🌌 NCRA-TIFR Mega Recruitment 2026 🔭
📢 Apply for 38 Engineers, Scientific Assistants, Clerks & Trainee Posts!
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
🌟 A Stellar Career Opportunity in Radio Astrophysics!
The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune, a premier center of the esteemed Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), has launched a massive recruitment drive for the year 2026. Operating as an autonomous institute under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, NCRA is an internationally reputed research institution. Located inside the Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus, NCRA operates world-class facilities including the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Khodad (the world’s largest radio telescope at metre wavelengths) and the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) in Udhagamandalam.
In a historic move, NCRA-TIFR has simultaneously released Five Extensive Recruitment Advertisements (Advt No. 2026/01 to 2026/05) to fill a total of 38 vacancies. These vacancies span across various domains including permanent technical, scientific, and administrative positions, as well as highly rewarding project-based and trainee roles. Positions are available at the Pune Headquarters, GMRT Khodad, and RAC Ooty campuses.
Whether you are a fresh B.E/B.Tech graduate, an ITI/Diploma holder, a Science graduate, or an experienced administrative professional, this recruitment drive offers unparalleled opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge scientific endeavors. The online application portal is currently live, and candidates have until 20th March 2026 to submit their forms. Explore this extraordinarily detailed guide to understand every nuance of the eligibility criteria, salary structures, job profiles, and selection process. 👇
🚀 Comprehensive Recruitment Overview
| 🏢 Recruiting Organization | National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) |
| 📄 Advertisement Numbers | 2026/01, 2026/02, 2026/03, 2026/04, & 2026/05 |
| 💼 Categories of Posts | Engineers, Scientific Assts, Technical Assts, Lab Assts, Clerks, & Trainees |
| 🔢 Total Vacancies | 38 Posts Combined |
| 📍 Job Locations | NCRA Pune, GMRT Khodad (Maharashtra), RAC Ooty (Tamil Nadu) |
| 💰 Salary / Pay Level | Up to Pay Level 10 (Max TME: ₹ 1,03,400/- per month) |
| 📅 Application Deadline | 20th March 2026 |
| 📝 Application Mode | Online (Offline allowed only if unable to apply online) |
🟢 Advertisement No. 2026/01: Trainees & Project Posts (Pune & Khodad)
This advertisement focuses on engaging fresh talent and experienced project staff on fixed stipends/consolidated pay. These positions offer an incredible launchpad for careers in advanced astrophysics instrumentation and administration.
📊 Vacancy Summary (Advt 2026/01) – 24 Posts
| Post Name | Location | Vacancies | Category | Max Age | Stipend / Salary (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer Trainee (Civil) | Pune | 1 | UR | 28 | 35,000 pm |
| Engineer Trainee (Servo) | Khodad | 2 | UR | 28 | 35,000 pm |
| Engineer Trainee (Digital) | Khodad | 2 | UR | 28 | 35,000 pm |
| Technical Trainee (Electrical) | Khodad | 1 | UR | 28 | 23,000 pm |
| Technical Trainee (Civil) | Khodad | 2 | UR | 28 | 23,000 pm |
| Technical Trainee (Telescope Obs.) | Khodad | 3 | UR | 28 | 23,000 pm |
| Project Technical Asst (Civil) | Khodad | 1 | UR | 28 | 63,900 pm |
| Project Engineer-C (Mechanical) | Khodad | 1 | UR | 28 | 1,03,400 pm |
| Project Engineer-C (Civil) | Khodad | 1 | UR | 28 | 1,03,400 pm |
| Administrative Trainee | Khodad | 4 | UR | 28 | 22,000 pm |
| Administrative Trainee | Pune | 6 | UR | 28 | 22,000 pm |
🎓 Detailed Eligibility & Job Profiles (Advt 2026/01)
1. Engineer Trainees (Civil / Servo / Digital)
- Qualification: Full-time BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering (for Civil) OR Electronics & Communication/Electronics Engineering (for Servo & Digital) with a minimum of 60% marks.
- Desirable Exp (Servo): 1 year in Embedded systems, Digital electronics, Microcontrollers, Assembly/C/VHDL, Linux.
- Desirable Exp (Digital): 1 year in analog/digital/FPGA-VLSI design, CPU-GPU programming, signal processing.
- Nature of Job: Site supervision, contract tracking (Civil). Design, testing of digital electronics, embedded programming (Servo). DSP systems, software programming, data acquisition (Digital).
- Tenure: Initial 1 year, extendable up to 2 years based on performance.
2. Technical Trainees (Electrical / Civil / Telescope Observer)
- Qualification (Electrical): Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
- Qualification (Civil): Diploma in Civil Engineering (60% marks) + AutoCAD knowledge.
- Qualification (Observer): B.Sc. (Physics/Electronics) OR Diploma in Electronics and Radio Engineering (DERE).
