ADVT. NO. 02/2026
National Innovation Foundation - India
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar-Mahudi Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382650
Web. www.nif.org.in
ADVERTISEMENT NO.: Adv/02/2026
Dated: 29.08.2026
ADVERTISEMENT FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE POSTS OF SCIENTISTS
Applications are invited from eligible Indian citizens for filling up the various posts of Scientists at NIF on Direct Recruitment through open competition on all India basis, as per the details given below.
1. IMPORTANT DATES
| Opening date for submission of online applications | 29.08.2026 |
| Closing date for receipt of online applications | 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar, till 23:59 hrs |
2. NAME OF POSTS, NUMBER OF VACANCIES, PAY LEVEL AND AGE LIMIT
| S. No. | Name of Post | Pay Level (7th CPC) | No. of Posts* | Mode of Recruitment | Reservation for Direct Recruitment | Upper Age Limit |
| 1 | Scientist ‘D’ | Level-12 (₹ 78,800 – 2,09,200) | 01 | Direct Recruitment | UR - 01 | Not exceeding 40 years |
| 2 | Scientist ‘C’ | Level-11 (₹ 67,700 – 2,08,700) | 04 | Direct Recruitment | UR - 01, OBC - 02, SC - 01 | Not exceeding 35 years |
| 3 | Scientist ‘B’ | Level-10 (₹ 56,100 – 1,77,500) | 05 | Direct Recruitment | UR - 04, OBC - 01 | Not exceeding 35 years |
*Note 1: The number of posts to be filled may vary. NIF reserves the right to fill vacancies arising subsequent to this advertisement under this recruitment process till the validity of the panel of recommended candidates, and also reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process in part or full without assigning any reason.
Note 2: Reservation for SC/ST/OBC(NCL)/EWS/PwBD and other applicable categories shall be implemented in accordance with the orders and guidelines issued by the Government of India in respect of Central Autonomous Bodies, as amended from time to time.
3. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
3.1 Nationality: The applicant must be a citizen of India.
3.2 Qualifications:
| Post (Post Code) | No. of Positions | Essential Qualifications | Desirable |
| Scientist ‘D’ (PC-01) | 01 |
1. Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline in the areas of Biological Sciences/ Environmental Sciences/ Agricultural Sciences/ Biotechnology/ Veterinary Sciences/ Pharmaceutical Sciences or any equivalent discipline, from a recognised University or Institute. 2. Five years of experience in research and development in the relevant field. 3. At least five original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Qualification in Public Policy/ Development Studies or a related discipline of Social Sciences from a recognised University or Institute. 2. Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting impact assessments, programme evaluations, and evidence-based research studies. 3. Experience in field-based research in rural, remote, hilly, or tribal areas, and engagement with grassroots innovators, farmers, artisans, self-help groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and other community institutions. 4. Demonstrated experience in preparing high-quality research and policy outputs, including policy briefs, white papers, working papers, case studies, evaluation reports, programme reports, innovation roadmaps, and other publications for relevant stakeholders. |
| Scientist ‘C’ (PC-02) | 01 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) in Agricultural Sciences/Production and Industrial Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering/Electronics and Communication Engineering or an equivalent discipline from a recognised University or Institute. 2. Three years of experience in research and development in the relevant field. 3. Minimum three original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Experience in prototype development, and value addition in machinery, tools, devices, and rural technologies, including proficiency in engineering design and drafting using CAD/CAM/CAE software. 2. Experience in design for manufacturing, materials selection, value engineering, and cost optimisation for scalable product development. 3. Experience in performance evaluation, safety testing, and standardisation of machinery and equipment under laboratory and field conditions. 4. Experience in technology validation and field deployment of innovations, including interaction with innovators, fabricators, and end users. |
| Scientist ‘C’ (PC-03) | 01 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from a recognised University or Institute in Biological Sciences or an equivalent discipline. 2. Three years of experience in research and development in the relevant field. 3. Minimum three original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Experience in evaluation of botanical and microbial biopesticides, biocontrol agents, and other crop protection technologies, including laboratory and field efficacy testing. 2. Knowledge of biopesticide formulation development, laboratory systems and regulatory standards, including Good Laboratory Practices. 3. Experience in intellectual property protection in agriculture, including patents, PPV&FRA, prior art and patentability searches, and other forms of intellectual property rights. 4. Experience in safety, efficacy, and quality studies, qualitative and quantitative characterisation of organic/inorganic compounds, bioanalytical techniques, advanced analytical instruments. |
