Good news for B.F.Sc. graduates: 97 of the 1,393 posts in the ICAR Technical Assistant recruitment 2026 are reserved for Fisheries Science. The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) released the Centralized Combined Examination 2026 notification on 11 November 2026, and unlike the short-term Young Professional contracts fisheries graduates usually chase, these are permanent, direct-recruitment government posts in ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras across India. Online applications open on 18 November 2026 and close on 17 December 2026 at 11:59 PM — and there is no interview. Selection is through two computer-based tests only.
If you hold a B.F.Sc. degree, this is one of the biggest fisheries-specific government openings of the year. Here is everything that matters: the 97 fisheries posts, the eligibility rules, the pay, the exam pattern, and exactly how to apply.
The vacancy at a glance
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), New Delhi |
| Exam | Centralized Combined Examination 2026 |
| Notification No. | F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11 November 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 1,393 (tentative — may change) |
| Technical Assistant (T-3) | 1,254 posts in ICAR institutes — Pay Level 5 |
| Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) | 139 posts in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) — Pay Level 6 |
| Fisheries Science posts | 97 (57 + 33 + 7 — see table below) |
| Applications open | 18 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply & pay fee | 17 December 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Correction window | 18–20 December 2026 |
| Preliminary exam | February 2027 (tentative) |
| Selection | Preliminary CBT (qualifying) + Mains CBT — no interview |
| Apply at | asrb.gov.in (online only) |
The 97 fisheries posts — post by post
Three functional groups are open to Fisheries Science graduates. All three need a B.F.Sc. (Bachelor of Fisheries Science) degree, held on or before 17 December 2026.
| Post | Level | Vacancies | UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Farm Technician (Fisheries Science) | T-3 | 57 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| Laboratory Technician (Fisheries Science) | T-3 | 33 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Laboratory Technician (Fisheries Science) | T-4 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total fisheries posts | — | 97 | 32 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
The T-3 posts are in ICAR institutes; the 7 T-4 posts are in KVKs. The notification calls all vacancy figures tentative, so treat these as the published counts and re-check asrb.gov.in before applying.
Pay: what a Technical Assistant earns
- Technical Assistant (T-3): Pay Level 5 — basic pay ₹29,200–₹92,300 per month, plus allowances as per Central Government rules.
- Senior Technical Assistant (T-4): Pay Level 6 — basic pay ₹35,400–₹1,12,400 per month, plus allowances.
These are regular pay-scale posts, not the fixed ₹30,000/₹42,000 consolidated monthly pay of contractual Young Professional engagements. That is the real difference this notification makes for a B.F.Sc. graduate: a permanent technical cadre career inside the ICAR system, with increments, allowances and promotion channels, instead of a one-year contract.
Who can apply — eligibility
- Education: B.F.Sc. for the Fisheries Science functional groups. The degree must be completed on or before the last date of application, 17 December 2026. (Other disciplines have their own prescribed bachelor’s degrees; a few workshop posts accept a B.E./B.Tech or a three-year diploma.)
- Age: 21 to 30 years as on 17 December 2026, for both T-3 and T-4.
- Age relaxation: SC/ST — 5 years; OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) — 3 years; Persons with Benchmark Disabilities — 10 years; Ex-Servicemen — as per Government rules; in-service ICAR technical employees (UR) — upper age limit of 40 years.
- Nationality: Indian citizen (as per the standard ASRB conditions in the notification).
Exam pattern: two CBTs, no interview
Selection is through a qualifying Preliminary Computer Based Test, tentatively in February 2027, followed by a Mains CBT. There is no interview at any stage — your final merit rests on the written tests. That makes this exam unusually preparation-friendly for fisheries graduates: the syllabus rewards subject knowledge and general aptitude, not presentation skills.
The notification PDF on asrb.gov.in carries the full scheme of examination, including the paper pattern and syllabus for each functional group. Download it and read it fully before you apply — the summary here cannot replace it.
How to apply — step by step
- Wait for the portal to open on 18 November 2026. Applications are online only, at asrb.gov.in. Do not trust any other website claiming to accept forms for this exam.
- Read the notification PDF first (F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11 November 2026) and confirm the functional group, the eligibility, and the category-wise fee for your category.
- Register and fill the form with your personal, educational and category details. Choose the Fisheries Science functional group — Field Farm Technician or Laboratory Technician — carefully; it decides your eligibility and your posting stream.
- Upload the required documents (photograph, signature, certificates) in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the fee online and submit before 17 December 2026, 11:59 PM. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted.
- Use the correction window (18–20 December 2026) if you spot a mistake after submitting — it is your only chance to fix the form.
- Keep checking asrb.gov.in and your registered email for the admit card and the Preliminary exam date, tentatively February 2027.
Why this matters for fisheries graduates
Most fisheries job alerts on this site are contractual: Young Professional-I and II posts at ICAR-CIFRI, CIFT, CMFRI and CIBA, typically one year, co-terminus with a project, with no claim to regular appointment. They are good stepping stones — but they end. The ASRB Technical Assistant exam is the other route: a permanent technical post inside the same ICAR institutes, doing the field and laboratory work those institutes run on — fish farm operations, hatchery support, water-quality and sample analysis, data recording and documentation.
With 97 fisheries posts in a single notification, this is also a rare moment when B.F.Sc. graduates are not competing for one or two seats. The competition is real — 1,393 posts across all disciplines will draw lakhs of applications — but the fisheries functional groups are open only to candidates with the relevant degree, which narrows the field sharply in your favour.
One caution: the notification says the vacancies are tentative and may change, and the exact institute-wise allocation is published in the detailed notification. Check asrb.gov.in for updates rather than relying on any single summary, including this one.
Key dates — do not miss these
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 11 November 2026 |
| Online applications open | 18 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply & pay fee | 17 December 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Application correction window | 18–20 December 2026 |
| Preliminary CBT | February 2027 (tentative) |
Frequently asked questions
How many fisheries posts are there in the ASRB Technical Assistant 2026 recruitment?
97 in total: 57 Field Farm Technician (Fisheries Science) and 33 Laboratory Technician (Fisheries Science) at T-3, plus 7 Laboratory Technician (Fisheries Science) at T-4.
What qualification do I need for the fisheries posts?
A B.F.Sc. (Bachelor of Fisheries Science) degree, completed on or before 17 December 2026.
Is there an interview?
No. Selection is through a qualifying Preliminary CBT followed by a Mains CBT. There is no interview.
What is the age limit?
21 to 30 years as on 17 December 2026, with relaxations for SC/ST (5 years), OBC-NCL (3 years), PwBD (10 years) and in-service ICAR technical employees (up to 40 years for UR).
When can I apply?
Online applications open on 18 November 2026 and close on 17 December 2026 at 11:59 PM, only at asrb.gov.in. A correction window runs from 18 to 20 December 2026.
Are these permanent posts?
Yes — this is direct recruitment to regular Technical Assistant (T-3) and Senior Technical Assistant (T-4) posts in ICAR institutes and KVKs, on the 7th CPC pay scales, unlike contractual Young Professional engagements.
Official links
- ASRB official website — asrb.gov.in (notification PDF: F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11 November 2026; apply online here from 18 November 2026)
Sources: ASRB Centralized Combined Examination 2026 notification (F. No. 2(2)/2025-Exam, dated 11 November 2026) as reported by JagranJosh, Karmasandhan, JobsLogin and JobCareerUpdates on 11–12 November 2026, all cross-checked against each other; vacancy and date figures verified across all four. Figures are tentative per the notification — confirm on asrb.gov.in before applying. Last updated 12 November 2026.
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