BSI Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI), under the Ministry of Environment & Forests, has invited applications for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 to fill 6 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) posts in Botany at its regional centres across India. Eligible candidates with an M.Sc. in Botany (minimum 55% aggregate) can submit hard copy, soft copy, and online applications on or before 09 August 2026. Selected JRFs will receive a monthly fellowship of ₹37,000, rising to ₹42,000 from the third year onwards.

BSI JRF Notification 

The official BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 notification (Reference No. BSI-292/2/JRF-Rect./2026-Tech.) is issued by the Scientist-in-Charge, Technical Section, BSI Headquarters, Kolkata. Candidates should read the full notification carefully on the official website, www.bsi.gov.in, before applying, since it contains the complete terms and conditions, the application form, and the Bharatkosh fee payment procedure (Annexure-I).

Download BSI JRF Notification PDF

BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 - Overview

Candidates looking for a quick snapshot of BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 can refer to the table below before going through the detailed sections.

Important Dates for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026

Candidates applying for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 must note that the deadline below is a single absolute deadline covering all three submission formats, not separate dates for each.

The notification does not specify separate dates for the written test or interview; candidates will be informed of the exact written test date and time in advance, and it will also be posted on the official website.

BSI JRF Vacancy Details 2026

BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 covers a total of 6 Junior Research Fellow posts in Botany. The notification does not provide a category-wise or centre-wise vacancy breakup; all 6 posts are open across BSI's regional centres, and selected candidates may be posted at any of them based on organizational requirements.

Place of work includes any BSI Regional Centre/Office located at Itanagar, Shillong, Gangtok, Howrah, Kolkata, Prayagraj, Noida, Dehradun, Jodhpur, Pune, Hyderabad, Vijaya Puram, Coimbatore, or Solan (Yercaud). Appointed JRFs may be transferred to any other BSI office based on organizational needs.

BSI JRF Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates wondering whether they qualify for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 can check the essential and desirable qualifications below.

Educational Qualification

• Essential: Master's degree (M.Sc.) in Botany from a UGC-recognized university with at least 55% aggregate marks at the time of submitting the application.
• Desirable: M.Sc. in Botany with specialization in Plant Taxonomy or Plant Systematics (any plant group), working knowledge of computers, strong analytical abilities, and proficient technical writing skills.

Candidates who have qualified CSIR-JRF NET are exempted from the written examination. However, they must still apply, select their preferred examination centres, and appear for the interview if shortlisted.

Age Limit

The upper age limit for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 is 28 years as on the last date of application submission. Age relaxation of up to 5 years is available for SC, ST, Physically Handicapped (PH), and female applicants, and up to 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates.

BSI JRF Fellowship Amount and Duration 2026

Candidates checking the BSI JRF salary can note that selected candidates will receive a consolidated monthly fellowship of ₹37,000 for the first two years, enhanced to ₹42,000 from the third year onwards, along with HRA as admissible under central rules.

The fellowship follows a 2+1+2 year structure:

• Initial appointment as JRF for 2 years.
• Following a performance assessment, suitable candidates are promoted to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) for a 3rd year; otherwise, the fellowship may be terminated.
• The SRF tenure may be extended for an additional 2 years, subject to satisfactory progress and institutional requirements.

This fellowship is purely contractual and confers no right to regularization or absorption in BSI. Fellows are not entitled to any other benefits during or after their tenure.

BSI JRF Application Fee 2026

The non-refundable examination fee for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 varies by category and must be paid exclusively online through the Bharatkosh portal.

Fees must be paid only through bharatkosh.gov.in using the "Quick Pay" option, selecting Ministry/Department as "079 - Environment and Forests," Purpose as "Exam Fees," PAO as "075020-PAO(BSI/ZSI), Kolkata," and DDO as "275023-Director." Candidates must download the payment receipt from the Bharatkosh website and retain it, since the receipt number and date must also be entered in the application form.

