ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026 notification is out. The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) has released the Centralized Combined Examination 2026 notification (11 November 2026) for 1393 posts of Technical Assistant (T-3) in ICAR institutes and Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) in Krishi Vigyan Kendras. This page is the complete guide for the Field Farm Technician & Laboratory Technician (Social Science: Home Science / Community Science) functional group: vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern and the full Mains syllabus exactly as notified by ICAR.
The Social Science (Home Science / Community Science) functional group is the smallest in this recruitment with just 7 posts (5 T-3 + 2 T-4). Before you choose it, note an important strategic point: Home Science / Community Science graduates are also eligible for the Agriculture functional group, which has 772 posts. Since you can apply to only one functional group, compare both carefully.
Quick answer: ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026
- Total posts: 7 (5 T-3 + 2 T-4)
- Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Home Science / Community Science.
- Age: 21 to 30 years as on 17.12.2026 (relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ESM)
- Apply: 18.11.2026 to 17.12.2026 at asrb.gov.in
- Selection: Prelims (qualifying) + Mains (300 marks); no interview
- Pay: T-3 Level 5 (₹29,200 to ₹92,300); T-4 Level 6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400)
Overview
| Recruiting Body | Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), DARE, New Delhi |
| Employer | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): institutes (T-3) and KVKs (T-4) |
| Exam Name | Centralized Combined Examination 2026 for TA (T-3) and STA (T-4) |
| Functional Group | Field Farm Technician & Laboratory Technician (Social Science: Home Science / Community Science) |
| Vacancies in this group | 7 (5 T-3 + 2 T-4) |
| Total vacancies (all groups) | 1393 (1254 T-3 + 139 T-4) |
| Notification No. | F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11.11.2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (Prelims and Mains) |
| Official Website | asrb.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 11 November 2026 |
| Online application starts | 18 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 17 December 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment (Bharatkosh) | 17 December 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Application correction window | 18 to 20 December 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam (CBT) | February 2027 (exact date to be announced) |
| Mains Exam (CBT) | To be announced |
All dates are as per the ASRB notification and are subject to change. Admission certificates are released about one week before the exam on asrb.gov.in only.
ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026 Vacancies
Technical Assistant (T-3), ICAR Institutes
| Post | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total | PwBD | ESM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Farm Technician (Home/Community Science) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory Technician (Home/Community Science) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total T-3 Home Science | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Senior Technical Assistant (T-4), KVKs
| Post | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total | PwBD | ESM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Farm Technician (Home/Community Science) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory Technician (Home/Community Science) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total T-4 Home Science | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
PwBD and Ex-Servicemen (ESM) vacancies are horizontal and included within the category totals. Vacancies are tentative.
ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026 Eligibility
Educational Qualification
Bachelor’s Degree in Home Science / Community Science.
The degree must be completed on or before 17.12.2026 from a recognised Indian university/institution (or an equivalent foreign qualification recognised by the Government of India). Candidates must be citizens of India (or Nepal/Bhutan/eligible categories with a certificate of eligibility).
Age Limit and Relaxation
Minimum 21 years and maximum 30 years as on the closing date, 17.12.2026 (indicatively, date of birth between 18.12.1995 and 17.12.2005).
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years (cumulative with SC/ST/OBC relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age |
| ICAR in-service technical employees (UR) | Upper limit 40 years, plus category relaxation |
| RAs / SRFs in ICAR projects | Period actually engaged, up to 16 years 3 months |
| Disabled Defence Services Personnel | As per Government of India instructions |
Application Fee
| Category | T-3 only | T-4 only | T-3 + T-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | ₹300 | ₹300 | ₹600 |
| EWS / OBC | ₹150 | ₹150 | ₹300 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women / Transgender / Ex-Servicemen | Nil | Nil | Nil |
The fee is paid only through Bharatkosh (bharatkosh.gov.in): Quick Payment, Ministry: Agriculture, Purpose: Examination/Certificate fee for ARS/NET/SMS/STO/FAO/AO, PAO 000001, DDO 216968 (Add. ASRB, Chayan Bhavan). Upload the payment receipt in the application form. Paying on Bharatkosh without submitting the form does not count, and the fee is non-refundable.
Exam Pattern
Selection is through two Computer Based Tests. There is no interview: final merit is based on Mains marks only.
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Qualifying)
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Knowledge | 25 | 25 |
| 2 | General English | 25 | 25 |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| 4 | General Agriculture | 25 | 25 |
| Total (1 hour) | 100 | 100 |
- Negative marking: 0.25 mark per wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, EWS/OBC 25%, SC/ST/PwBD 20%.
- Candidates are shortlisted for Mains in the ratio 1:15 of the vacancies, functional group-wise (category-wise).
