NCERT SRA and JPF Recruitment 2026

NCERT DESM is hiring 23 project staff posts in New Delhi, including 16 Senior Research Associate (SRA) and 7 Junior Project Fellow (JPF) positions. If you have a relevant postgraduate degree with required marks, you can attend the walk-in interview on the date fixed for your PAC project. The interview dates run from 23 June 2026 to 30 June 2026. Salary ranges from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 42,000 per month based on post and NET/Ph.D. status.

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) SRA and JPF Recruitment 2026 - 23 Posts

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), through its Department of Education in Science and Mathematics (DESM), has issued one notice for project staff under PAC-approved programmes. The posts are purely contractual and the tenure is up to 31 March 2027. The strongest fit is for candidates with science, mathematics, environmental education, biology, life sciences, biotechnology, botany, zoology, physics or chemistry backgrounds who can support school education content and research work.

Vacancy Breakdown

• Senior Research Associate (SRA): 16 posts across DESM PAC projects
• Junior Project Fellow (JPF): 7 posts across DESM PAC projects
• Total: 23 contractual project positions

Project-wise Interview Schedule

• 23 June 2026: SRA - 5 posts for syllabi, textbooks, handbooks and teaching-learning material for Grades 9-12
• 24 June 2026: SRA - 6 posts and JPF - 5 posts for science, mathematics and laboratory manual projects
• 25 June 2026: SRA - 4 posts for Mission LiFE, environmental education and tactile science model projects
• 29 June 2026: SRA - 1 post and JPF - 1 post for School Science journal and learning material projects
• 30 June 2026: JPF - 1 post for Rajya Stariya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshani work

Who Can Apply?

For Senior Research Associate (SRA)

• Qualification: Postgraduate degree with 55% marks in the relevant subject area mentioned for the PAC project.
• Experience: You need 2 years of research, teaching, content development or another relevant field.
• Desirable: Ph.D. or NET in the relevant discipline is preferred.

For Junior Project Fellow (JPF)

• Qualification: Postgraduate degree in the relevant science, mathematics or allied subject with 55% marks for General and 50% marks for SC/ST/PH.
• Desirable: Basic computer knowledge, MS Office, data processing and report preparation skills are preferred.

Important: Candidates whose minimum qualifying degree result is still awaited should not attend. Time spent on M.Phil. or Ph.D. will not be counted as teaching or research experience for SRA eligibility.

Age Limit

• SRA: Maximum age is 45 years
• JPF: Maximum age is 40 years
• Relaxation: Age relaxation is applicable as per Government of India norms.

Salary

• SRA with NET/Ph.D.: Rs. 42,000 per month consolidated
• SRA without NET: Rs. 40,000 per month consolidated
• JPF with NET/Ph.D.: Rs. 37,000 per month consolidated
• JPF without NET: Rs. 35,000 per month consolidated
• The notice mentions consolidated salary; no separate allowance is listed.

Application Fee

• No application fee is mentioned in the notification.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

Selection is through walk-in interview and document checking. The notice does not mention any written test.

1. Registration: Report between 09:30 AM and 11:00 AM on the interview date for your project.
2. Document Verification: NCERT will check your original certificates, self-attested copies, photograph and CV.
3. Interview: Attend the interview before the DESM panel for the post and PAC project you choose.
4. Final Selection: Selection is for a temporary project role up to 31 March 2027.

How to Apply

1. Check the PAC project and post that match your qualification in the official NCERT notice at ncert.nic.in.
2. Prepare your bio-data in the prescribed format given with the notice.
3. Carry original certificates, self-attested photocopies of each certificate and one photograph.
4. If you are already working, bring a No Objection Certificate from your current organisation.
5. If you claim experience for SRA-level salary, carry supporting proof such as salary slip, bank statement or ITR.
6. Report at Board Room, DESM, 1st Floor, Janaki Ammal Block, NCERT, Delhi - 110016 by 09:30 AM on the correct interview date.

Important Instructions for Walk-in Candidates

• Reach on time: NCERT will register candidates only between 09:30 AM and 11:00 AM, so late reporting can stop you from attending the interview.
• Choose the correct project: Each PAC code has its own post count, subject requirement and interview date.
• Carry proof of experience: For SRA posts, experience is part of eligibility, so carry clear proof instead of relying only on a CV mention.
• No TA/DA: NCERT will not pay travel or daily allowance for attending the interview or joining the post.
• Temporary engagement: The post is contractual and valid only for the project tenure mentioned in the notice.

NCERT also asks candidates to bring written or published work, if available. This is useful for SRA and JPF applicants because the projects involve school-level content, handbooks, laboratory manuals, learning material, data processing and report writing.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 17 June 2026
• SRA Interview Dates: 23, 24, 25 and 29 June 2026
• JPF Interview Dates: 24, 29 and 30 June 2026
• Registration Time: 09:30 AM to 11:00 AM
• Last Walk-in Date: 30 June 2026

• Support DESM research and content work for school science, mathematics and environmental education projects
• Prepare learning material, handbooks, laboratory manuals, exemplars and project reports
• Assist with data collection, data processing, field work and report writing where required
• Coordinate with project teams, experts and NCERT faculty for PAC-approved tasks
• Review academic content for clarity, accuracy and school-level usability
• Maintain project files, interview records, work drafts and supporting documents