NOTIFICATION FOR COMBINED 

NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY TEST (NET), AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (ARS), SUBJECT MATTER SPECIALIST (SMS) (T–6) & SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER (STO) (T–6) EXAMINATION – 2025 

The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) will hold a Combined Examination for National Eligibility Test (NET), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) (T–6) and Senior Technical Officer (STO) (T–6) Examination–2025 as per the Rules and Plans of Examination indicated in this notification as at Section (A), (B) and (C). 

IMPORTANT DATES*: 

Submission of online application form starts on 

22nd April, 2025 (01:00 PM) 

21st May, 2025 (11.59 PM) 

Eligibility Qualifications 

Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Bio-Technology/ Biotechnology/ Agricultural Biotechnology/Plant Biotechnology / Genetic Engineering/ Botany/ 

Life Sciences /Plant Physiology/ Agricultural Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Genetics & Plant Breeding/ Plant Breeding and Genetics 

Master’s degree in Agricultural Entomology/Entomology/Zoology/ Sericulture/Apiculture/Plant Protection 

Master’s degree in Agricultural Microbiology /Microbiology/ Soil Science/Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry/ Environmental Science 

Master’s degree in Botany/Economic Botany/Plant Genetic Resources/ Genetics and Plant Breeding/Plant Breeding & Genetics/Seed Science & Technology/ Agricultural Botany/ Horticulture/ Agroforestry 

2. CENTRES:–

The Centres where the Combined CBT for NET–2025 & Preliminary Examination for ARS/SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6)-2025 will be conducted are mentioned in Annexure–II. The Centres where the Combined Mains (Descriptive) Examination for ARS/ SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6)-2025 will be conducted are mentioned in Annexure–III. 

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The Centres and date(s) of holding the examination as mentioned above could be changed at the discretion of ASRB. Candidates must select the centres of examination carefully while submitting their online application for the examination. No request for change of centre shall be entertained at later stage. There may be more than one venue at any all centres depending upon the number of candidates registered for the examination. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:– 

Candidates are required to apply online only using the online application form link available on the website: http://www.asrb.org.in. No other mode of submission of application is allowed. Candidates must exercise their option in the Application Form for being considered either for NET only or ARS only or SMS (T–6) only or STO (T–6) only or any combination of the four. 

Apart from NET, if a candidate opts for any combination of ARS/ SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6), then he/she must indicate the order of preferences (in descending order) in the application form. Order of preferences once indicated by the candidate at the application stage will be treated as final and will not be changed subsequently under any circumstances. 

Candidates must ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility conditions for admission to the examination such as the qualification, discipline, age, category, etc. Their admission to the examination will be purely provisional. If on verification at any later stage, it is found that they do not fulfill all eligibility conditions; their candidature will be cancelled/ rejected and fee paid for examination will be forfeited. The verification of the eligibility of the candidates for ARS, SMS (T–6) and STO (T–6) with respect to the documents submitted by them will be done before the conduct of interviews. The Board shall summarily reject the candidature of the candidate, if he/she does not fulfill the eligibility conditions. 

Candidates seeking reservation/ relaxation benefits available for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/ PwBD must ensure that they are entitled to such reservation/ relaxation as per eligibility prescribed in the Rules. They should be in possession of all the requisite certificates in the prescribed format in support of their claim as stipulated in the Rules for such benefits, and these certificates must be valid at the time of submission of the online application form for the examination. 

The candidatesare not required to attach any certificates/ marksheets with the online application form. The candidates will be required to submit (upload) self–attested copies of documents/certificates in support of their candidature during the dates which would be announced at the time of declaration of the results of the Mains Examination for ARS/ SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6)-2025. A link will be provided on ASRB’s website for the candidates to upload the requisite documents. 

In cases, where any certificates/documents submitted by the candidates in support of their eligibility as stipulated in the preceding paragraph, are not found as per prescribed formats, such candidates will not be given the opportunity to submit such certificates at a later date and consequently their eligibility will be scrutinized only as per the available documents/certificates. Accordingly, the candidates are advised to ensure, while submitting the documents that all the certificates/ documents are in the respective prescribed format as given in the Appendices- I to V. The documents/certificates in any language other than the Hindi or English will not be accepted. In such cases, the candidates must submit either the certificates/documents in Hindi/English or its translated copy duly attested by Notary Public. 

Candidates already in the Service of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Central/State Government/Scientific Institutions/Universities, whether in a permanent or a temporary capacity or as a work charged employee, other than a casual or daily rated employee, are required to submit No Objection Certificate/ Undertaking that they have informed in writing their Head of Office/Department that they have applied for the examination as given in Appendix–V. 

OBC candidates whose caste is not listed in Central List (as available on National Commission for Backward Classes website www.ncbc.nic.in) and who are not covered under the provisions as applicable to OBC–Non Creamy Layer (NCL) candidates, shall be treated as General Category candidates for all purposes. Accordingly, OBC Candidates not belonging to OBC Non–Creamy Layer shall indicate their category as ‘General‘. 

In case the claim of candidates regarding Age, Educational Qualifications, Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/ Scheduled Caste(SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST)/ Other Backward Class(OBC)/ Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) / being ICAR/ SAU/ CAU employee is found to be incorrect, it may render them liable to be disqualified by the Board / ICAR and their candidature will stand cancelled. 

No candidate will be allowed to take the examination unless he/she holds a certificate of admission for the examination. After downloading the Admission Certificate, check it carefully and bring discrepancies/errors, if any, to the notice of the Board through e–mail to netarssmssto2025@asrb.org.in. 

