The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune - a centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India - has released Recruitment Advertisement No. 2026/09, inviting applications for 22 posts across administrative, technical and trainee categories. NCRA-TIFR is located inside the Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus and operates the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), the world's largest radio telescope at metre wavelengths, located about 80 km north of Pune. NCRA is also a member of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) consortium, and five of the nine posts notified are specifically for the SKA India project. Applications can be submitted online at the link below, and the last date to apply is 31 August 2026.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), TIFR |
| Advertisement No. | 2026/09 |
| Post Names | Project Administrative Officer, Project Administrative Assistant, Project Technical Assistant (Low Hardware/OMC/SRC), Engineer Trainee (Servo), Library Trainee, Administrative Trainee, Tradesman Trainee (Electrical) |
| Total Vacancies | 22 (computed by summing all posts; not stated as one figure in the source) |
| Job Location | Pune, Khodad, Ooty |
| Age Limit | 28 to 40 years, depending on post and category |
| Qualification | Varies by post - Graduate, Science Graduate/Diploma in Engineering, BE/B.Tech, B.Lib.I.Sc/M.Lib.I.Sc, or NTC/NAC (see Eligibility section) |
| Mode of Application | Online (preferred) / Offline hard copy for those who cannot apply online |
| Last Date to Apply | 31-08-2026 |
| Salary/Stipend | Rs.18,500/- to Rs.1,03,400/- (post-dependent, fixed TME) |
| Application Link | https://tinyurl.com/ncrajob-2026 |
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply (Online and Offline) | 31-08-2026 |
| Reference Date for Age, Qualification & Experience | 31-08-2026 |
The notification does not mention a separate application opening date; only the closing date of 31 August 2026 is specified.
NCRA Vacancy 2026 – Post-wise Details
NCRA Recruitment 2026 covers 22 posts across 9 categories, spread over Pune and Khodad. Posts at Sr. No. 1–5 are under the SKA India project (3-year tenure); posts at Sr. No. 6–9 are trainee positions outside the SKA project (2-year tenure, non-absorption after training).
| Sr. No. | Post Name | HQ | No. of Posts | Reservation | Max Age | Salary/Stipend (TME) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project Administrative Officer | Pune | 2 | UR-1, EWS-1 | 40 | Rs.1,03,400/- |
| 2 | Project Administrative Assistant | Pune | 1 | EWS-1 | 33 | Rs.63,900/- |
| 3 | Project Technical Assistant (Low Hardware) | Pune | 3 | UR-1, SC-1, ST-1 | 28 (UR); 33 (SC/ST) | Rs.63,900/- |
| 4 | Project Technical Assistant (OMC) | Pune | 2 | UR-2 | 28 | Rs.63,900/- |
| 5 | Project Technical Assistant (SRC) | Pune | 3 | UR-2, OBC-1 | 28 (UR); 31 (OBC) | Rs.63,900/- |
| 6 | Engineer Trainee (Servo) | Khodad | 2 | UR-2 | 28 | Rs.35,000/- (stipend) |
| 7 | Library Trainee | Pune | 1 | UR-1 | 28 | Rs.22,000/- (stipend) |
| 8 | Administrative Trainee | Pune/Khodad | 6 | UR-6 | 28 | Rs.22,000/- (stipend) |
| 9 | Tradesman Trainee (Electrical) | Pune | 2 | UR-2 | 28 | Rs.18,500/- (stipend) |
Abbreviations: UR – Unreserved, OBC – Other Backward Classes, SC – Scheduled Caste, ST – Scheduled Tribe, PwBD – Persons with Benchmark Disability, EWS – Economically Weaker Section, TME – Total Monthly Emoluments. All HQ locations mentioned are current; all posts are transferable within NCRA campuses (Pune, Khodad and Ooty).
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Qualification (Post-wise)
- Project Administrative Officer: Graduate from a recognized University/Institute with 60% aggregate marks, plus a Diploma/Degree/Certificate course in Management or Administration, plus proficiency in personal computers and applications. Experience: 5 years' service in Level 6 and/or with equivalent TME.
- Project Administrative Assistant: Graduate with 55% aggregate marks, plus proficiency in word processing/database/accounting procedures. Experience: 3 years in Accounts/Purchase/Stores/General Admin/Establishment in a large, reputed organization.
- Project Technical Assistant (Low Hardware): Full-Time Science Graduate (60% aggregate) in Electronics or an allied field, OR Full-Time Diploma in Engineering (60% aggregate) in Electronics or an allied field, plus knowledge of personal computers and applications. Experience: 1 year in hardware maintenance.
- Project Technical Assistant (OMC): Same qualification pattern as Low Hardware - Science Graduate or Diploma in Engineering (Electronics/allied, 60%) plus PC knowledge. Experience: 1 year in hardware maintenance.
- Project Technical Assistant (SRC): Science Graduate or Diploma in Engineering (Electrical/Electronics/Computers/Network or allied, 60%) plus PC knowledge. Experience: 1 year maintaining a large computer system. Essential skills: Computer Organization & Architecture, Networking fundamentals, working knowledge of UNIX/Linux, problem-solving, ability to program in Python or other languages, familiarity with hardware installation, and teamwork/communication skills. Desirable: virtualization/containerization (e.g., Docker), working knowledge of Git, TCP/IP fundamentals (DHCP, DNS), and storage technologies.
