NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026: 376 Posts, Age Limit, GATE Eligibility & Apply

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Recruitment 2026 is open for 376 tentative Group-B S&T, Non-Gazetted vacancies in Computer Sciences & Information Technology, Electronics & Communication Engineering, and Data Science & Artificial Intelligence. The key feature of this recruitment is that NIC is using valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 scores for merit rather than a separate written examination. Applications are online and close on 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM.

This guide brings together the vacancy breakup, NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant age limit, qualification and GATE paper requirements, fee, selection process, pay level and application steps. Always compare the details with the latest notice on the official NIC recruitment portal before submitting the form.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Vacancy 2026

The vacancies are described as tentative, so candidates should treat the advertised number as subject to the conditions in the recruitment notice. The largest share is in Computer Sciences & Information Technology, followed by Data Science & AI and Electronics & Communication Engineering.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Age Limit 2026

The age is reckoned as on 30 September 2026. The standard upper-age limits are 30 years for UR/EWS, 33 years for OBC-NCL and 35 years for SC/ST candidates. Additional limits apply to PwBD and service candidates as specified in the recruitment rules.

Ex-servicemen candidates are governed by the applicable Government of India rules. Because age relaxation can depend on category and status, use the exact date-of-birth and category conditions in the notification rather than relying on a generic government-job age rule.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Eligibility 2026

The recruitment has three discipline-specific routes. A qualifying degree alone is not enough: the candidate must also have a valid GATE score in the paper mapped to the chosen discipline.

Is GATE mandatory for NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026?

Yes. The recruitment requires a valid GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026 in the relevant paper: CS for Computer Sciences & IT, EC for Electronics & Communication Engineering, and DA for Data Science & AI. Candidates should check that their degree and GATE paper both match the discipline before applying.

For comparison, our ISRO Scientist Engineer age-limit guide covers a different technical-government recruitment route, while this NIC recruitment uses GATE-based merit for STA-A.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Selection Process 2026

NIC’s selection method is centered on GATE merit. There is no separate written examination or interview described for this recruitment. Eligible applications are used to prepare discipline-wise and category-wise merit lists from GATE scores, followed by document verification for shortlisted candidates.

• Submit an eligible application with the required qualification and GATE details.
• NIC prepares category-wise and discipline-wise merit based on GATE score.
• GATE 2024, 2025 and 2026 scores receive equal weightage.
• Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification.
• NIC completes verification and the appointment process according to the recruitment rules.

NIC GATE merit tie-break rules

If candidates have the same merit position, the published selection information provides tie-break stages. An older GATE score year is ranked higher first. If the score and year are also the same, the older candidate is ranked higher. If the tie still remains, the candidate with the higher percentage in the essential qualification is ranked higher.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Salary 2026

The ₹35,400 figure is the starting basic-pay point of the Level-6 scale, not a guaranteed in-hand salary. Actual monthly earnings can vary with applicable allowances, deductions, posting and government rules.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Application Fee 2026

Check the fee rules for the discipline and category selected in the live application form. If the portal shows a current instruction that differs from an earlier summary, the live official instruction should be followed.

NIC Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

How to Apply for NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant 2026

1. Open the official NIC recruitment portal.
2. Locate the Scientific/Technical Assistant-A recruitment under Advertisement No. NIC/STA/2026/2.
3. Register or log in using the details requested by the portal.
4. Select the eligible discipline and enter the required GATE details.
5. Enter personal, educational and category information exactly as supported by your documents.
6. Upload the required documents, including the qualification and GATE information requested in the notice.
7. Pay the applicable fee, if any.
8. Review the complete form before final submission.
9. Submit the application before 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM.
10. Save the application/confirmation details for document verification and future reference.

Documents to Keep Ready

• Recent photograph and signature in the portal’s required format.
• Proof of date of birth.
• Degree or qualifying examination certificate and marks information.
• Valid GATE score details for 2024, 2025 or 2026 in the relevant paper.
• Category certificate, where applicable.
• PwBD, service or other supporting certificates where the candidate claims a corresponding benefit.
• Any additional document specifically requested by the NIC application portal or notification.

