NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026 is open for 376 Group-B S&T (Non-Gazetted) vacancies under Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2. The online application window runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM. The crucial date for age and other eligibility conditions is 30 September 2026.
If you are checking the NIC Scientific Technical Assistant age limit 2026, the basic upper-age ceiling is 30 years for UR/EWS candidates. The notification also provides category-wise relaxation, PwBD relaxation and additional limits for eligible serving candidates. Selection is based on a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score followed by document verification.
Image credit: Rajani Gairshail / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting organisation | National Informatics Centre (NIC), MeitY |
| Post | Scientific/Technical Assistant-A |
| Advertisement | NIC/STA/2026/2 |
| Total vacancies | 376 tentative posts |
| Pay level | Level 6 of the 7th CPC |
| Age cutoff | 30 September 2026 |
| Application start | 1 September 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Application last date | 30 September 2026, 5:30 PM |
| Selection basis | Valid GATE score + document verification |
NIC Scientific Technical Assistant Age Limit 2026
The NIC Scientific Technical Assistant age limit 2026 is determined as on 30 September 2026. The general upper-age limit is 30 years for UR/EWS candidates. Reserved-category and other notified relaxations apply where the candidate meets the relevant conditions.
| Category | Maximum age |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Eligible serving UR / EWS candidate | 35 years |
| Eligible serving OBC (NCL) candidate | 38 years |
| Eligible serving SC / ST candidate | 40 years |
| Ex-servicemen | As per applicable Government of India rules |
How to Check Your NIC STA-A DOB Eligibility
- Use your date of birth exactly as recorded in the qualifying documents.
- Apply the notification’s age cutoff of 30 September 2026.
- First check the applicable basic category ceiling, then apply only the relaxation for which you are eligible.
- Keep category, PwBD, service or ex-servicemen documents ready where applicable.
- Do not calculate age from the application date; the notification specifies the cutoff date.
NIC STA-A Vacancy 2026
| Discipline | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & Information Technology | 300 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | 26 |
| Data Science & Artificial Intelligence | 50 |
| Total | 376 |
NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Eligibility
The post requires the prescribed qualification in the relevant discipline together with a valid GATE score from an eligible year. The detailed advertisement should be checked for the exact degree and subject combinations before submission because eligibility is discipline-specific.
| Discipline | GATE paper | Eligible GATE years |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Sciences & Information Technology | CS | 2024, 2025 or 2026 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | EC | 2024, 2025 or 2026 |
| Data Science & Artificial Intelligence | DA | 2024, 2025 or 2026 |
Is GATE Mandatory for NIC STA-A Recruitment?
Yes. The recruitment uses a valid GATE score in the prescribed paper as the basis for preparing the merit list. Eligible GATE years are 2024, 2025 and 2026. The recruitment does not specify a separate competitive written examination for this selection route.
NIC STA-A Selection Process 2026
- Online application and eligibility screening.
- Merit preparation using the valid GATE score in the relevant paper.
- Category-wise shortlisting as per the recruitment rules.
- Document verification for shortlisted candidates.
- Appointment subject to fulfillment of all notified conditions.
NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Salary 2026
The Scientific/Technical Assistant-A post is placed in Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission, with a basic pay scale of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400. Applicable allowances and service conditions are governed by the notified Government rules.
NIC STA-A Application Dates 2026
| Event | Date / time |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 1 September 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Online application closes | 30 September 2026, 5:30 PM |
| Eligibility cutoff | 30 September 2026 |
| Document verification | To be notified by NIC |
NIC STA-A Application Fee
| Candidate category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | ₹800 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | No fee |
| Women candidates | No fee |
Documents to Keep Ready
- Recent photograph and signature in the required format.
- Government-issued identity and date-of-birth proof.
- Degree, marksheets and other qualification certificates.
- Valid GATE score information for the applicable year and paper.
- Category certificate, where applicable.
- PwBD, service or ex-servicemen documents, where applicable.
How to Apply for NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026
- Open the official NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A recruitment portal.
- Read the detailed advertisement and confirm the discipline-specific qualification and GATE requirement.
- Complete registration with accurate personal and contact details.
- Enter education, GATE and category information exactly as supported by your documents.
- Upload the required documents and pay the applicable fee.
- Submit the form before 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM and save the confirmation page.
Official NIC Recruitment Sources
- NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment Portal
- Detailed Advertisement PDF
- National Informatics Centre official website
NIC STA-A Age Limit vs Other 2026 Recruitment
If you are comparing technical government opportunities, our CPRI Age Limit 2026 guide covers post-wise upper-age rules, while the RRB JE Recruitment 2026 guide covers the railway engineering recruitment. For another technical UPSC route, see UPSC Scientist-B General Meteorology Age Limit 2026.
Important Points Before You Apply
- The age cutoff is 30 September 2026, not the date on which you submit the application.
- UR/EWS candidates have a 30-year upper-age ceiling before applicable relaxation.
- OBC (NCL) and SC/ST candidates have separate upper-age ceilings under the notification.
- A valid GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026 in the prescribed paper is required.
- The advertised 376 vacancies are distributed across CS/IT, ECE and Data Science & AI.
- Check the detailed advertisement for the exact qualification mapping before choosing a discipline.
- Save the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIC Scientific Technical Assistant age limit in 2026?
The maximum age is 30 years for UR/EWS candidates as on 30 September 2026. The notification provides higher ceilings for OBC (NCL), SC/ST, PwBD and specified service categories.
How many NIC STA-A vacancies are available?
There are 376 tentative Scientific/Technical Assistant-A vacancies: 300 in Computer Sciences & IT, 26 in Electronics & Communication Engineering and 50 in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence.
What is the last date for NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026?
The online application closes on 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM.
Is there a written exam for NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A?
The notified selection route uses the valid GATE score for merit followed by document verification; a separate written examination is not specified.
Which GATE years are accepted?
GATE scores from 2024, 2025 and 2026 are accepted, subject to the relevant paper and qualification requirements.
Final Checklist
Before submitting the NIC STA-A form, verify your DOB against 30 September 2026, category relaxation, relevant degree, GATE paper and GATE year. Then review the detailed advertisement, upload clear documents, complete the fee step if applicable and retain the final confirmation page. The official recruitment portal and detailed advertisement should be treated as the controlling sources for any later update or clarification.
Source note: Recruitment details are based on the NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A 2026 recruitment portal and detailed advertisement. Image: Rajani Gairshail / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
