Rojgar Studies

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, is engaging 16 contractual Senior Research Fellows (SRF), Young Professionals-II (YP-II) and Young Professionals-I (YP-I) under the Mission on Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti) and in its Finance and Accounts Section, at ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, and the Ginning Training Centre (GTC), Nagpur. Consolidated monthly pay is Rs.37000/- + HRA (SRF), Rs. 42000/- (YP-II) and Rs. 30000/- (YP-I). The filled application with documents must be emailed to [email protected] on or before 11 November 2026, 05.30 pm; interviews in hybrid mode are on 16, 17 and 23 November 2026.

ICAR-CIRCOT Recruitment 2026 at a Glance

The official notification does not specify the application fee.

About ICAR-CIRCOT

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology is an institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, with its office at Adenwala Road, Matunga, Mumbai – 400019. The notice invites engagement for programmes of the Mission on Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti) and for the Institute’s Finance and Accounts Section. Program 5.1 covers post-harvest technologies including cleaning, ginning and quality profiling systems for mechanically harvested cotton. Program 5.2 covers an innovative cotton value chain to enhance farm profitability through circular economy.

Vacancy Details

The notice lists five numbered groups of posts, 16 posts in all. It does not print a category-wise break-up.

Who Can Apply

Each post has its own essential and desirable qualification. The table gives the essential qualification as printed; desirable points follow below it.

NET and research experience for SRF posts

• Sl. No. 1 SRF: candidates having a post graduate degree in basic sciences with a 3-year bachelor’s degree and a two-year master’s degree should have NET qualification and 2 years of research experience, as mentioned in the Council’s OM dated 13th July, 2015 and 9th October, 2015 and OM SR/59/2-09/2018 of DST dated 30th Jan, 2019.
• Sl. No. 3 SRF: candidates having a 3-year bachelor’s degree and a two-year Master degree should have NET qualification and 2 years of research experience.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Sl. No. 1 SRF and YP-II: knowledge of design, development and testing of machinery, machine design software, data analysis, statistical analysis, research paper and report writing skills and field work.
• Sl. No. 1 YP-I: preference to candidates with knowledge in erection/commissioning of Engineering Plants and machinery or working in industrial scale plants.
• Sl. No. 2 YP-II: experience in cotton fibre testing, textile testing, data analysis, project management etc.
• Sl. No. 2 YP-I (a): experience in spinning, weaving, garmenting, cotton fibre testing, textile testing, data entry and analysis, etc.
• Sl. No. 2 YP-I (b): experience in project management, computer skill, data entry, Advance excel, Telley etc. The candidate will be mainly required for project management and administrative work related to the project.
• Sl. No. 3 SRF: PhD in Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Microbiology/Life Sciences with experience of molecular biology tools will be given preference.
• Sl. No. 3 YP-II: post graduate degree / diploma in Instrumentation & control / Sensor technology; experience in sensor fabrication and prototyping, spectroscopic characterization of materials, data acquisition and analysis, exposure to microcontrollers, RFID, signal processing and data handling using open-source software.
• Sl. No. 3 YP-I: experience in chemical synthesis.
• Sl. No. 4 YP-II: experience in molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, fermentation process optimization, and extraction/characterization of biopolymers; knowledge of HPLC/GC analysis and statistical experimental design will be preferred.
• Sl. No. 4 YP-I: experience in lab experimentation/survey/fibre testing/spinning/waste management.
• Sl. No. 5 YP-I: knowledge of IT applications, virtual meeting platforms and computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Tally, etc.) will be an added advantage.

Age Limit

The notice prints no “as on” date for counting age. The application format asks for age as on the closing date of application.

Age Relaxation

The notice states these relaxations are “as per govt. rules”. Two further notes are printed: for the Commerce and Information Technology category, graduation with a minimum 60% marks; for the Commerce category, a minimum of 1 year of experience in the relevant field. Candidates should check the official notification for the discipline-specific eligibility of each post.

