Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Plant Physiology at Banaras Hindu University is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences (I.Ag.Sc.), at BHU's main campus in Varanasi. The programme is offered under the course code PG0340 and is a Professional Programme. Plant Physiology is the study of the physical, chemical, and biological functions of plants, including photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, plant growth regulators, and stress physiology. The curriculum covers plant biochemistry, molecular biology, crop physiology, post-harvest physiology, and biotechnological applications in plant science. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences has a strong tradition of research in plant physiology, with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research on crop improvement, stress tolerance, and plant growth regulation. The total fee for the programme is Rs. 12,500 per semester (Rs. 50,000 for the entire 2-year duration) for regular seats, with paid seats available at Rs. 42,500 per semester. Admission is based on CUET PG scores, and the programme is popular among students seeking careers in agricultural research, biotechnology, and crop science.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. CUET PG 2026 was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-PG 2026) registration is expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official BHU admission portal at https://admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

The Department of Plant Physiology at BHU has a strong research focus on photosynthesis, plant stress physiology, plant growth regulators, and molecular aspects of plant development.
The programme is a Professional Programme under ICAR guidelines, requiring a 4-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) or B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture degree for eligibility.
Both regular seats (Rs. 12,500/semester) and paid seats (Rs. 42,500/semester) are available, with the same academic curriculum for both categories.
The programme provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, Plant Biochemistry, or related disciplines.
Graduates are well-positioned for careers in ICAR research institutes, agricultural biotechnology companies, seed companies, and government agricultural departments.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

BHU M.Sc Plant Physiology Fees

The M.Sc. (Plant Physiology) at BHU is a Professional Programme with two fee categories: regular seats at Rs. 12,500 per semester and paid seats at Rs. 42,500 per semester. The total tuition fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 50,000 for regular seats and Rs. 1,70,000 for paid seats. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at a separate nominal charge.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Regular Seats (INR)	Paid Seats (INR)
Tuition Fee (per semester)	12,500	42,500
Tuition Fee (4 semesters total)	50,000	1,70,000
Other University Charges	As applicable	As applicable
Total Tuition Fees	50,000	1,70,000

Hostel Fees (Optional - Not Mandatory)

Hostel Component	Amount (INR)
Hostel Room Rent (per year)	Approx. 5,000 - 7,500
Security Deposit (refundable)	Approx. 2,000 (included in Year 1 hostel fee)
Mess Charges	Payable separately at actuals

Fee amounts are as per the BHU PG Bulletin 2026 and are subject to revision by the university.
Paid seats are supernumerary seats with a higher fee but the same academic programme and curriculum.
Hostel fees are separate from tuition fees and are not mandatory.
No EMI facility is officially offered; fees are payable semester-wise.
SC/ST/OBC students from Uttar Pradesh may be eligible for UP Scholarship which can cover tuition fees.

BHU M.Sc Plant Physiology Admission 2026

Admissions to the M.Sc. (Plant Physiology) programme at BHU are conducted through CUET PG scores, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-PG). For the 2026-27 session, CUET PG 2026 has been conducted and results are awaited. The CAP-PG 2026 process is expected to begin after CUET PG results are declared. Candidates must apply separately on the BHU CAP-PG portal after CUET PG registration.

Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET PG 2026 Registration End	January 25, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result Declaration	May 6, 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration (Tentative)	May - June 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Counselling/Allotment (Tentative)	June - July 2026
Academic Session Commencement (Tentative)	July - August 2026

Exam	CUET PG 2026
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
CUET Paper Code for this Course	SCQP01 (Agriculture)
Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result Date	May 6, 2026
Official Website	https://exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg

Note: BHU CAP-PG 2026 dates are tentative and based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates must check https://admission.bhu.ac.in for official updates.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a 4-year degree of Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) or Bachelor of Science (Honours) Agriculture from a recognised university, with credit-based course system.
General category candidates must have secured at least 6.0/10 OGPA (or equivalent: 2.5/4, 3.5/5, 4.0/6) in the qualifying examination. SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates require 5.5/10 OGPA (or equivalent: 2.0/4, 3.0/5, 3.5/6).
Candidates must not have secured more than one III-division or equivalent OGPA in their academic career.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET PG 2026 conducted by NTA (Paper Code: SCQP01).
After CUET PG results, apply separately on BHU's CAP-PG 2026 portal (https://admission.bhu.ac.in).
Fill in programme preferences in the CAP-PG application form, selecting Plant Physiology as the specialisation under M.Sc. (Agriculture).
Seat allotment is done based on CUET PG merit, category, and programme preferences.
Candidates receiving allotment must report to BHU's Department of Plant Physiology for document verification and fee payment within the stipulated deadline.
Up to 25% of open category seats carry institutional preference for BHU graduates (students who passed their qualifying degree from BHU in 2025 or 2026).
15% supernumerary seats are available for BHU Employee Wards and Foreign Nationals separately.
Paid seats are also available as supernumerary seats (not exceeding 15% of total seats) with a higher fee.

