ISRO NRSC Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 48 Research Scientist, Project Associate and More Posts

The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), one of the principal centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation under the Department of Space, has invited online applications under Advertisement No. NRSC/RMT/1/2026 for 48 temporary research personnel positions. The registration window runs from 1 August 2026 at 10:00 hrs to 21 August 2026 at 17:00 hrs.

This is a research recruitment rather than a general one, and the distinction matters. Every seat is attached to a named, funded project with a defined scientific objective, from glacial lake monitoring in the Himalaya to satellite-based mapping of Coal India’s mining footprint. Understanding which project you are applying into is the difference between a strong interview and a generic one.

Recruitment at a Glance

Post-Wise Vacancy Details

The 48 seats are spread across 20 post codes. Applications are made against a post code, not a job title, so identify yours precisely before registering.

Junior Research Fellow is the largest single block at 19 seats, and JRF30 alone carries nine of them, spread across eight NICES climate projects covering agricultural residue burning, lightning detection, precipitation and land surface temperature products, and Himalayan cryosphere assessment. If you hold a master’s degree in physics, atmospheric science, meteorology or a related discipline with a valid NET or GATE score, this is the widest gate in the advertisement.

Where the Posts Actually Sit

Most positions are at Hyderabad and Shadnagar, but four are earmarked for regional centres and this is stated in the vacancy table rather than in a separate annexure.

• RRSC North, New Delhi carries one RS23 post, one PAII-02 post and one PAII-03 post.
• RRSC South, Bengaluru carries JRF32, JRF33, JRF34 and JRF35, one seat each.

Selected candidates work at the station indicated where applicable, or at NRSC’s technical facilities at Hyderabad and Shadnagar in Rangareddy District. They may also be required to serve at other campuses including the Regional Remote Sensing Centres at Delhi, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Kolkata and Jodhpur. The appointment carries liability for posting anywhere in India under the Department of Space.

Educational Qualification by Position

Every post code has its own qualification requirement. What follows is a summary. Read Section B of the notification PDF for the exact wording against your post code, because several codes accept equivalent specialisations that are not obvious from the headline title.

Research Scientist (RS20 to RS25)

Project Associate and Project Scientist

Junior Research Fellow (JRF30 to JRF35)

An additional condition applies to every JRF post code. Applicants must hold a post graduate degree in a professional course selected through CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship, GATE, or a national level examination conducted by a Central Government department or agency such as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, ICAR, ICMR, IIT, IISc or IISER. A valid score card in the relevant advertised discipline is mandatory. Without it, a JRF application will not survive screening regardless of your marks.

Minimum Marks Requirement

NRSC applies a marks threshold on top of the degree requirement, and it is stricter than most research advertisements.

Three conditions attached to this table decide a large number of rejections.

• Rounding is not permitted. Percentages and CGPA must be entered to two decimal places exactly as they appear. 8.235 is entered as 8.23, and 8.236 as 8.24. A candidate at 64.98% does not become 65%.
• Only candidates who have passed out are eligible. Those awaiting a final result need not apply.
• B.Tech or M.Tech obtained through Open and Distance Learning is not eligible. This is stated explicitly.

For dual or integrated degree holders, the notification sets out how CGPA is reckoned depending on whether the certificate reports graduation and post graduation separately, reports a single common figure, or reports none at all. If you hold such a degree, read clause F.5 before entering your marks.

Age Limit

Age is reckoned as on the last date for receipt of online applications, which is 21 August 2026.

Ex-servicemen and persons with benchmark disabilities are eligible for upper age relaxation as per Government of India orders. Certificates from the competent authority must be produced to claim any relaxation.

Emoluments

House rent allowance is payable at the rates in force at the place of posting where accommodation is not provided. Female candidates are eligible for maternity leave as per Government of India instructions, and all positions carry medical benefits for self under NRSC and ISRO rules. Selected candidates are not entitled to any other benefit or concession available to regular employees.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of ₹250 applies to each application. After completing the form, candidates are redirected to the BharatKosh payment gateway. On successful payment, an e-acknowledgement is displayed and should be downloaded. Candidates are advised to log in to the e-recruitment portal once more afterwards to complete final submission.

The fee is refunded to all women candidates, SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen applicants, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and actually participating in the selection process. Refunds are credited only to the bank account entered in the application, so the account holder name, account number and IFSC code must be correct. NRSC is not responsible for a failed refund caused by wrong bank details, and no refund is considered if a candidate does not appear for the interview.

Cash, cheque, draft, money order and IPO are not accepted. The last date for application is also the last date for fee payment, and it will not be extended.

Selection Process

Meeting the prescribed qualification is the minimum requirement and does not by itself earn an interview call. NRSC reserves the right to screen applications against the eligibility criteria and to fix any additional shortlisting criteria it considers necessary.

Screened-in candidates are called for interview before a Selection Committee. Communication is sent by email only, so the address entered in the application must remain active and be checked including spam and junk folders. The list of shortlisted candidates is also published on the NRSC website. No correspondence is entertained on the question of shortlisting.

Outstation candidates called for interview are paid to and fro sleeper class railway fare or non-AC bus fare, whichever is less, by the shortest route from the address in the application, on production of tickets. Travelling allowance is paid only to candidates permitted to attend the interview after successful document verification.

Documents to Upload

Applications submitted without the required uploads are treated as invalid. Prepare these before you start the form.