| Scientist ‘C’ (PC-04) | 02 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from a recognised University or Institute in Biological Sciences/ Pharmaceutical Sciences, or equivalent discipline. 2. Three years of experience in research and development in the relevant field. 3. Minimum three original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Knowledge of Indian traditional healthcare systems, including herbal and community-based health practices, scientific validation, standardisation, prioritisation, incubation, and technology development. 2. Experience in safety, efficacy, and quality assessment in preclinical/clinical studies, qualitative and quantitative characterisation of organic/inorganic compounds, bioanalytical techniques, advanced analytical instrumentation. 3. Knowledge of laboratory quality systems and regulatory standards, including Good Laboratory Practices, pharmacopoeial standards, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, WHO guidelines for herbal medicines, and ethical, regulatory, and intellectual property frameworks relevant to human and animal health research. 4. Experience in multidisciplinary research coordination and project management, including preparation of technical and regulatory dossiers, scientific publications, intellectual property support, and engagement with research institutions, industry, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders for product development and scale-up. |
| Scientist ‘B’ (PC-05) | 02 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from a recognised University or Institute in Biological Sciences/
Agricultural Sciences, or equivalent discipline 2. Minimum two original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Knowledge of indigenous and traditional knowledge systems, with experience in scouting, documentation, verification, and scientific validation of traditional knowledge and grassroots innovations. 2. Experience in technical assessment of innovations, including prior art searches using patent and non-patent literature, scientific databases. 3. Experience in conducting field research, including baseline studies, on-farm trials, multi-location demonstrations, and monitoring the diffusion, adoption, and impact of grassroots technologies. 4. Knowledge of ethical and legal frameworks, including prior informed consent and experience in coordinating with innovators, farmers, and other stakeholders. |
| Scientist ‘B’ (PC-06) | 01 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from a recognised University or Institute in Agricultural Sciences, with specialisation in Agronomy or Horticulture, plant breeding and genetics or equivalent discipline. 2. Minimum two original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Experience in documentation and scientific validation of indigenous plant varieties, farm practices, post-harvest management practices and preparation of technical reports, validation dossiers, and scientific publications. 2. Experience in cultivation, crop management, and on-farm validation of crops, including multi-location field trials. 3. Experience in working with grassroots innovators, farmers, State Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutions, KVKs and other research institutions in multidisciplinary projects. 4. Knowledge and experience in PPV&FRA procedures, including passport data collection and documentation, DUS characterisation, preparation of technical documentation for the registration of plant varieties. |
| Scientist ‘B’ (PC-07) | 01 |
1. Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) from a recognised University or Institute in Agricultural Sciences or equivalent discipline. 2. Minimum two original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Experience in the design, development, prototyping, testing, and performance evaluation of engineering products. 2. Proficiency in computer-aided design and engineering analysis, including 2D/3D CAD, engineering drawings, simulation tools, and design for manufacturing and assembly. 3. Knowledge of intellectual property rights management and regulatory frameworks. 4. Experience in field validation and stakeholder engagement, including interaction with grassroots innovators, farmers, artisans, and fabricators. |
| Scientist ‘B’ (PC-08) | 01 |
1. First Class Master's Degree in Veterinary Sciences or equivalent discipline from a recognised University or Institute. 2. Minimum two original published works of high standard in journals of national/international repute. |
1. Knowledge of scientific validation and development of herbal veterinary technologies, field trials, and indigenous veterinary practices. 2. Experience in safety, efficacy, and quality evaluation of herbal veterinary formulations, including in vitro/in vivo studies, clinical field trials, and standardisation. 3. Knowledge of intellectual property rights management and regulatory frameworks related to traditional knowledge, patents, biodiversity, and veterinary herbal products. 4. Experience in coordinating multi-institutional research and field validation studies with relevant institutions. |
4. APPLICATION FEE
(i) Candidates belonging to the UR/OBC/EWS categories are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand only).
(ii) Candidates belonging to the SC/ST/PwBD, and Women candidates are exempted from payment of the application fee.
(iii) The application fee shall be paid through the prescribed online payment gateway using the modes available on the recruitment portal. Any applicable bank charges, transaction charges, or taxes shall be borne by the candidate.
(iv) The application fee shall be paid on or before the last date prescribed for submission of online applications. Applications submitted without successful payment of the fee, wherever applicable, shall be treated as incomplete and summarily rejected.
(v) The application fee, once paid, shall not be refunded or adjusted under any circumstances, including withdrawal of candidature, ineligibility, rejection of application, or cancellation of the recruitment process.
(vi) Candidates claiming fee exemption must ensure that they fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions and possess valid documentary evidence in support of their claim. Such evidence shall be produced as and when required by the NIF.