BSI JRF Selection Process 2026

Selection for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 involves a written test followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates. Candidates who have qualified CSIR-JRF NET are exempted only from the written test stage and go directly to the interview if shortlisted.

• A physical (offline) written test consisting of one Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) paper of 3 hours duration will be conducted across all Regional Centres of BSI. The exact date and time will be communicated in advance and posted on the official website.
• Online interviews for shortlisted candidates will be hosted through five regional centres: Central National Herbarium (Howrah), Eastern Regional Centre (Shillong), Western Regional Centre (Pune), Southern Regional Centre (Coimbatore), and Northern Regional Centre (Dehradun).
• Regional centre allocation depends on applicant turnout; if turnout at a specific centre is too low, candidates will be shifted to the nearest regional centre. The Director, BSI, reserves the right to centralize all interviews at a single location.

Documents Required for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026

• Completed application form (hard copy and soft copy)
• Bharatkosh fee payment receipt
• Research papers and other prescribed documents (a list of five best publications, if any, with reprint copies)
• A printed copy of the submitted application form, to be carried to the written examination
• A valid Government-issued photo ID card (Aadhaar, Passport, Driving License, etc.) for verification at the written examination
• All original certificates, documents, and testimonials, along with one set of self-attested photocopies, to be presented at the interview
• "No Objection Certificate" from the employer, for candidates already employed in Government, PSUs, or Autonomous Bodies
• Recent passport-size photograph (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm), duly signed, affixed on the application form

How to Apply for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026

BSI JRF Recruitment 2026 requires candidates to complete three separate submissions - hard copy, soft copy, and an online form - all by the same deadline of 09 August 2026.

1. Pay the applicable examination fee online through bharatkosh.gov.in and download the payment receipt.
2. Fill out the prescribed application form completely, including personal information, educational qualification, list of five best publications, and choice of three examination centres in order of preference.
3. Send the completed hard copy application, Bharatkosh receipt, research papers, and prescribed documents by Registered Post to: The Scientist-in-Charge, Technical Section, BSI-Hqrs., 3rd MSO Building, CGO Complex, F-Wing, DF Block, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700064.
4. Compile the soft copy of the same documents into a single PDF file and email it to [email protected], with the file named strictly as BSI_JRF_2026_FN_LN (FN = first name, LN = last name).
5. Additionally, complete and submit the online application through the Google Form link provided on the official website, www.bsi.gov.in.

All three formats - hard copy, soft copy, and online form - must be received on or before 09 August 2026. Any application received after this date will not be considered.

Important Instructions for BSI JRF Recruitment 2026

• Candidates must verify their age, discipline, and qualification eligibility before applying; if found ineligible at any later stage, the application or candidature will be rejected.
• Candidates must accurately fill out all fields and upload scanned copies of all mandatory supporting documents during online application.
• Candidates must arrive at the examination centre at least one hour before the scheduled time; latecomers will strictly not be permitted entry.
• Electronic items, including mobile phones, pen drives, laptops, and CDs, are strictly banned inside the examination hall.
• Candidates must arrange their own travel and stay for the interview; no Travelling Allowance (TA) or daily allowance will be paid.
• Selected JRFs are permitted to register for regular Ph.D. programmes, provided they fulfil the academic eligibility criteria of the concerned university.
• Selected candidates are expected to travel extensively across India, including remote and inaccessible terrain, and are liable to be posted at any BSI regional centre during their tenure.
• Applicants must submit only one application; if multiple forms are submitted, only the latest complete form will be considered and earlier versions will be rejected.
• No correspondence will be entertained regarding the written test, interview shortlists, or final selections. Canvassing in any form will lead to immediate disqualification.
• The Director, BSI, reserves the right not to fill any vacancy, and reserves the absolute right to amend, modify, or cancel the advertisement, or nullify the selection process at any time without assigning any reason.

BSI Junior Research Fellow Important Links

• Official Notification PDF: Click here
• Official Website: Click here 
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