NIT Rourkela has released a project fellowship advertisement for 21 Junior Research Fellow positions under an ANRF-PAIR consortium project. The recruitment is linked to a large multi-theme research programme called Consortium of Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture, Health, Energy and Environment, and the posts are spread across different investigators and departments at the institute.
This recruitment is important because it is not limited to one branch or one project title. The 21 JRF positions cover agriculture technology, health technology, materials and energy systems, environmental engineering, mining, chemistry, civil engineering and allied areas. That means the right way to check eligibility is project-wise, not by relying only on the common JRF label.
The application process is also easy to misunderstand. Although some summaries describe it as an online application, the official NIT Rourkela notice says the application has to be submitted by e-mail to the relevant investigator mentioned in the annexure. Shortlisted candidates will then be informed by e-mail, and the test or interview is planned in person at NIT Rourkela.
Recruitment overview
This recruitment is for 21 Junior Research Fellow positions at NIT Rourkela under a single ANRF-PAIR umbrella project. The project is designed around four broad themes: sustainable agriculture, health, energy and environment.
Each JRF post is attached to a specific research problem and investigator. So the selection will depend on how well your academic background, national eligibility qualification and subject fit match the particular project you apply for.
Important dates you should not miss
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 17 April 2026 |
| Last date of submission of application by e-mail | 19 May 2026 |
| Intimation of scrutiny result by e-mail | 25 May 2026 |
| Test/Interview at NIT Rourkela | 05 June 2026 |
| Intimation of selection by e-mail | By 18 June 2026 |
| Joining date | By 29 June 2026 |
The schedule in the official notice is more detailed than a usual project advertisement, so candidates should plan around both the application deadline and the in-person interview date.
What kind of projects these 21 JRF posts cover
The 21 JRF positions are spread across different research themes rather than one identical post. The project titles in the annexure show that the openings cover applied AI, remote monitoring, biosensors, healthcare devices, battery materials, microgrids, hydrogen integration, environmental remediation, dust control in mines, sustainable polymers and geopolymer concrete.
Agriculture-related examples include AI-based aquafarm monitoring, agri-quality grading and crop health monitoring.
Health-related examples include remote patient monitoring, analysis of EEG and wearable data, organ-on-chip systems and self-powered wearable healthcare devices.
Energy-related examples include electrocatalysts, battery cathodes, porous hybrid materials, microgrid protection and renewable energy integrated control.
Environment-related examples include sustainable adsorbents for polluted water, dust mitigation in coal mines, supramolecular plastics and geopolymer concrete.
This makes the recruitment broad in subject coverage, but each application still has to be matched to one project-wise requirement in Annexure I.
Common eligibility rule for all JRF posts
The official notice gives one common JRF rule for all posts before listing project-specific requirements. The basic standard is a postgraduate degree in basic science or a graduate or postgraduate degree in a professional course obtained through a recognised national eligibility route.
CSIR-UGC NET including Lectureship or Assistant Professorship and GATE are accepted routes.
National eligibility examinations conducted by Central Government departments and recognised agencies or institutions such as DBT, DST, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MoE, ICAR, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER and NISER are also recognised.
In practice, most project rows in Annexure I specifically ask for GATE, NET or another national-level fellowship or eligibility test, so candidates should not assume that only a degree is enough.
Project-wise qualification pattern
The project-wise qualifications vary a lot, but the annexure shows a few clear discipline clusters.
| Project cluster | Typical backgrounds mentioned in the notice |
|---|---|
| AI, computing and smart agriculture | B.Tech or M.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering or Information Technology, MCA, or M.Sc in Computer Science or Information Technology, usually with GATE or another national-level fellowship |
| Electronics and health technology | B.E. or B.Tech, M.E. or M.Tech, MCA or M.Sc in Electronics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Computer Science, Information Technology, Biotechnology or Biomedical areas, usually with GATE or NET |
| Materials, chemistry and energy systems | B.E., B.Tech, M.Sc or M.Tech in Ceramic, Metallurgical and Materials, Chemical, Mechanical, Biomedical, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or Nano Science, generally with GATE or NET |
| Electrical, control and energy engineering | B.Tech, B.E., M.Tech, M.E. or M.S. in Electrical, Control Engineering or Energy Engineering, with a valid GATE score where applicable |
| Mining, civil, environmental and allied areas | B.Tech, B.E., M.Tech, M.E. or M.Sc in Mining, Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Geology, Geophysics, Remote Sensing, Statistics, Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics, with GATE, NET or another recognised eligibility test |
Because the subject mix is wide, candidates should read only the relevant project row instead of assuming one common branch list applies to all 21 posts.
Salary, accommodation and PhD requirement
The fellowship mentioned in the official annexure is ₹37,000 per month for the first and second year. From the third year onward, the amount becomes ₹42,000 per month till completion of the project, subject to continuation under the project conditions.
The notice also states that shared accommodation shall be provided in the hostel. Selected candidates are required to register for the Ph.D. programme at NIT Rourkela.
This means the position is not only a funded project role but also connected to doctoral research progression, which is important for candidates who want a structured research path.
Age limit and who else can apply
The advertisement mentions an age limit of 30 years for the JRF recruitment. Candidates should also note that the institute has allowed those appearing for their final examination to apply.
However, the qualifying degree result must be submitted by 30 September 2026. If you are applying in the final semester, you should make sure you can meet that result deadline if selected.
Selection process and interview plan
The selection process is based on scrutiny of applications followed by a test or interview. The official activity schedule states that scrutiny results will be sent by e-mail and the interview will be held in person at NIT Rourkela on 5 June 2026.
The notice advises candidates to visit the concerned department webpage and contact the relevant investigator for further details. Since the posts are project-linked, communication is handled project-wise rather than through a single common recruitment portal.
How to apply correctly
Identify the exact project in Annexure I that matches your academic background and research interest.
Prepare your application and supporting documents in the format expected for project fellowship recruitment.
Send the application by e-mail to the relevant investigator mentioned against that project in the annexure.
Do not wait for a central online form, because the official schedule says submission is by e-mail.
Keep checking your e-mail for scrutiny status, interview communication and any project-wise instructions from the investigator.
The official notice specifically says that application or inquiry should be sent to the relevant investigator project-wise.
Important instructions before you apply
Read the annexure carefully because the qualification, preferred skill set and discipline vary from project to project.
The project-wise notice refers to desirable skills such as programming in MATLAB or Python, analog IC design, embedded systems, biosensors, materials synthesis, environmental field work, IoT and concrete technology depending on the project.
No application fee is mentioned in the official advertisement.
Candidates should treat the post as a research fellowship linked to a Ph.D. track, not as a regular institute appointment.
If you are unsure about eligibility for a particular project, contact the listed investigator before the application deadline.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The official advertisement announces 21 Junior Research Fellow posts.
The last date to submit the application by e-mail is 19 May 2026.
The official notice says the application should be submitted by e-mail to the relevant investigator project-wise.
The fellowship is ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month from the third year onward.
The advertisement mentions an age limit of 30 years.
Yes. Candidates appearing in their final examination may apply, but the qualifying degree result must be submitted by 30 September 2026.
Yes. The official notice says selected candidates are required to register for the Ph.D. programme.