NDRI Karnal admits students through ICAR entrance examinations and counselling. B.Tech (Dairy Technology) applicants take ICAR AIEEA UG, while admission to Master in Dairying depends on ICAR AIEEA PG. The institute is a deemed-to-be university under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, with campuses at Karnal, Bangalore and Kalyani.

The B.Tech seat confirmation payment is INR 2,000. Foreign students pay an institutional economic fee of USD 400 per month or USD 4,000 per year, in addition to regular tuition fees.

Admission updates for 2026:

  • For B.Tech (Dairy Technology), the ICAR AIEEA UG examination has finished. NDRI is accepting applications for vacant UG seats until 16 October 2026. Counselling notices are available at icar.org.in.
  • For Master in Dairying, which is equivalent to an MSc, ICAR AIEEA PG counselling is in progress. The remaining fourth-round deadlines fall on 16 October 2026, followed by the mop-up round.
  • For PhD (Dairying), admission follows ICAR AICE-PhD. Check ndri.res.in for institute notices and the ICAR counselling portal for the active schedule.
  • Reserved seats account for 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC, 3% for Physically Handicapped candidates and 2% for students from Remote and Underprivileged States.
  • B.Tech applicants must be between 17 and 23 years old on 31 July 2026.
  • Master in Dairying applicants must have reached 19 years of age by 31 July 2026.
  • The ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 paper carries 480 marks across 120 multiple-choice questions. Students get 2 hours to complete it, and incorrect answers attract negative marking.
  • Foreign applicants must submit their applications through their respective Indian embassies. Their institutional economic fee is USD 400 monthly or USD 4,000 annually.

NDRI Karnal has no direct admission or management quota. Admission to every programme requires an ICAR entrance examination and centralised counselling conducted at NASC Complex, New Delhi.

Admission and application information: NDRI Karnal admission portal. Entrance examination information: ICAR portal.

NDRI Karnal Important Dates 2026

UG Vacant-Seat Applications

EventDate
NDRI UG vacant-seat application deadline16 October 2026

Disclaimer: Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Application deadline: NDRI UG vacant-seat admission notice.

ICAR PG and PhD Counselling

EventDate
Fourth round: document resubmission and university verification deadline16 October 2026, 2:00 PM IST
Fourth round: seat withdrawal deadline16 October 2026, 3:00 PM IST
Fourth round: seat acceptance fee deadline16 October 2026, 4:00 PM IST
Fourth round: university reporting16 October 2026, 8:00 PM IST
Mop-up round: vacancy display, counselling fee payment and fresh choice filling begin19 October 2026, 5:00 PM IST onwards
Mop-up round: choice filling closes21 October 2026, 11:50 PM IST
Mop-up round: allotment, query responses, document resubmission, fee payment and provisional admission letters begin23 October 2026, 11:00 AM IST onwards
Mop-up round: online document verification deadline24 October 2026, 11:50 AM IST
Mop-up round: document resubmission and university verification deadline24 October 2026, 2:00 PM IST
Mop-up round: seat acceptance fee deadline24 October 2026, 4:00 PM IST
Mop-up round: university reporting24 October 2026, 8:00 PM IST

Disclaimer: Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The schedule covers PG programmes other than the Veterinary stream and PhD programmes in all streams. See the official ICAR counselling schedule.

NDRI Karnal UG Admission 2026: B.Tech Dairy Technology

In-plant training forms part of semesters 7 and 8 of the 4-year B.Tech (Dairy Technology) course. Students secure admission through their ICAR AIEEA UG merit position and ICAR counselling. At counselling in NASC Complex, New Delhi, a payment of INR 2,000 serves as part of the seat confirmation fee.

B.Tech Eligibility and Admission Route

ProgrammeEligibilitySelection Criteria
B.Tech (Dairy Technology), 4 years Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English. The minimum score is 50%, reduced to 40% for SC/ST/PH applicants. Age must be 17 to 23 years on 31 July 2026. ICAR AIEEA UG merit, followed by centralised ICAR counselling at NASC Complex, New Delhi.

B.Tech Entrance Examination and Selection

  • The entrance paper tests Class 12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics through 150 objective questions. Admission depends on the student's ICAR AIEEA UG merit position.
  • To qualify in the entrance examination, general-category applicants need 50%. The requirement for SC/ST and PH applicants is 45%.
  • B.Tech seats are assigned through ICAR's centralised counselling at NASC Complex, New Delhi.
  • NDRI does not accept lateral entry into a later year or transfers from another university.

Steps to Secure a B.Tech Seat

  • Complete ICAR AIEEA UG registration on the official ICAR education portal.
  • Take the entrance examination, then check the ICAR portal for the result.
  • Once results are released, participate in ICAR counselling at NASC Complex, New Delhi.
  • Pay INR 2,000 during counselling as the seat confirmation payment for NDRI.
  • Bring original documents to NDRI Karnal and report on the date announced.

NDRI Karnal gives students access to dairy processing laboratories and direct industry exposure. Recruiters include Nestle, Amul, Mother Dairy, Tetra Pak and Britannia.

NDRI Karnal PG Admission 2026: Master in Dairying

Students can pursue Master in Dairying at the Karnal, Bangalore and Kalyani campuses. The programme spans 14 disciplines, with options including Animal Biotechnology, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Technology, Dairy Microbiology and Dairy Chemistry. Admission depends on ICAR AIEEA PG merit.