BHU M.Sc Plant Physiology Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in the M.Sc. (Plant Physiology) programme at BHU can avail of several government-funded scholarships. ICAR-JRF holders who qualify the ICAR Junior Research Fellowship examination receive a fellowship of Rs. 31,000 per month during their M.Sc. programme. Additionally, national and state-level scholarships are available for meritorious and economically weaker students.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Qualify ICAR-JRF examination; enrolled in ICAR-recognised M.Sc. (Agriculture) programme	Rs. 31,000 per month + HRA
National Scholarship Portal (PM-USP)	80% in Class 12, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs, enrolled in AICTE/UGC recognised course	Up to Rs. 82,000 per annum
UGC National Scholarship for PG Studies	First-time PG students under 30 years, enrolled in UGC-recognised full-time programme	Rs. 10,000 per year (or Rs. 15,000 per month for select categories)
UP Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	SC/ST/OBC/Minority students domiciled in Uttar Pradesh	Covers tuition fee and maintenance allowance as per state norms
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme	Students admitted to recognised institutions, seeking education loan	Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loan; interest subsidy for eligible students

ICAR-JRF is a highly competitive examination conducted by ICAR-ASRB. Students who qualify ICAR-JRF before or during their M.Sc. can avail the fellowship.
UP Scholarship applications are typically open from July to October each year on the official portal (https://scholarship.up.gov.in).
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme applications can be submitted at https://pmvidyalaxmi.co.in.
Students must maintain a minimum of 50% marks and 75% attendance to remain eligible for most scholarships.

BHU M.Sc Plant Physiology Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#5 out of 53 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttar Pradesh

NIRF Ranking

#4 out of 40 in India 2025

#1st in Uttar Pradesh

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BHU M.Sc Plant Physiology FAQs

Ques. What is the scope of M.Sc. Plant Physiology from BHU compared to M.Sc. Botany or M.Sc. Biochemistry?

Ans. M.Sc. Plant Physiology at BHU is an agriculture-oriented programme under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, focusing on the physiological and biochemical processes of crop plants with applications in crop improvement and agricultural productivity. It is distinct from M.Sc. Botany (offered by the Faculty of Science, focusing on plant taxonomy, ecology, and basic sciences) and M.Sc. Biochemistry (focusing on molecular and cellular biochemistry). Plant Physiology graduates are specifically trained for agricultural research and crop science applications.

Ques. What are the career opportunities after M.Sc. Plant Physiology from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as scientists in ICAR research institutes (such as IARI, NRCPB, NIPB), state agricultural universities, and agricultural biotechnology companies. They can also work in seed companies, agrochemical companies, and government agricultural departments. Many graduates pursue Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, Plant Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology, and subsequently join academia or research institutions. ASRB NET qualification opens doors to lecturer and scientist positions.

Ques. Is ICAR-JRF applicable for M.Sc. Plant Physiology at BHU?

Ans. Yes. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ICAR-recognised, and students enrolled in M.Sc. (Agriculture) Plant Physiology are eligible for the ICAR-JRF fellowship. The ICAR-JRF examination for Plant Physiology falls under the Plant Physiology discipline. Students who qualify receive Rs. 31,000 per month plus HRA during their M.Sc. programme.

Ques. What laboratory and research facilities are available for M.Sc. Plant Physiology students at BHU?

Ans. The Department of Plant Physiology at BHU has well-equipped laboratories for photosynthesis research, plant biochemistry, molecular biology, and plant growth analysis. Students have access to advanced instruments such as spectrophotometers, HPLC, PCR machines, and plant growth chambers. BHU's central instrumentation facility also provides access to electron microscopy and other advanced analytical equipment.

Ques. Can students with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany or B.Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry background apply for M.Sc. Plant Physiology at BHU?

Ans. No. BHU's M.Sc. (Agriculture) Plant Physiology requires a 4-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) or B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture degree. Students with B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany or Biochemistry backgrounds are not eligible for this programme. However, they may be eligible for M.Sc. Botany or M.Sc. Biochemistry offered by BHU's Faculty of Science.

Ques. How does the M.Sc. Plant Physiology programme at BHU prepare students for Ph.D. research?

Ans. The programme includes a research component where students undertake a dissertation project under the supervision of a faculty member. This provides hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and scientific writing. The strong research culture at BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences, combined with access to well-equipped laboratories and experienced faculty, prepares students well for Ph.D. research at premier institutions like IARI, ICAR institutes, and IITs.