CSIR NPL Technician Recruitment 2026: Comprehensive Guide to National Physical Laboratory Vacancies
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, has officially released its central government recruitment notification for the year 2026. Published under Advertisement Number Rectt./02/2026, this recruitment drive invites applications for the permanent post of Technician (1).
As one of India’s premier scientific research institutes and the custodian of national measurement standards, CSIR-NPL offers a highly competitive compensation structure alongside long-term career growth. The application window commenced on May 29, 2026, and the absolute deadline for the receipt of physical, hard-copy applications is June 30, 2026.
This document serves as an exhaustive, search-engine-optimized reference manual covering the structural vacancy distribution, multi-layered eligibility parameters, financial compensation breakdown, structured offline application system, and the definitive multi-paper competitive examination pattern.
Recruitment Framework & Operational Overview
| Recruitment Parameter | Specifications and Verified Data |
| Hiring Authority | CSIR – National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi |
| Parent Organization | Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India |
| Advertisement Number | Rectt./02/2026 |
| Designated Post Name | Technician (1) |
| Total Available Vacancies | 20 Posts |
| Classification of Job | Permanent Central Government Service |
| Primary Job Location | New Delhi |
| Application Framework | Offline (Download, print, fill, and mail hard copy) |
| Application Window | May 29, 2026, to June 30, 2026 (by 05:00 PM) |
| Selection Matrix | Preliminary Scrutiny -> Qualifying Trade Test -> Competitive Written Examination |
| Official Web Portal | www.nplindia.in |
Trade-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
The allocation of the 20 available positions spans multiple technical trades. Candidates must carefully check their specialized ITI trade credentials against the designated post codes before initiating the application process.
| Post Code | Technical Trade Specialization | Number of Vacancies |
| T2-01 | Electronics / Electronics Mechanic | 10 |
| T2-02 | Electrical | 05 |
| T2-03 | Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) | 02 |
| T2-04 | Multimedia, Animation & Special Effects | 01 |
| T2-05 | Digital Photographer / Photographer | 01 |
| T2-06 | Mechanic Motor Vehicle (MMV) | 01 |
| Total | All Combined Technical Trades | 20 |
Salary Architecture & Comprehensive Emoluments
The position of Technician (1) at CSIR-NPL is designated within Pay Level 2 of the Pay Matrix based on the Central Government’s Seventh Pay Commission standards.
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Standard Pay Scale: Rs. 19,900 to Rs. 63,200
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Initial Basic Pay: Rs. 19,900 per month
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Approximate Gross Starting Salary: Rs. 44,428 per month
Comprehensive Component Breakdown
The gross starting pay structure factors in modern metropolitan allowances mandated for Central Government personnel stationed in New Delhi (Class X City designation):
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Dearness Allowance (DA): Calculated using the latest variable cost-of-living adjustments approved by the Ministry of Finance.
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House Rent Allowance (HRA): Provided at the peak rate (27% to 30% of basic pay) applicable for New Delhi, unless government quarter accommodation is allocated.
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Transport Allowance (TA): Fixed allowance scaled to Level-2 employees to subsidize daily commuting expenses.
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Statutory Perks: Access to the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) medical facilities, Departmental Leave Travel Concessions (LTC), Children Education Allowance (CEA), and retirement security managed under the National Pension System (NPS).
Eligibility Criteria
To prevent administrative rejection during initial sorting, applicants must cross-verify their profiles against the dual criteria of technical education and age limitations.
1. Mandatory Educational & Technical Prerequisites
All prospective candidates must possess an SSC / Class 10 Certificate (or its structural equivalent) with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks, containing Science subjects. In addition to this primary academic base, applicants must fulfill any one of the following three alternative technical qualifications:
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Path A (Standard Technical Track): Possession of a valid National Trade Certificate (NTC) or State Trade Certificate (STC) in the designated ITI trade, issued by NCVT or SCVT following a full-time curriculum.