5. AGE LIMIT AND RELAXATIONS
(i) The crucial date for determining the age limit and eligibility in all respects shall be the closing date for receipt of applications. Documents in support of eligibility furnished after the closing date shall not be considered.
(ii) Relaxation in the upper age limit shall be admissible in accordance with the orders and instructions issued by the Government of India from time to time.
(iii) The date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Leaving Certificate or an equivalent certificate only be accepted.
6. PROCESS OF SELECTION
(i) All applications received shall be scrutinised by a Screening-cum-Shortlisting Committee constituted for the purpose. In the event of a large number of applications, NIF reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates to be called for the written test and/or interview by adopting appropriate shortlisting criteria, based on the specific requirements of the post.
(ii) If considered necessary, the screening process may include a written test to be conducted by NIF, either directly or through a Central Government agency or any other organisation having the requisite expertise and experience in conducting such examinations.
(iii) Final selection shall be made on the recommendations of the Selection Committee constituted by the Chairperson, Governing Board, NIF, in accordance with the NIF Recruitment Rules, 2026, based on the candidates' performance in the interview, academic record, research contributions, and relevant experience.
(iv) A reserve panel of candidates, in order of merit, shall be prepared from among the candidates interviewed and shall remain valid for a period of one year from the date of approval of the panel.
(v) No correspondence shall be entertained from candidates who are not called for the written test and/or interview or who are not selected for appointment.
(vi) Canvassing in any form shall be treated as a disqualification and will result in rejection of the candidature.
7. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS, ESSENTIAL INFORMATION & CLARIFICATIONS
(i) The relevant/equivalent disciplines for each post are specified in Annexure-I.
(ii) The prescribed experience shall be counted after acquiring the minimum essential educational qualification, unless otherwise specified.
(iii) The candidate must possess the prescribed educational qualification from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India, or from an educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be a Deemed University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognised by the competent authority, as on the closing date for receipt of applications.
(iv) Candidates possessing qualifications from foreign Universities/Institutions must produce an equivalence certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, or by the concerned statutory/professional council recognised by the Government of India, as applicable.
(v) The prescribed essential qualifications are the minimum requirements. Mere possession of these qualifications shall not entitle a candidate to be called for the written test and/or interview.
(vi) Any experience gained during full time degree will not be counted as professional experience.
(vii) Applicants are advised to ensure before applying that they possess essential qualifications & experience for the post.
(viii) No TA/DA and accommodation shall be provided for attending Test/Interview.
(ix) Applicants applying for the post(s) reserved for OBC should submit a self-attested copy of valid caste certificate specifically mentioning creamy layer-exclusion in the prescribed Government of India format. The certificate must not be older than one year.
(x) Candidates are advised to visit the NIF website regularly. Any addendum, corrigendum, or update relating to this recruitment shall be published only on the NIF website.
(xi) The decision of the Screening-cum-Shortlisting Committee regarding the equivalence of qualifications to the prescribed essential and desirable qualifications shall be final.
(xii) Candidates serving in Government Departments, PSUs, Autonomous Bodies, Statutory Bodies, Universities, or Government-funded Research Institutions shall apply through the proper channel or upload a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the competent authority. In the absence of an NOC, the candidate shall upload an undertaking to produce the NOC at the time of the interview, failing which the candidature shall be cancelled.
(xiii) The number of vacancies notified is provisional and may vary depending upon the requirements of NIF.
(xiv) No person shall be eligible for appointment who has entered into or contracted a marriage with a person having a spouse living, or who, having a spouse living, has entered into or contracted a marriage with any person, except where such marriage is permissible under the applicable personal law or where exemption has been granted by the competent authority in accordance with the applicable rules.
(xv) Candidates are advised to submit their online applications well before the closing date to avoid the possibility of technical issues or inability to submit the application due to heavy traffic on the portal during the closing days.
(xvi) The decision of the Competent Authority, NIF, on all matters relating to eligibility, acceptance or rejection of applications, the selection process, and appointment shall be final and binding. Any dispute arising out of this recruitment shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts at Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
(xvii) In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the English and Hindi versions of this advertisement, the English version shall prevail.
8. HOW TO APPLY
(i) Eligible candidates are required to submit their applications online only through the NIF Recruitment Portal: https://jobs.nifindia.org/candidate/login, using a valid e-mail ID and mobile number. Applications submitted through any other mode shall not be accepted. Submission of hard copies of the application is not required.
(ii) Candidates shall apply for only one post for which they fulfil the prescribed eligibility criteria. In case a candidate submits applications for more than one post, only one application shall be considered. Where applications are for posts carrying different Pay Levels, the application for the post carrying the lowest Pay Level shall be considered. Where applications are for two or more posts carrying the same Pay Level, the application for the post for which the candidate possesses the most relevant and suitable qualifications, as determined by the Screening-cum-Shortlist Committee, shall be considered.
