The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has released the recruitment notification for Scientific/Technical Assistant-A posts under Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2. A total of 376 tentative vacancies have been announced for eligible candidates in Computer Sciences & Information Technology, Electronics & Communication Engineering, and Data Science & Artificial Intelligence.
The recruitment is being conducted on a direct recruitment basis. Unlike many government recruitment examinations, NIC will not conduct a separate written examination or interview for these posts. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their valid GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026, followed by document verification.
Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the NIC recruitment portal from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026.
NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | National Informatics Centre (NIC) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology |
| Post Name | Scientific/Technical Assistant-A |
| Advertisement No. | NIC/STA/2026/2 |
| Total Vacancies | 376 |
| Post Classification | Group-B, S&T, Non-Gazetted |
| Pay Level | Level 6, 7th CPC |
| Pay Scale | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Selection Basis | Valid GATE Score |
| Eligible GATE Years | 2024, 2025 & 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 1 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 September 2026 |
| Job Location | Anywhere in India / outside India as per organisational requirement |
| Official Recruitment Portal | https://recruitment.nic.in/ |
The post carries Level-6 pay under the 7th Central Pay Commission.
NIC STA Vacancy 2026
NIC has notified 376 tentative vacancies across three disciplines.
| Discipline | Total Posts |
|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & Information Technology | 300 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | 26 |
| Data Science & Artificial Intelligence | 50 |
| Total | 376 |
The vacancies are tentative and may be increased or decreased by NIC according to organisational requirements. Horizontal reservation for eligible PwBD candidates is also applicable as specified in the recruitment advertisement.
Category-wise Vacancy
The overall reservation distribution includes:
- UR: 154
- SC: 56
- ST: 28
- OBC (NCL): 101
- EWS: 37
- PwBD: Horizontal reservation as prescribed in the notification
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A recruitment must possess the prescribed qualification in the relevant discipline.
The basic educational qualification includes a pass in:
- M.Sc.
- MS
- MCA
- B.E.
- B.Tech.
The prescribed fields include Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Computer Sciences, Computer and Networking Security, Software System, Information Technology and Informatics, subject to the discipline-specific requirements given in the detailed advertisement.
GATE Score Requirement
A valid GATE score is mandatory for this recruitment.
NIC has allowed valid GATE scores from:
- GATE 2024
- GATE 2025
- GATE 2026
The applicable GATE paper depends upon the discipline selected by the candidate:
| NIC Discipline | GATE Paper |
|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & Information Technology | CS |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | EC |
| Data Science & Artificial Intelligence | DA |
Candidates should ensure that their educational qualification and GATE paper satisfy the requirements of the discipline for which they are applying.
Age Limit
The age eligibility is determined with reference to 30 September 2026.
The reported upper age limits are:
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 30 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 33 years |
| SC / ST | 35 years |
| PwBD | As applicable under the recruitment rules |
| Ex-Servicemen / eligible service candidates | As per applicable rules |
Age relaxation will be available to eligible reserved and other categories in accordance with the applicable Government of India rules and the detailed NIC advertisement.
Application Fee
The application fee is applicable on a per-discipline basis.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | ₹800 |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Women Candidates | Nil |
Candidates applying for more than one discipline must submit separate applications and pay the prescribed fee for each discipline. The fee, where applicable, is payable online and is non-refundable.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification / Advertisement | August 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 1 September 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 September 2026, 5:30 PM |
| Eligibility Cut-off Date | 30 September 2026 |
| Document Verification | To be announced |
Candidates are advised not to wait until the final day to complete the application, particularly because the closing time is 5:30 PM on 30 September 2026.
Selection Process
The NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A recruitment has a relatively straightforward selection procedure.
1. GATE Score-Based Merit
NIC will prepare the merit list using valid GATE scores from 2024, 2025 or 2026 in the relevant paper.
2. Document Verification
Candidates shortlisted on the basis of merit will be called for document verification. Candidates must produce the original documents supporting their educational qualification, category, GATE score and other claims.
3. Appointment
Candidates who successfully satisfy the eligibility and verification requirements will proceed towards appointment as per NIC rules.
There is no separate NIC written examination or interview for this recruitment.
Salary and Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be appointed as Scientific/Technical Assistant-A in Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
Pay Scale: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
In addition to basic pay, applicable Central Government allowances and benefits will be provided according to the rules in force. Actual monthly take-home pay will vary depending on applicable allowances, deductions and place of posting.
Job Location
The post carries All India liability. Selected candidates may therefore be posted at NIC offices anywhere in India and, where organisational requirements demand, outside India.
Candidates should consider this condition before submitting their applications.
How to Apply for NIC STA Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:
- Visit the NIC recruitment portal.
- Open the notification for Scientific/Technical Assistant-A – Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2.
- Read the detailed eligibility and discipline-specific requirements carefully.
- Complete the online registration process.
- Enter personal, educational and GATE-related information accurately.
- Select the appropriate discipline and GATE paper.
- Upload the required documents in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee, if applicable.
- Review the application carefully before final submission.
- Submit the application and save the confirmation/application details for future reference.
Candidates should use only the official NIC recruitment portal for submitting their applications.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Before applying, candidates should keep the following points in mind:
- A valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score is essential.
- The GATE paper must correspond to the discipline for which the candidate applies.
- The prescribed educational qualification must be possessed within the eligibility period specified in the advertisement.
- There is no separate written examination for this recruitment.
- There is no interview in the selection process.
- Candidates applying for multiple disciplines must meet the eligibility requirements for each discipline.
- The application fee is payable separately for each discipline where applicable.
- The vacancies are tentative and may change.
- Candidates should carefully verify all information before final submission.
- The detailed notification and subsequent notices should be followed for document verification and other stages.
Important Links
| Particular | Link |
|---|---|
| NIC Recruitment Portal | Click Here |
| Official NIC Website | Click Here |
| Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Notification | Available on the NIC Recruitment Portal |
| Apply Online | Available through the NIC Recruitment Portal |
Conclusion
The NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026 provides an opportunity for qualified candidates in the technology and engineering fields to join the National Informatics Centre in a Group-B, Level-6 government position. With 376 tentative vacancies and selection based on an existing GATE score rather than a separate written examination, eligible GATE candidates should carefully check the discipline-wise requirements before applying.
The online application window remains open from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026, with the application process closing at 5:30 PM on the last date.
Disclaimer: This article is prepared for informational purposes based on the NIC recruitment advertisement and publicly available recruitment information. Candidates should read the official NIC advertisement carefully and verify the latest updates, corrigenda, eligibility conditions and application status on the official recruitment portal before applying.