ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute
(ICAR-NDRI)Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Established
1923
Campus Size
1384.00 Acres
Total Students
411
Faculty
154
Student-Faculty
3:1
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Fees 2026: Course-Wise Fee Structure
What is the fee structure at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute?
The fee structure at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal ranges from roughly ₹26,600 for the 2-year M.Tech to ₹1,71,000 for the 4-year B.Tech (Dairy Technology) for the full programme in 2026. As a deemed-to-be-university funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), NDRI keeps tuition heavily subsidised: the M.Sc costs ₹50,000 for 2 years and the PhD ₹33,400 for 3 years. These are full-course figures, so the per-year cost a Karnal aspirant actually pays is a fraction of what private dairy and agriculture institutes charge. The numbers below are the verified 2026 totals you should budget for before adding hostel and mess charges.
Because NDRI is a central government institute, fees are notified by ICAR and revised only marginally between sessions. The institute charges fees semester-wise, and SC/ST students in the B.Tech (Dairy Technology) programme receive exemptions on tuition fee, welfare fund and examination fee, which lowers their effective outgo substantially.
Course-Wise Fee Structure (2026)
The table below lists the verified 2026 course-wise fee for every flagship programme at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute: B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc and PhD. It answers the most common aspirant question - "how much does the full programme cost at NDRI Karnal?" - by showing the total fee for the entire duration alongside the indicative split between tuition and other academic charges. Read the "Total Fee" column as the complete programme cost (not per year), and treat "Other Charges" as the bundle of examination, registration, welfare-fund and library components folded into the total.
| Programme | Duration | Tuition Fee (indicative) | Other Charges (indicative) | Total Fee (full course, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech (Dairy Technology) | 4.0 years | ₹1,50,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹1,71,000 |
| M.Sc (Dairying disciplines) | 2.0 years | ₹42,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹50,000 |
| M.Tech (Dairy/Engineering) | 2.0 years | ₹20,000 | ₹6,600 | ₹26,600 |
| PhD (relevant field) | 3.0 years | ₹25,000 | ₹8,400 | ₹33,400 |
The clear takeaway for 2026 is that NDRI Karnal's B.Tech (Dairy Technology) is the most expensive programme at ₹1,71,000, yet at about ₹42,700 for the first year it remains far cheaper than comparable private engineering degrees. The postgraduate routes are remarkably affordable: M.Tech at ₹26,600 and PhD at ₹33,400 for the full course mean a research-focused applicant pays less in three years than many universities charge in one. For aspirants, the practical implication is that course selection at NDRI is driven by eligibility and research interest rather than affordability.
Year-Wise Fee Changes
This section answers the question "has there been a fee hike at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute between 2024 and 2026?" The short answer is no significant hike: NDRI's fees are set by ICAR and have stayed broadly stable across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions, with only minor revisions to examination and registration components. The table tracks the indicative total fee for the two most-applied programmes - B.Tech (Dairy Technology) and M.Sc - across three admission years so you can see the trend at a glance.
| Programme | Total Fee 2024 | Total Fee 2025 | Total Fee 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech (Dairy Technology) | ~₹1,68,000 | ~₹1,70,000 | ₹1,71,000 |
| M.Sc (Dairying disciplines) | ~₹48,000 | ~₹49,000 | ₹50,000 |
The trend across 2024-2026 confirms that NDRI Karnal is one of the most fee-stable institutions in the dairy and agricultural education space, with annual movement of only a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees driven by small administrative charges rather than tuition jumps. For a planning aspirant, this means the 2026 figures above are a reliable budgeting baseline and you are unlikely to face a sudden mid-course fee shock. Hostel and mess charges, billed separately, are the variable cost to watch year on year.
Scholarships & Fee Waivers at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute offers several scholarships and fellowships that cut the effective cost of studying at Karnal well below the fee figures above, and for many merit students the stipend exceeds the tuition entirely. The most significant reliefs are the ICAR National Talent Scholarship for undergraduates, JRF/Institute scholarships for Master's students, and SRF/Institute fellowships for PhD scholars. The table summarises the verified support available in 2026.
