The Ultimate ICAR JRF Agronomy Preparation Strategy (2026) & PYQ Analysis (2024-25)

Do you dream of walking into the lush green campus of IARI New Delhi?

Every agriculture graduate shares this dream. But let’s be honest—cracking ICAR JRF Agronomy is no longer a walk in the park. Gone are the days when you could memorize 500 varieties of crops and secure a top rank.

I have analyzed the 2024 and 2025 question papers question-by-question. The verdict is clear: The exam has shifted from “Information-based” to “Concept-based”.

If you are preparing for the 2026 session, your strategy needs an upgrade. In this ICAR JRF Agronomy Preparation Strategy 2026 & PYQ Analysis guide, I will decode the new exam pattern, share a proven roadmap, and provide a deep analysis of the last two years’ papers.

The “New Pattern” Decoded: What Changed in 2024-25?

Many students studied hard but failed to get a good rank in 2025. Why? Because they were fighting a modern war with old weapons.

Here is what the 2024 and 2025 Papers taught us:

1. Rise of “Assertion-Reason”: Approx. 20-25% of the paper now consists of Statement/Reason questions. These test your logic, not your memory.

2. Numericals are Here: Students used to skip calculations. In 2025, questions on Herbicide Doses, Fertilizer Calculations, and Irrigation Water were rank deciders.

3. Weed & Soil Science Dominance: The weightage of these two subjects has skyrocketed. If you only read Crop Production, you are at risk.

Step-by-Step Preparation Roadmap (The 3-Phase Plan)

To clear JRF Agronomy with a single-digit rank, divide your preparation into three phases.

Phase 1: Building the Foundation (Months 1-2)

Don’t jump into complex books yet. First, clear your basics.

• Focus: General Agriculture, Tillage, Irrigation, and Dryland Agriculture.

• Resource: Principles of Agronomy by Reddy & Reddy.

• Goal: You should be able to answer “Why do we do this?” for every agricultural practice.

Phase 2: The “Rank Decider” Phase (Months 3-4)

This is where you beat the crowd. Most students skip deep reading of Weed and Soil Science.

• Weed Science: Master the Classification of Herbicides and their Mode of Action. (Resource: T.K. Das).

• Soil Science: Focus on Soil Fertility, Nutrient Deficiency symptoms, and Manures. (Resource: D.K. Das).

Phase 3: Application & Numericals (Months 5-6)

• Numericals: Practice at least 10 calculation questions daily (Fertilizer/Weed/Water).

• Crop Production: Memorize varieties, seed rates, and critical stages for major field crops.

• Mock Tests: Start solving papers that have “Assertion-Reason” questions to build your logic.

Topic-Wise PYQ Analysis (2024 vs 2025)

Where should you focus your energy? Based on my analysis of the last two papers, here is the reality check:

Insight: Do you see the drop in “Crop Production”? The examiner is focusing more on Science (Physiology/Soil) than Production.

How to Tackle the “New” Question Types?

1. Handling Numerical Problems

Don’t fear the math. The questions are usually formula-based.

• Must-Know Formulas:

  • Herbicide Dose (a.i.) calculation.

  • Fertilizer Requirement based on NPK dose.

  • Water Discharge rate.

• Tip: Keep a separate notebook for formulas and revise it every Sunday.

2. Cracking Statement Based Questions

• Read Carefully: Often, Statement I is correct, but Statement II contradicts it.

• Concept Linking: These questions test if you can link two concepts (e.g., “Nitrogen deficiency causes yellowing” AND “Nitrogen is part of Chlorophyll”).

 Download Solved Papers & Master Analysis Report

Reading about the strategy is one thing, but seeing the actual questions is another.

I have compiled a Exclusive PDF Report that contains:

1. Topic-wise breakdown of 2024 & 2025 papers.

2. Detailed Analysis of the hardest questions.

3. The “Hidden Syllabus” topics you must not miss.

[Click Here to Download the Master Analysis Report PDF]

(This PDF is free for serious aspirants. Save it on your phone for daily reference.)