C-DAC Chennai Project Staff Recruitment 2026: 59 Contract Posts, Walk-in Interview This Month
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Chennai has opened 59 project staff positions under Advt. No. C-DAC/CHN/02/RCT/2026, and the clock is already running fast. Registration closes on 22 September 2026 at 17:00 hours and the interview itself is in the fourth week of September 2026. If you are an engineering graduate looking at government engineering jobs in software, GIS, networking and cyber security, this is one of the quickest openings you will see all year, because there is no long wait between the form and the interview.
One thing you must not get wrong: online registration is compulsory. This is a walk-in interview, but a candidate who simply turns up at the venue will not be allowed in. Only candidates who registered before the deadline and who report between 09:30 AM and 10:30 AM are admitted. C-DAC sends the venue and the exact date by a separate confirmation email, so use an address you actually check. This guide on GovtJobsAlert.in walks you through the post-wise seats, age limits, salary and the papers you must carry.
What are the Key Highlights of C-DAC Project Staff Recruitment 2026?
C-DAC is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. These are contract project positions, not regular Central Government posts, so read the employment type row carefully before you decide.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | C-DAC, Chennai (Scientific Society under MeitY) |
| Advertisement Number | C-DAC/CHN/02/RCT/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 59 |
| Posts | Project Associate, Project Engineer, Senior Project Engineer, Project Manager |
| Job Location | Chennai (transferable); Project Manager anywhere in India |
| Registration Window | 4 September 2026 to 22 September 2026 |
| Employment Type | Contract up to 2 years or co-terminus with the project |
| Selection | Walk-in interview |
What are the Post-wise Vacancy Details for C-DAC Recruitment 2026?
The reservation split is different for every post, so read the row for your own post instead of the total. Two of the four rows are missing a category entirely, and that decides whether you can apply at all.
| Post | Category-wise Vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Project Associate (Fresher) | UR 8 / SC 1 / ST 1 / OBC 3 / EWS 1 | 14 |
| Project Engineer | UR 14 / SC 3 / ST 1 / OBC 7 / EWS 2 | 27 |
| Senior Project Engineer | UR 6 / SC 1 / OBC 2 / EWS 1 | 10 |
| Project Manager | UR 5 / SC 1 / OBC 2 | 8 |
Look at the last two rows again. Senior Project Engineer carries no ST seat, and Project Manager carries neither an ST seat nor an EWS seat — that is exactly how the notification prints them. An ST candidate has a seat only at the Project Associate and Project Engineer levels, and an EWS candidate has no seat at the Project Manager level. C-DAC also reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of posts, or not to recruit against a post at all, without any notice.
What is the Eligibility for C-DAC Project Staff Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification and Experience for C-DAC Chennai Project Staff Posts 2026
| Post | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Project Associate (Fresher) | B.E. / B.Tech in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication or Electrical & Electronics. No experience required |
| Project Engineer | B.E. / B.Tech with 60% or equivalent CGPA in those four branches, plus minimum 1 year post-qualification relevant experience |
| Senior Project Engineer | B.E. / B.Tech with 60% or equivalent CGPA in those branches, or a Post Graduate degree in Computer Application with 60% or equivalent CGPA, plus minimum 4 years experience |
| Project Manager | B.E., B.Tech, M.E., M.Tech, MCA, M.Sc. or PhD with 60% or equivalent CGPA in those branches, or a Post Graduate degree in Computer Application, or a PhD in the relevant discipline, plus minimum 9 years experience |
Two lines here are easy to miss and both are worth money to you. First, candidates in the last semester of their course may also apply if they will finish before appointment — joining then happens only after passing with the required minimum score. Second, the long skill lists in the notification (Java, React, PostGIS, TensorFlow, Kafka, post-quantum cryptography and the rest) are desirable skills, not compulsory ones, so do not rule yourself out of these computer and IT government jobs because you know only some of them.
Age Limit for C-DAC Chennai Project Staff Posts 2026
| Post | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Project Associate (Fresher) | 30 years |
| Project Engineer | 45 years |
| Senior Project Engineer | 40 years |
| Project Manager | 56 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
Age, qualification and experience are all counted as on the last date of registration, that is 22 September 2026. Note that the Project Engineer ceiling of 45 years is higher than the Senior Project Engineer ceiling of 40 years — that is how the notification prints it, so check your own post rather than assuming the senior post allows a higher age. Relaxation applies as per Government of India rules for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD and ex-servicemen; Government employees get 5 years, and so do widows, divorced women and women judicially separated who have not remarried.
What is the Salary for C-DAC Chennai Project Staff 2026?
| Post | Monthly Salary | Minimum CTC |
|---|---|---|
| Project Associate | Rs. 34,000 | Rs. 5.06 lakh per year |
| Project Engineer | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 5.89 lakh per year |
| Senior Project Engineer | Rs. 60,000 | Rs. 8.65 lakh per year |
| Project Manager | Rs. 90,000 | Rs. 12.80 lakh per year |
These are consolidated figures for the minimum experience asked for each post. If you bring more relevant experience than the minimum, C-DAC may offer additional increments as per its policy — but years beyond the notified maximum bracket are not counted for higher pay.
