CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026: 57 Posts

📅 Posted: 30/04/2026 📝 Updated: 07/05/2026

Total Vacancy57

Salary₹20,000 – ₹42,000 + HRA/Month [JRF (NET/GATE): ₹37,000+HRA; Senior PAT: ₹42,000+HRA; PA-II: ₹20,000+HRA]

LocationAll India

Last Date21/05/2026

Short Information: CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai is one of the world's premier R&D institutions in Leather Science & Technology, and it is currently hiring 57 temporary project staff across multiple positions — Project Assistant-II, Project Associate-I, Senior Project Associate, and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) — under Notification No. 03/2026.

This is a walk-in selection: the Written Test is on 21 May 2026 (reporting by 09:30 AM, test from 11:00–11:45 AM at Triple Helix Auditorium, CLRI), and Interviews are on 25–26 May 2026. There is NO online application — you attend in person with your filled application form and original documents.

Monthly stipends range from ₹20,000 (Project Assistant-II) to ₹42,000 (Senior Project Associate) plus HRA. JRF-level positions pay ₹37,000 + HRA for NET/GATE qualified candidates. Candidates with CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or other national-level exam qualifications can skip the written test and attend the interview directly.

Positions cover diverse disciplines — Chemistry, Biotechnology, Computer Science/AI-ML, Leather Technology, Mechanical/Civil/Electrical Engineering, Physics, Microbiology, Statistics, Fashion/Leather Design, and Bioinformatics. All positions are co-terminus with project tenure up to 31 March 2027. Final year students awaiting results are NOT eligible.

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📅 Dates & Fees 📦 Vacancy 💰 Salary 🎯 Selection 📝 Pattern 📏 Standards 📖 Syllabus ❓ FAQs 🔗 Important Links

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026 2026Important Dates

Notification Released	30/04/2026
Written Test (Walk-in)	21/05/2026
Reporting Time for Written Test	09:30 AM (Last entry: 10:30 AM)
Written Test Time	11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Interview Date	25/05/2026 & 26/05/2026
Project Tenure Up To	31/03/2027

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026 2026Application Fee

All Candidates

₹0

Payment: No application fee — Walk-in recruitment (No online application)

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026: 57 PostsVacancy Details & Age Limit

Age Limit: 28 Years (JRF with NET/GATE) | 35 Years (Project Associate-I / Project Assistant-II) | 40 Years (Senior Project Associate) — as on date of Written Test/Interview

(SC / ST / PwBD / Women: 5 years relaxation, OBC: 3 years relaxation, Relaxation as per Govt. of India instructions issued from time to time)

