Agricultural Officer Recruitment 2026: Exam Dates, Syllabus & Eligibility
Complete Guide to IBPS AFO and State PSC Agricultural Officer Exams
Updated : 2 weeks ago
Categories: Agriculture Exams, Govt Job Alerts, Career Guidance
View Complete ArticleAgricultural Officer (AO) Recruitment 2026
Primary Exam: IBPS AFO (Prelims: Aug 29, 2026)
1. Top Recruitment Gateways
Agricultural graduates can target three main types of government roles in 2026:
Banking (IBPS AFO):
Public sector banks. Mains: Nov 1, 2026.
State Govt (OPSC/PSC):
Block/Assistant AO roles. Often includes regional language tests.
Development (NABARD):
Focuses on rural policy and credit. Highly competitive Grade A roles.
2. Eligibility & Age Criteria
| Education | 4-year B.Sc in Agriculture / Horticulture / Allied Sciences. |
| Age Limit | 20 – 30 years (IBPS) | 21 – 38+ years (State PSCs). |
| Nationality | Indian Citizen (Nepal/Bhutan citizens also eligible for IBPS). |
| Note | NEET is NOT required for this career path. |
3. Exam Pattern (IBPS AFO Model)
The selection process is usually a 3-tier system: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
Prelims: English (25m), Reasoning (50m), Quants (50m). [Total: 125 Marks]
Mains: 60 Questions on "Professional Knowledge" (Agriculture). [Total: 60 Marks]
Interview: Personality & Subject depth. [Total: 100 Marks]
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
4. High-Weightage Syllabus Topics
- Agronomy: Crop production, irrigation, and weed management.
- Soil Science: Soil fertility, fertilizers, and nutrient deficiency symptoms.
- Animal Husbandry: Cattle management, dairy technology, and common diseases.
- Current Affairs: PM-Kisan, Soil Health Card, and NABARD's latest circulars.
- Horticulture: Sowing time, spacing, and varieties of fruits/vegetables.