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Path B (Apprenticeship Track): Successful completion of a 2-year full-time National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) training program in the relevant technical trade.
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Path C (Experience Track): A minimum of 3 years of continuous, verifiable full-time work experience in the relevant technical trade under any Ministry, Department, Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), or Autonomous Body belonging to the Government of India, State Governments, or Union Territories.
2. Age Limits & Structural Relaxations
The absolute age benchmark is calculated as of the application closing date, June 30, 2026.
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General / Unreserved (UR) / EWS Upper Age Limit: 28 Years (Candidate must not have crossed 28 years of age on June 30, 2026).
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Minimum Age Threshold: 18 Years for all applying categories.
Government-mandated age relaxations apply for reserved social classifications, summarized below:
| Candidate Classification Group | Maximum Permissible Age Relaxation | Effective Upper Age Ceiling |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years | 33 Years |
| Other Outer Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years | 31 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – Unreserved) | 10 Years | 38 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – OBC NCL) | 13 Years | 41 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – SC / ST) | 15 Years | 43 Years |
| Existing Continuous Government Employees (UR) | 5 Years | 33 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 3 Years (After military service deduction) | Evaluated case-by-case |
Step-by-Step Offline Application Protocol
The application workflow for Advertisement No. Rectt./02/2026 must be performed entirely offline. Digital submittals via email or third-party web forms are invalid.
Step 1: Document Retrieval & Physical Printing
Navigate to the official CSIR-NPL website at www.nplindia.in. Enter the “Careers” section, locate the notification link for Technician (1) recruitment, and download the official multi-part application form PDF. Print the document on standard A4-sized paper.
Step 2: Form Completion Guidelines
Fill out all fields manually using a blue or black ballpoint pen. Ensure that details like your legal name, parents’ names, and date of birth match your matriculation certificate exactly.
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Photograph Placement (Part I): Affix a recent passport-sized color photograph on Part I of the application form and sign clearly across the front of the photo.
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Photograph Placement (Part II): Affix an identical second passport-sized photograph on Part II of the form. Do not sign across this second photograph, as it is reserved for administrative identification scanning.
Step 3: Application Fee Management (Demand Draft)
An application processing fee of Rs. 500/- (Rupees Five Hundred Only) must be paid through a physical Demand Draft (DD) or Pay Order.
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Issued In Favor Of: Director, National Physical Laboratory
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Payable At: New Delhi
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Validity Requirements: Must be issued by a nationalized bank and valid for at least 3 months from the date of issue.
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Mandatory Step: Write your full legal name, mobile number, and the targeted Trade Post Code clearly on the reverse side of the physical Demand Draft before packing.
Fee Exemption Rule
The application fee is completely waived (Rs. 0/-) for the following candidate categories:
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Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST)
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Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
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All Women Applicants (Across all social categories)
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Current Employees of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
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Transgender Candidates
Step 4: Verification Document Assembly
Compile self-attested photocopies of all supporting records. The application packet must include:
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Age Validation: Matriculation/Class 10 Board Certificate or standard Birth Certificate.
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Academic Merit Verification: Cumulative mark sheets and certificates for Class 10/SSC showing at least 55% marks.
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Technical Competency Proof: ITI Trade Certificate (NCVT/SCVT), National Apprenticeship Certificate, or formal experience certificates from government/PSU establishments.
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Caste/Community Status: Valid OBC-NCL, SC, ST, or EWS certificate issued by a competent revenue officer (e.g., Tahsildar or District Magistrate) using the specified central government formats.
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No Objection Certificate (NOC): If currently employed in a government office, PSU, or autonomous government body, you must attach an NOC or forward the application through proper channels using Proforma-VII.
Step 5: Packaging and Postal Dispatch
Place the filled form, the original Demand Draft (if applicable), and all self-attested copies inside a thick, secure envelope.
