Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Scientific Assistant in India Meteorological Department (IMD) Examination, 2026
Recruitment for General Central Service Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial Posts in Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400)
Recruitment Overview
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially issued the recruitment notice for the post of Scientific Assistant in the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, announced as part of the centralized technical examinations cycle for 2026. This open competitive examination enables science and engineering graduates to join the national weather and meteorological monitoring infrastructure across India.
Selected candidates will be appointed as Scientific Assistants in Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial capacity with an attractive initial basic pay of ₹35,400/- per month under Pay Level-6 of the 7th CPC, along with central dearness allowance (DA), house rent allowance (HRA), and transport allowances (TA).
Vacancy Breakdown & Remuneration
The notification announces 1,748 tentative vacancies across combined technical departments of the Government of India, including dedicated openings for the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The post-wise and category-wise final distribution for Scientific Assistants will be uploaded by the Commission on its official portal.
| Parameter | Official Specification |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Agency | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| User Department | India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences |
| Post Name | Scientific Assistant (IMD) |
| Service Classification | General Central Service Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial |
| Pay Scale | Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) under the 7th Central Pay Commission |
| Estimated Initial Gross Salary | Approx. ₹48,000 to ₹54,000 per month (depending on City Class X, Y, Z) |
Eligibility Criteria (As on 01.08.2026)
Age Limit & Key Dates
- Upper Age Limit: Candidates must not exceed 30 years of age as on the crucial cut-off date.
- Crucial Date for Age: 1st August 2026 (01.08.2026).
- Permissible Birth Range: Candidates must have been born not earlier than 02.08.1996 and not later than 01.08.2008.
- Verification: Date of Birth must strictly match the 10th Standard (Matriculation) Certificate.
Permissible Upper Age Relaxations
- SC / ST: 5 Years relaxation (up to 35 years).
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years relaxation (up to 33 years).
- PwBD (Unreserved / EWS): 10 Years relaxation.
- PwBD (OBC): 13 Years relaxation.
- PwBD (SC / ST): 15 Years relaxation.
- Ex-Servicemen (ESM): 3 years after deduction of military service rendered from actual age.
Prescribed Educational Qualifications
Mandatory Minimum Academic Criteria:
Candidates must possess either of the following qualifications from a recognized University or Institution with at least 60% marks (or 6.75 CGPA on a 10-point scale):
- Bachelor’s Degree in Science: 3-year B.Sc. with Physics as one of the core subjects.
- Degree in Computer Applications / Computer Science / Information Technology: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, IT, or BCA.
- Diploma in Engineering: 3-year Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from a recognized institution (after 10+2).
- 10+2 Requirement: The qualifying degree or diploma must have been completed with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 (Intermediate) examination level.
Scheme & Pattern of Examination
The recruitment process features a comprehensive two-paper Computer Based Examination (CBE) covering general foundational competencies and domain-specific science/engineering knowledge.
Computer-Based Examination (Objective Type)
| Section / Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) (2 Hours 40 Minutes for Scribe Candidates) |
| Part B: General Awareness | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | |
| Part C: General Engineering / Science Discipline | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | |
| Total for Paper-I | 200 Questions | 200 Marks | 2 Hours |
Specialized Domain Technical Paper (CBE)
| Subject Stream | Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Core Subject Choice (as opted by the candidate): • Physics • Computer Science & Information Technology • Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
100 Questions | 3 Marks each | 300 Marks |
Negative Marking & Scoring Rules:
- There is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks for each incorrect answer in Paper-I, and 1 mark deduction for incorrect answers in Paper-II.
- Unattempted questions will not attract any penalty.
- Normalisation of marks will be applied across multi-shift Computer-Based Examinations as per the Commission’s formula.
Application Guidelines & Registration Protocol
One-Time Registration (OTR)
- Candidates must visit the official portal at https://ssc.gov.in/.
- Complete the new OTR profile by entering personal, contact, and identification details.
- Upload live photograph via webcam/mobile application and append a signature scanned in black ink.
- Keep the generated Registration ID and Password secure for all future correspondence.
Form Submission & Post Preference
- Login and navigate to the application form for the technical recruitment cycle.
- Select Scientific Assistant (IMD) and indicate preferred examination cities.
- Select the technical subject of choice for Paper-II matching your educational degree.
- Verify all entered details carefully before final submission.
| Category | Application Fee | Payment Modes |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹ 100/- | BHIM UPI, Net Banking, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, RuPay Debit Cards. |
| Women Candidates (All Categories) | NIL (Exempted) | Automatic Exemption during form filling |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | NIL (Exempted) | Automatic Exemption during form filling |
Correction Window Policy:
- The application correction window will open from 28th to 30th September 2026 (until 23:00 Hrs).
- Correction charges: ₹200 for the first resubmission and ₹500 for the second resubmission.
Important Dates to Remember
| Milestone Event | Date / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Release of Official Advertisement | 02 September 2026 |
| Commencement of Online Applications | 02 September 2026 |
| Closing Date for Online Application Submission | 22 September 2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Making Online Fee Payment | 23 September 2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Application Form Correction Window | 28 September to 30 September 2026 (23:00 Hrs) |
| Tentative Schedule for Paper-I (CBE) | October / November 2026 |
| Tentative Schedule for Paper-II (CBE) | December 2026 |
Recruiting Agency: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | User Organization: India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences | Advertisement File: Notice_of_adv_je_2026.pdf | Notice No.: HQ-C-3019/1/2026-C-3 | Post Name: Scientific Assistant in IMD | Classification: General Central Service Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial | Pay Matrix: Level-6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400) | Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree in Science (with Physics) / Computer Science / IT / BCA or Diploma in Electronics & Telecommunication | Application Window: 02.09.2026 to 22.09.2026 (23:00 Hrs).