ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026 for 48 JRF, Research Associate and Project Scientist-I Posts

Space Applications Centre (SAC) Recruitment 2026 Overview

The Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, an esteemed lead centre under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, has announced vacancies for temporary research positions. Under Advertisement No. SAC:02:2026, online applications are invited from eligible Indian Nationals for 48 posts of Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate (RA), and Project Scientist-I (PS-I) across 16 different post codes.

Detailed Vacancy Breakdown by Post Code

The vacancies are divided based on highly specialized domains. Below is the structured list of vacant seats and their respective post codes:

Eligibility Criteria & Essential Qualifications

To apply, candidates must meet the educational parameters and qualifying score metrics as specified below:

1. Educational Qualification Requirements

• For JRF (Post Codes 01 to 07): B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, or M.Sc in the relevant engineering or science discipline. Candidates must also have qualified for a valid national eligibility test such as CSIR-UGC NET (including lectureship), GATE, or national-level tests conducted by Central Government departments (like DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, etc.).
• For Research Associate (Post Codes 08 to 10): Ph.D. in relevant disciplines, OR M.E./M.Tech with 3 years of post-qualification research/teaching/design/development experience and at least one publication in an SCI-indexed journal.
• For Project Scientist-I (Post Codes 11 to 16): Ph.D. in the relevant field or M.E./M.Tech in specialized disciplines as specified in the post-code qualifications.

2. Academic Percentage Requirements

• For Candidates with M.E./M.Tech: Minimum aggregate score of 60% marks (or CGPA/CPI of 6.5 on a 10-point scale).
• For Candidates with M.Sc / B.E. / B.Tech: Minimum aggregate score of 65% marks (or CGPA/CPI of 6.84 on a 10-point scale).
• Rounding off marks or converting CGPA to percentage (or vice-versa) is strictly prohibited.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The crucial date for determining the age limit is 30.09.2026.

• Junior Research Fellow (Post Code 01 to 07): Maximum age limit is 28 years.
• Research Associate & Project Scientist-I (Post Code 08 to 16): Maximum age limit is 35 years.
• Relaxation Rules: SC/ST candidates are entitled to 5 years of relaxation, while OBC-NCL candidates are entitled to 3 years of relaxation. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Ex-Servicemen will receive relaxation as per Central Government norms.

Salary Structure and Benefits

Selected candidates will receive a monthly fellowship or consolidated salary along with other applicable benefits:

• Junior Research Fellow (JRF): Rs. 37,000/- per month + HRA for the first 1st & 2nd year; and Rs. 42,000/- per month + HRA for subsequent years upon evaluation.
• Project Scientist-I (PS-I): Rs. 56,000/- per month + HRA.
• Research Associate (RA): Consolidated pay ranges from Rs. 58,000/- per month to Rs. 67,000/- per month + HRA depending on research experience and qualifications (categorized into RA-1, RA-2, and RA-3).
• Additional Benefits: Medical facilities for self only as per government instructions. Candidates are not entitled to additional concessions provided to regular employees.

Selection Methodology

Since this recruitment involves direct research roles, selection will not be done via standard written testing. The screening parameters are as follows:

1. Shortlisting: Initial screening will be completed based on the academic merit and validity of national-level eligibility scores (GATE/NET) submitted in the applications.
2. Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a personal interview. Communication regarding the schedules will be shared directly via registered email addresses.
3. Final Panel: The selection panel will be compiled purely based on the candidate's performance during the personal interview.