National Physical Laboratory Project Associate, Assistant, SRF, RA, JRF, Research Scientist, Senior PAT, Technical Support Recruitment 2026

This walk-in recruitment is aimed at individuals with scientific, engineering, or technical backgrounds who want to contribute to active R&D projects at India's premier measurement standards laboratory. Positions such as Project Assistant-II and Project Technical Support are structured for candidates holding relevant diplomas or undergraduate qualifications, while roles like Senior Research Fellow (SRF), Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate-I, and Project Research Scientist-I require advanced post-graduate degrees, NET/GATE qualifications, or doctoral research credentials.

Because eligibility criteria, subject specialisations, and upper age ceilings vary significantly between entry-level technical roles and advanced research scientist positions, candidates must evaluate their credentials against the specific vacancy requirements before attending the interview. You can verify your exact age as on the walk-in date using our age calculator to ensure you fall within the permissible bracket for your target position.

• Project Assistant-II and Project Technical Support: ₹18,000 to ₹25,000 plus applicable HRA per month.
• Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Senior Research Fellow (SRF), and Project Associate-II: ₹31,000 to ₹42,000 plus applicable HRA per month.
• Research Associate-I and Project Research Scientist-I (Non-Medical): Up to ₹58,000 plus applicable HRA per month.

The positions offered in this recruitment are purely project-based and contractual. Selected candidates receive a consolidated monthly fellowship or emolument plus House Rent Allowance (HRA) as sanctioned under the respective funding agency guidelines. Because these are contractual research fellowships rather than regular civil service posts, standard permanent deductions such as National Pension System (NPS) and Provident Fund (PF) do not apply, and payments are not linked to Central Pay Commission pay matrices. You can estimate your take-home amount using our salary calculator. In terms of professional development, working at CSIR-NPL provides high-value exposure to national-standard measurement instrumentation, peer-reviewed research publications, and direct collaboration with senior research scientists, which significantly enhances career prospects for doctoral fellowships, permanent laboratory positions, and industrial R&D careers.

Following the conclusion of the walk-in interviews, the selection committee compiles the merit and waitlist panels based on candidate performance. The formal list of selected candidates is published on the official CSIR-NPL website at https://www.nplindia.org. Successful candidates receive formal engagement letters outlining the project tenure, initial duration, monthly stipend, and terms of service.

Upon receiving the offer letter, candidates must complete standard medical fitness certification and submit required verification undertakings. Joining formalities typically take place at the CSIR-NPL campus in New Delhi within two to four weeks of notification. Project staff are assigned to designated divisions and work under the direct supervision of the respective Principal Investigators.

The National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), located in New Delhi, is one of India's earliest and most prestigious scientific research institutions, established under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) shortly before independence in 1947. It serves as the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of India by an act of Parliament, holding statutory responsibility for maintaining and realizing the national standards of physical measurements and disseminating them across the country.

With hundreds of scientists, technical officers, and research scholars working across disciplines ranging from quantum metrology and advanced materials to environmental sciences and precision electronics, CSIR-NPL plays an indispensable role in India's industrial quality infrastructure, scientific calibrations, and strategic technological self-reliance. It is an internationally recognized institution that provides researchers with world-class facilities and high scientific credibility.

Professionals engaged across these positions carry out vital day-to-day experimental, technical, and analytical responsibilities under time-bound sponsored projects. Project Assistants and Technical Support personnel focus on laboratory upkeep, sample handling, operation of precision measuring tools, data entry, and assistance during calibration trials.

Senior Research Fellows, Research Associates, and Project Research Scientists manage advanced experimental setups, scientific data interpretation, synthesis of materials, development of measurement methodologies, and drafting of project reports and peer-reviewed research papers. These are non-uniformed, scientific desk and laboratory roles with structured working hours, reporting directly to the Principal Investigator or Head of Division, with regular academic interactions across CSIR laboratories.