NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026: 10 Scientist B, C & D Posts, Eligibility, Salary, Fee and Apply Online

NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026: 10 Scientist B, C & D Posts, Eligibility, Salary, Fee and Apply Online

National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, has invited online applications for 10 Scientist posts through Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026 dated 29 August 2026. The recruitment includes Scientist ‘D’, Scientist ‘C’ and Scientist ‘B’ positions across eight post codes. These are regular direct-recruitment posts, with posting at NIF’s Grambharti campus in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Current Status: OPEN — Online applications opened on 29 August 2026. The closing date is 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar, up to 11:59 PM. Therefore, 28 September 2026 should be treated only as an approximate date unless it matches the actual Employment News publication date.

Overview

NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026 is a nationwide direct recruitment drive for candidates with advanced qualifications and research experience in areas such as biological sciences, agricultural sciences, biotechnology, veterinary sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and engineering. The advertised positions carry Level-10 to Level-12 pay scales under the 7th CPC.

Particular	Details
Organisation	National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF)
Parent Department	Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
Advertisement No.	Adv/02/2026
Advertisement Date	29 August 2026
Total Vacancies	10
Posts	Scientist ‘B’, Scientist ‘C’ and Scientist ‘D’
Recruitment Type	Regular Direct Recruitment
Application Mode	Online
Job Location	Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Official Website	www.nif.org.in

Important Dates

Event	Date / Information
Advertisement Date	29 August 2026
Online Application Starts	29 August 2026
Last Date to Apply	30 days from publication of the advertisement in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar, up to 23:59 hrs
Working Approximate Date	Around 28 September 2026 if counted from 29 August 2026; candidates should confirm the actual Employment News publication date
Eligibility Cut-off	Closing date of online applications
Written Test / Interview	To be notified by NIF

Important: The official advertisement does not specify a fixed calendar date such as 28 September 2026. It states that the application portal remains open for 30 days from the publication date in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar. Candidates should therefore check the official NIF website before submitting the application.

Vacancy & Eligibility

NIF has notified 10 vacancies across eight post codes. The number of vacancies is provisional and may vary according to NIF requirements.

Post Code	Post & Vacancies	Essential Qualification & Experience
PC-01	Scientist ‘D’ – 1 (UR)	Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology, Veterinary Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent; 5 years of relevant R&D experience; at least 5 original published works of high standard.
PC-02	Scientist ‘C’ – 1	Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, Production and Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering or equivalent; 3 years of relevant R&D experience; minimum 3 original published works.
PC-03	Scientist ‘C’ – 1	Ph.D. in Biological Sciences or equivalent; 3 years of relevant R&D experience; minimum 3 original published works.
PC-04	Scientist ‘C’ – 2	Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent; 3 years of relevant R&D experience; minimum 3 original published works.
PC-05	Scientist ‘B’ – 2	Ph.D. in Biological Sciences/Agricultural Sciences or equivalent OR First Class Master’s Degree in Biotechnology or equivalent; minimum 2 original published works.
PC-06	Scientist ‘B’ – 1	Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences with specialisation in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics or equivalent; minimum 2 original published works.
PC-07	Scientist ‘B’ – 1	Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences or equivalent OR First Class Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent; minimum 2 original published works.
PC-08	Scientist ‘B’ – 1	First Class Master’s Degree in Veterinary Sciences or equivalent; minimum 2 original published works.

Reservation

The advertised vacancies are distributed as follows: Scientist ‘D’: UR-01; Scientist ‘C’: UR-01, OBC-02 and SC-01; Scientist ‘B’: UR-04 and OBC-01. Reservation for applicable categories, including SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS/PwBD, will be implemented according to Government of India rules applicable to Central Autonomous Bodies.

Important Eligibility Conditions

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The prescribed educational qualification must be possessed by the closing date of applications.
• Experience is counted after acquiring the minimum essential educational qualification, unless otherwise specified.
• Experience gained during a full-time degree course will not be counted as professional experience.
• Foreign university qualifications require an equivalence certificate from AIU or the concerned statutory/professional council, as applicable.
• Possessing the minimum qualification does not automatically guarantee shortlisting for the written test or interview.
• The relevant/equivalent disciplines are specified in Annexure-I of the official advertisement.

Age Limit

Post	Upper Age Limit
Scientist ‘D’	Not exceeding 40 years
Scientist ‘C’	Not exceeding 35 years
Scientist ‘B’	Not exceeding 35 years

The crucial date for determining age and eligibility is the closing date for receipt of applications. Age relaxation will be available according to applicable Government of India rules. The date of birth recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent certificate will be accepted.

Salary / Pay Scale

The NIF Scientist posts carry the following 7th CPC pay levels and basic pay ranges:

Post	Pay Level	Pay Scale
Scientist ‘B’	Level-10	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500
Scientist ‘C’	Level-11	₹67,700 – ₹2,08,700
Scientist ‘D’	Level-12	₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200

Note: The figures above are the official pay scales stated in the recruitment advertisement. Actual monthly salary will depend on applicable allowances, deductions and service rules. An exact in-hand salary has not been specified in the advertisement and should not be treated as an official figure.

Application Fee

Category	Application Fee
UR / OBC / EWS	₹1,000
SC / ST / PwBD	Nil
Women Candidates	Nil

The ₹1,000 fee is non-refundable and must be paid through the prescribed online payment gateway. Applicable bank, transaction or tax charges are to be borne by the candidate. Applications requiring a fee may be rejected if successful payment is not completed by the prescribed deadline.

Selection Process

The selection process is based on scrutiny, shortlisting and interview, with a written test possible if NIF considers it necessary.

