IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026: Eligibility, Salary & How to Apply for 6 Junior Research Fellow Posts
If you are a researcher with hands-on skills in propulsion, CFD, instrumentation or machine learning, here is a chance worth reading about. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy) has invited online applications for 6 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) posts in its Department of Aerospace Engineering. The work is a purely time-bound research project, and the consolidated pay is up to ₹37,000 per month.
The last date to apply is 3 November 2026. The assignment is temporary and tied to the project, so read the tenure and experience conditions carefully below. If you are looking for more engineering openings, see our engineering government jobs page, and read this full article before you apply so that you do not miss any condition. Trusted updates come from GovtJobsAlert.in.
What Are the Key Highlights of IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
IIT Kharagpur is a Central Government institute in West Bengal. Its SRIC office has issued Advertisement No. IIT/SRIC/R/FAT/2026/101, dated 13 October 2026, for a research assignment in the Aerospace Engineering department. The Principal Investigator or Co-PI of the project is Prof./Dr. Amardip Ghosh. The work is linked to Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) development and advanced turbomachinery for RDEs. Hold a post graduate or professional degree? Check the table below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | IIT Kharagpur (Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy) |
| Post | Junior Research Fellow [JRF] – Research |
| Total Vacancies | 6 |
| Advertisement No. | IIT/SRIC/R/FAT/2026/101 |
| Department | Aerospace Engineering |
| Project | RDE Development with Real Time Flow and Thrust Control Phase -1 RDE Engine Testing Facility (Project Code R/FAT) |
| Sponsoring Agency | ARDB, DRDO |
| Compensation | Up to ₹37,000 per month (consolidated) |
| Tenure | 36 months or termination of the project, whichever is earlier |
| Application Fee | ₹0 for all categories |
| Last Date | 3 November 2026 |
How Many Vacancies Are There in IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
The notification lists one post with 6 vacancies. It does not give any category-wise split for General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS or PwBD candidates.
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellow [JRF] – Research | 6 |
What Is the Eligibility for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
The essential qualification is a Post Graduate Degree in Basic Science OR a Graduate / Post Graduate Degree in Professional Course. The candidate must also have been selected through a national-level process, as shown below.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Essential Degree | Post Graduate Degree in Basic Science OR Graduate / Post Graduate Degree in Professional Course |
| Selection Route (a) | National Eligibility Tests: CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship), and GATE |
| Selection Route (b) | National level examinations conducted by Central Government Departments and their Agencies and Institutions such as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MoE, ICAR, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER, NISER etc. |
| Note | Having the prescribed qualification and experience is only the minimum. It does not entitle you to be called for the interview. |
Desired Experience: Apply Only If You Have It
The notification says, in capital letters, that candidates should apply ONLY if they have demonstrable, hands-on experience in at least one of seven areas. Experience directly relevant to RDE development, advanced turbomachinery for RDEs, detonation-based combustion, combustion instability, high-speed reacting flows, turbine integration and advanced experimental diagnostics is called particularly valuable.
| Area | Examples Named in the Notification |
|---|---|
| 1. Computational Fluid Dynamics | ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, RANS and URANS, reacting and non-reacting flows |
| 2. Experimental Research and Propulsion Testing | Combustor design, supersonic wind tunnel, schlieren, shadowgraphy, chemiluminescence imaging |
| 3. Instrumentation and Data Acquisition | LabVIEW, NI FlexLogger, cDAQ, cRIO, dynamic pressure measurement, Arduino, oscilloscopes |
| 4. Control Systems and System Identification | PID design, FPGA, real-time control, hardware-in-the-loop, autopilot programming |
| 5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | Deep-learning pipelines for physical systems, transfer learning, transformer architectures |
| 6. Signal Processing and Data Analysis | FFT, power spectral density, wavelets, spectrograms, Bode plots |
| 7. Applied Physics, Plasma and Advanced Diagnostics | Spark and plasma ignition, laser diagnostics, photomultiplier tubes, thermoacoustics, MHD |
The advertisement also warns that merely listing a software package, programming language or instrument, without showing how you applied it, will not be sufficient. Separate theory you know from work you have actually done.
Age Limit
The maximum age is 35 years, counted as on the last date of the advertisement. The notification gives no minimum age. It also says age rules may be relaxed under the sponsor agency’s rules, if any.
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / OBC | Up to 5 years |
| Physically Handicapped / Visually Handicapped | Up to 5 years |
| Female applicants | Up to 5 years |
The relaxation line is printed under the qualification block and does not name the limit it applies to, so confirm it in the official PDF before you rely on it.
🎂 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. →
What Is the Salary for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
The advertisement gives a consolidated compensation of up to ₹37,000 per month, depending on qualification and experience. It does not give separate amounts for candidates with or without NET or GATE, and it does not mention HRA or other allowances.
The assignment is temporary, in a purely time-bound research project. The tenure is 36 months or the termination of the project, whichever is earlier. So plan your decision with that end date in mind.
What Is the Selection Process for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
The notification speaks of candidates being called for the interview. Because the stated qualification is only the minimum, meeting it does not guarantee a call. The notification gives no interview date, venue or mode, and it does not describe any other stage. Keep an eye on the official website. For interview preparation, our preparation strategy page may help.
The advertisement asks for a specific application. Clearly name your area or areas of expertise and give evidence. The advertisement lists the kinds of proof it expects:
- Research projects, dissertations or relevant publications
- CFD simulations performed and validated
- Experimental facilities designed, developed or operated
- Instrumentation, data acquisition or control systems developed
- High-speed imaging, laser diagnostics or signal-processing methods implemented
- Software, algorithms or AI/ML pipelines developed and applied to physical systems
How to Apply Online for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
The notification says only that applications are invited online. It does not print a portal address or any registration steps, so we have not added any. Use the steps below and check the official PDF as you go.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check that you meet the essential qualification and have hands-on experience in at least one of the seven areas |
| 2 | Open the IIT Kharagpur official website (link in Essential Links below) and look for Advertisement No. IIT/SRIC/R/FAT/2026/101 |
| 3 | Fill in the online application and clearly name your area or areas of expertise |
| 4 | Give specific evidence of your hands-on experience, as listed in the advertisement |
| 5 | Submit the application by 3 November 2026 and keep a copy for your records |
The fee is ₹0, so no payment is needed according to the fee line. The PDF also prints SRIC bank details for depositing a fee, but it lists no fee for any category, so there is nothing to pay on the face of the notification.
What Are the Important Dates for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 13 October 2026 |
| Application Start Date | Not stated in the notification |
| Last Date to Apply | 3 November 2026 |
| Interview Date | Not stated in the notification |
What Is the Application Fee for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Male / OBC | ₹0 |
| Female | ₹0 |
| SC / ST | ₹0 |
Essential Links for IIT Kharagpur JRF Recruitment 2026
- Download IIT Kharagpur JRF Official Notification PDF
- Visit IIT Kharagpur JRF Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join West Bengal Government Jobs Telegram Channel
If you have real, hands-on work in propulsion, CFD, instrumentation, control or AI for physical systems, this is a project worth applying for. Send a clear, evidence-based application by 3 November 2026, and do not wait for the last day. See more openings in West Bengal government jobs and keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more such updates.