NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - 376 Posts - Apply Online

The National Informatics Centre has released Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2 for 376 Scientific/Technical Assistant-A posts, a Group-B S&T (Non-Gazetted) role filled purely on the basis of a valid GATE score — no written exam or interview at all. Vacancies span three disciplines: Computer Sciences & IT (300), Electronics and Communication Engineering (26), and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (50). Online applications run from 1 September 2026, 10:00 AM to 30 September 2026, 5:30 PM.

Who Should Apply

• Computer Sciences & Information Technology (300 posts) — M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech. in Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Computer Sciences, Computer and Networking Security, Software System, Information Technology, or Informatics, plus a valid GATE score in Paper Code CS.
• Electronics and Communication Engineering (26 posts) — a valid GATE score in Paper Code EC (the notification doesn't separately spell out qualifying degree fields for this discipline beyond the GATE requirement).
• Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (50 posts) — a valid GATE score in Paper Code DA (the notification doesn't separately spell out qualifying degree fields for this discipline beyond the GATE requirement).

Vacancy numbers are tentative and may increase or decrease at NIC's sole discretion.

Eligibility & Age Limit

You must possess a valid GATE score from 2024, 2025, or 2026 in the paper code matching your discipline — this is the core eligibility test for every applicant, alongside holding the essential qualification (where specified) by the closing date. No prior work experience is required for this post. Only qualifications from Open University/Distance Education mode recognised by the Distance Education Council (and AICTE where necessary) are considered eligible; no claim of an "equivalent" qualification will be entertained.

Age as on the closing date, 30 September 2026: 30 years for UR/EWS, 35 years for SC/ST, 33 years for OBC (NCL). PwBD candidates get 40 years (45 for SC/ST-PwBD, 43 for OBC(NCL)-PwBD). Service candidates (already working in a Government post in the same line or allied cadre) get 35 years (UR/EWS), 40 years (SC/ST), or 38 years (OBC-NCL) — plus an additional 5-year relaxation applies specifically where their existing service is directly relevant to this post. Ex-servicemen relaxation follows Government Rules generally. Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC(NCL) applies only to posts reserved for that category, while PwBD relaxation applies regardless of reservation status, provided the post is identified as suitable for PwBD candidates.

Horizontal PwBD reservation: 15 posts in Computer Sciences & IT (4 Locomotor disability, 4 Hard of Hearing, 7 Multiple Disabilities — including a 3-post PH-MD backlog within that figure), and 2 posts each in Electronics & Communication Engineering and Data Science & AI (1 Locomotor disability, 1 Hard of Hearing in each).

Check your exact age as on the cut-off date — this remains 30 September 2026 even if the application window is later extended. Since a CGPA-to-percentage conversion matters for tie-breaking in the merit list, convert your CGPA to know your percentage, and be ready to produce a Registrar-issued conversion certificate if your university doesn't provide its own formula.

Salary & Pay Scale

The post carries Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 per month, plus allowances as per Government of India norms. As a Group-B Central Government post, your actual in-hand pay will include DA, HRA, and other standard allowances on top of this basic scale.

Important Dates

Application Fee

• SC/ST/PwBD/Women: Nil
• UR/OBC (NCL)/EWS: ₹800

Candidates applying for more than one discipline must pay ₹800 separately for each discipline. Payment is online only (Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking) — Cash, Demand Draft, Pay Order, or Cheque is not accepted. Bank remittance charges, if any, are borne by the candidate. The fee, once paid, is non-refundable.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official portal, https://recruitment.nic.in.
2. Step 1 — Registration: sign up with a valid, active e-mail ID and mobile number.
3. Step 2 — Fill in the online application form and upload all required documents.
4. Step 3 — Pay the application fee online, if applicable to your category.
5. Step 4 — Download the Confirmation Page once your application is complete.
6. Make sure all four steps are completed — an incomplete application (including a failed or unconfirmed fee payment) is summarily rejected, with no further query entertained.
7. Note your Application Number/Password for future correspondence, and check your registered e-mail/SMS regularly, since all official communication comes through these channels.

No change to your name, category, address, mobile number, or e-mail ID is permitted after submission — double-check everything before you submit. Aadhaar-based authentication is used at every stage of this recruitment.

Compress your PDF to fit the limit before uploading — every supporting document must be a self-attested scanned PDF between 10 KB and 500 KB, your photograph a JPEG/JPG between 50 KB and 200 KB, and your signature (blue/black ink) a JPEG/JPG between 10 KB and 50 KB.

How Are Candidates Selected

Eligibility Check: Only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and have completed registration are considered further.

Category-wise Merit List: Built purely from your GATE score, per discipline, with equal weightage given to GATE 2024, 2025, and 2026 — you submit your single best score from any one eligible year.