Superscribe the top face of the envelope in clear capital letters with the following string:
“APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF TECHNICIAN(1) – (Post Code No. _______)”
Ensure you fill in the specific post code (e.g., T2-01, T2-02) in the blank space. Send the envelope via Speed Post or Registered Post to the following address:
To,
The Senior Controller of Administration,
CSIR-National Physical Laboratory,
Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg,
New Delhi – 110012
The physical packet must be delivered to the CSIR-NPL administrative office on or before June 30, 2026, by 05:00 PM. Late arrivals will be rejected without further review.
Selection Architecture & Examination Syllabus
Candidates whose physical applications pass structural review will be called to participate in a two-stage evaluation framework.
Stage 1: The Trade Test (Qualifying Stage)
The District/Institutional Selection Committee will conduct a practical Trade Test tailored to the chosen technical specialization. This stage is strictly qualifying in nature. It assesses whether the applicant possesses the hands-on proficiency required to operate lab equipment, handle electrical circuits, manage databases, or execute trade-specific tasks safely. Marks scored here are not added to the final merit rank, but passing this test is mandatory to unlock the written examination.
Stage 2: Competitive Written Examination
Candidates who pass the Trade Test will sit for a competitive written examination consisting of three separate papers. The exam features a total of 150 questions across a combined testing window of 3 hours.
Paper I: Mental Ability Test
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Total Questions: 50
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Maximum Score: 100 Marks (2 Marks awarded per correct answer)
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Negative Marking: No Negative Marks are applied in Paper I.
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Allotted Duration: 1 Hour (60 Minutes)
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Syllabus Focus: General Intelligence, Spatial Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Problem-Solving, Situational Judgment, and Numerical/Arithmetical Series.
Paper II: General Awareness & Language Competency
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Total Questions: 50 (Divided into 25 General Awareness and 25 English Language questions)
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Maximum Score: 150 Marks (3 Marks awarded per correct answer)
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Negative Marking: 1 Mark deducted for every incorrect response.
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Allotted Duration: 30 Minutes per section (Total 1 Hour)
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Syllabus Focus:
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General Awareness: National and International Current Affairs, Basic Scientific Concepts, History, Geography, Indian Constitution, and Economic Trends.
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English Language: Basic Grammar Rules, Synonyms, Antonyms, Sentence Correction, Idioms, and Reading Comprehension.
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Paper III: Concerned Technical Subject Knowledge
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Total Questions: 50
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Maximum Score: 150 Marks (3 Marks awarded per correct answer)
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Negative Marking: 1 Mark deducted for every incorrect response.
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Allotted Duration: 1 Hour (60 Minutes)
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Syllabus Focus: Questions directly derived from the standard NCVT/ITI curriculum corresponding to the chosen trade specialization (Electronics, Electrical, COPA, etc.).
Critical Merit Rule: The final merit list and rank allocation are calculated solely on the marks obtained in Paper II and Paper III. Paper I serves as an initial assessment block, but its marks do not influence the final selection rank.
Full Notification Pdf Click Here
Application Pdf Click Here
Official Website Click Here
Strategic Action Checklist for Applicants
To ensure a seamless and error-free submission process, verify that you have completed each of the following crucial tasks before dispatching your application envelope:
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Downloaded the authoritative form structure directly from the verified domain
www.nplindia.in. -
Cross-referenced the ITI trade specialization to write the correct Trade Post Code on both the application form and the outer envelope.
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Verified that your Class 10/SSC marks sheet confirms an aggregate score of at least 55% with Science subjects listed in the curriculum.
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Affixed two identical passport-size color photographs, ensuring that only the one on Part I contains your signature across the front.
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Drawn a physical Demand Draft for exactly Rs. 500/- (if belonging to an applicable category), written your full name and post code on the back, and confirmed it is payable to the Director, NPL at New Delhi.
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Attached clear, self-attested photocopies of all relevant educational certificates, technical trade certifications, and local community/caste certificates.
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Addressed the final envelope to the Senior Controller of Administration at the designated New Delhi campus address using Registered or Speed Post to ensure delivery prior to the June 30, 2026 deadline.