Is There Any Application Fee for C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All categories | The notification prescribes no application fee |
You also travel at your own cost. C-DAC pays nothing towards attending the interview, so plan your trip to Chennai keeping that in mind.
What is the Selection Process for C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Online registration | Compulsory, through the registration form, before the last date |
| Confirmation email | Sent to eligible candidates with the venue and exact date |
| Walk-in interview | Reporting between 09:30 AM and 10:30 AM; registered candidates only |
| Certificate verification | Originals plus one self-attested photocopy set |
| Pre-employment medical examination | You must be in sound health and undergo it as per C-DAC norms |
The notification prescribes a single assessment stage — the walk-in interview. It does not set out any written examination or online test, so your preparation should go into your own project work, your resume and the one-page write-up rather than into an exam syllabus.
What Documents to Carry to the C-DAC Chennai Walk-in Interview 2026?
| Document | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Filled application form | With a recent passport-size photograph affixed |
| One-page write-up | Six sets, for the experienced posts only |
| Photo ID with date of birth | One valid original |
| Education certificates | 10th, 12th and degree certificates with consolidated mark sheets |
| Experience certificates | For the full period claimed, from first to last employer |
| Caste, OBC non-creamy-layer, EWS or PwD certificate | In the format prescribed by the Government of India, if you claim a benefit |
| No Objection Certificate | If you work in Central or State Government, a PSU or an autonomous body |
| CGPA equivalency certificate | From your university, where your degree shows grades instead of marks |
Carry originals and one self-attested photocopy set of every document above.
What are the Important Dates for C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | 4 September 2026, 18:00 hours |
| Last date of registration | 22 September 2026, 17:00 hours |
| Confirmation email | Fourth week of September 2026 |
| Tentative interview date | Fourth week of September 2026 |
| Reporting time on interview day | 09:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
The interview date is tentative and the exact day is told to you by email, so keep the last week of September free once you register.
What Conditions Can Cancel Your C-DAC Chennai Application 2026?
Every line below comes from the notification, and each one can end your candidature.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| One post only | You may apply for any one post; multiple registrations may cancel your candidature altogether |
| Late or missing registration | Only registered candidates reporting within the reporting time will be allowed to attend |
| Wrong information | Any wrong information makes you automatically disqualified, whatever the stage |
| Missing documents | If you fail to submit any required document, your candidature or appointment is liable to be cancelled or terminated |
| Age criteria | An application not meeting the age criteria is rejected without prior intimation |
| Reserved-category proof | Without the original certificate in the prescribed format you will not be allowed to attend against reserved posts, failing which you will not be allowed to claim the relaxations applicable in case of reservation |
| OBC creamy layer | OBC candidates in the creamy layer are not entitled to OBC concession and must apply as General or Unreserved |
| PwD reservation | Only candidates with 40% or more disability are eligible under the PwD category |
| Equivalency certificate | Where you rely on an equivalent qualification, the certificate is mandatory, failing which the application is liable to be rejected |
| Experience that does not count | Teaching, research and non-profit work, internship or project work placements that are part of an academic curriculum, and part-time, daily wage, visiting or guest faculty and trainee periods will not be considered as experience unless specified |
| Undocumented experience | Experience shown without supporting documents will not be considered and is liable to be rejected |
| Canvassing | Canvassing in any manner or bringing outside influence is a disqualification |
| Mobile phones | You are advised not to carry mobiles or similar gadgets during the interview |
| Eligibility found wrong later | If you are found ineligible at any point, even after appointment, the appointment is liable to be cancelled or terminated |
| No continuity claim | A contract appointment gives no claim to continuity, regularisation or automatic extension |
| Correspondence | No interim enquiry or correspondence will be entertained |
How to Apply for C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026 Online?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the qualification, experience and age for exactly one post you will apply to |
| 2 | Open the registration form (link in Essential Links below) and submit it before the deadline |
| 3 | Download the application form and, for experienced posts, the one-page write-up |
| 4 | Fill both, affix a recent photograph, and take six sets of the write-up |
| 5 | Wait for the confirmation email carrying the venue and the exact interview date |
| 6 | Report at the venue between 09:30 AM and 10:30 AM with originals and photocopies |
If you are already serving in a Government office, PSU or autonomous body, start your No Objection Certificate today — that single paper takes the longest to get and, without it, you can be stopped at the door.
Essential Links — C-DAC Chennai Recruitment 2026 Apply Online Link and Notification PDF
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Register Online (Google Form) | Register Here |
| Official Notification | Download Official Notification PDF |
| Official Website | C-DAC |
| WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
| Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
If your branch and experience match one of these four posts, register today rather than on 22 September — the form shuts at 17:00 hours sharp and there is no extension window mentioned anywhere in the notification. A fresher with a B.E. or B.Tech gets a Rs. 34,000 start with no experience at all, and an experienced engineer can walk into Rs. 60,000 or Rs. 90,000 a month within the same month. Keep an eye on GovtJobsAlert.in for more government jobs in Tamil Nadu and get your certificates photocopied this week.