National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, has released Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2 for direct recruitment to the post of Scientific/Technical Assistant-A (STA-A), a Group-B (Scientific & Technical) non-Gazetted post in Level 6 of the 7th CPC. A total of 376 vacancies are on offer across three disciplines – Computer Sciences & Information Technology, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. There is no written exam or interview: the merit list is prepared purely on a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score. Online applications are open from 01.09.2026 (10:00 AM) to 30.09.2026 (05:30 PM) at recruitment.nic.in.
NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Post Name | Scientific/Technical Assistant-A (STA-A), Group-B (Scientific & Technical), Non-Gazetted |
| Organization | National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | NIC/STA/2026/2 |
| Location | All India / Central Govt – selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India and outside India |
| Total Vacancies | 376 (Computer Sciences & IT: 300, Electronics & Communication Engineering: 26, Data Science & AI: 50) |
| Qualification | M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech in the prescribed fields, plus a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in paper code CS, EC or DA |
| Age Limit | 30 years for UR/EWS as on 30.09.2026 (full category-wise upper age limits in the table below) |
| Selection Process | Application screening → GATE score merit list → Document verification → Provisional appointment |
| Pay Scale | Level 6 of the 7th CPC – Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month |
| How to Apply | Online only at recruitment.nic.in, from 01.09.2026 (10:00 AM) to 30.09.2026 (05:30 PM) |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | recruitment.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Opening date for online applications | 01.09.2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Closing date for online applications | 30.09.2026 (05:30 PM) |
| Cut-off date for eligibility (age, qualification, category) | 30.09.2026 |
| Schedule for document verification of shortlisted candidates | To be announced on the NIC recruitment website |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women candidates | Nil |
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | Rs. 800/- |
| Candidates applying for more than one discipline | Rs. 800/- for every discipline |
| Mode of payment | Online only. Cash, demand draft, pay order, cheque or challan are not accepted; bank charges are borne by the candidate |
| Refund | Fee once paid is non-refundable |
Vacancy Details (Discipline-wise and Category-wise)
| Discipline | Total | UR | SC | ST | OBC (NCL) | EWS | PwBD (Horizontal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & Information Technology | 300 | 122 | 45 | 22 | 81 | 30 | 15 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 26 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 50 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Total | 376 | 157 | 55 | 26 | 101 | 37 | 19 |
Note: PwBD reservation is horizontal and is distributed as locomotor disability (including leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy), hard of hearing, and multiple disabilities; 3 of the PwBD posts are PH-MD backlog vacancies. The number of advertised posts is tentative and may increase or decrease at the sole discretion of NIC.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | A pass in M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech (single or in combination) in Electronics, Electronics and Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Computer Sciences, Computer and Networking Security, Software System, Information Technology or Informatics |
| GATE Requirement | A valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score is mandatory – paper code CS for Computer Sciences & IT, EC for Electronics and Communication Engineering, DA for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence |
| Age Limit | 30 years for UR/EWS as on the closing date 30.09.2026; category-wise relaxation as in the table below |
| Experience | No experience required |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01.01.1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from the specified countries – the last four categories need an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India |
| Qualification cut-off | The essential qualification must be complete in all respects by the closing date, 30.09.2026 |
| Equivalent qualifications | Not entertained – only the qualifications prescribed in the advertisement are accepted |
Category-wise Upper Age Limit
| Category | Upper Age Limit (as on 30.09.2026) |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 30 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 33 years |
| SC / ST | 35 years |
| PwBD (UR/EWS) | 40 years |
| PwBD – OBC (NCL) | 43 years |
| PwBD – SC / ST | 45 years |
| Service candidate – UR / EWS | 35 years |
| Service candidate – OBC (NCL) | 38 years |
| Service candidate – SC / ST | 40 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government of India rules |
Note: The 5-year service-candidate relaxation applies to candidates serving in Government Organizations in the same line or allied cadres where the service already rendered will be useful for the advertised post. Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC (NCL) applies only to posts reserved for them, while PwBD age relaxation applies irrespective of whether the post is reserved, provided the post is identified suitable for them.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 – Eligibility screening | Only candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria at clause 3 of the advertisement and who have registered their application on the NIC portal are taken forward. Admission at every stage is provisional and subject to the prescribed conditions being satisfied. |
| Stage 2 – GATE score merit list | A category-wise merit list is prepared separately for each discipline, in order of GATE score. Equal weightage is given to GATE 2024, 2025 and 2026 scores, and the candidate must submit their best score from any one eligible year in the discipline applied for. There is no separate written examination and no interview. |
| Tie-breaker rules | Applied in this order: (1) the older year GATE score ranks higher; (2) if the score and year are the same, the older candidate ranks higher; (3) if still tied, the higher percentage in the essential qualification declared at the time of application ranks higher. Where the university provides no CGPA conversion formula, a certificate from the Registrar is required. |
| Stage 3 – Document verification | Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification as per the vacancies. The authorization letter is downloaded from the link on the NIC recruitment website. Verification is conducted at Delhi or at any other location/mode approved by the competent authority. No postponement or change of location is allowed and no TA/DA is paid. Failure to appear with original documents leads to rejection. |
| Stage 4 – Provisional appointment | On successful completion of document verification, candidates found eligible are offered provisional appointment, subject to fulfilment of all other eligibility criteria. Aadhaar-based authentication is used at every stage of the recruitment process. |
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month |
| Post Classification | Group-B (Scientific & Technical), Non-Gazetted |
| Nature of Appointment | Direct recruitment; the post carries All India service liability with posting anywhere in India and outside India |
| Allowances and Perks | Not specified in notification – admissible as per Central Government rules applicable to the pay level |
How to Apply
- Visit the NIC recruitment portal at recruitment.nic.in between 01.09.2026 (10:00 AM) and 30.09.2026 (05:30 PM) and read the detailed advertisement in full before applying.