Sl. No.	Post Name	No. of Positions	Essential Qualification	Upper Age Limit
1	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Leather Technology	3	B.E./B.Tech. in Leather Technology (min. 60%)	35 Years
2	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Engineering	4	B.E./B.Tech. in Chemical/Instrumentation/Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engg. (min. 60%)	35 Years
3	JRF or Project Associate-I — Chemistry	2	M.Sc. Chemistry (General/Organic/Nano/Polymer/Material/Inorganic/Physical/Analytical) with min. 60%. NET/GATE required for JRF.	28 Yrs (JRF) / 35 Yrs (PAT-I)
4	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — M.Sc. Chemistry	17	M.Sc. Chemistry (General/Organic/Nano/Polymer/Material/Inorganic/Physical/Analytical) with min. 60%	35 Years
5	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Polymer Science	2	M.Sc. Polymer Science/Polymer Chemistry/Material Science (min. 60%) OR B.E./B.Tech. Polymer Technology (min. 60%)	35 Years
6	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Chemistry (Data Management)	1	M.Sc. Chemistry with min. 60%	35 Years
7	JRF or Project Associate-I — Pharma/Biotech	1	M.Pharm (Pharmaceutical Sciences) OR M.Sc. Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Lifesciences OR B.Tech Biotechnology (min. 60%). NET/GATE required for JRF.	28 Yrs (JRF) / 35 Yrs (PAT-I)
8	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Pharma/Biotech	8	M.Pharm (Pharmaceutical Sciences) OR M.Sc. Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Lifesciences OR B.Tech Biotechnology (min. 60%)	35 Years
9	Senior Project Associate (Senior-PAT) — Biotech	1	M.Pharm/M.Sc. Biotechnology/Lifesciences (min. 60%) + 3 yrs Research Exp. OR M.Tech Biotechnology/Life Science (min. 60%)	40 Years
10	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Microbiology/Environmental Science	2	M.Sc. Microbiology/Environmental Science/Biotechnology with min. 60%	35 Years
11	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Statistics/CS/Maths	2	M.Sc. Statistics/Computer Science/Mathematics (min. 60%) OR B.E. Computer Science (min. 60%)	35 Years
12	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — CS/IT/AI-ML	4	B.E./B.Tech. CS/IT/AI-ML/AI-DS OR MCA/M.Sc. CS/IT/AI-ML (min. 60%). NET/GATE: ₹31,000+HRA; others: ₹25,000+HRA	35 Years
13	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Physics/Biomedical	1	M.Sc. Physics/Medical Physics (min. 60%) OR B.E. Biomedical Engineering (min. 60%)	35 Years
14	Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — Biomechanics	1	B.Sc. Physics/Biomechanics with min. 60%	35 Years
15	Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — Leather/Textile/Footwear	2	3-Year Diploma in Leather/Textile/Footwear/Mechanical Engg./Technology with min. 60%	35 Years
16	Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — Fashion/Leather Design	1	B.Sc. in Fashion Technology/Apparel Technology/Fashion Design/Textile/Leather Design with min. 60%	35 Years
17	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Leather/Fashion Design	1	B.Tech./B.Des. in Leather/Textile/Leather Design/Accessories Design/Fashion Design from recognized university	35 Years
18	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — CS/AI Analytics	1	Bachelor's in CS Engineering OR M.Sc./MCA in Computer Science from recognized university	35 Years
19	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Bioinformatics/Biotech	1	M.Sc. Bioinformatics/Chemistry/Biotechnology OR B.Tech Biotechnology with min. 55%	35 Years
20	Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Computational Chemistry	1	M.Sc. Chemistry/Physics from recognized university	35 Years
21	JRF or Project Associate-I — Organic Chemistry	1	M.Sc. Organic Chemistry/Chemistry with CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE for JRF; without NET/GATE for PAT-I	28 Yrs (JRF) / 35 Yrs (PAT-I)
Total Vacancy		57
Note: All positions are purely temporary and co-terminus with the project (tenure up to 31.03.2027, extendable). Number of positions is provisional and may increase or decrease at the time of selection.