- Engineer Trainee (Servo): BE/B.Tech in Electronics & Communication/Electronics Engineering from a recognized Institute/University with minimum 60% marks. Desirable: 1 year of programming/design/development experience in embedded systems, digital electronics, control systems, microcontroller/microprocessor-based systems, Assembly/C/VHDL programming, or RTOS/Linux.
- Library Trainee: Graduate from a recognized university/institute, plus B.Lib.I.Sc or M.Lib.I.Sc from a recognized university/institute, with 0–2 years of experience in the relevant field.
- Administrative Trainee: Graduate from a recognized university, with knowledge of typing and use of personal computers and applications. Desired: fluency in spoken and written English.
- Tradesman Trainee (Electrical): National Trade Certificate (NTC) or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) awarded by NCVT in Electrical/Electrician trade (60% aggregate), and must mandatorily hold an Electrical Wireman License.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
| Post | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| Project Administrative Officer | 40 years |
| Project Administrative Assistant | 33 years |
| Project Technical Assistant (Low Hardware) | 28 years (UR); 33 years (SC/ST) |
| Project Technical Assistant (OMC) | 28 years |
| Project Technical Assistant (SRC) | 28 years (UR); 31 years (OBC) |
| Engineer Trainee (Servo) | 28 years |
| Library Trainee | 28 years |
| Administrative Trainee | 28 years |
| Tradesman Trainee (Electrical) | 28 years |
Age relaxation is given as per applicable rules. Age is reckoned as on 31-08-2026, the last date for receipt of applications.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
The notification does not specify an application fee for any of the posts.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Salary
Posts 1–5 (Project Administrative Officer, Project Administrative Assistant, and the three Project Technical Assistant posts) carry a fixed Total Monthly Emoluments (TME) as tenure-based SKA project positions. Posts 6–9 are trainee positions carrying a fixed monthly stipend rather than a regular salary.
| Post | Salary/Stipend (Fixed TME per month) |
|---|---|
| Project Administrative Officer | Rs.1,03,400/- |
| Project Administrative Assistant | Rs.63,900/- |
| Project Technical Assistant (Low Hardware / OMC / SRC) | Rs.63,900/- (each) |
| Engineer Trainee (Servo) | Rs.35,000/- (stipend) |
| Library Trainee | Rs.22,000/- (stipend) |
| Administrative Trainee | Rs.22,000/- (stipend) |
| Tradesman Trainee (Electrical) | Rs.18,500/- (stipend) |
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Tenure and Project Terms
- Sr. No. 1–5 posts are under the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) India project and will remain under the SKA Project for a period of 3 years.
- Sr. No. 6–9 trainee posts are not covered under the SKA Project; their appointment/training tenure is for an initial 1 year, extendable by 1 more year (maximum 2 years), subject to satisfactory performance. There is no absorption into regular NCRA service after training.
- The HQ mentioned for each post is for the present; all posts are transferable within NCRA's campuses at Pune, Khodad and Ooty.
- Candidates may be required to work in shifts, beyond office hours, and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, as per the exigencies of the Centre.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
The notification does not detail the selection process in the text of the advertisement; it directs candidates to a separate link on the NCRA website ("Please click here to read and understand the selection procedures") for this information. Candidates are advised to check the official advertisement/application link for the current selection procedure before applying.
How to Apply for NCRA Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online
Candidates are encouraged to apply online for NCRA Recruitment 2026. The steps are:
- Visit the official application link: https://tinyurl.com/ncrajob-2026 and complete the online application before the last date.
- Candidates who cannot apply online may instead submit a hard copy in the prescribed format, in a sealed envelope with the "Post Name" superscribed on the envelope, sent to: Administrative Officer-D (Establishment), NCRA-TIFR, Post Bag 3, Ganeshkhind, Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus, Pune-411007.
- Applications received online or by post after the last date (31-08-2026) will not be considered.
- For details such as the full advertisement, application format and experience requirements, visit https://tinyurl.com/ncrajob-2026.
In case of any difficulty while applying online, candidates can email a description of the issue to [email protected].
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions
- The Institute reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates called for the recruitment process to a reasonable limit, based on qualifications and experience higher than the minimum prescribed in the advertisement.
- Meeting only the essential and desirable qualifications and experience does not entitle a candidate to be called for the recruitment process.
- More vacancies may also be filled through this advertisement, and the Institute reserves the right not to fill any or all of the posts advertised.
- Canvassing in any form will disqualify the candidate.
- Candidates should ensure they fulfil the eligibility and other prescribed criteria before applying; the recruitment authority may reject an application not meeting the criteria at any stage, and if a candidate is erroneously appointed, their services may be terminated even after appointment.
- The detailed advertisement published on the NCRA website is final; candidates are advised to check the website periodically for updates.
NCRA Recruitment 2026 Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
- Join Arattai Channel: Click Here
- Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
- Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
- Sarkari Result: Click Here
- Download Mobile App: Click Here
Candidates with a Graduate degree can also explore more Graduate Government Jobs and Research Institute Jobs available across India. Engineering and Diploma holders looking for technical roles can browse the latest Electronics Engineering Government Jobs and Diploma Government Jobs matching their qualification. Applicants based in Maharashtra can also check the latest Pune Government Jobs and Maharashtra Government Jobs across various departments. Those interested in scientific and research organizations can explore more TIFR Recruitment and DAE Autonomous Institute Jobs notifications matching their profile.