- Questions are bilingual (Hindi and English), except the General English section.
Stage 2: Mains Exam (Merit)
| Questions | 100 objective MCQs on the functional group’s domain subjects |
| Marks | 300 (3 marks per question) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Negative marking | 1 mark per wrong answer (one-third) |
| Minimum qualifying marks | UR 30%, EWS/OBC 25%, SC/ST/PwBD 20% |
| Normalisation | Applied wherever the CBT runs in multiple sessions |
Tie-breaking order: (a) higher Prelims marks, then (b) higher marks in Section 3, Quantitative Aptitude of Prelims, then (c) older candidate ranked higher.
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Preliminary Exam Syllabus (Common for All Groups)
1. General Knowledge (25 marks)
General awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday science, and questions on India and its neighbouring countries, especially History, Culture, Geography, Economic Science, General Policy and Scientific Research.
2. General English (25 marks)
Ability to understand correct English, basic comprehension and writing ability (grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, sentence improvement, reading comprehension).
3. Quantitative Aptitude (25 marks)
Computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions and relationships between numbers; Percentage; Ratio and Proportion; Square roots; Averages; Interest; Profit and Loss; Discount; Partnership Business; Mixture and Alligation; Time and Distance; Time and Work; basic algebraic identities of school algebra and elementary surds; graphs of linear equations; triangle and its centres; congruence and similarity of triangles; circle, chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents; quadrilaterals, regular polygons; right prism, right circular cone and cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, rectangular parallelepiped, regular right pyramid; trigonometric ratios, degree and radian measure, standard identities, complementary angles, heights and distances; histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram and pie chart.
4. General Agriculture (25 marks)
Agro-ecosystems and crops; Animal and fisheries basics; Farm machinery, post-harvest and agri-economics; Institutions and extension; Regulations in agriculture; International organisations. The topic-wise General Agriculture list is in our master guide.
ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026 Mains Syllabus (Paper-II)
The Mains paper (300 marks) tests domain knowledge of the Home Science / Community Science group. ICAR has not notified unit-wise weightage, so cover every unit below.
1. Basics of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Importance of agriculture in the national economy; principles of crop production; cultivation of rice, wheat, chickpea, pigeonpea, sugarcane, groundnut, tomato and mango. Major soils of India; role of NPK and deficiency symptoms. Cell organelles; mitosis and meiosis; Mendelian genetics. Growth, development, photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration; elements of economic botany. Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes and vitamins. Major pests and diseases of rice, wheat, cotton, chickpea and sugarcane. Organic farming, biofertilizers, biopesticides. Recombinant DNA technology and transgenic crops. Natural resources (forest, water, mineral, food, energy, land), ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation, environmental pollution and ethics. Rural development programmes; organisational set-up of agricultural research, education and extension in India. Elements of statistics.
2. Human Nutrition
Food groups and the nutrients each contributes; composition and nutritive value of foods; food processing and preservation; meal planning and menu planning for different age groups and life stages; diet therapy; institutional food management; community nutrition and health; food-related laws, policies and programmes in India; organic and genetically modified foods.
3. Child and Human Development
Meaning, concept and principles of development; prenatal development (conception to birth); care of the newborn; prenatal and postnatal care of the mother; development in early and late childhood; early childhood education; adolescence, peer and family relationships; marriage and family dynamics; family life cycle; family welfare programmes in India; community education; child study methods; participation in pre-school/creche.
4. Resource Management and Housing
Concept and principles of management, management process, work, work environment, work simplification; fundamentals of housing; principles of design and home furnishing; selection, care and maintenance of accessories, equipment, furniture and paintings; family finance and consumer education; functional interiors for special needs.
5. Clothing and Textiles
Clothing construction, the sewing machine, its parts and use; fabric preparation for layout; textile fibre classification, processing and manufacture; clothing needs of family members; household textiles and consumers; weaving and hosiery; traditional textiles and embroideries of India; care of clothing, textile finishes, dyeing and printing; organic dyes.
6. Home Science Extension and Communication
Home Science education, communication and extension methods; programme planning and evaluation; entrepreneurial education; projected and non-projected audio-visual aids; rural development programmes in India; empowerment of women.
ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026 Preparation Strategy
- With only 7 seats, the cut-off will be very high. Decide early between this group and the Agriculture group (772 posts), for which you are also eligible.
- Nutrition (RDA values, deficiency diseases, food groups) and Child Development (milestones, theorists) are the highest-yield areas.
- The first unit is general agriculture and life science: it overlaps heavily with the Prelims General Agriculture section, so one study pass serves both.
- Revise government schemes: ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN), NFSA, and women empowerment programmes.