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Eligibility Criteria

Candidate must be an Indian citizen.
Minimum 60% marks in the essential qualifying degree (55% for Sl. No. 19 — M.Sc. Bioinformatics/Chemistry/Biotechnology or B.Tech Biotechnology).
Final year/semester students awaiting results are NOT eligible.
Candidates who have completed 6 or 7 years (as applicable) of cumulative project staff tenure in any CSIR Lab/Institute are NOT eligible as per CSIR letter No. 5-1(342)/2017-PD dated 02.09.2024.
All qualifications must be from recognized Universities/Institutes.
Age eligibility and qualification are determined as on the date of Written Test/Interview.
Sl. 1 (3 posts): B.E./B.Tech. in Leather Technology with min. 60% marks. Desirable: 6 months experience in leather processing/cleaner technologies/sustainability assessment/chemical testing.
Sl. 2 (4 posts): B.E./B.Tech. in Chemical/Instrumentation/Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engg. with min. 60% marks. Desirable: 6 months in process industries/wastewater analysis/electronics manufacturing/industrial safety.
Sl. 3 (2 posts — JRF or PAT-I): M.Sc. Chemistry (General/Organic/Nanotechnology/Polymer/Material/Inorganic/Physical/Analytical) with min. 60% marks. JRF requires NET/GATE; PAT-I without NET/GATE also considered.
Sl. 4 (17 posts): M.Sc. Chemistry (as above) with min. 60% marks. Desirable: Research experience in organic/polymerization reactions, colloids, organic synthesis, chromatography, wastewater analysis.
Sl. 5 (2 posts): M.Sc. Polymer Science/Polymer Chemistry/Material Science OR B.E./B.Tech. Polymer Technology with min. 60% marks. Desirable: M.Tech Footwear Science/Engineering or 6 months in footwear making.
Sl. 6 (1 post): M.Sc. Chemistry with min. 60% marks. Desirable: MS Office and Data Management knowledge.
Sl. 7 (1 post — JRF or PAT-I): M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Sciences OR M.Sc. Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Lifesciences OR B.Tech Biotechnology with min. 60% marks. JRF requires NET/GATE.
Sl. 8 (8 posts): Same as Sl. 7 (without NET/GATE requirement for PAT-I). Desirable: 6 months in protein expression, cell culture, biomaterial fabrication.
Sl. 9 (1 post — Senior PAT): M.Pharm/M.Sc. Biotechnology/Lifesciences with min. 60% + 3 years research experience OR M.Tech Biotechnology/Life Science with min. 60%. Age limit: 40 years.
Sl. 10 (2 posts): M.Sc. Microbiology/Environmental Science/Biotechnology with min. 60% marks. Desirable: Wastewater analysis, microbial techniques, biological reactor operation.
Sl. 11 (2 posts): M.Sc. Statistics/Computer Science/Mathematics OR B.E. Computer Science with min. 60% marks. Desirable: 6 months relevant research/industrial experience.
Sl. 12 (4 posts): B.E./B.Tech. CS/IT/AI-ML/AI-DS OR MCA/M.Sc. CS/IT/AI-ML with min. 60% marks. NET/GATE qualified: ₹31,000+HRA; others: ₹25,000+HRA. Desirable: 6 months in Data Analytics, AI/ML model development.
Sl. 13 (1 post): M.Sc. Physics/Medical Physics OR B.E. Biomedical Engineering with min. 60% marks. Desirable: 6 months in Biomedical/Electronics R&D.
Sl. 14 (1 post — PA-II): B.Sc. Physics/Biomechanics with min. 60% marks. Desirable: M.Sc. Biomechanics or 6 months in sports biomechanics R&D.
Sl. 15 (2 posts — PA-II): 3-Year Diploma in Leather/Textile/Footwear/Mechanical Engineering with min. 60% marks. Desirable: 6 months in leather/textile/non-leather product manufacturing.
Sl. 16 (1 post — PA-II): B.Sc. in Fashion Technology/Apparel Technology/Fashion Design/Textile/Leather Design with min. 60% marks.
Sl. 17 (1 post): B.Tech./B.Des. in Leather/Textile/Leather Design/Accessories Design/Fashion Design. NET/GATE: ₹31,000+HRA; others: ₹25,000+HRA.
Sl. 18 (1 post): B.E. Computer Science OR M.Sc./MCA Computer Science. NET/GATE: ₹31,000+HRA; others: ₹25,000+HRA. Desirable: AI dashboards, predictive models, 2 years R&D experience.
Sl. 19 (1 post): M.Sc. Bioinformatics/Chemistry/Biotechnology OR B.Tech Biotechnology with min. 55% marks. Desirable: Programming, molecular modeling and simulation.
Sl. 20 (1 post): M.Sc. Chemistry/Physics. NET/GATE: ₹37,000+HRA; others: ₹30,000+HRA. Desirable: Computational chemistry, materials modeling, AI/ML, Python programming.
Sl. 21 (1 post — JRF or PAT-I): M.Sc. Organic Chemistry/Chemistry with CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE for JRF (₹37,000+HRA) or without for PAT-I (₹30,000+HRA). Desirable: Basic synthetic skills and lab experience.

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Pay Scale / Salary Structure

Post Name	Salary Level
Project Assistant-II (PA-II) — Sl. 14, 15, 16	₹20,000 + HRA per month
Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Standard (Sl. 1,2,4,5,6,8,10,11,13,19)	₹25,000 + HRA per month
Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Higher tier non-NET/GATE (Sl. 20, 21)	₹30,000 + HRA per month
Project Associate-I (PAT-I) — Higher tier NET/GATE (Sl. 12, 17, 18)	₹31,000 + HRA per month
JRF or Project Associate-I — NET/GATE qualified (Sl. 3, 7, 20, 21)	₹37,000 + HRA per month
Senior Project Associate (Senior-PAT) — Sl. 9	₹42,000 + HRA per month