Pay and Tenure

The posts are purely temporary and contractual in nature. The engagement is up to completion of project period 2026-2031, subject to satisfactory performance after evaluation by the Director, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai. Income Tax or any other tax liable to be deducted under the prevailing rules is deducted at source before the monthly salary is paid. TA/DA is admissible for domestic tours for official work, as per ICAR rules.

ICAR-CIRCOT Recruitment 2026 Job Description

The notice prints the nature of work for only the following posts.

Senior Research Fellow (SRF) – Sl. No. 3, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai

• Molecular Biology work, designing of stable short chains of deoxy-ribonucleotides (marker DNA sequences) using bioinformatics tools.
• PCR-based analysis and validation of marker DNA sequences for cotton identification and traceability.
• Encapsulation of marker DNA sequences using suitable encapsulating agents for improving its stability.

Young Professional-II (YP-II) – Sl. No. 4, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai

• Screening of microbial strains for PLA production.
• Optimization of culture media and fermentation conditions.
• Molecular characterization and genetic modification of selected strains, as required.
• Laboratory scale fermentation; recovery and purification of PLA.
• HPLC analysis of fermentation products.

Young Professional-I (YP-I) (b) – Sl. No. 2, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai

• The candidate will be mainly required for project management and administrative work related to the project.

How to Apply for ICAR-CIRCOT Recruitment 2026

1. Fill the Application Format attached to the notice (PDF) for the post applied for. It asks for the post by Sr. No. (1 to 5) and the mode of interview (Online/Offline).
2. Complete the form: name, father’s/husband’s name, date of birth and age as on the closing date, nationality, addresses, e-mail address, education qualifications in chronological order, area of study and project details, experience, professional qualification, research publications and list of enclosures.
3. Affix a recent photograph and sign the declaration.
4. Email the application with all relevant documents to [email protected] on or before 11 November 2026, 05.30 pm.
5. Fill out the Google Form available on the Institute website along with the advertisement.
6. For hybrid mode, the interview link will be shared through the email ID the candidate communicates.

Documents named in the notice

• Attested copies of SC/ST/OBC/Ex-servicemen/PH certificates from the competent authority, where applicable.
• Attested copy of certificates in proof of education qualifications.
• Character certificate from the present employer and from the institute last attended.
• For employees of public/private organisations: the employer’s certificate on the form that information is verified from service records, no Vigilance or disciplinary case is pending or contemplated, and no minor/major penalty has been imposed during the last ten years.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the present employer, for candidates currently employed elsewhere, before the interview.
• All original experience/testimonials in support of age, qualifications and experience, to be brought to the interview.

Selection and Interview

The notice describes an interview in hybrid mode, with the venue, date and time given against each post: GTC, Nagpur on 16 November 2026, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai on 17 November 2026 and ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai on 23 November 2026 (see the vacancy table). Candidates choose Online or Offline mode in the application. The Director’s decision is final and binding in all respects. Candidates currently employed elsewhere whose NOC is missing are liable to have the interview cancelled. The notice mentions no written test.

Important Dates

Important Instructions

• No T.A./D.A. will be paid for appearing in the interview.
• The selected SRF/YPs may be posted at all regional units.
• Working hours are the same as regular employees of ICAR; no extra benefit is allowed for working beyond office hours.
• Unauthorized absence for a continuous period of 08 days without valid reasons leads to automatic termination of the engagement.
• SRF/YPs are eligible for 08 days casual leave in a calendar year on pro-rata basis and 02 restricted holidays. Unavailed leaves are not carried forward. Compensatory leave for holiday duty may be allowed, but not more than 02 leaves can accrue in a month. Female YPs get maternity leave as per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017.
• SRF/YPs will sign a declaration of secrecy and Non-Disclosure Agreement (Annexure-I) before reporting, and must comply with the Standards of Conduct; failure is a ground for termination without notice.
• The engagement does not constitute a regular job or appointment of any nature in the ICAR.
• Canvassing in any form is liable to disqualify the candidature.
• Information found false, incorrect, incomplete or ineligible, before or after selection/interview, makes the candidature liable to rejection or cancellation without notice.
• For queries, the Director Office can be contacted between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Mobile No. 9137582766.

ICAR-CIRCOT Recruitment 2026 Important Links