CIET NCERT Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 21 SRF, JPF and More Posts

The Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), a constituent unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, has announced recruitment for 21 positions including Senior Research Fellow (SRF), Junior Project Fellow (JPF), and other research positions for the year 2026. NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, that assists and advises the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education. These positions are purely contractual and project-based, offering opportunities to work on educational research, technology integration, and curriculum development initiatives. Candidates selected will contribute to various research projects aimed at improving educational outcomes across India. This recruitment is open to candidates from all states and union territories of India.

Typical / Indicative Dates

Typical / Indicative Vacancy Distribution

Note: Vacancies distributed across SRF, JPF and other research positions

Educational Qualification

For Senior Research Fellow (SRF):

• Master's degree in Education, Educational Technology, Psychology, Computer Science, or related fields from a recognised university
• Minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD candidates)
• NET/SLET qualification or 2 years research experience as JRF

For Junior Project Fellow (JPF):

• Master's degree in relevant discipline from recognised university
• Minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD candidates)
• NET/GATE/equivalent qualification desirable

For Other Posts:

• Qualifications vary by specific position - Bachelor's/Master's degree in relevant streams

Age Limit

Typical / Indicative Age Criteria

Age Relaxation:

• 5 years for OBC candidates
• 5 years for SC/ST candidates
• 10 years for PWD candidates (General)
• 15 years for PWD (SC/ST) candidates

Age calculated as on the closing date of application.

Nationality

• Candidate must be a citizen of India
• Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan may also apply as per government norms

1. Visit the official NCERT website at ncert.nic.in or CIET NCERT portal
2. Navigate to the 'Careers' or 'Recruitment' section and locate the notification for SRF/JPF positions
3. Read the detailed advertisement carefully and check your eligibility
4. Click on 'Apply Online' link for the desired position
5. Register yourself by providing basic details like name, email ID, and mobile number
6. Complete the online application form with personal, educational, and experience details
7. Upload scanned copies of required documents (photograph, signature, educational certificates, caste certificate if applicable)
8. Pay the application fee through online mode (Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI)
9. Verify all details filled in the application form
10. Submit the application form and take a printout for future reference
11. Note down the registration number/application number for tracking purposes

Application Fees

Typical / Indicative Fee Structure

Payment Mode: Online (Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI)

Fee is non-refundable under any circumstances

1. Screening of Applications: Initial shortlisting based on educational qualifications, experience, and research publications. Only eligible candidates meeting minimum criteria will be considered for further stages.

1. Written Test/Presentation (if applicable): Shortlisted candidates may be required to appear for a written test or give a presentation on their research proposal or area of expertise, depending on the position applied for.

1. Personal Interview: Candidates will face a panel of experts who will assess technical knowledge, research aptitude, communication skills, and suitability for the project work. Interview carries significant weightage in final selection.

1. Document Verification: Selected candidates must produce original documents for verification including educational certificates, caste certificate, experience certificates, and identity proof.

1. Medical Fitness: Final selection is subject to medical fitness as per NCERT standards. Candidates may be required to undergo medical examination at designated centres.

1. Final Merit List: Based on performance in interview and document verification, a final merit list will be prepared and published on the official website.

Selection Pattern (Interview-Based)

For most CIET NCERT research positions, selection is primarily through Interview/Presentation rather than written examination.

If Written Test is Conducted:

Negative Marking: Typically no negative marking in interview-based selection. If written test is held, 0.25 marks may be deducted for each wrong answer.

Education and Educational Technology

• Principles and practices of education
• Educational psychology and child development
• Curriculum development and instructional design
• Educational technology and digital learning
• ICT in education and e-learning platforms
• Multimedia development for education
• Distance education and open learning systems

Research Methodology

• Research design and methods (quantitative and qualitative)
• Sampling techniques and data collection
• Statistical analysis and interpretation
• Educational research trends and practices
• Report writing and academic communication
• Research ethics and plagiarism

Computer Science and IT (for technical positions)

• Programming languages (Python, Java, C++)
• Web development and database management
• Software engineering principles
• Educational software and learning management systems
• Artificial intelligence in education
• Data analytics and visualisation

Subject-Specific Knowledge

• Relevant to the discipline of the post (Education, Psychology, Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences)
• Recent developments in the field
• National education policies and frameworks
• NCERT curriculum and textbook development

General Awareness

• Current affairs in education sector
• Major government schemes for education
• National Education Policy 2020
• Constitutional provisions for education
• UNESCO and international education initiatives

Typical / Indicative Salary Structure

Additional Benefits:

• No DA or Transport Allowance (consolidated fellowship amount)
• Leave encashment as per project norms
• Medical benefits as per NCERT rules for contractual staff
• No pension or gratuity (purely contractual positions)
• Annual increment may be considered based on performance and project continuation

Note: These are project-based contractual positions with tenure linked to project duration, typically 1-3 years with possible extension.

Career growth for CIET NCERT contractual research positions is project-based and limited. Fellows may progress from JPF to SRF based on performance, qualifications, and project requirements. Experience gained can be valuable for applying to permanent research positions in NCERT, other government research institutions, or pursuing doctoral studies. Long-term career stability requires clearing regular recruitment examinations for permanent positions.

Admit cards or interview call letters are typically released 7-10 days before the scheduled interview date on the official NCERT website. Candidates must download the admit card using their registration number and date of birth. The admit card contains details of interview venue, date, time, and reporting instructions. Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with valid photo ID proof to the interview centre. No entry will be allowed without proper documentation.

Results are declared 2-4 weeks after completion of interviews through the official NCERT/CIET website. The final merit list contains names and roll numbers of selected candidates for each position. Candidates can check their result online using registration credentials. Selected candidates receive offer letters via email or post. Waitlisted candidates may be called if selected candidates decline the offer. All recruitment-related communications are published on the official portal.

Typical / Indicative Interview Cutoff Scores: For interview-based selection, candidates typically need to score minimum 50-60% marks (40-50% for SC/ST/PWD) to be considered for final selection. The actual cutoff varies based on number of vacancies, quality of candidates, and interview panel assessment. Category-wise cutoffs: General/EWS - 55-65%, OBC - 50-60%, SC/ST - 45-55%. Performance in presentation (if conducted) and quality of research proposals significantly influence final selection beyond just interview marks.

Typical Exam/Interview Centres by Region:

North: Delhi (NCERT Campus, Sri Aurobindo Marg), Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Shimla

South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysore, Thiruvananthapuram

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi

West: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bhopal

Northeast: Guwahati, Shillong

Central: Delhi/NCERT Headquarters is the primary centre for most interviews

Note: Most interviews are conducted at NCERT headquarters in New Delhi. Regional centres may be used if number of candidates is very high.