NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026 (Short Notice) — Apply Online for 243 Posts
The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has released a Short Notification for the recruitment of 243 Scientist-‘B’ (Group A, Gazetted) posts under Advertisement No. NIC/SCB/2026/1. NIC is India’s premier government technology organisation responsible for building and managing the national IT infrastructure, and the Scientist-‘B’ role is the entry-level position in its scientific cadre.
The post carries a pay scale of Level-10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) under the 7th Central Pay Commission. Candidates with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, or related fields are eligible. GATE scores for 2024, 2025, or 2026 are a mandatory requirement for specific disciplines including Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, and Data Science/Artificial Intelligence. The detailed notification is expected to be released within 10 days of the GATE 2026 results, following which the online application window will open. Applications are to be submitted exclusively through the official NIC recruitment portal at recruitment.nic.in.
NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026 — Key Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India |
| Advertisement Number | NIC/SCB/2026/1 |
| Post Name | Scientist-‘B’ (Group A, Gazetted) |
| Total Vacancies | 243 Posts |
| Pay Level (7th CPC) | Level-10 — ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering/Technology/Computer Science or related fields |
| GATE Requirement | Valid GATE score for 2024/2025/2026 required for CS, EC, and Data Science/AI disciplines |
| Notification Type | Short Notice; detailed notification to be released within 10 days of GATE 2026 results |
| Online Registration Start Date | To be announced |
| Last Date to Apply | To be announced (tentatively February–March 2026 onwards) |
| Application Mode | Online only via NIC recruitment portal |
| Official Website | Click here |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Short Notification Release Date | 05 February 2026 |
| Detailed Notification Release | Within 10 days of GATE 2026 results announcement |
| Online Registration Start Date | To be announced on the official NIC recruitment portal |
| Last Date to Apply Online | To be announced (Tentatively early 2026) |
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (NIC Recruitment Portal) | Click here |
| Official Short Notification PDF | Click here |
| Official NIC Website | Click here |
Vacancy Distribution — Category-Wise Breakdown
| Category | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 100 |
| Other Backward Classes — Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 65 |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 36 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 24 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 18 |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 |
| Total | 243 |
Note: The discipline-wise and post-wise vacancy breakdowns will be published in the detailed notification. Candidates are advised to monitor the official NIC recruitment portal and website for the release of the detailed advertisement.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Technology or Computer Science, or a Master’s Degree in the relevant discipline or related fields from a recognised university or institution. Acceptable qualifications include B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc., MCA, and candidates with M.Phil./Ph.D. degrees in relevant technical disciplines are also eligible as per the detailed notification.
GATE Score Requirements
| Discipline | GATE Paper | GATE Score Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & Information Technology | CS (Computer Science and Information Technology) | GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | EC (Electronics and Communication Engineering) | GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026 |
| Data Science / Artificial Intelligence | DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) | GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026 |
For all disciplines listed above, a valid GATE score from the 2024, 2025, or 2026 examinations is mandatory. GATE scores from years prior to 2024 will not be considered. The detailed notification will specify the exact discipline-wise GATE paper requirements, minimum qualifying scores (if any), and any other discipline-specific conditions.
Pay Scale & Benefits
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Post Category | Group-A Gazetted (Scientist-‘B’) |
| Pay Matrix Level (7th CPC) | Level-10 |
| Pay Scale | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month |
| Other Benefits | Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, Medical benefits, and other applicable Central Government allowances |
Selection Process
The selection for NIC Scientist-‘B’ Recruitment 2026 will be conducted through the following stages:
- Shortlisting Based on GATE Scores: All eligible candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their GATE 2024/2025/2026 scores in the applicable discipline. Candidates with higher GATE scores will receive priority in the shortlisting process. The exact shortlisting ratio or cutoff GATE scores will be detailed in the comprehensive notification.
- Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for a Personal Interview. The interview panel will assess the candidate’s technical proficiency in their discipline, problem-solving ability, knowledge of current developments in IT/CS/Electronics, and overall suitability for a career in NIC’s technology ecosystem.
- Document Verification: Candidates provisionally selected after the interview will be required to produce all original certificates — educational qualifications, GATE scorecard, category/caste certificates, identity proof, and any other documents specified in the notification — for thorough verification before the final offer of appointment is issued.
The final selection will be based on the candidate’s combined performance across the shortlisting and interview stages, subject to successful document verification and medical fitness.