- Nature of Job: Site supervision, DG sets, UPS maintenance (Electrical). Maintenance of residential/office buildings, concrete towers, billing (Civil). Assisting in round-the-clock shift duties for telescope observation (Observer).
- Tenure: Max 2 years.
3. Project Engineers & Technical Assistant
- Project Tech Asst (Civil): Diploma in Civil Engg (60%) + AutoCAD. Job: Supervising NCRA Arvi Antenna Project (NAAP) civil works. Salary: ₹ 63,900.
- Project Engineer-C (Mech): BE/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (60%). Job: GMRT Antenna Upgradation, dismantling & erection. Experience in 3D software & fabrication desired. Salary: ₹ 1,03,400.
- Project Engineer-C (Civil): BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering (60%). Job: Supervising NAAP antenna towers, tender evaluation, quality control. Salary: ₹ 1,03,400.
- Tenure: Initial 1 year, extendable by another 2 years.
4. Administrative Trainees (Khodad & Pune)
- Qualification: Graduate from a recognized university with knowledge of typing and PC applications.
- Desirable: Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Nature of Training: On-the-job training in Accounts, General Administration, HR, Stores & Purchase, and Secretarial divisions.
- Tenure: Max 2 years. Stipend: ₹ 22,000 pm.
🔵 Advertisement No. 2026/02: Trainee Posts at RAC Ooty
The Radio Astronomy Centre (RAC) in Ooty is seeking motivated trainees for crucial telescope and electrical operations. These roles are critical for the seamless functioning of the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT).
📊 Vacancy Summary (Advt 2026/02) – 3 Posts
| Post Name | Location | Vacancies | Max Age | Stipend (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Trainee (Telescope Observer) | Ooty | 2 (UR) | 28 | 23,000 pm |
| Technical Trainee (Electrical) | Ooty | 1 (UR) | 28 | 23,000 pm |
🎓 Detailed Eligibility:
- Telescope Observer: B.Sc. (Physics/Electronics) OR Diploma in Electronics and Radio Engineering (DERE). Must work round-the-clock shift duties to oversee ORT observation.
- Electrical: Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Job involves 22 KV HT/LT Installation, DG Set operation, UPS & AC maintenance.
- Tenure: Max 2 years for both posts.
🟢 Advertisement No. 2026/03: Regular Engineer Posts (Khodad)
These are highly prestigious, permanent (regular) engineering roles stationed at the world-renowned GMRT facility in Khodad. Candidates will be placed in Pay Level 10.
📊 Vacancy Summary (Advt 2026/03) – 2 Posts
| Post Name | Location | Vacancies & Category | Max Age | Pay Level & Total Emoluments (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer-C (Electrical) | Khodad | 1 (EWS) | 28 | Level 10 (₹ 99,936/-) |
| Engineer-C (Civil) | Khodad | 1 (OBC) | 31 | Level 10 (₹ 99,936/-) |
🎓 Detailed Eligibility & Experience:
- Engineer-C (Electrical): Full-time BE/B.Tech in Electrical Engineering (60%). Experience: 2 years as an Electrical Engineer in reputed labs/institutes. Job involves planning maintenance of HT & LT installations, central AC plants, UPS systems, and liaising with local electricity authorities.
- Engineer-C (Civil): Full-time BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering (60%). Experience: Minimum 2 years after graduation in civil engineering works. Job involves management and enhancement of all civil infrastructure, cost estimation, tender evaluation, and quality control.
🟣 Advertisement No. 2026/04: Assistants & Clerks (Pune & Khodad)
This notification covers regular Technical, Scientific, and Administrative roles for candidates with B.Sc, Diploma, ITI, or general graduation degrees.
📊 Vacancy Summary (Advt 2026/04) – 7 Posts
| Post Name | Location | Vacancies & Cat. | Max Age | Pay Level (TME) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Assistant-B (IT) | Pune | 1 (EWS) | 28 | Level 6 (₹ 72,240/-) |
| Scientific Asst-B (Telescope Obs.) | Khodad | 1 (UR) | 28 | Level 6 (₹ 62,316/-) |
| Technical Assistant-B (Civil) | Khodad | 1 (EWS) | 28 | Level 6 (₹ 62,316/-) |
| Laboratory Asst-B (Electronics) | Khodad | 1 (UR) | 28 | Level 3 (₹ 39,300/-) |
| Clerk-A | Pune | 3 (1 UR, 1 OBC, 1 ST) | UR: 28, OBC: 31, ST: 33 | Level 3 (₹ 46,484/-) |
🎓 Detailed Eligibility & Experience:
- Sci Asst-B (IT): B.Sc in CS/IT (60%) + 1 yr experience. Must know Java, Angular, PL/SQL.
- Sci Asst-B (Obs): B.Sc (Physics/Electronics) OR Diploma in Electronics (60%) + 1 yr experience in UNIX/Linux data analysis.
