This Institute formally established in August 1980 as Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Earlier, its inception as Institute of Agricultural Research, Banaras Hindu University in 1931 upon the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. The illustrious founder of this university the late Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Ji was a member of this Commission. At the time of establishment, the Institute was one of the prestigious institutes in the field of Agriculture, starting postgraduate teaching and research programmes in India, the only other institution being at Lyallpur (now in Pakistan).

1. Professional Courses

COURSE	LOCATION	INTAKE	COURSE CODE	DURATION
M.Sc. (Ag) in Agricultural Economics	Department of Agricultural Economics	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Agronomy	Department of Agronomy	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Entomology	Department of Entomology	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Agricultural Extension & Communication	Department of Extension Education	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Genetics & Plant Breeding	Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Horticulture	Department of Horticulture	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Plant Pathology	Department of Plant Pathology	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Plant Physiology	Department of Plant Physiology	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag) in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry	Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry	157	340	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)

2. Special Courses of Study

COURSE	LOCATION	INTAKE	COURSE CODE	DURATION
M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agroforestry	Rajiv Gandhi South Campus	30	473	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. (Ag.) in Soil Science - Soil and Water Conservation	Rajiv Gandhi South Campus	20	702	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology	Rajiv Gandhi South Campus	35	356	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
Master of Agri-Business Management	Department of Agricultural Economics	32	352	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)
M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Conservation Engineering)	Department of Agricultural Engineering	15	355	4 Semesters/ (2 Years)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For M. Sc. (Ag.) (Master of Science in Agriculture) in Agricultural Economics; Agronomy; Entomology; Agricultural Extension & Communication; Genetics & Plant Breeding; Horticulture; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry:

(i) Candidates with 4-years B.Sc. (Ag.)/B.Sc. (Hons.) Ag. Degree with credit based course programme under the guidelines of ICAR.

(ii) Candidates with 4-years B.Sc. (Horticulture) Degree with credit based course programme under the guidelines of ICAR will be considered for M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture only.

For M.Sc./M.Tech. in Dairy Technology:

(i) 10+2+4 years undergraduate degree is essential.
(ii) Candidates with B.Tech. (Dairy Technology) OR B.Sc.(Dairy Technology)/Dairying/Dairy Science OR B.Sc (Food Technology/Food Science)/B.Tech. (Food Technology), OR B.Sc/B.Tech. (Specialization in PostHarvest Engineering/Technology); degree with credit based course programme under the guidelines of ICAR or an equivalent examination recognized by the University.

For M.Sc. / M.Tech. in Food Technology:

Candidates with 4 years B.Sc.(Ag.)/B.Sc. (Hons) Ag. OR B.Sc. (Food Technology/Food Science), OR B.Tech. (Food Technology)/ B.Tech. (Dairy Technology), OR B.Sc. (Dairy Technology/Dairying Science), OR B. Voc. in Food 48 Science/Food Processing and Management/Food Engineering (with 10+2 Science Stream), OR B.Sc./B.Tech. Horticulture (Specialization in Fruits &Vegetables /Post Harvest Engineering/Technology). Secured at least 6.0/10 or 2.5/4, 3.5/5, 4.0/6 OGPA for general category candidates and 2.0/4, 3.0/5, 3.⅚ and 5.5/10 OGPA for SC/ST/OBC/PWD category candidates under the Course Credit System in qualifying examination, as per University guidelines and has not secured more than one IIIdivision or equivalent OGPA in his/her academic career.

Note:

The students coming with B.Tech. degree will get M.Tech. Degree and B.Sc./B.Sc.(Ag)/ B.Voc will get M.Sc. Degree.