FCI AG-III Exam Pattern 2026 — Phase 1, Phase 2 & Technical Paper
Detailed exam pattern for FCI AG-III Technical 2026 — Phase 1 preliminary, Phase 2 Paper 1 & Paper 2, marking scheme, negative marking, Group A vs Group B, and time management tips.
FCI AG-III Exam Pattern Overview
FCI AG-III selection has two exam phases followed by document verification and medical examination. There is no interview for Category III posts.
| Phase | Nature | Marks | For Merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Preliminary (Online CBT) | 100 | No (qualifying only) |
| Phase 2 — Paper 1 | Common paper (Online CBT) | 120 | Yes |
| Phase 2 — Paper 2 | Technical paper (Online CBT) | 120 | Yes |
| Total for Merit | 240 |
Phase 1 — Preliminary Exam
Phase 1 is a qualifying exam — marks are NOT counted for final merit. You only need to clear the cutoff to move to Phase 2.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| General Studies | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Key Points — Phase 1
- Mode: Online Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Negative marking: -0.25 for each wrong answer
- No penalty for unattempted questions
- Sectional timing: Each section has fixed time — you cannot switch between sections
- Common paper for all AG-III posts (General, Technical, Accounts, Depot, Hindi)
- Language: English and Hindi
Phase 2 — Main Exam
Phase 2 has two papers. Paper 1 is common for all posts. Paper 2 is only for Technical and Accounts posts.
Paper 1 (Common for All Posts)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 |
| Reasoning Ability | 25 | 25 |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| General Studies | 45 | 45 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Key Points:
- Negative marking: -0.25 per wrong answer
- General Studies has the highest weightage (45 marks) — focus here for maximum scoring
- Difficulty is slightly higher than Phase 1
- Time limit is approximately 90-120 minutes (varies by notification)
Paper 2 — Technical Paper
This paper is only for AG-III (Technical) and AG-III (Accounts) posts.
For Technical posts, you choose between Group A or Group B:
| Group | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Agriculture + Botany + Zoology | 60 | 120 | -0.50 per wrong |
| Group B | Agriculture + Chemistry + Physics | 60 | 120 | -0.50 per wrong |
Key Points:
- Each question carries 2 marks (double the weightage of Paper 1)
- Negative marking is -0.50 (higher than Phase 1 and Paper 1)
- Agriculture section is common to both Group A and Group B
- Choose your group at the time of application — cannot change later
- Time limit is approximately 60-90 minutes
Which Group to Choose?
| Your Background | Recommended Group | Why |
|---|---|---|
| B.Sc Agriculture (4-year) | Group A | Strong in Agri + Botany + Zoology from degree curriculum |
| B.Sc with Botany/Zoology | Group A | Direct subject match |
| B.Tech Food Science | Group B | Chemistry and Physics foundation from engineering |
| B.Sc with Chemistry/Physics | Group B | Direct subject match |
| B.Tech Agricultural Engineering | Group B | Physics and Chemistry background from engineering |
Total Marks Calculation for Merit
For AG-III (Technical)
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Phase 2 — Paper 1 | 120 |
| Phase 2 — Paper 2 (Technical) | 120 |
| Total Merit Marks | 240 |
Phase 1 marks are NOT included in the merit calculation. Phase 1 is only a qualifying hurdle.
Negative Marking Summary
| Paper | Per Wrong Answer | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | -0.25 (out of 1 mark) | 25% penalty |
| Phase 2 Paper 1 | -0.25 (out of 1 mark) | 25% penalty |
| Phase 2 Paper 2 | -0.50 (out of 2 marks) | 25% penalty |
Strategy: The penalty ratio is the same (25%) across all papers. Attempt questions where you can eliminate at least 2 options.
Time Management Tips
Phase 1 (60 minutes)
- English: 12 minutes — focus on RC and Error Spotting (quick wins)
- Reasoning: 18 minutes — Coding-Decoding and Series first, then Puzzles
- Numerical Aptitude: 18 minutes — Simplification and DI first
- General Studies: 12 minutes — attempt all (factual recall, don't overthink)
Phase 2 Paper 2 (Technical)
- Read all 60 questions first (2-3 minutes)
- Answer Agriculture questions first (strongest subject for Agri graduates)
- Then tackle Botany/Zoology (Group A) or Chemistry/Physics (Group B)
- Leave doubtful questions for the end — remember -0.50 penalty is steep
Exam Day Instructions
- Carry: Admit card (printed) + Photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID)
- Reach: 1 hour before reporting time
- Not allowed: Mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, electronic devices
- Rough work: On paper provided at the exam centre
- Biometric: Fingerprint and photo verification
- Language: Questions available in both English and Hindi
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