Tie-Breaking: First, the older-year GATE score ranks higher; second, if score and year are identical, the older candidate ranks higher; third, if still tied, the candidate with the higher percentage in the essential qualification ranks higher (CGPA converted per your university's formula, or a Registrar's certificate if no formula exists).

Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates are called to verify original documents before a provisional appointment offer — conducted at Delhi or another location/mode NIC approves, with no request for postponement or change of location entertained, and no TA/DA paid. Non-appearance with originals means rejection, with no additional time given.

Why This Job Matters

NIC, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has been India's principal builder of e-Governance applications since 1976, powering government IT infrastructure and digital services from the Centre down to States, Districts, and Blocks. This recruitment is notable for skipping a written exam or interview entirely in favour of a pure GATE-score merit list — a genuinely different selection model from most Central Government recruitment, and one where your GATE performance alone (not a separate departmental test) decides your outcome.

The FreshersLike Take

Best fit: This suits an engineering or computer science graduate who already holds (or is about to receive) a valid GATE 2024/2025/2026 score in CS, EC, or DA — since there's no written exam or interview, a strong GATE percentile is the entire game here.

Who should think twice: If you don't already have a valid GATE score in the right paper code, this recruitment isn't accessible to you this cycle — there's no alternative written test route. The post also carries All India liability, meaning you can be posted anywhere in India, or even outside India, at NIC's discretion, with no query on posting location entertained.

Practical tip: Since equal weightage is given to GATE 2024, 2025, and 2026 scores, and you submit only your single best one, don't assume a recent attempt automatically beats an older one — check your actual GATE percentile/score across all three years before deciding which one to submit, since a stronger 2024 score can still outrank a weaker 2026 one in the merit list.

Documents Required

• Scanned colour photograph (JPEG/JPG, 50-200 KB)
• Scanned signature in blue/black ink (JPEG/JPG, 10-50 KB)
• Date of Birth proof (Municipality certificate or Matriculation/High School/SSC Certificate)
• Matriculation Certificate and Senior Secondary Certificate
• Valid GATE Score Card for 2024/2025/2026 (whichever year you're submitting)
• Essential Qualification Certificate (M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech. Pass Certificate) with marksheets
• CGPA conversion certificate from the University Registrar, if your marksheet shows CGPA and your university has no standard conversion formula
• Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), if applicable, in the prescribed Government of India format
• PwBD certificate (minimum 40% permanent disability), if applicable
• Experience Certificate, if any
• No Objection Certificate, if currently working in Central/State Government/PSU/Aided Institution/Autonomous Body — must also confirm no disciplinary/vigilance case is pending or contemplated
• Age relaxation certificate, if applicable
• Aadhaar Card, for Aadhaar-based authentication
• Any other Government-issued photo ID (PAN Card/Driving Licence/EPIC ID/etc.)

What Happens After Selection

Candidates found eligible at Document Verification are offered a provisional appointment, subject to meeting every other eligibility criterion for the post. If your identity is in doubt, you can't produce required original documents, or there's a mismatch between your documents and application, your candidature is rejected on the spot — no additional time is given. The post carries All India liability, meaning selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India or outside India, in the interest of the organisation.

Contact & Helpline

For technical issues with the online application or downloading the admit card, e-mail helpdesk-nic@nic.in, mentioning the advertisement number (NIC/STA/2026/2) in the subject line. This is the only official channel for queries — no other query is entertained at this address, and NIC will not contact candidates through any other number or address for payment or personal details.

Important Links

Common Questions

What is the last date to apply for NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026?

Online applications close on 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM. The eligibility cut-off date is also 30 September 2026, and stays fixed even if the application window is extended.

Is there a written exam or interview?

No. Selection is based entirely on your valid GATE score (2024/2025/2026) — there is no written test or interview stage at all.

Can a fresher without any specific work experience apply?

Yes — the notification explicitly states no experience is required for this post. Your GATE score and essential qualification are what matter.

What if I don't have a GATE score?

You're not eligible for this recruitment cycle. A valid GATE score in the correct paper code (CS, EC, or DA) is a hard requirement — there's no alternative written-exam route for candidates without one.

Is there an application fee, and who is exempt?

₹800 for UR/OBC(NCL)/EWS, and Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women. If you apply for more than one discipline, you pay ₹800 separately for each one. The fee is non-refundable once paid.

Can I change my details after submitting my application?

No. The notification explicitly states no change to name, category, address, mobile number, or e-mail ID is permitted after submission — review everything carefully before you submit.

Where will I be posted if selected?

Anywhere in India, or even outside India, entirely at NIC's discretion — the post carries All India liability, and no query on posting location is entertained.

Is TA/DA paid for attending Document Verification?

No. The notification states no TA/DA will be paid for appearing at Document Verification, which is held at Delhi or another location/mode NIC approves.

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