Master in Dairying Eligibility and Duration

ProgrammeEligibilitySelection Criteria
Master in Dairying: 2 years after a 4-year bachelor's degree, or 3 years after a 3-year bachelor's degree. A relevant bachelor's degree with at least 60% marks or an overall grade point average (OGPA) of 6.60 out of 10.00. SC/ST/PH applicants need 50% marks or 5.60 OGPA. Applicants must be at least 19 years old on 31 July 2026. Rank in ICAR AIEEA PG, conducted by the ICAR Education Division.

PG Examination, Merit and Fellowships

  • ICAR AIEEA PG rank determines selection. The 2-hour examination has 120 multiple-choice questions for 480 marks. A correct answer earns 4 marks, while an incorrect answer loses 1 mark.
  • The qualifying score is 50% for the general category and 45% for SC/ST and PH applicants.
  • When entrance scores are equal, marks in the previous examination decide priority. If the tie remains, the older applicant receives preference based on date of birth.
  • Selected PG students may receive an ICAR fellowship, subject to ICAR's notification.

Steps to Apply for Master in Dairying

  • Submit the ICAR AIEEA PG registration through the official ICAR portal within the application period.
  • Complete the entrance examination and check the result when it is released.
  • During ICAR PG counselling, choose NDRI Karnal and the discipline you wish to study.
  • Take original mark sheets and degree certificates when reporting to the allotted campus at Karnal, Bangalore or Kalyani.

The start of the academic session follows the ICAR academic calendar.

NDRI Karnal PhD Admission 2026

ICAR AICE-PhD is the entrance route for PhD (Dairying) at NDRI Karnal. Research options cover 14 disciplines at Karnal and selected regional stations. These include Animal Physiology, Animal Biotechnology, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Technology, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Chemistry and related dairy science subjects.

PhD Eligibility and Entrance Requirements

ProgrammeEligibilitySelection Criteria
PhD (Dairying), 14 disciplines A relevant master's degree with at least 60% marks or 6.60 OGPA out of 10. SC/ST/PH applicants need 50% marks or 5.60 OGPA. The minimum age is 21 years. In-service applicants must have 2 years of relevant experience. ICAR AICE-PhD has a single 2-hour paper worth 150 marks. The qualifying score is 50%, or 45% for SC/ST/PH applicants.

Steps to Apply for PhD Admission

  • When registration opens, submit the ICAR AICE-PhD application on the ICAR portal.
  • Take the objective examination worth 150 marks. Meet the qualifying requirement of 50%, with the 45% requirement applying to SC/ST/PH applicants.
  • Following the result, attend PhD counselling at NDRI Karnal and choose from the 14 disciplines.
  • At reporting, present your master's degree certificates, migration certificate and medical fitness certificate.

NDRI Karnal Scholarships

Financial support at NDRI Karnal includes ICAR fellowships, government scholarships and institute merit awards.

  • ICAR PG and PhD Fellowships support selected master's and doctoral students through the AIEEA/AICE examination process.
  • The ICAR National Talent Scholarship supports outstanding students studying at ICAR-affiliated institutions.
  • SC/BC/EWS Scholarships can be accessed through the National Scholarship Portal by eligible applicants from reserved categories.
  • NDRI Merit Awards recognise academic achievement through internal merit recognition and financial awards.

NDRI Karnal Admission FAQs

Ques. How does an applicant earn a B.Tech Dairy Technology seat at NDRI?

Ans. Applicants need a valid ICAR AIEEA UG score before entering the seat allotment process. The examination tests Class 12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. ICAR assigns seats through centralised counselling at NASC Complex, New Delhi.

Ques. Which PG counselling deadlines should Master in Dairying applicants follow now?

Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG counselling has fourth-round deadlines on 16 October 2026. Mop-up choice filling opens at 5:00 PM IST on 19 October 2026 and closes at 11:50 PM IST on 21 October 2026. Mop-up allotment begins at 11:00 AM IST on 23 October 2026, with verification and fee deadlines on 24 October 2026. The ICAR counselling portal carries the official schedule.

Ques. Which degree score and age conditions apply to NDRI's master's programme?

Ans. The bachelor's degree requirement is 60% marks or an overall grade point average of 6.60 out of 10.00. For SC/ST and PH applicants, it is 50% marks or 5.60 OGPA. Applicants must also be at least 19 years old on 31 July 2026.

Ques. Can students join NDRI without taking an ICAR entrance examination?

Ans. NDRI has no direct admission route or management quota. For B.Tech, Master in Dairying and PhD, students must follow the ICAR entrance examination and centralised counselling process.

Ques. What research subject choices does NDRI provide to doctoral applicants?

Ans. Doctoral applicants can choose from 14 disciplines in PhD (Dairying). The choices include Animal Physiology, Animal Biotechnology, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Technology, Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Chemistry and related dairy science fields.

Ques. How is age eligibility checked for the B.Tech programme?

Ans. On 31 July of the admission year, an applicant must have completed 17 years and must not be older than 23 years. Reserved-category age relaxation follows ICAR rules.

Ques. What employment outcomes have NDRI's two-year PG graduates recorded?

Ans. NIRF 2025 data records 119 placements from the 2-year PG batch in 2024, with a median salary package of INR 8.2 LPA, meaning INR 8.2 lakh per year. NDRI's industry links include recruiters such as NDDB Dairy Services, Nestle, Amul, Mother Dairy, Tetra Pak and Britannia.

Ques. What application route and additional fee apply to international students?

Ans. International students can seek admission by applying through their respective Indian embassies. Along with regular tuition fees, they must pay an institutional economic fee of USD 400 per month or USD 4,000 per year.