ICMR Scientist B Exam Date 2026 (Out) - Check New Exam Date and Admit Card

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducts the Scientist B recruitment exam to select qualified candidates for scientific positions in medical research across India. ICMR is an autonomous organization under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Scientist B is an entry-level scientific position (Group A Gazetted) in the ICMR cadre. The exam is conducted for candidates with postgraduate qualifications in various medical, biological, and health sciences disciplines. Selected candidates work in ICMR institutes and research centers across India, contributing to biomedical research, public health programs, and disease surveillance. This is a prestigious position offering opportunities to work on cutting-edge medical research and national health programs.

Important Dates

Note: Dates are typical/indicative. Candidates must check the official ICMR notification for confirmed dates.

Vacancy Breakdown (Typical / Indicative)

Note: Actual vacancies vary by year and discipline. Subject-wise breakup includes Biostatistics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Virology, Social Sciences, and other medical research fields.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• Essential: MD/MS or equivalent postgraduate degree in relevant medical/dental specialties, OR
• PhD degree in Life Sciences/Biological Sciences/Biomedical Sciences from a recognized university, OR
• Master's degree in relevant subjects (Biostatistics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, etc.) with NET/GATE qualification, OR
• MBBS with 3 years research experience in relevant field
• Desirable: Publications in peer-reviewed journals, research experience in medical institutions

Age Limit

Age Relaxation:

Nationality

• Candidates must be Indian citizens
• Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibetan refugees may apply as per Government of India rules

Application Process

1. Visit Official Website: Go to the official ICMR recruitment portal (main.icmr.nic.in or careers.icmr.org.in)
2. Register: Click on 'New Registration' and create account with basic details (name, email, mobile number)
3. Login: Use registration credentials to login to the application portal
4. Fill Application Form: Complete all sections including personal details, educational qualifications, experience, subject preference
5. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, educational certificates (JPEG/PDF format, specific size limits)
6. Pay Application Fee: Make online payment through credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI
7. Submit Application: Review all details carefully and submit the application form
8. Print Application: Download and save the completed application form with payment receipt for future reference

Application Fees

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

Selection Process

1. Computer Based Test (CBT): Written examination conducted online covering subject knowledge, research methodology, and general awareness. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks (40% for UR, 35% for reserved categories).

1. Interview/Skill Test: Shortlisted candidates based on CBT marks are called for personal interview before expert committee. Interview carries 30-40% weightage in final selection and assesses subject knowledge, research aptitude, and communication skills.

1. Document Verification: Candidates provisionally selected after interview must appear for document verification with original certificates of education, experience, caste, age proof, etc.

1. Medical Examination: Final selected candidates undergo medical fitness examination as per ICMR standards before appointment.

1. Final Merit List: Final selection is based on combined marks of written test and interview, with category-wise merit lists prepared.

Exam Pattern

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Negative Marking: Yes, 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer (1/4th negative marking)

Note: Paper may be bilingual (English and Hindi) except for subject-specific technical terms. Each question carries 2 marks.

Interview

Total Selection Marks: CBT (300) + Interview (100) = 400 marks

Syllabus

Part A: Subject-Specific Knowledge

Subject syllabus varies based on discipline chosen (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, etc.). Common topics include:

• Microbiology: Bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, molecular microbiology, diagnostic microbiology, antimicrobial resistance
• Biochemistry: Biomolecules, enzymology, metabolism, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, nutrition, endocrinology
• Immunology: Innate and adaptive immunity, immunological techniques, transplantation immunology, tumor immunology, vaccines
• Virology: Viral structure and replication, viral pathogenesis, antiviral therapy, emerging viral diseases
• Biostatistics: Descriptive statistics, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, epidemiological methods
• Social Sciences: Public health, health systems research, health economics, behavioral sciences, community health

Part B: Research Methodology & Biostatistics

• Research design and planning
• Experimental design and sampling methods
• Data collection and management
• Statistical analysis techniques
• Research ethics and biosafety
• Scientific writing and communication
• Interpretation of research findings
• Laboratory techniques and instrumentation

Part C: General Knowledge & Current Affairs

• Indian healthcare system and policies
• National health programs
• Recent developments in medical research
• International health organizations (WHO, UNICEF, etc.)
• Indian Constitution and governance
• Current affairs related to science and health
• Environmental health and climate change
• Digital health initiatives

Salary Structure (Typical / Indicative)

Additional Benefits: NPS contribution (14% by employer), medical facilities, LTC, leave encashment, research grants, annual increments, performance-linked incentives.

Note: Exact amounts vary based on posting location, family status, and prevailing DA rates.

Scientist B position offers excellent career progression within ICMR. After 4-5 years of satisfactory service and research output, promotion to Scientist C is possible through Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). Further promotions lead to Scientist D, E, F, and G levels, with potential to reach Director-grade positions in ICMR institutes. Career advancement is based on research publications, project leadership, and administrative capabilities.

ICMR releases admit cards approximately 2-3 weeks before the examination date on the official recruitment portal. Candidates can download their admit card by logging in with registration number and password/date of birth. The admit card contains important details including examination center, reporting time, and instructions. No physical admit card is dispatched by post. Candidates must carry a printed copy of admit card along with valid photo ID proof to the examination center.

ICMR declares CBT results typically within 4-6 weeks after the examination on the official website. Candidates can check results using their registration number and password. The result contains marks scored, cutoff marks, and qualification status. Shortlisted candidates for interview are notified separately via email and website notification. Final result after interview is published as a merit list with selected candidates' roll numbers and category-wise allocation.

ICMR Scientist B cutoff marks vary by subject discipline and category. Typical cutoff ranges from 45-55% for General category, 40-50% for OBC, and 35-45% for SC/ST categories out of total CBT marks. Subject-wise cutoffs differ significantly based on difficulty level and number of candidates. Competitive subjects like Microbiology and Biostatistics generally have higher cutoffs. Final selection cutoff (CBT + Interview combined) is typically 5-10% higher than CBT qualifying cutoff.

Exam Centers

North: Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jaipur, Dehradun

South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Mysuru, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Madurai

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Dibrugarh

West: Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur, Indore, Goa

Northeast: Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal, Dibrugarh

Central: Bhopal, Raipur, Jabalpur

Candidates can select up to 3 preferred exam cities during application. Final center allotment depends on availability and administrative convenience.