Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSK HPKV), Palampur is a state agricultural university started in 1978 as Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya. It was renamed in 2001 after agriculturist and politician Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar. The university has Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) accreditation and is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

CSK HPKV is the main state university for agricultural and veterinary sciences in Himachal Pradesh. In NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors 2025, it holds the 29th rank in India. It is also placed in the 151 to 200 rank band in NIRF Overall 2025.

The university campus is in Palampur in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, near the Dhauladhar foothills. It has four constituent colleges: College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, College of Community Science, and College of Basic Sciences.

  • B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture (4 years): This is the main UG course. Admission is through ICAR AIEEA UG and CSK HPKV CET. The total fee is INR 2,19,312.
  • B.V.Sc. and A.H. (5 years): This veterinary and animal husbandry degree accepts admission through NEET UG and VCI counselling. The total fee is INR 3,03,090.
  • B.Tech (Food Technology) (4 years): Students enter through ICAR AIEEA UG and CSK HPKV CET. The total fee is INR 2,19,312.
  • B.Sc (Hons.) Community Science and B.Sc Basic Sciences (4 years each): The total fee for each course is INR 1,91,312.
  • M.Sc (15 disciplines): The 2-year course includes Agronomy, Horticulture, Entomology, Food Science and Nutrition, and other subjects. The total fee is INR 1,20,456.
  • MVSc (14 disciplines): This 2-year veterinary PG course covers Veterinary Medicine, Surgery, Microbiology, and other areas. The total fee is INR 1,20,456.
  • Ph.D (19 disciplines): This is a 3-year research course with a total fee of INR 1,80,834.

According to NIRF 2025, UG graduates recorded a median salary of INR 13 LPA, while PG graduates recorded a median salary of INR 19.5 LPA.

CSK HPKV Courses and Fees

CSK HPKV runs agriculture, veterinary sciences, food technology, community science, and basic sciences programmes through its four constituent colleges. Its agriculture and veterinary degrees follow ICAR curricula.

CourseDurationConstituent CollegeFee
B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture4 yearsCollege of AgricultureINR 2,19,312
B.V.Sc. and A.H.5 yearsCollege of Veterinary and Animal SciencesINR 3,03,090
B.Tech (Food Technology)4 yearsCollege of AgricultureINR 2,19,312
B.Sc (Hons.) Community Science4 yearsCollege of Community ScienceINR 1,91,312
B.Sc (Basic Sciences)4 yearsCollege of Basic SciencesINR 1,91,312
B.Sc (Hospitality and Hotel Administration)4 yearsCollege of Community ScienceINR 3,91,312
M.Sc (Agriculture, 15 disciplines)2 yearsCollege of Agriculture / Community ScienceINR 1,20,456
MVSc (Veterinary, 14 disciplines)2 yearsCollege of Veterinary and Animal SciencesINR 1,20,456
Ph.D (19 disciplines)3 yearsAll constituent collegesINR 1,80,834

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

M.Sc specialisations include Agronomy, Horticulture, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Microbiology, Seed Science and Technology, Vegetable Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Agricultural Economics, Apparel and Textile Science, Family Resource Management, and Human Development and Family Studies. Hostel charges for boys and girls are INR 21,500 to INR 23,900 per annum.

CSK HPKV Admission Process

CSK HPKV uses the ICAR admission pattern for agriculture and veterinary sciences. UG seats are divided into 15% All India Quota through ICAR AIEEA UG and 85% State Quota through CSK HPKV CET. For B.V.Sc. and A.H., admission is based on NEET UG scores and the VCI counselling process.

CourseEntrance Exam Accepted
B.Sc (Hons.) AgricultureICAR AIEEA UG (15% AIQ) / CSK HPKV CET (85% State Quota)
B.V.Sc. and A.H.NEET UG (VCI counselling)
B.Tech (Food Technology)ICAR AIEEA UG / CSK HPKV CET
B.Sc Community Science, Basic SciencesCSK HPKV CET / Merit-based
M.Sc (Agriculture and Allied Sciences)ICAR AIEEA PG (25% AIQ) / CSK HPKV PG Entrance (75% State Quota)
MVScICAR AIEEA PG / CSK HPKV PG Entrance
Ph.DICAR SRF / UGC NET / JRF / CSK HPKV Ph.D Entrance

B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture and B.Tech (Food Technology) Admission

For these UG courses, seat allotment follows ICAR rules for All India Quota and state quota admissions.

  • Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST)
  • All India Quota (15% seats): ICAR AIEEA UG rank
  • State Quota (85% seats): CSK HPKV CET rank
  • Step 1: Register for ICAR AIEEA UG or CSK HPKV CET, based on the quota being used
  • Step 2: Attend counselling through ICAR for AIQ seats or the CSK HPKV counselling portal for state quota seats
  • Step 3: Complete document checking and pay the fee at the College of Agriculture

B.V.Sc. and A.H. Admission

CSK HPKV gives admission to the five-year B.V.Sc. and A.H. course through NEET UG and VCI counselling. The course also includes a compulsory six-month internship.

  • Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST)
  • Entrance exam: NEET UG (mandatory)
  • VCI conducts counselling for All India Quota, while HP NEET counselling is used for the state quota
  • Document verification is held at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Palampur

PG Admission (M.Sc and MVSc)

For PG courses, 25% All India Quota seats are filled through ICAR AIEEA PG, while 75% state quota seats use the CSK HPKV PG Entrance Examination.

  • Eligibility: B.Sc (Agriculture) or BVSc or relevant science graduation with 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST)
  • All India Quota (25% seats): ICAR AIEEA PG rank
  • State Quota (75% seats): CSK HPKV PG Entrance Examination
  • Final selection is through merit counselling followed by document verification

Ph.D Admission

For Ph.D admission, students need either an accepted national-level qualification or the university entrance test, as per UGC and ICAR norms.

  • Eligibility: M.Sc or MVSc in the relevant discipline with 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST)
  • Qualifying route: ICAR SRF / UGC NET-JRF, which gives exemption from the entrance test, or CSK HPKV Ph.D Entrance Test
  • Final admission includes a research proposal presentation and interview

CSK HPKV Placements

CSK HPKV students find roles in government agriculture departments, veterinary services, food processing companies, agri-input firms, agriculture finance in banks, research bodies, and agri-startups. The placement cell supports campus hiring for final-year eligible students.

In NIRF 2025 data, the median salary stood at INR 13 LPA for UG students and INR 19.5 LPA for PG students. These outcomes are linked to opportunities in agriculture, veterinary science, government services, and PSU-linked sectors.

DisciplineCommon Employers and Career PathwaysTypical Starting Salary
B.Sc (Hons.) AgricultureState Agriculture Departments, NABARD, Agri-input companies, Banks (Agri Officer), Agri-startupsINR 6 to 12 LPA
B.V.Sc. and A.H.State Veterinary Services, Animal Husbandry Departments, Poultry/Dairy industry, NDDBINR 7 to 15 LPA
B.Tech (Food Technology)Food processing MNCs, FSSAI, Packaged food companies, DRDO DFRLINR 5 to 10 LPA
M.Sc / MVScICAR Research Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, CSIR labs, Private R and DINR 10 to 20 LPA

Recruiters and career organisations linked with CSK HPKV include ICAR institutes, HP State Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, NABARD, NDDB, Godrej Agrovet, ITC Agribusiness, and food processing companies from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Students with ICAR SRF fellowships get a stipend of INR 31,000 per month.

CSK HPKV Rankings

CSK HPKV is listed among India’s agricultural universities in NIRF. In 2025, it received the 29th rank in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors category, based on performance areas such as teaching, research, and graduation outcomes.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank
NIRFAgriculture and Allied Sectors29
NIRFOverall151 to 200 band

ICAR accreditation is a major quality marker for agricultural universities in India, and CSK HPKV holds this accreditation. The university takes part in NIRF every year and continues to appear in the Agriculture category.

CSK HPKV Campus and Infrastructure

CSK HPKV has its main campus in Palampur, Kangra district, in the sub-Himalayan foothills at an elevation of 1,220 metres above sea level. Tea gardens, apple orchards, and terraced fields around the campus support practical agricultural training.

