Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Chemistry under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS). The programme covers soil physics, soil chemistry, soil fertility and nutrient management, soil microbiology, soil conservation, land use planning, environmental soil science, and agricultural chemistry. With admission through CUET-PG and a tuition fee of Rs. 12,500 per semester, the course is a professional programme that prepares students for careers in agricultural research, soil testing laboratories, government agricultural departments, and academia. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences has a distinguished 93-year legacy and is one of the premier agricultural research institutions in India.

Admission for the 2026-27 academic session is upcoming. The CUET-PG 2026 examination was conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected tentatively by May 6, 2026. Based on the 2025 pattern, BHU's counselling registration (CAP-PG 2026) is expected to begin in May-June 2026, with seat allotment rounds likely in July-August 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official BHU admission portal at admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), BHU, which has a 93-year legacy of excellence in agricultural education and research.
The Department of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Chemistry is equipped with modern soil testing and analytical laboratories, enabling hands-on training in soil analysis, nutrient management, and environmental assessment.
The programme is a Professional Course (not a special course), meaning reserved category students benefit from fee relaxations and BHU graduates receive institutional preference in seat allotment.
Students have access to BHU's experimental farms and field stations, providing practical exposure to soil management and crop production systems.
The programme is aligned with ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) guidelines, making graduates eligible for ICAR-JRF/SRF fellowships and ASRB (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board) examinations.
BHU's status as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) ensures access to well-funded research infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaborations.

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BHU M.Sc Soil Science Fees

M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at BHU is a professional course with a moderate fee structure. The tuition fee is Rs. 12,500 per semester (Rs. 50,000 total for 4 semesters). Including other mandatory charges such as registration, examination, library, and development fees, the total course cost comes to approximately Rs. 69,500 for the full 2-year programme.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (per semester)	12,500
Tuition Fee (Total - 4 semesters)	50,000
Other Charges (Registration, Exam, Library, Development, etc.) - Total	~19,500
Total Course Fees	~69,500
Hostel Fee (per year) - Optional	~5,375
Mess Charges (per month, approx.)	~3,000

Hostel accommodation is optional and not included in the Total Course Fees.
A refundable security deposit of approximately Rs. 2,000 is charged at the time of hostel allotment.
Mess charges are billed separately and vary by hostel.
Fee amounts are based on the 2025-26 academic session; minor revisions may apply for 2026-27.
The PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme provides collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans for eligible students; apply at pmvidyalaxmi.co.in.

BHU M.Sc Soil Science Admission 2026

Admissions to M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at BHU are conducted through CUET-PG, the national-level entrance test conducted by NTA. For the 2026-27 session, the CUET-PG 2026 exam has been conducted and results are awaited. BHU's seat allotment is done through its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026). BHU graduates (who passed their qualifying degree from BHU in 2025 or 2026) receive institutional preference for up to 25% of open category seats.

BHU PG Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	May 2026 (tentative)
Last Date for CAP-PG Registration	June 2026 (tentative)
Round 1 Seat Allotment	June - July 2026 (tentative)
Round 2 Seat Allotment	July 2026 (tentative)
Round 3 Seat Allotment	July 2026 (tentative)
Round 4 Seat Allotment	August 2026 (tentative)
Mop-Up Round	August - September 2026 (tentative)
Classes Begin (Odd Semester)	August - September 2026 (tentative)

CUET-PG Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Registration End	January 23, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Form Correction Window	January 28 - January 30, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a 4-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) or 4-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture or 4-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture degree from a recognized university.
Minimum OGPA of 6.0/10 (or equivalent: 2.5/4, 3.5/5, 4.0/6) for General/EWS category candidates; 5.5/10 (or equivalent: 2.0/4, 3.0/5, 3.5/6) for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates.
Candidates must not have secured more than one III-division or equivalent OGPA in their academic career.
Candidates appearing in their final year of the qualifying degree are eligible to apply, subject to fulfilling eligibility at the time of admission.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET-PG 2026 (Paper Code: SCQP01 - Agricultural Science) conducted by NTA.
After CUET-PG results, register on BHU's CAP-PG 2026 portal at bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in.
Fill in course preferences (M.Sc Agriculture - Soil Sciences & Agricultural Chemistry) and upload required documents.
Seat allotment is done based on CUET-PG score, category, and institutional preference (BHU graduates get up to 25% preference in open category seats).
Accept the allotted seat online and pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to the Department of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU with original documents for verification and enrolment.