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Selection Process Steps

Stage I — Written Test (Qualifying in nature, for ALL positions): MCQ type — Subject at Graduation level, General Awareness, General Intelligence, Aptitude & General English. Maximum Marks: 50. Cut-off fixed by Competent Authority. Date: 21/05/2026 | Time: 11:00 AM–11:45 AM | Venue: Triple Helix Auditorium, CLRI, Adyar, Chennai.
Reporting Time for Written Test: 09:30 AM. Last entry: 10:30 AM — candidates arriving after 10:30 AM will NOT be allowed.
NET/GATE Exemption: Candidates qualified in NET/GATE or national-level exams by CSIR/DBT/DST/ICMR/IIT/IISc/IISER/UGC/ICAR are EXEMPTED from Written Test — they can directly attend the Interview.
Stage II — Personal Interview: For candidates who qualify the Written Test (or NET/GATE holders directly). Date: 25/05/2026 & 26/05/2026 at CSIR-CLRI, Chennai. Exact time will be intimated.
Final empanelment based on Written Test + Interview performance. Empaneled candidates may be called for future project requirements.
Note: No Travelling Allowance is paid for attending Written Test or Interview.

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Detailed Exam Pattern

Recruitment Details: Written Test Overview

Mode: Offline MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions).
Maximum Marks: 50 Marks.
Duration: 45 minutes (11:00 AM to 11:45 AM).
Venue: Triple Helix Auditorium, CSIR-CLRI, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai – 600020.
Reporting Time: 09:30 AM. Late entry beyond 10:30 AM not permitted.
Cut-off Marks: Fixed by Competent Authority (not pre-declared).
Negative Marking: No negative marking mentioned in official notification.
NET/GATE Exemption: Candidates with NET/GATE or national exam qualification need NOT appear for Written Test — direct interview attendance allowed.
Nature: Qualifying in nature — written test score is used only for shortlisting for interview.

Recruitment Table: Written Test — Subject Coverage

Section	Coverage	Marks (out of 50)
Subject Concerned	Questions from the candidate's graduation-level subject (Chemistry, CS, Biotechnology, Engineering, etc.)	Major portion
General Awareness	Current affairs, science & technology, national/international events	—
General Intelligence	Logical reasoning, analytical ability	—
Aptitude	Numerical ability, data interpretation	—
General English	Basic grammar, comprehension, vocabulary	—

Recruitment Table: Job Profile by Position

Post Name	Primary Responsibilities
Project Associate-I — Leather Technology (Sl. 1)	Conduct leather processing experiments in cleaner technologies, process control studies, product-specific leather development, sustainability assessment, data collection, environmental management, and testing & evaluation of chemicals and materials.
Project Associate-I — Engineering (Sl. 2)	Work on process optimization, wastewater/solid waste analysis, operation of bench-scale biological reactors, electronics manufacturing R&D, and industrial safety engineering activities in ongoing CLRI projects.
JRF / Project Associate-I — Chemistry (Sl. 3, 4, 6, 21)	Conduct organic/polymerization reactions, surface coatings, colloid/surfactant science, organic synthesis, inorganic/composite material synthesis, chromatography, spectroscopic characterization, and wastewater analysis in CLRI research projects.
Project Associate-I — Polymer/Footwear (Sl. 5)	Perform polymer material testing and characterization, assist in footwear material development, conduct polymer science experiments, and support product design and fabrication activities.
JRF / Project Associate-I — Biotech/Pharma (Sl. 7, 8)	Conduct recombinant protein expression and biophysical characterization, cell culture experiments, and biomaterial fabrication for biomedical applications under CLRI's life science research projects.
Senior Project Associate — Biotech (Sl. 9)	Lead biomaterial fabrication experiments, perform animal handling for in-vivo studies, mentor junior project staff, and contribute to high-level R&D activities in life sciences. Requires 3+ years prior research experience.
Project Associate-I — Microbiology/Environmental Science (Sl. 10)	Analyze wastewater and solid waste samples, apply microbial techniques, operate bench-scale biological reactors, and support environmental management R&D activities.
Project Associate-I — CS/AI-ML (Sl. 11, 12, 18)	Handle data analytics, develop AI/ML models, build skill analytics dashboards, perform software/tool development, and support documentation and presentation of research outcomes in CLRI digital innovation projects.
Project Associate-I — Physics/Biomedical (Sl. 13)	Conduct R&D in biomedical engineering and electronics, support instrumentation-based experiments, assist in physics/medical physics-related measurements and analysis.
Project Assistant-II — Biomechanics/Design (Sl. 14, 15, 16)	Assist in sports biomechanics R&D, operate leather/textile/footwear manufacturing equipment, perform product making and material testing, support fashion/leather design activities.
Project Associate-I — Design (Sl. 17)	Design and develop leather/textile products from sketch to finished goods, explore new materials and their application with leather, conduct pattern making training, and develop new product concepts.
Project Associate-I — Bioinformatics/Computational (Sl. 19, 20)	Apply programming (Python), molecular modeling and simulation, computational chemistry, and AI/ML tools to CLRI's materials research and leather science projects.