- Step 1 – Registration: register using a valid e-mail ID and an active mobile number, and note the application number and password created.
- Step 2 – Application form: fill in the online form and upload the photograph, signature and self-attested copies of all required documents in the prescribed formats and sizes.
- Step 3 – Fee payment: pay Rs. 800 online by credit card, debit card or net banking if applicable; SC/ST/PwBD and all women candidates are exempt.
- Step 4 – Confirmation page: download the confirmation page and the filled application form, and quote the Application ID in all future correspondence with NIC.
Note: Applications are accepted online only – no other mode is accepted. The application is treated as complete only if all four steps are finished successfully; if the fee is not paid by the closing date and time, the candidature is summarily rejected. No change in name, category, address, mobile number or e-mail ID is permitted after submission.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Recent colour photograph | JPEG/JPG, minimum 50 KB and maximum 200 KB |
| Signature | In blue or black ink, JPEG/JPG, minimum 10 KB and maximum 50 KB |
| Date of birth proof | PDF, 10 KB to 500 KB – birth certificate issued by a municipality, or Matriculation/High School/SSC certificate |
| Matriculation and Senior Secondary certificates | PDF, self-attested |
| Valid GATE score card (2024/2025/2026) | PDF, self-attested |
| Essential qualification certificate | M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech pass certificate along with marksheets |
| CGPA conversion certificate | From the Registrar of the university, if applicable |
| Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) | In the prescribed Government of India format (Annexure I, II or III), issued on or before 30.09.2026; the OBC certificate must be the central format for appointment to posts under the Government of India |
| PwBD certificate | Minimum 40% permanent disability, in the prescribed format (Annexure IV, V or VI), issued by the Government Medical Board |
| Experience certificate | If any |
| No Objection Certificate | Annexure VII – for candidates working in Central/State Government, PSUs, aided institutions or autonomous bodies |
| Age relaxation certificate | Annexure VIII for government servants and Annexure IX for ex-servicemen |
| Aadhaar card | Required for Aadhaar-based authentication at every stage |
| Any other photo ID | PAN card, driving licence, EPIC ID or any other government-issued ID |
| Gazette notification | In respect of a change of name, if applicable |
Important Links
| Apply Online (01.09.2026 onwards) | Apply Online at recruitment.nic.in |
| Official Notification | Download Official Notification (PDF) |
| Official Website | National Informatics Centre (nic.gov.in) |
| Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the exact paper code prescribed for that discipline – CS, EC or DA – as no other paper code is accepted.
- Leaving any of the four application steps incomplete; if the fee is not paid by the closing date and time, the candidature is summarily rejected and no query or complaint is entertained.
- Applying for more than one discipline but paying the fee only once – Rs. 800 is payable separately for every discipline.
- Uploading an OBC (NCL) certificate issued for state government posts or for educational purposes, which is not accepted – only the central format for appointment to posts under the Government of India is valid.
- Assuming details can be corrected later, when no change in name, category, address, mobile number or e-mail ID is permitted after submission.
- Forgetting to download the confirmation page at Step 4, which leaves the application incomplete and liable to rejection.
- Reaching document verification without the downloaded authorization letter, the original documents and a recent passport size photograph, which alone debars a candidate from the selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026?
Online applications close on 30.09.2026 at 05:30 PM.
2. How many vacancies have been announced?
A total of 376 posts – 300 in Computer Sciences & Information Technology, 26 in Electronics and Communication Engineering and 50 in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
3. Is a GATE score compulsory for this recruitment?
Yes, a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in paper code CS, EC or DA is mandatory, and equal weightage is given to all three years.
4. What qualification is required?
A pass in M.Sc./MS/MCA/B.E./B.Tech in Electronics, Electronics and Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Computer Sciences, Computer and Networking Security, Software System, Information Technology or Informatics, completed by 30.09.2026.
5. What is the age limit?
30 years for UR/EWS as on 30.09.2026, relaxed to 33 years for OBC (NCL), 35 years for SC/ST and up to 45 years for SC/ST PwBD candidates.
6. What is the application fee?
Rs. 800 for UR/OBC (NCL)/EWS candidates and nil for SC/ST/PwBD and all women candidates, payable separately for each discipline applied for.
7. Is there a written exam or interview?
No, there is no written exam or interview – the merit list is prepared on GATE score alone, followed by document verification at Delhi or another approved location.
8. What is the salary and where will the posting be?
The post carries Level 6 pay of Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month, and selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India and outside India in the interest of the organization.
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.