The campus has a Veterinary Clinical Complex, a Livestock Farm Complex, seed science laboratories, plant pathology greenhouses, soil science labs, food technology processing units, and an agricultural research extension network. The central library gives students access to scientific journals, ICAR publications, and agricultural research databases. Separate hostels are available for men and women, with yearly charges of INR 21,500 to INR 23,900.

The College of Community Science has facilities for textile science, nutrition labs, and human development centres. The College of Basic Sciences handles foundational science teaching for agriculture and veterinary courses. CSK HPKV also runs demonstration farms and field research stations across Himachal Pradesh for student training and agricultural extension work.

CSK HPKV vs GBPUAT Pantnagar vs PAU Ludhiana

Students looking at agricultural universities in the northern Himalayan and Indo-Gangetic belt often compare CSK HPKV with Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. All three universities offer ICAR-affiliated agriculture and veterinary science courses.

ParameterCSK HPKV, PalampurGBPUAT, PantnagarPAU, Ludhiana
Established197819601962
TypeState Agricultural UniversityState Agricultural UniversityState Agricultural University
NIRF Agriculture 202529Top 10Top 10
Key ProgrammesB.Sc Agri, BVSc, B.Tech Food TechnologyB.Sc Agri, BVSc, B.TechB.Sc Agri, BVSc, B.Tech
ICAR AccreditationYesYesYes
Location AdvantageHimalayan Foothills (Hill Agri research)Tarai region (Green Revolution legacy)Punjab plains (Wheat and Rice research)
B.Sc Agri Total FeeINR 2,19,312Comparable rangeComparable range

GBPUAT Pantnagar and PAU Ludhiana have higher NIRF positions and a longer history because they are among India’s earliest agricultural universities. CSK HPKV stands out for hill and mountain agriculture, high-altitude horticulture, and sub-Himalayan agro-ecology. This makes it suitable for students planning careers in agricultural and horticultural services in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

CSK HPKV FAQs

Ques. Why do students choose CSK HPKV Palampur?

Ans. Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSK HPKV) is the leading state agricultural university of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for hill and mountain agriculture, sub-Himalayan horticulture, and veterinary sciences. The university is ICAR accredited and ranked 29th in NIRF Agriculture and Allied Sectors 2025.

Ques. How can a student get admission to B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture at CSK HPKV?

Ans. B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture admission at CSK HPKV is offered through two channels. ICAR AIEEA UG is used for 15% All India Quota seats, while CSK HPKV CET is used for 85% State Quota seats. Students must have 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics with at least 50% aggregate. They also need to register for the correct entrance exam and then take part in counselling.

Ques. How much does the BVSc course cost at CSK HPKV?

Ans. The B.V.Sc. and A.H. course at CSK HPKV has a total general quota fee of INR 3,03,090 for five years. Admission is based on NEET UG scores through VCI counselling. Hostel charges are separate and range from INR 21,500 to INR 23,900 per year.

Ques. What rank did CSK HPKV get in NIRF 2025?

Ans. In NIRF 2025, CSK HPKV is ranked 29th in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors category in India. It is also listed in the 151 to 200 rank band in the NIRF Overall category for 2025.

Ques. Are hostels available at CSK HPKV?

Ans. Yes, CSK HPKV provides separate hostel facilities for boys and girls on its Palampur campus. The annual hostel fee is INR 21,500 to INR 23,900 for accommodation. Students should apply early because hostel seats are limited.

Ques. What salary outcomes are reported for CSK HPKV students?

Ans. As per NIRF 2025, CSK HPKV reported a median salary of INR 13 LPA for UG graduates and INR 19.5 LPA for PG graduates. Graduates work in government agriculture and veterinary departments, ICAR research institutes, food processing companies, NABARD, NDDB, and agri-input companies.

Ques. Which exam is needed for M.Sc Agriculture admission at CSK HPKV?

Ans. M.Sc Agriculture admission at CSK HPKV is based on ICAR AIEEA PG for 25% All India Quota seats and the CSK HPKV PG Entrance Examination for 75% state quota seats. Applicants need a B.Sc (Agriculture) degree with 60% aggregate, or 55% aggregate for SC/ST students.