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Subject-wise Syllabus Topics

The Written Test is MCQ-based, 50 marks, 45 minutes duration. It covers the candidate's graduation-level subject along with General Awareness, General Intelligence, Aptitude, and General English. Expected topics based on the post-wise subject areas are as follows:

📚 Subject Concerned (Graduation Level) — Chemistry Posts

Organic Chemistry — reactions, mechanisms, named reactions
Physical Chemistry — thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry — coordination compounds, d-block elements
Analytical Chemistry — chromatography, spectroscopy, titrations
Polymer Chemistry — polymerization reactions, material properties
Surface and Colloid Science — surfactants, emulsions

📚 Subject Concerned — Engineering Posts (Leather/Chemical/Mechanical/Civil/Electrical)

Core engineering concepts at B.E./B.Tech. level for the respective discipline
Leather Technology — tanning processes, chemical treatments, process control
Chemical Engineering — mass/heat transfer, process optimization, reactor design
Environmental Engineering — wastewater treatment, solid waste management

📚 Subject Concerned — Biotechnology/Life Sciences Posts

Molecular Biology — DNA/RNA, recombinant technology, PCR
Cell Biology — cell culture, cell signaling, microscopy
Biochemistry — proteins, enzymes, metabolic pathways
Biomaterials — fabrication, characterization, biocompatibility

📚 Subject Concerned — Computer Science/AI-ML Posts

Data Structures and Algorithms
Machine Learning — supervised/unsupervised learning, model evaluation
Artificial Intelligence — neural networks, NLP basics
Database systems, software development, Python programming

📚 General Awareness

Current affairs — national and international
Science and technology developments
Government schemes and policies
Awards, sports, and important events

📚 General Intelligence & Aptitude

Logical reasoning — analogies, series, coding-decoding
Numerical ability — percentages, ratios, basic arithmetic
Data interpretation — tables, graphs, charts

📚 General English

Reading comprehension
Grammar — tenses, articles, prepositions
Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, fill in the blanks
Sentence correction and rearrangement

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026How to Apply

This is a WALK-IN recruitment. There is NO online application. Do NOT send applications by post/speed post/courier.
Download the Application Form from the official notification (Annexure to Notification No. 03/2026) available at the CSIR-CLRI website: www.clri.res.in.
Fill the Application Form completely in Block Letters. Mention the post applied for and the Project Code at the top.
Affix a recent passport-size photograph on the application form.
Carry the duly filled and signed Application Form along with the following documents on the date of Written Test (21/05/2026):
— Self-attested photocopies of: Birth Certificate / 10th Certificate, 12th or equivalent Certificate, Graduation Degree & Marksheets, Post-Graduation Degree & Marksheets (if applicable), NET/GATE/National exam score card (if applicable), Experience proof (if applicable), Caste/Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD if applicable).
— Original certificates of all the above for verification.
— 2 recent passport-size colour photographs.
— Valid photo ID proof (Aadhar Card, Voter ID, or any Government-issued Photo ID).
Report at the venue — Triple Helix Auditorium, CSIR-CLRI, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai – 600020 — by 09:30 AM on 21/05/2026. Last entry is 10:30 AM — no exceptions.
NET/GATE qualified candidates: You are EXEMPT from the Written Test. Report directly for the Interview on 25 or 26 May 2026 (exact time to be intimated) with the filled application form and all supporting documents.
Candidates who qualify the Written Test will be called for Personal Interview on 25/05/2026 & 26/05/2026 at CSIR-CLRI, Chennai.
Documents in languages other than Hindi or English must be accompanied by an English translation duly attested by a Gazetted Officer or Notary.
No travelling allowance is paid for attending Written Test or Interview.