Posts Suitable for PwBD
Suitable categories of benchmark disability for this group: a) LV; b) D, HH; c) OA, OL, OAL, CP, LC, Dw, AAV; d) ASD (M, MoD), SLD, MI; e) MD involving (a) to (d). Functional requirements: Sitting, Standing, Walking, Manipulation with Fingers, Seeing, Communication, Reading & Writing.
How to Apply
- Visit asrb.gov.in between 18.11.2026 and 17.12.2026 and complete the One Time Registration (OTR).
- Choose your single functional group and opt for T-3, T-4 or both, with a preference order (final, cannot be changed).
- Select Prelims and Mains exam centres carefully; centre changes are not allowed.
- Upload photo (white background, .jpg, max 200 KB, without spectacles), signature (.jpg, max 100 KB), photo ID and certificates (.jpg, max 100 KB each).
- Pay the fee on Bharatkosh, upload the receipt and submit. Keep a copy of the completed form.
- Use the correction window (18 to 20 December 2026) if needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should a Home Science graduate apply in the Home Science group or the Agriculture group?
Both are open to Home Science / Community Science graduates, but you can choose only one functional group. The Home Science group has 7 posts while Agriculture has 772. Pick based on which Mains syllabus you are stronger in and how much competition you are willing to face.
How many posts are there in ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026?
7 posts in total: 5 Technical Assistant (T-3) in ICAR institutes (2 Field Farm, 3 Laboratory) and 2 Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) in KVKs (1 Field Farm, 1 Laboratory).
What is the exam pattern for ICAR Technical Assistant Home Science 2026?
A 1-hour qualifying Prelims of 100 marks (GK, English, Quantitative Aptitude and General Agriculture, 25 each, minus 0.25 per wrong answer), followed by a 2-hour Mains of 100 questions for 300 marks on the functional group syllabus, with 1 mark deducted per wrong answer. There is no interview.
What is the last date to apply for ASRB T-3/T-4 2026?
17 December 2026 (11:59 PM) for both the online application and fee payment. Applications open on 18 November 2026 at asrb.gov.in.
Can I apply for more than one functional group?
No. A candidate may apply for only one functional group/subgroup, even if eligible for more. Within it you can opt for T-3 only, T-4 only, or both, with a preference order that cannot be changed later.
What is the salary of ICAR Technical Assistant T-3 and Senior Technical Assistant T-4?
T-3 is at Pay Level 5 (₹29,200 to ₹92,300) of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix and T-4 is at Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400), plus applicable allowances.
Other ICAR T-3 / T-4 2026 Functional Group Guides
- ASRB ICAR T-3/T-4 2026 Notification: Master Guide (all 10 groups)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Agriculture 2026 (772 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Animal Science 2026 (124 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Fisheries 2026 (97 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Civil Engineering 2026 (51 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Agricultural Engineering 2026 (42 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Electrical Engineering 2026 (35 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Electronics and Instrumentation 2026 (25 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant Library Science 2026 (59 posts)
- ICAR Technical Assistant IT 2026 (181 posts)
Source: ASRB Notification F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam dated 11.11.2026 and ICAR OM No. TS-19(6)/2024-Estt.IV (E-332924) dated 28.09.2026 (Scheme and Syllabus). Vacancies are tentative. Always read the official notification on asrb.gov.in before applying; in case of any discrepancy the English version on the ASRB website prevails.
Recent Post
ASRB ICAR Technical Assistant (T-3) and Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) 2026: 1393 vacancies across 10 functional groups, dates, eligibility, age limit, fee, Prelims and Mains pattern, syllabus and links to detailed group-wise guides.
With 772 posts (699 Technical Assistant T-3 in ICAR institutes and 73 Senior Technical Assistant T-4 in KVKs), the Agriculture functional group is the biggest slice of the ASRB Centralized Combined Examination 2026, accounting for more than half of all 1393 vacancies.
The Animal Science functional group offers 124 posts for veterinary graduates: 115 Technical Assistant (T-3) posts in ICAR institutes and 9 Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) posts in KVKs. Only B.V.Sc. & A.H. holders are eligible.
The Fisheries Science functional group has 97 posts: 90 Technical Assistant (T-3) posts in ICAR fisheries institutes and 7 Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) Laboratory Technician posts in KVKs. Only B.F.Sc. graduates are eligible.
ICAR has 59 Technical Assistant (T-3) Library / Information Science / Documentation Staff posts in its institutes, one of the largest central government library recruitments of the year. A bachelor's degree in Library Science (B.Lib.I.Sc.) is the qualification, and there is no interview.
There are 42 Technical Assistant (T-3) Workshop Staff (Agricultural Engineering) posts in ICAR institutes. Mechanical Engineering, Textile Technology and Fibre Processing Engineering degree or diploma holders can also apply, alongside Agricultural Engineering graduates.
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