
Bihar / flood-zone cropsRPCAU Samastipur
South India + Karnataka regionUAS Bengaluru
Competitive exams (IBPS AFO / NABARD)Any top SAU + AgriDots notes

References & Sources

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