Recruitment Note: About CSIR – Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai

CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), established in 1948 and located at Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a premier national laboratory under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. It is one of the world's foremost research institutes dedicated to Leather Science & Technology, covering the entire spectrum from raw hide processing to finished leather goods, footwear, and sustainable leather technologies.

CLRI's research spans across leather processing, pollution control, biomaterials, computational chemistry, AI-driven process optimization, footwear engineering, fashion design, and green chemistry. The institute collaborates with national and international programs, industry partners, and academic institutions globally. It houses state-of-the-art research facilities including analytical instruments, pilot plants, and design studios. CLRI has played a decisive role in transforming India's leather industry — one of the country's key export sectors — through innovations in cleaner production, waste management, and value-added product development. It is consistently ranked among India's top CSIR laboratories for research output and industry impact.

Recruitment Note: Nature of Engagement — Important Conditions

All positions under this notification are purely temporary project-based engagements, co-terminus with the respective project or as long as the requirement exists, whichever is earlier. The tenure is up to 31 March 2027 but may be curtailed or extended based on project status. These positions confer NO right to permanent appointment in CSIR-CLRI or any other CSIR laboratory. Candidates who have already completed the maximum cumulative project staff tenure of 6 or 7 years (as applicable) in any CSIR Lab or Institute are ineligible to apply, as per CSIR letter No. 5-1(342)/2017-PD dated 02.09.2024. The number of positions is provisional and may increase or decrease at the time of selection. The Director, CSIR-CLRI reserves the right to cancel the notification or not fill any/all positions without assigning any reason.

Recruitment Note: Benefits & Perks Beyond Stipend

As CSIR project staff, selected candidates receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) in addition to the monthly stipend, as applicable under CSIR norms. JRF-level candidates pursuing PhD through the project work may be eligible for institutional PhD registration at CLRI/Anna University or affiliated institutions. Project staff gain access to CLRI's world-class research infrastructure — advanced analytical instruments, pilot-scale leather processing units, design studios, bioscience labs, and computational facilities. Working experience in a CSIR National Laboratory is a significant credential for future applications to DST, DBT, SERB fellowships and international research programs. However, no medical benefits, pension, or LTC are applicable for project staff as these are temporary contractual engagements.

CSIR CLRI Project Associate JRF Recruitment 2026Important Official Links

Download Notification Notification No. 03/2026 \| No.23(404)/2026-EI dated 30.04.2026	Click Here ↗
Official Website	Click Here ↗

Disclaimer Information provided here is for quick reference. Verify all details on the official website before taking action.

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Quick Overview

🚀 Recruitment Overview

Quick Summary of the Notification

Organization	CSIR-CLRI
Post Name	Project Associate / JRF / Project Assistant
Total Vacancy	57
Salary	₹20,000 – ₹42,000 + HRA/Month [JRF (NET/GATE): ₹37,000+HRA; Senior PAT: ₹42,000+HRA; PA-II: ₹20,000+HRA]
Job Location	All India
Apply Mode	Online
Last Date	21/05/2026
Official Website	Visit Website ↗

💡 Expert Tip

Two things most candidates miss in CSIR walk-in recruitments: First, if you hold CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or any national-level exam qualification from CSIR/DBT/DST/ICMR/IIT/IISc/IISER/UGC/ICAR, you are EXEMPT from the written test — report directly for the interview on 25 or 26 May 2026 and get the higher stipend tier (₹37,000 or ₹31,000 instead of ₹25,000). Second, candidates who have ALREADY completed 6 or 7 years (as applicable) of cumulative project staff tenure in any CSIR Lab/Institute are NOT eligible — this is a hard disqualification per CSIR letter No. 5-1(342)/2017-PD dated 02.09.2024. Candidates cannot be late beyond 10:30 AM on the written test date — no exceptions.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Q.1 What is the in-hand stipend for CSIR-CLRI Project Associate-I and JRF? ▼

