NIC Recruitment 2026: 376 Scientific / Technical Assistant-A Posts at National Informatics Centre Through GATE Score
The National Informatics Centre, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has announced 376 vacancies for Scientific / Technical Assistant-A, a Group-B S&T (non-Gazetted) post in Level 6 of the 7th CPC (Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400). This is one of the biggest central government openings of the year for computer and IT government jobs, and NIC is the organisation that actually builds and runs India’s e-governance systems. The online window runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026.
Before you read any further, understand the one rule that decides everything here: you must already hold a valid GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026 in the exact paper code for your discipline. There is no NIC entrance test you can prepare for now. If you have that score card, this article walks you through the vacancy split, age limits, fee, merit rules and the four application steps, with every figure taken from the official advertisement (Advt No. NIC/STA/2026/2).
Key Highlights of National Informatics Centre (NIC) Scientific / Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | National Informatics Centre (NIC), MeitY |
| Post | Scientific / Technical Assistant-A |
| Total Vacancies | 376 |
| Pay Level | Level 6 of 7th CPC, Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400 |
| Group | Group-B S&T (non-Gazetted) |
| Application Window | 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026 |
| Job Location | Anywhere in India and outside India |
| Selection Basis | Valid GATE 2024 / 2025 / 2026 score, then document verification |
NIC Vacancy Details 2026: How Many Scientific / Technical Assistant Posts Are There?
The advertisement prints no grand total – the 376 figure is the sum of the three discipline rows below. Each discipline is tied to one GATE paper code, and your score card decides which row you can apply against.
| Discipline (GATE Paper) | Category-wise Vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & IT (CS) | UR 122, SC 45, ST 22, OBC (NCL) 81, EWS 30 | 300 |
| Electronics & Communication (EC) | UR 13, SC 3, ST 1, OBC (NCL) 7, EWS 2 | 26 |
| Data Science & AI (DA) | UR 22, SC 7, ST 3, OBC (NCL) 13, EWS 5 | 50 |
PwBD reservation is horizontal – the 19 PwBD seats below are already counted inside the totals above and are not extra posts.
| Discipline | PwBD Seats (Included in Total) |
|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & IT | 15 – Locomotive disability 4, Hard of Hearing 4, Multiple Disabilities 7 (3 of them PH-MD backlog) |
| Electronics & Communication | 2 – Locomotive disability 1, Hard of Hearing 1 |
| Data Science & AI | 2 – Locomotive disability 1, Hard of Hearing 1 |
NIC states plainly that the advertised post count is tentative and may increase or decrease at its sole discretion, so treat 376 as today’s position and not a promise.
What Is the Eligibility for NIC Recruitment 2026? A Valid GATE Score Is Mandatory
Educational Qualification
You need both a degree and a matching GATE score. Missing either one means you cannot apply at all, however strong the other is.
| Requirement | What NIC Asks For |
|---|---|
| Degree | A pass in M.Sc., MS, MCA, B.E. or B.Tech. |
| Eligible fields (single or combined) | Electronics, Electronics and Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Computer Sciences, Computer and Networking Security, Software System, Information Technology, Informatics |
| GATE score – Computer Sciences & IT | Valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 in Paper Code CS |
| GATE score – Electronics & Communication | Valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 in Paper Code EC |
| GATE score – Data Science & AI | Valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 in Paper Code DA |
| Experience | No experience required |
Two conditions here trip people up every year. First, you must have obtained the essential qualification on or before the closing date, 30 September 2026. Second, no claim of an equivalent qualification will be entertained – if your degree name is not in the list above, NIC will not treat it as equal, even if your university says it is. Distance-education degrees count only when approved by the Distance Education Council and, where needed, AICTE. If you are still finishing a B.Tech., look at other engineering government jobs instead of applying here and losing the fee.
Age Limit
| Category | Upper Age Limit as on 30/09/2026 |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 30 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 33 years |
| SC / ST | 35 years |
| PwBD | 40 years |
| OBC (NCL) PwBD | 43 years |
| SC / ST PwBD | 45 years |
| Service Candidate – UR / EWS | 35 years |
| Service Candidate – OBC (NCL) | 38 years |
| Service Candidate – SC / ST | 40 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government rules |
🎂 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. →
The crucial date for age is the closing date, 30 September 2026. Age relaxation for SC, ST and OBC (NCL) applies only to posts reserved for them, while PwBD relaxation applies whether or not the post is reserved, as long as the post is identified as suitable. The five-year relaxation for serving government employees applies only in the same line or allied cadres.
What Is the Salary for NIC Scientific / Technical Assistant-A 2026?