BHU M.Sc Soil Science Scholarships 2026

BHU M.Sc (Agriculture) Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry students can avail a range of scholarships from central government, state government, ICAR, and university-level schemes. The ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is a particularly important scholarship for agricultural science students, providing financial support for postgraduate studies.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount (per annum)
ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Qualify ICAR-JRF exam; enrolled in M.Sc (Agriculture) at ICAR-recognized institution	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF); Rs. 35,000/month (SRF)
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) - Ministry of Education	Top 20 percentile in Class 12 board; family income below Rs. 8 lakh/year	Rs. 20,000 (PG level)
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (UGC-NSP)	First PG degree; merit-based; Indian nationals	Rs. 3,100/month (Rs. 37,200/year)
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (NSP)	SC category; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Maintenance + tuition fee reimbursement
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students (NSP)	OBC category; family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year	Maintenance + tuition fee reimbursement
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (NSP)	ST category; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Maintenance + tuition fee reimbursement
UP Scholarship (State Government)	Domicile of Uttar Pradesh; SC/ST/OBC/General (EBC)	Varies by category
BHU Earn While Learn Scheme	All enrolled BHU students	Part-time work remuneration within campus

ICAR-JRF is a highly competitive national-level fellowship; students must qualify the ICAR-JRF examination separately. BHU is an ICAR-recognized institution.
Applications for NSP scholarships are typically open from June to December each year at scholarships.gov.in.
UP Scholarship applications are processed through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in).
Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to revision by the respective government bodies.

BHU M.Sc Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry Ranking

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#800 out of 801 in International 2020

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BHU M.Sc Soil Science FAQs

Ques. Is M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at BHU recognized by ICAR?

Ans. Yes. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is recognized by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). This recognition is important because it makes students eligible for ICAR-JRF/SRF fellowships, which provide substantial financial support during postgraduate studies. ICAR recognition also ensures that the degree is accepted for positions in ICAR institutes and state agricultural universities.

Ques. What is the difference between M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science and M.Sc in Environmental Science at BHU?

Ans. M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry focuses specifically on soil as a resource - its physical, chemical, and biological properties, fertility management, and agricultural applications. It is offered under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences and is aligned with ICAR guidelines. M.Sc Environmental Science (offered under the Department of Botany or IESD) has a broader environmental focus covering ecology, pollution, atmospheric sciences, and sustainability. Students interested in agricultural soil management should opt for M.Sc (Agriculture) Soil Science, while those interested in broader environmental issues may prefer M.Sc Environmental Science.

Ques. What are the career options after M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in soil testing laboratories (government and private), fertilizer companies, agricultural input companies, state and central government agricultural departments, ICAR research institutes, state agricultural universities, environmental consulting firms, and academia. Government job opportunities include positions in the Indian Agricultural Research Service (IARI), State Agricultural Departments, and UPSC/state PSC examinations. Many graduates also pursue Ph.D. programmes with ICAR-JRF/SRF fellowships.

Ques. What is the seat intake for M.Sc (Agriculture) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry at BHU?

Ans. The programme has seats distributed across BHU (C1 - institutional preference) and Non-BHU (C2) categories, with further distribution across General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD categories. Based on the BHU PG Bulletin 2026, the total seat intake is approximately 16-20 seats (including supernumerary paid seats). The exact seat matrix is published in the official BHU PG Bulletin each year.

Ques. Is the CUET-PG Agricultural Science paper (SCQP01) the same for all M.Sc (Agriculture) specializations at BHU?

Ans. Yes. All M.Sc (Agriculture) specializations at BHU - including Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Agronomy, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Entomology, Extension Education, etc. - use the same CUET-PG paper code SCQP01 (Agricultural Science). The seat allotment for specific specializations is done based on the candidate's CUET-PG score and their preference choices submitted during the CAP-PG registration.

Ques. Can students from B.Sc (General) with Agriculture as one subject apply for M.Sc (Agriculture) Soil Science at BHU?

Ans. No. The eligibility specifically requires a 4-year B.Sc. (Agriculture) or 4-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture/Horticulture degree. A 3-year B.Sc. (General) with Agriculture as one subject does not meet the eligibility criteria. This is in line with ICAR guidelines for M.Sc (Agriculture) programmes across India.