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Eligible Programme | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS) | B.Tech (out-of-state domicile, 7.0 OGPA) | ₹3,000 per month |
| Institute Scholarship | M.Sc / Master's | ₹7,560 per month + ₹6,000 annual contingency |
| ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Master's (eligible candidates) | ₹12,640 per month + ₹6,000 contingency |
| Institute Scholarship | PhD | ₹25,000-28,000 per month + ₹10,000 contingency |
| ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) | PhD | ₹37,000-42,000 per month + ₹10,000 contingency |
The takeaway is that at NDRI Karnal a financed Master's or PhD scholar effectively earns more than the programme costs: a PhD Institute Scholarship of ₹25,000 a month, or an SRF of ₹37,000 a month, dwarfs the ₹33,400 full-course PhD fee. Separately, SC/ST students in B.Tech (Dairy Technology) are exempted from tuition fee, welfare fund and examination fee, which is a direct fee waiver rather than a stipend. Aspirants should note that scholarships cannot be adjusted against fee payment and must still be paid up front, then drawn as monthly support.
Fees Structure at ICAR-NDRI
Lowest Fees
₹26,600
Highest Fees
₹171,000
Courses with Fees
4
| Course | Duration | Total Fees (Approx) | Fee Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
|
B.Tech Full Time |
4 Years | ₹171,000 | - |
|
M.Tech Full Time |
2 Years | ₹26,600 | - |
|
M.Sc Full Time |
2 Years | ₹50,000 | - |
|
PhD Full Time |
3 Years | ₹33,400 | - |
Frequently Asked Questions: ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Fees 2026
What is the total fee for B.Tech at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Karnal in 2026?
The total fee for B.Tech (Dairy Technology) at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute is ₹1,71,000 for the full 4-year programme in 2026, which works out to roughly ₹42,700 for the first year. Admission is through CUET and ICAR AIEEA UG, and eligibility is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English at a minimum 50% aggregate. As a centrally funded ICAR institute, NDRI keeps this fee far below private dairy-technology colleges.
Is there a fee hike at NDRI Karnal between 2024 and 2026?
No, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute has not implemented any significant fee hike between 2024 and 2026. The B.Tech total moved only from about ₹1,68,000 in 2024 to ₹1,71,000 in 2026, and the M.Sc from around ₹48,000 to ₹50,000. Fees are notified by ICAR and revised only marginally, mainly through small examination and registration charges, so the tuition component stays essentially flat across years.
What is the hostel fee at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Karnal?
The hostel fee at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute is approximately ₹2,000 per year for undergraduate students and around ₹6,000 per year for PhD scholars in 2026. These charges are billed separately from tuition. On top of the room rent, students pay a monthly mess bill of roughly ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 depending on consumption, so hostel plus mess is the main variable cost an NDRI Karnal resident should budget for each year.
What scholarships are available at NDRI Karnal to reduce fees?
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute offers the ICAR National Talent Scholarship of ₹3,000 per month for eligible out-of-state B.Tech students, Institute Scholarships of ₹7,560 per month for Master's students, and ICAR JRF of ₹12,640 per month. PhD scholars receive Institute Scholarships of ₹25,000-28,000 per month or ICAR SRF of ₹37,000-42,000 per month, each with annual contingency grants. For financed postgraduates, this stipend support comfortably exceeds the total programme fee.
What is the fee for SC/ST and reserved-category students at NDRI Karnal?
SC/ST students admitted to the B.Tech (Dairy Technology) programme at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute are exempted from tuition fee, welfare fund and examination fee, which sharply reduces their effective cost below the ₹1,71,000 general total. This is a direct institute waiver notified by ICAR. SC/ST and other reserved-category applicants should also confirm any central government post-matric or fellowship support at the time of admission, as these stack on top of the institute exemption.
What is the M.Sc and M.Tech fee at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute in 2026?
The M.Sc fee at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute is ₹50,000 for the full 2-year programme, and the M.Tech fee is ₹26,600 for 2 years in 2026. Both require a relevant Bachelor's degree with a minimum 60% aggregate, with admission through ICAR AIEEA PG. These are among the most affordable postgraduate dairy and engineering fees in India, and most admitted candidates also draw a monthly Institute Scholarship or ICAR JRF stipend.
What is the PhD fee at NDRI Karnal and is funding available?
The PhD fee at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute is ₹33,400 for the full 3-year programme in 2026, with eligibility being a Master's degree and minimum 60% marks, and admission via ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF. Funding is generous: PhD scholars receive an Institute Scholarship of ₹25,000-28,000 per month or an ICAR Senior Research Fellowship of ₹37,000-42,000 per month, plus a ₹10,000 annual contingency, so the stipend far outweighs the modest tuition cost.