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission |
| Pay Scale | Rs 35,400 – Rs 1,12,400 |
| Post Group | Group-B S&T (non-Gazetted) |
| Recruitment Basis | Direct recruitment |
This Level 6 salary is a strong start for a first central government job with no experience requirement, and the work itself is real technology work on national platforms. The post carries All India liability – you may be posted anywhere in India, and even outside India, in the interest of the organisation. Decide now whether you are ready for that, because NIC also says no query seeking advice on posting location will be entertained.
What Is the Selection Process for NIC Recruitment 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Screening | Applications checked against the eligibility criteria |
| 2. Merit list | Category-wise merit list per discipline, in order of GATE score |
| 3. GATE weightage | Equal weightage to GATE 2024, 2025 and 2026 scores |
| 4. Document verification | Shortlisted candidates called as per vacancies, at Delhi or another approved location |
| 5. Provisional appointment | Offered after successful verification and full eligibility |
Your rank comes entirely from the GATE score you submit, so enter your best score from any one eligible year. The advertisement lists only the stages in the table above, and clause 10.3 states that final selection will be based on meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria and the GATE score. If two candidates tie, the order is fixed.
| Tie-break | Rule |
|---|---|
| First | The older year GATE score ranks higher |
| Second | If score and year match, the older candidate ranks higher |
| Third | If still tied, the higher percentage in the essential qualification ranks higher |
Note that NIC reserves the right to modify, alter, restrict, enlarge or cancel the recruitment process without further notice, and its decision is final. No TA or DA is paid for document verification, and no postponement or change of location is allowed. Aadhaar based authentication is used at every stage.
Which NIC Recruitment 2026 Conditions Can Cost You the Job?
These are the lines candidates skim past. Each one can end your candidature.
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Incomplete application | If the fee is not paid by the closing date and time, or any of the four steps is incomplete, the application will be summarily rejected |
| No edits later | No change in name, category, address, mobile number or email ID is permitted after submission |
| Absence at verification | If you do not attend on the specified date and time with original documents, you shall not be eligible for provisional appointment |
| Missing originals | At verification you must bring the downloaded Authorization Letter, original documents and one recent passport-size photograph, failing which you will be debarred from the selection process |
| State-list OBC | An OBC (NCL) certificate issued for state government posts or for education will not be considered |
| Wrong or forged information | Candidature will be summarily cancelled and services terminated if already appointed; you also render yourself liable to criminal prosecution and may be debarred permanently or for a specified period from any NIC recruitment |
| Form not in conformity | Applications which are not in conformity with the requirements indicated in the advertisement are liable to be rejected |
| No response to NIC | If you fail to respond to NIC communications online during the recruitment process and your candidature is rejected as a result, NIC shall not be responsible |
| Illegible uploads | Irrelevant, incomplete or illegible documents may lead to disqualification |
| Serving employees | A No Objection Certificate confirming no pending disciplinary or vigilance case is required |
| Meeting the criteria | Merely fulfilling the requirements does not by itself qualify you for appointment |
What Are the Important Dates for NIC Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 1 September 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last date to apply | 30 September 2026 (05:30 PM) |
| Cut-off date for age and qualification | 30 September 2026 |
| Document verification schedule | To be announced on the NIC recruitment website |
What Is the Application Fee for NIC Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | Rs 800 |
| SC, ST, PwBD and all Women candidates | Nil |
The exemption for women of every category is worth noticing – if you are a woman applicant, you pay nothing at all. Payment is online only through credit card, debit card or net banking; cash, demand draft, pay order, cheque and challan are not accepted, and any bank charges are yours to bear. If you apply for more than one discipline, you must pay Rs 800 for each discipline separately. The fee is non-refundable, so confirm your eligibility before you pay.
How to Apply Online for NIC Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Register on the NIC recruitment portal (see Essential Links) with a valid email and active mobile number |
| 2 | Fill the online application form and upload your documents |
| 3 | Pay the fee online, if applicable to your category |
| 4 | Download the confirmation page – the application is complete only after this |
Keep your scanned photograph (50 KB to 200 KB) and signature (10 KB to 50 KB) ready, plus self-attested PDFs of your date of birth proof, matriculation and senior secondary certificates, degree certificate with marksheets, and category certificate. The two documents that decide your claim are the valid GATE 2024 / 2025 / 2026 score card and the essential qualification certificate – without either, the application cannot succeed. Apply a few days early rather than on the 30 September last date, because a payment that fails on the last evening cannot be redone after 05:30 PM.
Essential Links – NIC Scientific / Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for NIC Scientific / Technical Assistant 2026
- Visit NIC Recruitment Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you are holding a GATE score card in CS, EC or DA and a degree from the listed fields, this is among the best central government openings you will see this year – 376 posts, Level 6 pay, and a merit list built on a score card you already hold. Work out your exact age on 30 September 2026, get your certificates scanned this week, and complete all four steps well before the deadline. For more openings like this one, keep checking GovtJobsAlert.in and our latest government jobs page every day.