1. Application scrutiny: Applications will be examined by a Screening-cum-Shortlisting Committee.
2. Shortlisting: If applications are received in large numbers, NIF may restrict the number of candidates called further by applying suitable shortlisting criteria.
3. Written test, if required: The screening process may include a written test conducted by NIF or through an appropriate agency.
4. Interview: Final selection will be based on recommendations of the Selection Committee constituted by the Chairperson of the Governing Board, NIF.
5. Final recommendation: Interview performance, academic record, research contributions and relevant experience will be considered.
6. Reserve panel: A merit-based reserve panel may remain valid for one year from the date of its approval, subject to the NIF Recruitment Rules, 2026.

Important: The advertisement does not prescribe a fixed written examination pattern, syllabus, marks distribution or negative-marking scheme. Candidates should not assume that any previous examination pattern automatically applies to this recruitment.

Exam Pattern

No fixed exam pattern has been notified. NIF has stated that a written test may be included in the screening process if considered necessary. Therefore, details such as subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking are currently not specified in Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026.

Candidates should rely only on subsequent official notices issued by NIF for any written-test details.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates must submit the NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026 application online only through the NIF Recruitment Portal. Hard-copy applications are not required.

1. Visit the official NIF recruitment portal: https://jobs.nifindia.org/candidate/login.
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
3. Log in and select one post code for which you meet the prescribed eligibility conditions.
4. Enter educational qualifications, research experience, publications and category information accurately.
5. Upload the required self-attested supporting documents in the prescribed format.
6. Pay the applicable ₹1,000 application fee if you are required to pay it.
7. Review all details and documents carefully before final submission.
8. Submit the application before the closing time and save the acknowledgement/application record for future reference.

One Application Rule: Candidates should apply for only one post. If multiple applications are submitted, only one application will be considered. Where applications are for different Pay Levels, the application carrying the lowest Pay Level will be considered. For applications at the same Pay Level, NIF will determine the most relevant and suitable post.

Documents Required

• Matriculation/Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent proof of date of birth
• Degree and postgraduate qualification certificates and marksheets, wherever applicable
• Ph.D. registration and award certificates, wherever applicable
• Experience certificates showing designation, service period, duties and pay level/pay scale wherever applicable
• List and supporting details of published works
• SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS/PwBD documents, wherever applicable
• OBC certificate in the prescribed Government of India format with creamy-layer exclusion, where applicable
• AIU or relevant statutory/professional council equivalence certificate for foreign qualifications, where applicable
• NOC or undertaking for candidates serving in Government Departments, PSUs, autonomous/statutory bodies, universities or government-funded research institutions
• Recent photograph and signature as required by the recruitment portal

Experience certificates should clearly mention the joining and relieving dates, nature of duties and the relevant post/level. Incomplete, illegible or incorrect documents may result in rejection of the candidature.

Important Links

Description	Official Link
NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF	Download Official Notification
Apply Online	NIF Recruitment Portal
NIF Official Website	Visit NIF Official Website
NIF Careers	Open Careers Page

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FAQs

1. How many vacancies are available in NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026?

NIF has advertised 10 Scientist vacancies, comprising 1 Scientist ‘D’, 4 Scientist ‘C’ and 5 Scientist ‘B’ posts across eight post codes.

2. What is the last date to apply for NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026?

The official notification states that the online application window remains open for 30 days from the date of publication in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar, up to 23:59 hrs. Therefore, 28 September 2026 is only an approximate working date if counted from 29 August 2026 and should not be treated as the officially confirmed closing date without checking the publication date.

3. What is the application fee for NIF Scientist posts?

The application fee is ₹1,000 for UR, OBC and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempted from payment of the application fee.

4. What is the age limit for NIF Scientist Recruitment?

The upper age limit is 40 years for Scientist ‘D’ and 35 years for Scientist ‘C’ and Scientist ‘B’. The crucial date is the closing date of applications, and applicable Government of India age relaxations will be allowed.

5. What is the salary of NIF Scientist B, C and D?

Scientist ‘B’ is Level-10 with a pay scale of ₹56,100–₹1,77,500. Scientist ‘C’ is Level-11 with ₹67,700–₹2,08,700, while Scientist ‘D’ is Level-12 with ₹78,800–₹2,09,200. These are official pay scales; actual take-home salary depends on applicable allowances and deductions.

6. Can a candidate apply for more than one post code?

No. NIF has instructed candidates to apply for only one post. If multiple applications are submitted, only one will be considered. Where different Pay Levels are involved, the application for the lowest Pay Level will be considered.

7. Is a written examination compulsory for all candidates?

No fixed written examination has been made compulsory in the advertisement. NIF may conduct a written test if it considers it necessary as part of the screening process. The detailed exam pattern has not been notified.

8. Will experience gained during a full-time degree be counted?

No. The notification specifically states that experience gained during a full-time degree will not be counted as professional experience.

9. Is this NIF recruitment a contractual or regular job?

These are regular direct-recruitment Scientist posts under NIF. They are not described as project-based contractual positions in Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026.

10. Where will selected candidates be posted?

The NIF headquarters/campus mentioned in the advertisement is at Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar–Mahudi Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 382650.

Final Words

NIF Scientist Recruitment 2026 is a specialised opportunity for researchers and professionals who meet the post-specific educational, experience and publication requirements. Since each post code has different eligibility conditions, candidates should carefully compare their qualification and research profile with the relevant code before applying.

The most important point to remember is that only one application should be submitted, and the closing date must be calculated from the actual publication of the advertisement in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar. Candidates should also monitor the official NIF website for any addendum, corrigendum, written-test notice, interview schedule or other recruitment update.

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for educational and informational purposes based on the NIF Advertisement No. Adv/02/2026. Candidates should verify the latest eligibility conditions, closing date, documents and other instructions from the official NIF notification and recruitment portal before applying.