India’s government-endorsed best Agriculture Universities in India’s rankings consistently highlight the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, as the nation’s premier agricultural university. According to NIRF 2023, IARI leads with a stellar score of 83.16 (nirfindia.org).
Top 10 Best Agriculture Universities in India.
This post dives into the top agricultural universities: their ratings, faculty excellence, placements, campus culture, and alumni-founded ventures.
Table of Contents:
1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
Rank & Recognition: #1 in NIRF (83.16) ; dubbed Pusa Institute, instrumental in India’s Green Revolution (shikshahub.com). It comes number one in the top 10 best Agriculture Universities in India.
Faculty: Eminent researchers across plant breeding, soil science, agronomy; known for groundbreaking contributions.
Placements & Startups: Graduates land coveted roles in ICAR, state DSOs, agritech firms; several alumni have launched agri-startups focusing on sustainable inputs and farm IoT.
Campus Life: Sprawling 112 ha campus with lush research fields, modern labs, and robust extension outreach programs.
Startup Owners: Alumni have established ventures in organic biopesticides, precision farming tech, and seed certification services.
2. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
Rank: #3 in NIRF (65.98).
Faculty: Experts in horticulture, genetics, food processing.
Placements: Strong recruitment pipeline via KVKs and agri-clinics; a notable number proceed to global postgraduate studies—13 horticulture students recently secured seats abroad.
Campus Life: Vibrant mix of academics, sports, and research; students regularly win medals and represent at international forums.
Startup Owners: Alumni-led startups include organic pulp production, agri-based nutritional products, and digital extension tools.
All these points come into consideration in ranking, and It comes number two in the top 10 best Agriculture Universities in India
3. Banaras Hindu University – Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS, BHU)
Rank: #4 in NIRF (63.68) . It come number three in It comes number one in the top 10 best Agriculture Universities in India.
Faculty: 6 core departments including horticulture, agronomy, dairy, entomology; notable mentors like Prof. Brajesh Sinha.
Placements: Graduates recruited by government bodies, agritech firms; many join academia and research labs.
Campus Life: Central campus with 65 ha farm, dairy unit, horticultural labs, and KVK outreach (en.wikipedia.org).
Startup Owners: Alumni include Saket Kushwaha, now VC at RGU; others lead agri-consulting and food processing startups.
I completed my Master’s in Mycology and Plant Pathology from BHU.
4. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore
Rank: #5 in NIRF (61.71) .
Faculty: Diverse departments—crop science, biotech, precision agriculture.
Placements: 36 research hubs and 14 farm centers enable strong industry linkages; students recruited by CSR, extension services, MNCs.
Campus Life: Integrated training farms, innovation hubs; lively student clubs and rural immersion programs.
Startup Owners: Alumni include agritech app developers, biofertilizer producers, horticulture consultancies.
5. Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar
Rank: #10 in NIRF (59.07).
Scale & Research: Asia’s largest agricultural university with a ₹697 Cr budget and 7200 acre campus.
Faculty: Over 500 academics; known for releasing 250+ crop varieties and prolific research output.
Placements: Strong research institute placements; students enter agribusiness, seed, dairy sectors.
Campus Life: Model farms, hostels, Kisan Mela, eMausam advisory.
Startup Owners: Alumni-led startups in seed tech, farm advisory platforms, rural entrepreneurship.
6. G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (Pantnagar)
Rank: #8 in NIRF (60.03).
Prestige & Faculty: India’s first land-grant agricultural university, pivotal in the Green Revolution.
Placements: Strong across public sector, agri-engineering, and multinational research labs.
Campus Life: Self-contained campus town with academic, residential, recreational and dairy facilities.
Startup Owners: Alumni-led ventures in crop mechanisation, dairy tech, sustainable packaging.
7. University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru & Dharwad
Bengaluru:
- Rank: #11 in NIRF (56.74) (nirfindia.org). Accredited with A+ by NAAC 2025; awarded top ICAR Sardar Patel award (en.wikipedia.org).
- Faculty & Placements: Strong interdisciplinary research, crop management, soil and agri-economics; graduates join agritech firms and academic labs.
- Campus Life: Constituent colleges across Karnataka, vibrant urban student life.
Dharwad:
- Faculty & Reach: Offers agriculture, forestry, food science; linked with research stations and KVKs across 7 districts (careerindia.com, en.wikipedia.org).