- Tech Asst-B (Civil): Diploma in Civil Engg (60%) + 2 years field experience in civil construction and maintenance.
- Lab Asst-B (Electronics): ITI / NTC in Electronics (60%) + 2 years experience in an electronics lab.
- Clerk-A: Graduate (50%) + Knowledge of typing and MS Office + 1 year clerical experience in a reputed organization.
🔴 Advertisement No. 2026/05: Regular Posts at RAC Ooty
📊 Vacancy Summary (Advt 2026/05) – 2 Posts
| Post Name | Location | Vacancies & Cat. | Max Age | Pay Level (TME) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Asst-B (Telescope Obs.) | Ooty | 1 (EWS) | 28 | Level 6 (₹ 62,316/-) |
| Work Assistant | Ooty | 1 (UR) | 28 | Level 1 (₹ 31,662/-) |
🎓 Detailed Eligibility & Experience:
- Scientific Asst-B (Obs): B.Sc (Physics/Electronics) OR Diploma in Electronics (60%) + 1 year experience in UNIX/Linux.
- Work Assistant: 10th Pass (S.S.C.) + 1 year experience in day-to-day office works (dispatch, bank work, photocopy). Knowledge of computers is desirable.
⚖️ Important Rules, Age Limit & Selection Process
👨🦳 Age Calculation & Relaxation
- The crucial date for reckoning age, qualification, and experience is 01st January 2026.
- Age relaxation is applicable as per Government of India rules for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories.
- Note: Candidates claiming reservation (OBC/EWS/SC/ST) must ensure they apply against the correctly reserved vacancy.
⚙️ Selection Procedure
- If the number of eligible applications is large, NCRA will restrict the number of candidates called for written tests based on merit in basic qualifications or years of experience.
- The center may conduct more than one written test, online test, or skill test to create a primary merit list.
- The primary merit list is not a selection list. It is used to further shortlist candidates for final written tests/interviews.
- Top scorers from the final list made by the Selection Committee will be considered for appointment.
Transferability Note: HQ mentioned in the tables is for the present. All the posts are transferable within NCRA campuses (Pune, Khodad & Ooty) based on administrative needs. Candidates may also be required to work in shifts, on weekends, and holidays.
🖥️ Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply
Application Deadline: 20th March 2026
Option 1: Apply Online (Highly Recommended)
- Visit the official NCRA application portal using the link: https://tinyurl.com/ncrajob2026.
- Select the specific Advertisement Number and Post you wish to apply for.
- Fill out the comprehensive online application form with accurate personal, educational, and experience details.
- Upload necessary documents if prompted, and submit the form before the deadline.
- If you face any technical difficulties, you can email your issue to estt@ncra.tifr.res.in.
Option 2: Apply Offline (Only if unable to apply online)
Candidates who genuinely cannot apply online can submit a hard copy in the prescribed format. Place it in a sealed cover, super-scribing the envelope with the “Post Applied For”, and send it to the following address so it reaches before 20th March 2026:
NCRA-TIFR, Post Bag 3, Ganeshkhind,
Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus,
Pune – 411007.
🔗 Important Links & Downloads
| 💻 Official NCRA Online Application Portal | 👉 Apply Here |
| 📄 View Advt No. 2026/01 (Trainee/Project) | Read Notice |
| 📄 View Advt No. 2026/02, 03, 04, 05 | All Notices Here |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many total vacancies are announced in NCRA-TIFR Recruitment 2026?
A total of 38 vacancies have been announced collectively across 5 different advertisements (2026/01 to 2026/05) for various Engineer, Assistant, Clerk, and Trainee posts.
Q2. What is the last date to apply online?
The last date for the receipt of online applications is 20th March 2026.
Q3. What is the cut-off date for calculating age and experience?
Age, qualifications, and experience will be reckoned as on 1st January 2026 for all advertisements.
Q4. Can I send a hard copy of my application instead of applying online?
Yes, candidates are highly encouraged to apply online. However, if you cannot apply online, you can submit a hard copy in the prescribed format via post to the Administrative Officer-D (Establishment) at NCRA-TIFR, Pune before the deadline.
Q5. What is the salary for Project Engineer-C (Civil/Mech)?
Project Engineer-C posts command a lucrative fixed monthly stipend/salary of ₹ 1,03,400/- per month.
Q6. Where will the selected candidates be posted?
Selected candidates will be posted at Pune (Maharashtra), Khodad (GMRT, Maharashtra), or Ooty (RAC, Tamil Nadu) depending on the specific post applied for. However, all posts are transferable across NCRA campuses.
Disclaimer: The information compiled above is based on the five official advertisements (2026/01 to 2026/05) released by NCRA-TIFR. Candidates are urged to visit the official NCRA website and read the original notifications carefully before applying.
Vinit Rajput is the Founder of GovtRank.com. He is an education news analyst from Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar with 5+ years of experience in tracking government job notifications. He specializes in verifying official circulars and simplifying them for students.