ICMR-NIE Direct Recruitment 2026: Comprehensive Overview of Scientific Vacancies

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has officially announced a direct recruitment drive for multiple scientific positions at the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) located in Chennai, operating under an all-India transfer liability framework.

Position-Wise Breakdown and Salary Structure

Scientist-D (Medical)
- Pay Scale: Level-12 (Rs. 78,800–2,09,200)
- Vacancies: 01
- Essential Qualifications: MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC.
- Essential Experience: 08 years.
- Desirable Criteria: MD/MS or equivalent, MPH, or Ph.D. in a biomedical sciences-related subject, along with R&D experience in Epidemiology/Public Health demonstrated via peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or research grants.
Scientist-D (Non-Medical)
- Pay Scale: Level-12 (Rs. 78,800–2,09,200)
- Vacancies: 01
- Essential Qualifications: Master’s degree from a recognized University in a biomedical sciences subject OR a Pharm-D degree recognized by UGC/PCI.
- Essential Experience: 08 years.
- Desirable Criteria: Ph.D. in a biomedical sciences-related subject with documented R&D experience in Epidemiology/Public Health.
Scientist-C (Medical)
- Pay Scale: Level-11 (Rs. 67,700–2,08,700)
- Vacancies: 01
- Essential Qualifications: MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC.
- Essential Experience: 04 years.
Scientist-C (Medical) (Microbiology)
- Pay Scale: Level-11 (Rs. 67,700–2,08,700)
- Vacancies: 01
- Essential Qualifications: MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC.
- Essential Experience: 04 years.
- Desirable Criteria: R&D experience specifically focused on Microbiology, Immunology, Immunogenetics, Molecular Biology, or Next Generation Sequencing.
Scientist-B (Medical)
- Pay Scale: Level-10 (Rs. 56,100–1,77,500)
- Vacancies: 02 (UR–01, SC–01)
- Essential Qualifications: MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC.
Scientist-B (Non-Medical) (Disease Modeling)
- Pay Scale: Level-10 (Rs. 56,100–1,77,500)
- Vacancies: 01 (UR–01)
- Essential Qualifications: Master’s degree in a biomedical sciences subject OR a Pharm-D degree recognized by UGC/PCI.
- Desirable Criteria: Experience in Infectious Disease Modeling.
Scientist-B (Veterinary)
- Pay Scale: Level-10 (Rs. 56,100–1,77,500)
- Vacancies: 01 (EWS–01)
- Essential Qualifications: B.V.Sc & AH degree recognized by VCI.

Age Limits and Experience Calculation Rules

Upper Age Thresholds: Scientist-D is capped at 45 years, Scientist-C at 40 years, and Scientist-B at 35 years. Standard Government of India relaxations apply.
Experience Equivalencies: A Ph.D. counts as 4 years of experience (regardless of completion duration), and an MD/MS or equivalent counts as 3 years. MPH and M.Tech degrees do not contribute toward experience credit.

Selection Process & Application Timeline

Selection Method: Evaluation involves a computer-based test featuring MCQs centered around research methods, an interview, or both. The computer-based exam serves as a qualifying threshold set at the 75th percentile.
Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of Rs. 1,500 is required, with complete exemptions extended to SC, ST, Women, PWD, and EWS candidates.
Deadline: Online applications must be completed and submitted via recruitment.icmr.org.in by 26th November 2026, up to 5:30 PM.