Indian Institute of Technology Indore
Contractual / Regular

IIT Indore DST-NQM ASTRA-Q Project Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 12 JRF, RA & Project Scientist Posts

Sourced from Official Government PDF
Sep. 10, 2026
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)Research Associate – ProvisionalResearch Associate – IIProject Scientist – I

Required Qualification

B.Tech183
M.Sc177
M.Tech118
★
Get Job Alerts on Google
Save Job

Quick Recruitment Snapshot

Key recruitment parameters at a glance before you apply

Vacancies
12 Posts
Pay Scale
₹37,000/- to ₹61,000/- + HRA per month (Consolidated)
Age Limit
JRF: up to 28-30 Years; RA/Scientist: up to 35-40 Years (as per DST norms)
Job Location
Uttar Pradesh64Tamil Nadu42+6 More...

Crucial Recruitment Dates

Official schedule & key deadlines

Published

Sep 9, 2026

2

Starts

Sep 9, 2026

3

Deadline

Sep 20, 2026

4

Exam Date

TBA

Application Window9 – 20 Sep 2026
Exam / Test DateTo Be Announced

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications

Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment? Check essential educational qualifications, branch/stream criteria, and age limits.

Educational Qualification

Post-wise eligibility for DST National Quantum Mission (NQM) project 'ASTRA-Q':
• Junior Research Fellow (JRF) [₹37,000 + HRA]: M.Sc. in Basic Sciences (Physics/Astronomy/Maths/Data Science) OR B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech in Engineering, selected through CSIR-UGC NET (including LS) or GATE or National level exams conducted by Central Government agencies (DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MoE, IIT, IISc). Desirable: 1–2 years experience, Python, Qiskit/PennyLane, Machine Learning/Deep Learning.
• Research Associate – Provisional [₹45,000 + HRA]: Ph.D. thesis submitted in Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, or related disciplines. Desirable: 1–2 years experience in Python, Qiskit/PennyLane, ML/DL, and space weather or astrophysics domain knowledge.
• Project Scientist – I [₹56,000 + HRA]: Ph.D. + 1 year experience OR M.E./M.Tech in Engineering/Technology with 1+ years' expertise in quantum algorithms, hybrid quantum-classical models, and quantum hardware.
• Research Associate – II [₹61,000 + HRA]: Ph.D. degree with 1 year of post-doctoral or relevant research experience in quantum algorithms and quantum machine learning.

Age Limit & Relaxations

Upper age limits follow standard DST / Central Government project guidelines: typically up to 28-30 years for JRF and 35-40 years for Research Associate / Project Scientist, with 5 years relaxation for SC/ST/Women/PwBD and 3 years for OBC candidates.

Check Your Age Eligibility

Selection Procedure & Screening Stages

Verified Official Source

Multi-stage interview and rubric-based evaluation procedure.

Online Google Form Application Submission & Single PDF Dossier Upload (Deadline: 20.09.2026)

OnlineQualifying Only

Shortlisting based on GATE/NET Scores, Academic Record & Quantum/ML Experience

OnlineQualifying Only

Technical Interview before Joint Consortium Selection Committee (IIT Indore)

OfflineMerit Scored

Original Document Verification

OfflineQualifying Only

Selection is conducted through online screening and technical interview:

  1. Online Application: Candidates must submit a single compiled PDF file (detailed CV, degree certificates, mark sheets, GATE/NET score cards, and DOB proof) via the official Google Form by 20th September 2026.
  2. Shortlisting: Applications will be screened based on national qualifying examination credentials (GATE/CSIR-UGC NET), programming proficiency in Python/Qiskit/PennyLane, and relevant domain background in astronomy, space weather, or quantum algorithms.
  3. Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online or in-person technical interview before the selection committee. Selected candidates will be notified via email. No TA/DA is admissible for attending the interview.

Selection Criteria & Marking Scheme

Verified Official Source

Official weightage breakdown, qualification scoring, and interview evaluation criteria.

Evaluation Parameter / ComponentMax Marks / WeightageAssessment Criteria & Guidelines
Academic Credentials & Qualifying Degree30 MarksMarks in B.Tech/M.Sc./M.Tech/Ph.D. in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, or Mathematics.
National Level Test Score (GATE / CSIR-UGC NET)25 MarksValid score and percentile in GATE or CSIR-UGC NET (JRF/LS) in relevant subject disciplines.
Programming & Quantum Computing Frameworks Proficiency25 MarksDemonstrated hands-on experience in Python, Qiskit, PennyLane, PyTorch/TensorFlow, and quantum machine learning algorithms.
Technical Interview & Domain Understanding20 MarksPerformance in technical viva assessing knowledge of quantum circuits, astronomical data analysis, space weather dynamics, and research problem solving.

Aspirant Ground Reality & Career Trajectory

Verified Official Source

Practical service rules, posting locations, transfer policy, and promotion ladder curated from official gazettes.

Work Culture & Environment

Office/fieldwork balance, duties, organizational environment.

The ASTRA-Q project is an elite multi-institutional consortium initiative spearheaded by IIT Indore under India's flagship National Quantum Mission (DST-NQM), collaborating with the University of Calcutta, TCG CREST, SRM University, Sharda University, and Adamas University. Researchers develop quantum artificial intelligence algorithms, quantum variational circuits, and accelerated Quantum Machine Learning (QML) pipelines to process high-dimensional space weather telemetry and astronomical survey datasets. Fellows work in state-of-the-art computational physics and quantum computing laboratories, collaborating with leading national scientists, astrophysicists, and quantum hardware specialists. Work culture emphasizes cutting-edge research, algorithm benchmarking, and publishing in premier quantum computing and space physics journals (e.g. IEEE, Physical Review, Nature Quantum).