How to Apply for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026
- Regularly monitor the official NIC website at Click here and the NIC recruitment portal at Click here for the release of the detailed notification, which will be published within 10 days of the GATE 2026 results.
- Once the detailed notification is released, download and read it thoroughly — paying particular attention to post-wise and discipline-wise eligibility conditions, GATE paper requirements, vacancy distribution, reservation rules, and application instructions.
- Access the online application form through the NIC recruitment portal and complete the registration process by providing your personal details, educational qualifications, and GATE score information.
- Fill in the application form accurately with all required details including personal information, academic credentials (degree, institution, year, percentage/CGPA), GATE score details (year, paper, registration number, score), and contact information.
- Upload scanned copies of required documents — recent passport-size photograph, signature, educational certificates, GATE scorecard, category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD, if applicable), and any other documents specified in the detailed notification — in the prescribed format and file size.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) as specified in the detailed notification through the available online payment modes.
- Review all entered information carefully before final submission. Submit the application form and retain a printed copy of the confirmation page for future reference during the interview and document verification stages.
Candidate Advisory: Since this is a short notification and the full advertisement will be released after GATE 2026 results, candidates who have appeared in GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026 in the relevant disciplines (CS, EC, DA) should keep their GATE scorecard and academic documents ready. Candidates are advised to check the official NIC website and recruitment portal frequently for the detailed notification update.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has released a Short Notification under Advertisement No. NIC/SCB/2026/1 for the direct recruitment of 243 Scientist-‘B’ (Group A, Gazetted) posts. Scientist-‘B’ is the entry-level scientist post at NIC, India’s premier national IT infrastructure organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The detailed notification will follow within 10 days of the GATE 2026 results.
Q2. How many vacancies are available under NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
A total of 243 vacancies have been announced: UR (100), OBC-NCL (65), SC (36), EWS (24), ST (18), and PwBD (10). The discipline-wise breakdown will be provided in the detailed notification.
Q3. Is GATE score mandatory for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
Yes. A valid GATE score from 2024, 2025, or 2026 is mandatory for candidates applying in the Computer Science & IT, Electronics & Communication, and Data Science/Artificial Intelligence disciplines. GATE scores from years before 2024 will not be accepted. The detailed notification will specify whether GATE is required for all disciplines or specific ones.
Q4. What is the pay scale for the NIC Scientist-‘B’ post?
The post is placed at Level-10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, carrying a pay scale of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month. In addition, selected candidates are entitled to Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, medical benefits, and other applicable Central Government service perquisites.
Q5. What educational qualifications are required for NIC Scientist B?
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering/Technology or Computer Science, or related disciplines from a recognised university. Accepted qualifications include B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc., MCA, and relevant M.Phil./Ph.D. degrees. Specific discipline-wise requirements will be detailed in the comprehensive notification.
Q6. When will the detailed notification for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026 be released?
The detailed notification will be published on the official NIC website and recruitment portal within 10 days of the GATE 2026 results announcement. Candidates should regularly monitor Click here and Click here for updates.
Q7. What is the selection process for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
Selection is conducted in three stages: Shortlisting based on GATE scores (GATE 2024/2025/2026 as applicable), followed by a Personal Interview for shortlisted candidates, and concluding with Document Verification for provisionally selected candidates. Final appointment is subject to satisfactory document verification and medical fitness.
Q8. Which GATE papers are accepted for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
The GATE papers accepted are CS (Computer Science and Information Technology), EC (Electronics and Communication Engineering), and DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) for the relevant discipline-specific vacancies. All scores must be from GATE 2024, 2025, or 2026. The detailed notification will confirm the complete list of accepted GATE papers for all available disciplines.
Q9. How can I apply for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official NIC recruitment portal at Click here. No offline or postal applications will be accepted. The online application window will open after the detailed notification is released following GATE 2026 results. Candidates should regularly check the portal for updates.
Q10. What documents should candidates keep ready for NIC Scientist B Recruitment 2026?
Candidates should prepare scanned copies of the following documents in advance: GATE 2024/2025/2026 scorecard (as applicable), all educational degree certificates and mark sheets (BE/BTech/MTech/MCA/MSc as applicable), category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD, if applicable), a recent passport-size photograph, specimen signature, and valid government-issued identity proof. Having these ready will ensure a smooth application process when the detailed notification and application window open.