ASRB ARS Soil Science 2025 Exam

• Total ARS Vacancies across all disciplines: 458 posts 

• Soil Science is one of the disciplines covered under the ARS category (exact discipline-wise count typically specified in the official notification Annexure) 

• Combined recruitment also includes:

  • Subject Matter Specialist (SMS, T?6): 41 posts

  • Senior Technical Officer (STO, T?6): 83 posts
    (Total 582 vacancies across ARS, SMS & STO)

Depending on location and allowances, the take-home salary approximately ranges from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 per month.

Major Components of Salary

• Basic Pay: Rs 56,100 (entry-level)

• Dearness Allowance (DA): Approximately 50%–55% of basic pay, adjusted bi-annually

• House Rent Allowance (HRA): 8%–24%, depending on city-tier (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai ~30%)

• Transport Allowance (TA): Fixed or semi-fixed depending on city classification and rules

• Additional Allowances:

  • Medical reimbursement (CGHS or in-house facility)

  • Leave Travel Concession (LTC)

  • Children Education Allowance (CEA)

  • Pension coverage, Overtime allowance, City Compensatory Allowance

Unit 1: Soil Genesis, Classification and Survey

• Soil as a natural body – pedological and edaphological concepts

• Weathering – rock types, minerals, and their transformation

• Soil formation factors and processes

• Soil profile development

• Soil taxonomy – US Soil Classification system

• Soil survey types – reconnaissance, detailed

• Land capability classification, soil maps

• Remote sensing and GIS in soil survey and land use planning

 Unit 2: Soil Physics and Soil Conservation

• Soil physical properties – texture, structure, bulk density, porosity

• Soil water – retention, movement, infiltration, hydraulic conductivity

• Soil temperature – heat flow, measurement, and significance

• Soil air – composition, gaseous exchange

• Soil colloids – types, properties, CEC

• Soil erosion – types, factors, measurement

• Water and wind erosion control measures

• Soil conservation planning and techniques

• Watershed management

 Unit 3: Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

• Soil fertility vs. soil productivity

• Essential plant nutrients – criteria, classification

• Mechanisms of nutrient transport in soil–plant system

• Nutrient cycles – N, P, K, S, and micronutrients

• Soil fertility evaluation – soil testing, plant analysis

• Fertilizer types – straight, complex, slow-release, biofertilizers

• Integrated nutrient management (INM)

• Nutrient use efficiency and loss mechanisms

• Site-specific nutrient management and precision farming

  Unit 4: Soil Chemistry and Soil Pollution

• Soil reaction – pH, EC, redox potential

• Saline, sodic, and acid soils – characteristics and reclamation

• Chemistry of acid and salt-affected soils

• Lime and gypsum requirements

• Ion exchange and buffering

• Adsorption of cations and anions

• Soil organic matter – composition, decomposition, C:N ratio

• Heavy metals and pollutants in soil

• Agrochemicals – fate and transport

• Soil contamination and remediation techniques

 Unit 5: Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry

• Soil microflora – bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae

• Soil enzymes and microbial biomass

• Decomposition of organic matter – C and N cycles

• Nitrogen fixation – symbiotic, non-symbiotic, associative

• Rhizosphere and phyllosphere interactions

• Biofertilizers and PGPR

• Biochemical transformations of nutrients

• Soil health and microbial indicators

 Additional Topics (Recent Trends & Applied Aspects)

• Soil quality and health assessment

• Carbon sequestration in soils

• Climate-smart soil management

• Soil indicators for sustainable agriculture

• Use of nanotechnology and remote sensing in soil science

Educational Qualification

To be eligible, a candidate must have:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in:

  • Soil Science, OR

  • Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, OR

  • A closely related discipline (if specified in the official notification)

List of Accepted Degrees (Indicative)

• M.Sc. in Soil Science

• M.Sc. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

• M.Sc. in Agricultural Physics (if related to soil-water studies)

• M.Sc. in Environmental Soil Science (subject to ASRB discipline mapping)

Minimum Marks Requirement

Although not always explicitly stated, many candidates maintain:

• At least 55% marks or equivalent CGPA in post-graduation (for General/OBC)

• Relaxation for SC/ST/PwBD as per norms

Other Requirements

 Documents Required for Proof of Qualification

• Master’s degree certificate

• Final year mark sheet or transcript

• Category certificate (if claiming reservation)

• Valid ID (Aadhar/PAN/Passport)