NIC STA-A 2026: What Candidates Should Check Before Applying

• Age: Verify that your DOB satisfies the applicable upper-age limit on 30 September 2026.
• Degree: Match the exact qualification wording to your chosen discipline.
• GATE paper: CS, EC and DA are mapped to different NIC disciplines.
• GATE year: The recruitment accepts valid scores from 2024, 2025 and 2026.
• Category proof: Make sure certificates meet the notification’s format and validity requirements.
• Fee: Pay only if the selected category requires it.
• Deadline: The application closes at 5:30 PM on 30 September 2026, so do not wait until the final minutes.

About the National Informatics Centre

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and describes itself as a technology partner of the Government of India. Its published services include government ICT infrastructure, national cloud, data centres, networks, security and digital platforms. NIC’s technical ecosystem makes the Scientific/Technical Assistant-A recruitment relevant to candidates with computing, electronics and data/AI backgrounds.

What the NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A Role Means

Scientific/Technical Assistant-A is a technical Group-B, Non-Gazetted post in NIC. The three advertised disciplines line up with areas used across modern government technology infrastructure: computing and information technology, electronics and communications, and data science/artificial intelligence. NIC’s official site lists services such as National Cloud, security, government networks, data centres, video conferencing, GIS and digital platforms, showing the broader technical environment in which its specialist workforce operates.

The recruitment is also different from many technical jobs where candidates first sit for a departmental written test. Here, the qualifying GATE score is the central merit input. That makes the correct GATE paper, degree combination and score-year validity important at the application stage.

GATE Score Rules for NIC STA-A 2026

NIC’s published selection information says the three accepted GATE years receive equal weightage. Candidates who have more than one eligible GATE score can therefore review the scores available to them and enter the information required by the application portal. The notice’s tie-break sequence then applies if two candidates remain equal in merit.

Can a Candidate Apply for More Than One NIC STA-A Discipline?

Do not assume that a single degree or GATE score automatically makes every discipline available. The recruitment maps each discipline to a specific GATE paper and qualification family. Before selecting a discipline, check both sides of the eligibility test: your essential qualification must fall within the notified fields, and your valid GATE score must be in the corresponding CS, EC or DA paper.

NIC STA-A Application Checklist for Final Submission

• Confirm the exact discipline you are applying for.
• Match your degree title and subject area against the notification’s wording.
• Check that your GATE score belongs to 2024, 2025 or 2026 and uses the required paper code.
• Check your age as on 30 September 2026, including any category relaxation you claim.
• Review category and PwBD/service documents before uploading them.
• Check every entered GATE registration/score detail carefully because merit depends on the submitted score information.
• Keep a copy of the final submitted form, payment receipt where applicable and confirmation details.

NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026 FAQs

How many NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A vacancies are available in 2026?

There are 376 tentative vacancies: 300 in Computer Sciences & IT, 26 in Electronics & Communication Engineering, and 50 in Data Science & AI.

What is the NIC STA-A age limit in 2026?

The upper age is 30 years for UR/EWS, 33 years for OBC-NCL and 35 years for SC/ST candidates as on 30 September 2026. PwBD and service-candidate limits are higher under the applicable rules.

Is GATE compulsory for NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant-A?

Yes. A valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the relevant paper is required: CS for Computer Sciences & IT, EC for Electronics & Communication Engineering, and DA for Data Science & AI.

Is there a written exam for NIC STA-A Recruitment 2026?

No separate written examination or interview is described in the current selection route. Merit is prepared using the eligible GATE score, followed by document verification for shortlisted candidates.

What is the NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant salary?

The post is in Pay Level 6 with a basic-pay scale of ₹35,400–₹1,12,400, plus applicable allowances under government rules.

What is the last date to apply for NIC Scientific/Technical Assistant 2026?

The online application closes on 30 September 2026 at 5:30 PM. The same date is the eligibility cut-off stated for age, qualification and category.

Official Links and Final Check

• NIC Recruitment Portal
• National Informatics Centre official website

Important: Recruitment information can change through corrigenda or portal notices. Before paying the fee or submitting the form, verify the latest advertisement, eligibility wording, vacancy status and application instructions on the official NIC recruitment portal.