Ans: Project Associate-I (PAT-I) receives ₹25,000 + HRA per month for standard positions. For posts like Sl. 12, 17, 18, NET/GATE qualified candidates get ₹31,000 + HRA; for Sl. 20 and 21, NET/GATE holders get ₹37,000 + HRA and non-NET/GATE get ₹30,000 + HRA. JRF candidates with CSIR-UGC NET or GATE receive ₹37,000 + HRA. Senior Project Associate gets ₹42,000 + HRA. Project Assistant-II gets ₹20,000 + HRA. HRA is calculated as per CSIR norms for Chennai city.

Q.2 What is the last date to apply for CSIR-CLRI Recruitment 2026? ▼

Ans: There is no online application and no separate last date for submission. This is a walk-in recruitment. Candidates must report in person at CSIR-CLRI, Adyar, Chennai by 09:30 AM on 21 May 2026 for the Written Test (with filled application form and all documents). NET/GATE qualified candidates may report directly for Interview on 25 or 26 May 2026. No one will be allowed entry after 10:30 AM on the Written Test date.

Q.3 Is there any negative marking in the CSIR-CLRI Written Test? ▼

Ans: No negative marking has been mentioned in the official notification (Notification No. 03/2026). The Written Test is MCQ-based, 50 marks total, conducted for 45 minutes. It covers the candidate's graduation-level subject, General Awareness, General Intelligence, Aptitude, and General English. The cut-off marks will be fixed by the Competent Authority. Note: the test is qualifying in nature — only shortlisted candidates proceed to the interview stage.

Q.4 What is the age limit for CSIR-CLRI Project Associate and JRF posts? ▼

Ans: For JRF positions: 28 years (as on date of Written Test/Interview). For Project Associate-I (PAT-I) and Project Assistant-II: 35 years. For Senior Project Associate: 40 years. Age relaxation: SC/ST/PwBD/Women — 5 years; OBC — 3 years, as per Govt. of India norms. Age is determined as of the date of Written Test or Interview, not the notification date.

Q.5 How to download the CSIR-CLRI Notification PDF and Application Form? ▼

Ans: Visit the official CSIR-CLRI website at www.clri.res.in and navigate to the Recruitment/Notices section. Download Notification No. 03/2026 (No.23(404)/2026-EI dated 30.04.2026). The Application Form is enclosed as an Annexure to the notification — download, print, fill by hand in Block Letters, and bring it in person to the walk-in on 21 May 2026. Do NOT send applications by post or courier — they will not be accepted.

Q.6 What is the educational qualification required for CSIR-CLRI Project Associate posts? ▼

Ans: Qualifications vary by post. Most Project Associate-I (PAT-I) posts require M.Sc. or B.E./B.Tech. with minimum 60% marks (55% for Sl. 19). Project Assistant-II requires B.Sc. or 3-year Diploma with 60% marks. Senior Project Associate requires M.Pharm/M.Sc. Biotechnology/M.Tech + 3 years research experience. JRF positions additionally require NET/GATE or equivalent national-level exam qualification. Refer to the position-wise table in the notification for subject-specific requirements.

Q.7 What is the selection process for CSIR-CLRI Project Associate Recruitment 2026? ▼

Ans: The selection is a two-stage process: Stage I — Written Test (MCQ, 50 marks, 45 minutes) on 21 May 2026 for all candidates except NET/GATE holders, who are exempted. Stage II — Personal Interview on 25–26 May 2026 for candidates who qualify the Written Test (and directly for NET/GATE qualified candidates). Final empanelment is based on overall performance. Empaneled candidates may also be considered for future project vacancies at CLRI.

Q.8 Can candidates with NET/GATE qualification skip the Written Test at CSIR-CLRI? ▼

Ans: Yes. Candidates who have qualified in CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or national-level exams conducted by CSIR, DBT, DST, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER, UGC, or ICAR are EXEMPTED from the Written Test. They can directly attend the Personal Interview on 25 or 26 May 2026 at CSIR-CLRI, Chennai. These candidates are also eligible for higher stipend tiers (₹37,000, ₹31,000, or ₹30,000 + HRA depending on the position) compared to non-NET/GATE candidates.