- Placements: Graduates hired by state agri-services, extension agencies, and industry.
- Campus Life: Rural outreach blended with tech-driven labs; regular convocation with awards for innovators.
- Startups: Focus areas include seed coating, forest-based products, Agri water-tech.
8. Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar
Rank & Heritage: Second-oldest agricultural university (since 1962).
Faculty & Infrastructure: 11 constituent colleges; recognized for extension services and industry-oriented programs.
Placements: Graduates recruited in agri-food processing, horticulture, fisheries, and rural development.
9. Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour
Recent Accreditation: Achieved NAAC A grade (CGPA 3.08) in June 2025.
Faculty & Campus: Strong in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, biotech, precision farming.
Student Satisfaction: 92.5% verified satisfaction; focus on NEP-2020 aligned skill-based learning.
Placements: Students enter government extension, regional agri-consultancies, and NGOs.
10. Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani.
Accreditation: ICAR A grade (3.21/4) until March 2028.
Highlights: Leading in drone tech, mechanization training, sugarcane and seed research.
Faculty: Strong infrastructure, outreach, and global collaborations.
Placements: Students take up roles in drone services, seed entrepreneurship, mechanisation consultancies.
Summary Table: Top 10 Best Agriculture Universities in India.
| University | NIRF Rank/Score or Accreditation | Faculty Strength | Placement & Startups | Campus Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IARI | #1 (83.16) | National research leaders | ICAR, Agritech startups | 112 ha, modern labs |
| PAU | #3 (65.98) | Horticulture & food experts | International placements | KVKs, research farms |
| IAS-BHU | #4 (63.68) | 6+ departments | Govt & biotech roles | Dairy, farms, extension |
| TNAU | #5 (61.71) | Crop biotech focus | MNC & extension roles | 36 centres, rural programs |
| HAU | #10 (59.07) | 500+ staff | Seed firms, research labs | 7200 acre, eMausam |
| Pantnagar | #8 (60.03) | Green Revolution pioneers | Public sector, labs | Campus-town setup |
| UAS Bengaluru | #11 (56.74) | Interdisciplinary | Agritech, labs | A+ NAAC, urban campus |
| UAS Dharwad | – | Regional research | State agri jobs | Rural Outreach |
| OUAT | – | 11 colleges | Food processing | Urban campus |
| BAU Sabour | NAAC A (3.08) | Climate-smart agri | Govt & NGO | Smart labs |
| Marathwada | ICAR A (3.21) | Drone & mechanization | Agritech startups | 3 campuses |
All are also top 10 Government Agriculture Universities in India.
🎓 Insights & Tips
- Government Rankings: NIRF is the gold standard; IARI, PAU, BHU, TNAU, HAU, Pantnagar, and UAS-Bengaluru lead.
- Faculty Excellence: All these universities boast ICAR-recognised experts; HAU has the largest academic staff and research output.
- Placements: Across the board, strong pipelines into government, agri-industry, research institutes, and startups.
- Campus Life: Most universities provide extensive facilities — experimental farms, KVK outreach, hostels, labs, and cultural diversity.
- Startup Culture: Especially in IARI, HAU, PAU, and Marathwada, alumni-led ventures flourish in biotech, farm engineering, digital agri-platforms, drones, and organic inputs.
All these points are taken into account for ranking in the top 10 best Agriculture Universities in India.
Final Take
If you aim for top-tier research, IARI is the undisputed leader. For global exposure and horticulture, PAU shines. BHU, TNAU, HAU, and Pantnagar offer balanced excellence—strong academics, placements, and campus vibrant life. Emerging stars like BAU and Marathwada are rapidly enhancing infrastructure, student satisfaction, and agri-innovation networks. All provide dynamic ecosystems ripe for future agri-leaders and entrepreneurs.
I strongly recommend, try IARI for 1st position, if not able to secure your position there, then come to BHU. You can access best colleagues, seniors, campus life, faculties, and exposure to the World’s Agriculture Universities, Alumni, and Big Corporates. As I completed my Master Degree, I personaly give BHU, a number 1 position in the top 10 best Agriculture Universities in India.
Choose based on your specially interest, regional preferences, and whether top-tier research or driven field engagement is your goal. Each of these universities can be a launchpad into impactful careers in agriculture, research, and leadership.
The ratings of top Agricultural Universities is excellent