The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the Provisional Answer Key, Subject-Wise Question Papers, and Recorded Response Sheets for the ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) 2026 examinations. Candidates who appeared for the national entrance tests for postgraduate and doctoral admissions across Indian agricultural universities can now access their response sheets at exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR or nta.ac.in.
ICAR AIEEA PG & AICE PhD 2026 Key Highlights & Objection Timelines
Candidates can review their recorded responses and challenge discrepancies in the provisional keys as per the schedule below:
- Conducting Organization: National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of ICAR
- Examinations Covered: ICAR AIEEA (PG) 2026 & ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) 2026
- Official Website: exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR | nta.ac.in
- Answer Key Status: Live & Available for Download
- Online Challenge / Objection Window: Open till August 18, 2026 (Up to 11:50 PM)
- Processing Fee: Rs. 200/- per challenged question (Non-refundable)
- Helpline Number: 011-40759000 | Email: icar@nta.ac.in
Marking Scheme & Probable Score Calculation
Candidates can calculate their estimated raw examination scores based on ICAR's official marking scheme:
- Correct Answer: +4 Marks awarded for each correct response.
- Incorrect Answer (Negative Marking): -1 Mark deducted for each wrong answer.
- Unattempted Questions: 0 Marks (No deduction).
- Score Calculation Formula:
Estimated Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 4) - (Number of Incorrect Answers × 1).
Step-by-Step Instructions to Challenge ICAR Answer Key
Candidates who identify factual discrepancies in the provisional key can submit challenges online through these steps:
- Visit the official portal at exams.nta.ac.in/ICAR.
- Click on the notification link reading "ICAR AIEEA (PG) / AICE-JRF/SRF (Ph.D.) 2026: Answer Key Challenge & Response Sheet".
- Log in using your Application Number and Password / Date of Birth.
- Click on "View Response Sheet" to review your recorded answers alongside question IDs.
- Click on "Challenge/s regarding Answer Key" to view the list of Question IDs and official Option IDs.
- Select the checkbox corresponding to the Option ID you believe is correct against the disputed Question ID.
- Upload supporting academic evidence / reference literature in a single PDF file.
- Click "Save Your Claim & Pay Fee", pay Rs. 200/- per question online via Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI, and save the payment transaction receipt.
Post-Objection Review & Final Merit Rank List
Following the closure of the challenge window on August 18:
- Expert Review: Subject matter specialists appointed by NTA will examine all submitted objections.
- Universal Revision: If any challenge is found valid, the answer key will be modified and applied uniformly to all candidates.
- Final Scorecards: The final answer key will serve as the basis for calculating ICAR AIEEA PG / AICE PhD NTA percentiles, all-India merit ranks, and subsequent ICAR online seat counselling for Master's and Doctoral admissions.