CSIR-TKDL Recruitment 2026 – 50 Project Associate Posts, Apply by 12.10.2026

Last updated: October 2, 2026 at 3:51 PM

The CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit (CSIR-TKDL Unit), New Delhi has opened 50 project positions under Advertisement No. TKDL/08/2026, and the online application window is already live — it closes on 12 October 2026 at 5:00 PM. The posts are spread across seven centres (Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Leh and Palampur) and cover eight streams — Information Technology, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Patent, Sanskrit and Yoga — so a BAMS, BUMS or BSMS graduate, a computer science engineer and a Sanskrit or Yoga postgraduate are all eligible, just under different post codes. Selection is quick and old-fashioned: you turn up at your posting location on the date fixed for your post code, write a test, and the result is declared the same day.

Recruitment Overview

Important Dates

Application Fee

Note: The notification does not mention any application fee, and the online form does not list a payment step. Confirm this on the portal before you submit.

Vacancy Details

CSIR-TKDL will also draw up a waiting-list panel from this recruitment, valid for one year, to fill vacancies that come up later.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualification by Post Code

Selection Process

Salary and Benefits

How to Apply

The whole application is online, and you will need your scanned photograph and signature ready before you start. Here is the sequence:

1. Open the CSIR-TKDL online application portal linked from www.csir.res.in and choose the TKDL/08/2026 advertisement.
2. Register as a new user with a valid email ID, then log back in to fill the form.
3. Fill in your personal details, educational qualifications from matriculation onwards, statutory category and experience exactly as your certificates read.
4. Upload your scanned photograph and signature as JPG or JPEG files of not more than 150 KB each, and every supporting certificate as a self-attested PDF of not more than 2 MB.
5. Submit the form before 12 October 2026, 5:00 PM, and save the application number the portal generates — you will need it for all later correspondence.

Note: Applications received through any mode other than the online portal will not be accepted, and if you are applying for more than one post code you must submit a separate application for each one.

Documents Required

Important Links

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Filling one form for several post codes — CSIR-TKDL needs a separate application for every post code you want to be considered for.
• Applying while still in your final semester or waiting for a result, which the notification rules out explicitly.
• Missing an upload — if any of the required scanned documents is absent, the notification says your candidature will be summarily rejected, with no chance to correct it later.
• Turning up at the wrong centre or on the wrong day — the test date and reporting time are fixed per post code, and they run from 14 October to 30 October.
• Leaving the venue after writing the test — results are declared the same day and the interview may follow immediately, so wait for instructions.
• Losing the application number the portal generates, which is what all later correspondence is keyed to.
• Expecting travel reimbursement — no TA or DA is paid for the written test or the interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for CSIR-TKDL Recruitment 2026?
You can apply online until 12 October 2026 at 5:00 PM, and no application sent by any other route is accepted.

How many posts are there under Advt. No. TKDL/08/2026?
There are 50 positions in total, spread over 23 post codes and seven cities.

Which qualifications are accepted?
It depends on the post code — BAMS for Ayurveda, BUMS for Unani, BSMS for Siddha, a Sowa Rigpa degree, B.E./B.Tech or MCA for IT, a Master’s in Chemical or Biological Sciences for Patent, and a Master’s in Sanskrit or Yoga for the last two codes.

What is the age limit?
40 years for Senior Project Associate and 35 years for Project Associate-I, both counted as on 12 October 2026, with relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwD and women candidates as per CSIR rules.

Is there an application fee?
The notification does not mention any fee and the online form lists no payment step, so check the portal once before you submit.

How much is the salary?
Senior Project Associates get Rs. 42,000 a month plus HRA, while Project Associate-I gets Rs. 31,000 plus HRA if you have cleared NET, GATE or a national-level examination, and Rs. 25,000 plus HRA otherwise.

When is the written test?
Your test date depends on your post code and falls on 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26 or 30 October 2026 at the posting location named against that code.

How long does the job last?
The engagement is on contract initially up to 31 March 2027 and can be extended on yearly review until 31 March 2031, but total service across all CSIR postings can never exceed six years.

Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.