No request for withdrawal of candidature/application received from a candidate after he/she has submitted his/her application will be entertained. 

The Admission Certificates would be made downloadable from the website: https://www.asrb.org.inonly about one week prior to the date of examination. Candidates are requested to visit the website: www.asrb.org.inregularly for updates. No other form of communication will be used for issue of admission certificates. 

Only such EWS/SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates who are selected on the same general standards as applied to UR candidates shall be treated as own merit candidates. If any EWS/SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidate qualifies after getting any relaxation in age or qualifying marks than what is prescribed for Unreserved category candidates, then such EWS/SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidate shall be considered only against the reserved vacancies for the respective category and they shall not be considered for appointment against an unreserved vacancy. 

The letters for Personal Interview ofARS/ SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6) shall be sent through e–mail and all instructions/information thereof will be indicated therein. No hard copy/ letter will be sent for this 

purpose. 

The applicants are advised to regularly check the ASRB website https://www.asrb.org.in and e–mail provided in the Application Form for update(s)/ information/ communication with regard to the Examination. They must check the spam/junk/inbox/trash folders also of their mailbox. They are also advised to save the e–mail netarssmsto2025@asrb.org.in in contacts of their e–mail account so as the e–mails with attachments sent by this e–mail I.D do not go to the spam folder. 

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES 

FOR FILLING ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 

ANNEXURE-I 

Candidates are required to apply online only using the online application form link available on the website: https://www.asrb.org.in. No other mode of submission of application is allowed. Candidates must exercise their option in the Application Form for being considered either for NET only or ARS only or SMS (T–6) only or STO (T–6) only or any combination of the four. 

Apart from NET, if a candidate opts for any combination of ARS/SMS (T–6)/STO (T–6), then he/ she must indicate the order of preferences (in descending order) in the application form. Order of preferences once indicated by the candidate at the application stage will be treated as final and will not be changed subsequently under anycircumstances. 

Candidates are hereby informed that the details provided inthe Online Application Form will be used for all future references and no modification thereto can be done subsequently. Hence, they are advised tobe very careful while filling the Application Form. Candidates are requested to go through this Notification before filling the online Application Form. 

Candidates should submit only one application form and exercise their option for the examination therein. In case multiple applications are received from a candidate, the latest application will be considered, ignoring all earlier one(s) received; without refunding/adjusting any Application Fee received for the other Applications. 

Candidates are required to complete the Application Form by filling all the parts for which they will be guided during the course of filling the Application Form. 

Candidates are required to keep ready the following relevant details /information / documents at the time of filling the online form: 

1. a) Notification for Combined National Eligibility Test (NET), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) (T–6) and Senior Technical Officer (STO) (T–6) Examination–2025 
2. b) Name (as recorded in Matriculation/ Secondary level Examination certificate) 
3. c) Father’s name (as recorded in the Matriculation/ Secondary level Examination 

certificate) 

1. d) Complete Address for Correspondence 
2. e) Complete Permanent Address 
3. f) Aadhaar Card 
4. g) Matriculation/Secondary level Examination Certificate or equivalent Certificate 

and Marksheet 

1. h) Senior Secondary level Examination Certificate or equivalent Certificate and 

Marksheet 

1. i) 

Bachelor’s Degree Certificate/Provisional Degree Certificate and Transcript/ Marksheets 

1. j) Master’s Degree Certificate/Provisional Degree Certificate and Transcript/ 

Marksheets 

1. k) Doctorate Degree Certificate/Provisional Degree Certificate and Transcript/ 

Marksheet; if available 

vii. 

1) Centre opted for Combined CBT for NET–2025 & Preliminary Examination for 

ARS/SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6)-2025 

(Please check the examination centres in Annexure–II of this notification). 

1. m) Centre opted for Combined Mains Examination for ARS/ SMS (T–6)/ STO (T–6)– 

2025 

(Please check the examination centres in Annexure–III of this notification). 

1. n) Scanned copy of recent passport size photograph taken against white background only, of a maximum size of 200 KB in .jpg format only with the face covering at least 2/3rd of the total space and taken without spectacles. 
2. o) Scanned copy of signatures taken in Black/Blue ink on a white paper only of 

maximum size of 100 KB in .jpg format only. 

1. p) Scanned copy of Left Thumb Impression in Blue ink on a white paper only, of a maximum size of 100 KB in .jpg format only. (In case of any eventuality of left thumb being unavailable, right hand thumb impression may be used). 
2. q) Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/ UPI details for online payment of fee. r) Valid and active e–mail id. 
3. s) The candidate should have details of one Photo ID viz. Aadhaar Card/ Voter Card/ PAN Card/Passport/ Driving License/ Any other photo ID card issued by the State/ Central Government. The details of this photo ID will have to be provided by the candidate while filling up the online application form. The candidates will have to upload a scanned copy of the Photo ID whose details have been provided in the online application by him/her. This photo ID will be used for all future references and the candidate is advised to carry this ID while appearing for the examination at the opted/allotted centre. 

The candidates are required to enter their valid and active e–mail id in the Application Form since all communication/information/update(s) for this Examination would be sent to this e–mail id only. In case, they do not have ane–mail id, they may obtain one from any of the e–mail service providers of the candidate’s choice. Please note that entry of the e- mail id in the prescribed field in the Application Form is mandatory/ compulsory. 

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE ARS NET Exam