(iii) The online application portal shall remain open for 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar.
(iv) Candidates shall upload self-attested copies of documents in support of their date of birth, educational qualifications, experience, category [SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS], PwBD status (where applicable), list of publications, and Ph.D. registration and award certificates, wherever applicable. Original documents shall be produced for verification as and when required.
(v) Experience certificates shall clearly indicate the designation(s), period of service (date of joining and date of relieving), nature of duties, and pay level/pay scale, wherever applicable.
(vi) Uploading of incomplete, illegible, or incorrect documents may result in rejection of the candidature. Furnishing any false, fabricated, or misleading information or suppressing any material information shall render the candidature liable to cancellation at any stage of the recruitment process and, if appointed, to termination of service without prejudice to any other action permissible under law.
For any queries relating to this recruitment advertisement, candidates may write to jobs[at]nifindia[dot]org or contact the National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar–Mahudi Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat–382650. Telephone: 02764-261134
S/D Director
ANNEXURE-1 (Disciplines)
| Sr. No. | Discipline | Equivalent |
| 1 | Biological Sciences |
1. Biology 2. Life Sciences 3. Biotechnology Sciences 4. Any other relevant discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Biology or Biotechnology’ as the main discipline |
| 2 | Environmental Sciences |
1. Environment and Ecology 2. Environment 3. Ecology 4. Any other relevant discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Environment and/or Ecology’ as the main discipline |
| 3 | Agricultural Sciences |
1. Agriculture 2. Agricultural Physics 3. Agricultural Chemistry 4. Agricultural Engineering 5. Agricultural Microbiology 6. Vegetable Science 7. Any other relevant discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Agriculture’ as the main discipline |
Engineering / Technology / Biotechnology / Medicine / Veterinary Sciences / Pharmaceutical Sciences (minimum four year degree course)
| Field | Discipline | Equivalent |
| Engineering or Technology or Biotechnology or Medicine or Veterinary Sciences or Pharmaceutical Sciences | Electronics and Communication Engineering |
1. Electronics and Communication Engineering 2. Electronics Engineering 3. Electronics and Computer Engineering 4. Electronics and Control Engineering 5. Electronics and Communication System Engineering 6. Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering 7. Electronics and Tele-Communication Engineering 8. Electronics and Telematics Engineering 9. Industrial Electronics Engineering 10. Tele Communication Engineering 11. Telecommunication and Information Technology 12. Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering 13. Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering 14. Electrical with Communication Engineering 15. Radio Physics and Electronics 16. Electrical Engineering 17. Electrical and Electronics Engineering 18. Electronics and Communication Engineering (Avionics) 19. Any other relevant Engineering or Technology discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Electronics’ as the main discipline |
| Production and Industrial Engineering |
1. Production Engineering 2. Industrial Production Engineering 3. Production and Industrial Engineering 4. Any other relevant Engineering or Technology discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Production and Industrial’ as the main discipline |
|
| Mechanical Engineering |
1. Mechanical Engineering 2. Mechanical and Automation Engineering 3. Mechanical and Production Engineering 4. Mechatronics Engineering 5. Any other relevant Engineering or Technology discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Mechanical’ as the main discipline |
|
| Biotechnology |
1. Biotechnology 2. Biochemical Technology 3. Bioinformatics 4. Any other relevant Engineering or Technology discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Biotechnology’ as the main discipline |
|
| Pharmaceutical Sciences |
1. Pharmacology 2. Pharmacy 3. Medicinal Chemistry 4. Pharmaceutical Chemistry 5. Any other relevant discipline with qualifying degree with ‘Pharmacy’ as the main discipline |
|
| Veterinary Sciences | Any relevant discipline with qualifying degree in ‘Veterinary Sciences’ |
ANNEXURE-2
PROFORMA – NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE
(To be given by the Head of Organisation/Office)
(i) Certified that Shri/Smt./Ms. ______________________________ joined this organisation as ____________ (name of the post) with effect from ______________ and is presently working as ____________ (name of the post).
(ii) It is also certified that no disciplinary/vigilance proceedings are either pending or contemplated against the officer. Integrity of the officer is certified.
(iii) The application of Shri/Smt./Ms. ______________________________ for the post of ______________ at National Innovation Foundation – India is recommended. In case of his/her selection, the organisation will relieve him/her.
Place: ______________
Date: ______________
Signature of the Head of the Organisation/Office with Office Seal