The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has announced the much-awaited NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026, offering a golden opportunity for aspiring professionals. This recruitment drive aims to fill 243 permanent Group-A S&T (Gazetted) posts of Scientist B across three key disciplines: Computer Sciences & IT, Electronics and Communication, and Data Science & AI. If you possess a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree and a valid GATE 2024/2025/2026 score, this could be your chance to join a prestigious government organization.
Important Dates
Make sure to mark these dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 27 March 2026 |
| Application End Date | 24 April 2026 (05:30 PM) |
| Cut-off Date for Eligibility | 31 March 2026 |
NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026 Overview
The National Informatics Centre (NIC), a premier organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, has released the official notification for the Scientist B recruitment. This drive seeks to onboard talented individuals to contribute to the nation's digital infrastructure and governance initiatives.
Key Disciplines and Vacancies
The 243 vacancies are distributed across the following specialized fields:
| Discipline | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & IT | 168 |
| Electronics and Communication | 25 |
| Data Science and AI | 50 |
| Total | 243 |
The recruitment includes category-wise reservations for UR, SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS, and PwBD candidates as per the Government of India's rules.
Eligibility Criteria: GATE Score is Key!
To be considered for the NIC Scientist B posts, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria. The most crucial requirement is a valid GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026 score in the relevant paper (CS for Computer Sciences & IT, EC for Electronics and Communication, and DA for Data Science & AI). Additionally, candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Technology or an equivalent qualification in the respective fields. Specific educational qualifications for each discipline are detailed in the official notification.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The maximum age limit for UR/EWS candidates is 30 years as of March 31, 2026. The NIC follows Government of India guidelines for age relaxation for SC/ST, OBC (NCL), PwBD, and other categories.
Salary and Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be appointed as Scientist B (Group-A S&T Gazetted) and will be placed at Level-10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix. This translates to a handsome salary ranging from ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month, along with other admissible allowances.
Application Process and Fees
The application process is strictly online and will be conducted through the official NIC recruitment portal. The application window opens on March 27, 2026, and closes on April 24, 2026, at 05:30 PM.
Application Fees:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD/Women | Nil |
| UR/OBC(NCL)/EWS | ₹800 per discipline |
Candidates applying for more than one discipline need to pay the fee for each.
Selection Procedure
The selection process is a two-stage affair:
- Shortlisting: Candidates will be shortlisted based on their valid GATE 2024/2025/2026 score. The shortlisting ratio will be 1:5 (discipline-wise and category-wise).
- Document Verification and Personal Interaction/Interview: Shortlisted candidates will proceed to document verification, followed by a Personal Interaction/Interview (maximum 50 marks).
The final merit list will be prepared based on a 60% weightage of the GATE score and a 40% weightage of the interview marks.