ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) · India · NTA for ICAR
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) is a PhD, fellowship and lectureship exam run by NTA for ICAR, for candidates in India. Computer-based, 2 hours, 120 questions: Part A 20 (general agriculture, animal husbandry, current events), Part B 50 (core group), Part C 50 (specialised subject). +4 / -1, maximum 480.
Source: icar.org.in.
Checked against the exam body's published information. Formats and fees change; confirm the current edition there before you book.
Deeper endocrinology: follicular waves, maternal recognition signals, luteolysis mechanism, cyst pathogenesis, Ovsynch variants and their rationale, buffalo reproductive biology, uterine disease classification.
The female reproductive tract, the oestrous cycle and its hormones, heat detection and synchronisation, infertility and pregnancy diagnosis, with emphasis on cows and buffaloes.
Our 19 ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF questions in this subject: 0 easy, 7 medium, 12 hard, across 11 units.
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
These 10 were written to ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF and are not shown on any other exam's page.
White heifer disease is best described as:
B. Segmental Müllerian duct aplasia linked to the white coat colour in Shorthorns
White heifer disease is a segmental aplasia of the Müllerian duct derivatives associated with the gene for white coat colour in Shorthorns; fluid often accumulates in front of the block. Chimerism describes freemartins and ovarian hypoplasia is a separate inherited condition.
In cattle, the maternal recognition of pregnancy signal and its approximate timing are:
C. Interferon-tau, around days 15-17
Bovine trophoblast secretes interferon-tau around days 15-17, which suppresses endometrial oxytocin receptors and so prevents luteolytic PGF2α pulses. Conceptus oestrogen at days 11-12 is the pig's signal; endometrial-cup gonadotrophin is equine.
Why does hysterectomy prolong the life of the corpus luteum in the ewe but not in the bitch?
A. Ovine luteolysis needs uterine PGF2α; the canine CL regresses without a uterine signal
In ruminants, sows and mares the uterus produces the luteolytic PGF2α, so removing it maintains the CL. The canine CL has a set lifespan independent of the uterus, which is why pregnant and non-pregnant dioestrus last about the same time.
Why do many buffaloes that are cycling in winter show anoestrus or silent heat in summer in northern India?
C. Heat stress with photoperiodic effects lowers oestradiol output and oestrous expression
Buffaloes conceive mostly in autumn and winter; in summer, poor heat dissipation (dark skin, few sweat glands) and seasonal photoperiod effects suppress follicular oestradiol and oestrous behaviour. They behave more like short-day breeders, not long-day breeders.
In a Presynch-Ovsynch programme, PGF2α is given on days 0 and 14. On which day is the first GnRH of Ovsynch given?
A. Day 26
Ovsynch starts about 12 days after the second PGF2α: 14 + 12 = 26. Repeating the 14-day gap gives day 28, adding a 21-day cycle to the second PGF2α gives day 35, and counting 21 days from the first PGF2α gives day 21. The aim is to begin Ovsynch between about days 5 and 12 of the cycle, when the first GnRH is most likely to ovulate a dominant follicle.
The main role of kisspeptin in female reproduction is:
A. Stimulating GnRH neurons and integrating steroid feedback and metabolic signals
Kisspeptin neurons in the hypothalamus drive GnRH secretion and mediate oestradiol feedback and energy-status effects, making them the gate of puberty and of the LH surge. Inhibin, not kisspeptin, suppresses FSH.
Negative energy balance delays the first postpartum ovulation in dairy cows mainly by:
A. Reducing LH pulse frequency, so dominant follicles make too little oestradiol for an LH surge
In negative energy balance, low insulin and IGF-I and reduced GnRH/LH pulsatility mean follicular waves continue but dominant follicles do not reach ovulatory oestradiol output. Waves do not stop.
The rationale for giving GnRH or hCG about 5-7 days after insemination in repeat breeders is to:
C. Form an accessory CL from the first-wave dominant follicle, raising progesterone for the embryo
An accessory CL raises progesterone in the period of embryo elongation and interferon-tau secretion; reported gains in conception are modest and inconsistent. The inseminated follicle has already ovulated by day 5.
Which bacterium is most strongly associated with persistent clinical endometritis in dairy cows?
A. Trueperella pyogenes
Trueperella pyogenes, often with anaerobes such as Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella, is linked with persistent bovine endometritis. S. zooepidemicus and Taylorella are equine uterine pathogens.
When sorting individual problem cows during a herd fertility visit, the three practical groups are:
D. Not seen in heat; bred but not conceiving; abnormal discharge
Grouping by presenting problem directs the examination: anoestrus/silent heat/cysts, repeat breeding/subclinical endometritis, and metritis/endometritis/pyometra respectively.
This plan follows where our questions actually fall, so the time goes where the marks are likely to be. It is our reading of the syllabus, not the exam body's weighting.
Read the manual chapters for these first and do every worked question you can find on them.
Aim for one sitting per unit, then mixed questions across them.
Learn the definitions, classifications and standard numbers; these units are more often recalled than worked.
Come back to these after a first pass, untimed, and read every explanation, including for the options you rejected.
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