• Recent passport size colour photograph, not older than six months, in .jpg or .jpeg only, maximum 40 KB, dimensions 110 x 140 px
• Signature in .jpg or .jpeg only, maximum 20 KB, dimensions 200 x 50 px
• SSC or Class 10 certificate as date of birth proof
• Intermediate or Diploma certificate
• Graduation certificate with consolidated or semester-wise mark sheets
• Post graduation certificate with consolidated or semester-wise mark sheets
• Doctoral degree documents where applicable, including the PhD thesis abstract and SCI journal publication details
• Proof of qualifying GATE, NET or an equivalent test, mandatory for post codes JRF30 to JRF35
• SC, ST, PwBD or ex-servicemen certificate, where applicable for fee refund

The photograph must be clear enough to identify the candidate and the signature must be legible. Failure on either count leads to cancellation of candidature.

Tenure and What the Appointment Is Not

Every position is purely temporary for one year, subject to the validity of the project. Extension depends on performance at periodic review, or runs co-terminus with the project, whichever is earlier. The maximum period is five years for JRF and Research Scientist positions.

Posts sanctioned for a specific project are not adjusted against any other new or ongoing project. Candidates appointed have no claim or right to regular appointment in NRSC, ISRO or the Department of Space, and NRSC reserves the right to terminate services at any time without notice and without assigning reasons.

That is the honest framing. What the role does offer is genuine research exposure on operational satellite data at a national centre, access to a well-equipped library with international journals, and, for selected JRFs, encouragement to register for a PhD at a recognised university on a relevant research topic.

How to Apply Online

1. Visit nrsc.gov.in and open the Career Apply section, or go directly to the e-recruitment portal.
2. Register between 1 August 2026 at 10:00 hrs and 21 August 2026 at 17:00 hrs.
3. Enter your email ID and mobile number correctly. Both are compulsory and all further communication uses the registered email.
4. Select the correct post code and complete the form. Enter percentage and CGPA to two decimal places without rounding.
5. Upload the photograph, signature and all certificates in the prescribed formats and sizes.
6. Pay ₹250 through the BharatKosh gateway and download the e-acknowledgement.
7. Log in again to complete final submission. Payment alone does not submit the application.
8. Download the personalised registration confirmation form carrying your name, registration number, advertisement number and post code.

Applying for more than one post requires a separate application and a separate fee for each. If duplicate applications are submitted for the same post, only the latest one filed before the closing date is processed.

Important Dates

Important Links

Corrigenda relating to changes in essential qualification requirements or the number of positions are notified only on the NRSC website and are not advertised in newspapers. Check the site periodically until the closing date. NRSC and ISRO appoint no agents or coaching centres, and candidates should treat any website or social media account claiming otherwise as fake.

Related Recruitment

Engineering graduates targeting the space sector should also see ISRO Scientist/Engineer Recruitment 2026, which fills 92 regular Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts through GATE score and closes on 17 August 2026. That drive offers permanent absorption, which this one does not, so a candidate eligible for both should consider applying to each.

For comparable project-based research roles, CSIR CFTRI Project Associate Recruitment 2026 at Mysuru is open to food science and computer science candidates until 12 August 2026, and NIPER Guwahati CEO Recruitment 2026 suits senior candidates with a PhD or MBA and cross-sector experience. In the health research space, AIIMS Guwahati Recruitment 2026 has five CCRAS funded project posts closing on 9 August 2026.

PhD holders in quantitative disciplines should also see IIT Madras Post Doctoral Researcher Recruitment 2026, which pays ₹70,000 to ₹1,00,000 a month for two posts and closes on 13 August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacancies are there in ISRO NRSC Recruitment 2026?

48 posts in total, covering 14 Research Scientist, 3 Project Associate-I, 2 Project Associate-II, 8 Project Scientist-B, 2 Project Scientist-I and 19 Junior Research Fellow positions.

What is the last date to apply?

21 August 2026 at 17:00 hrs. The same deadline applies to fee payment and is not extendable.

Is GATE or NET compulsory?

Yes, for JRF post codes JRF30 to JRF35. Applicants must hold a valid score card in the relevant advertised discipline from CSIR-UGC NET, GATE or a recognised national level examination. It is not required for the other positions.

Can final year students apply?

No. Only candidates who have already passed out are eligible. Those awaiting a final result should not apply.

Are distance learning degrees accepted?

B.Tech and M.Tech obtained through Open and Distance Learning are not eligible. All degrees must be recognised by AICTE, UGC or another body authorised by the Government of India.

What is the application fee and is it refundable?

₹250 per application, paid through BharatKosh. It is refunded to women, SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and participate in the selection process. It is not refunded if a candidate does not appear for the interview.

Is there a written examination?

No. Selection is by screening of applications followed by an interview before a Selection Committee.

What is the salary for a JRF at NRSC?

₹37,000 per month plus HRA, with the possibility of rising to ₹42,000 as Senior Research Fellow after two years, subject to a review of research work by a review committee.

Where will I be posted?

Mostly Hyderabad and Shadnagar in Rangareddy District. Four post codes are earmarked for RRSC North in New Delhi and RRSC South in Bengaluru. The appointment carries liability for posting anywhere in India under the Department of Space.

Can I apply for more than one post?

Yes, but each post requires a separate online application and a separate fee of ₹250.

Does this lead to a permanent ISRO job?

No. The positions are purely temporary and confer no claim or right to regular appointment in NRSC, ISRO or the Department of Space. Tenure is one year, extendable up to a maximum of five years for JRF and Research Scientist roles.

Details above are taken from Advertisement No. NRSC/RMT/1/2026 dated 1 August 2026. Candidates should read the full notification PDF for post code specific qualifications, project details and general conditions before applying.