Posting & Transfer Policy

Initial posting criteria, zone preferences, transfer liability.

Temporary contractual appointment for up to three (3) years co-terminus with the project. Positions are stationed at the respective consortium campus (IIT Indore, University of Calcutta, TCG CREST, SRM Chennai, Sharda Greater Noida, or Adamas Kolkata) as assigned.

Career & Promotion Ladder

Promotion timeline, seniority ladder, pay grade scaling.

Junior Research Fellows (JRF) completing two years of satisfactory research progress can be elevated to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) with enhanced fellowship upon performance review committee assessment. Furthermore, fellows fulfilling institute eligibility norms can enroll in the doctoral Ph.D. program at IIT Indore, transitioning directly into tenure-track academic or high-tech quantum computing industry careers (IBM Quantum, Google Quantum AI, Xanadu, Rigetti).
Crucial Application Warnings & Eligibility Traps

Avoid common application rejection triggers, photo/signature guidelines, and certificate validity windows.

  • Single PDF Upload Mandate: Candidates must compile their CV, degree certificates, mark sheets, GATE/NET score cards, and date of birth proof into a single PDF document before uploading to the Google Form.
  • National Test Prerequisite for JRF: Candidates applying for Junior Research Fellow positions must have qualified a recognized national level examination (CSIR-UGC NET including lectureship, GATE, or equivalent central agency exam).
  • Application Submission Deadline (20-09-2026): The Google Form will close on September 20, 2026; late submissions will not be entertained.
  • Multi-Institute Deployment: The 12 positions are distributed across 6 consortium institutes; candidates should specify their institute/location preferences and readiness to work at assigned member campuses.
  • No TA/DA for Interview: Shortlisted candidates called for in-person or online interviews will not be provided any travel allowance.

Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Scale

Detailed post distribution across UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST quotas and 7th CPC Pay Matrix / Monthly Stipend.

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

  • Junior Research Fellow (IIT Indore)3
  • Research Associate Provisional (IIT Indore)1
  • Research Associate II (IIT Indore)1
  • Junior Research Fellow (University of Calcutta)2
  • Research Associate II (TCG CREST Kolkata)1
  • Junior Research Fellow (SRM University Chennai)1
  • Junior Research Fellow (Sharda University Noida)2
  • Junior Research Fellow (Adamas University Kolkata)1
Total Vacancies12 Posts

Pay Scale & Monthly Remuneration

Monthly consolidated pay: Junior Research Fellow (JRF) ₹37,000/- + HRA; Research Associate (Provisional) ₹45,000/- + HRA; Project Scientist - I ₹56,000/- + HRA; Research Associate - II ₹61,000/- + HRA as per DST-NQM sanction.

Monthly consolidated fellowship/salary as per DST-NQM guidelines: JRF: ₹37,000/- + HRA; RA-Provisional: ₹45,000/- + HRA; Project Scientist-I: ₹56,000/- + HRA; RA-II: ₹61,000/- + HRA. Tenure is up to 3 years co-terminus with project.

How to Apply Online Step-by-Step?

Follow this verified step-by-step application procedure on the official recruitment portal.

Application Procedure

  1. Carefully read the recruitment circular for Advt. No. IITI/RND/PRJ/NQM/2026-27/001 on the IIT Indore Careers Portal.
  2. Prepare a comprehensive CV highlighting educational background, GATE/NET qualification details, research publications, and proficiency in Python, Qiskit, PennyLane, or machine learning frameworks.
  3. Compile your detailed CV along with all self-attested supporting documents (degree certificates, mark sheets, GATE/NET qualification certificate, and proof of date of birth) into a single PDF document.
  4. Access and complete the official application Google Form at Google Form Link on or before September 20, 2026.
  5. Upload the compiled single PDF file into the designated section of the form and submit your application. Keep a copy of your submitted responses for future reference.

Application Fee & Category Concessions

NIL (No application fee is required).

Official Notification & Portal Verification

Direct links to the authorized government portal, official notification PDF, and career portal.

Verified Official Domain
Visit Official Website

72h Deadline Tracker

Free Extension

Never miss closing dates on SSC & UPSC portals • Real-time alerts & zero fake links

Get Extension →

Prepare Your Application Documents

🔒 100% Secure & In-Browser: Filling out the application form? Use these free utilities to easily format and compress your uploads. All tools process files locally in your browser—nothing is ever uploaded to our servers.

Smart Image Resizer

Compress photo/signature to exact KB limits (e.g. 20-50KB) for SSC, UPSC.

Passport Photo Maker

Crop and tile photos into printable A4 or 4x6 sheet grids.

Signature Extractor

Remove gray shadows & shadows from signature photos.

Image to PDF Combiner

Merge multiple marksheets/certificates into a single lightweight PDF.

View183Active B.Tech JobsView64Active Jobs in Uttar Pradesh

Similar M.Sc Opportunities

Central University of Haryana

Central University of Haryana Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in for 01 Senior Research Fellow (Biotechnology) Post

MahendergarhExp: Sep 24

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology

OUAT Bhubaneswar Faculty Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in for 10 Guest Faculty Posts

BhubaneswarExp: Sep 25

Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation

ISRO SAC Ahmedabad Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 48 JRF, Research Associate & Project Scientist-I Posts

AhmedabadExp: Sep 30

Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur

IIEST Shibpur Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in for 01 Project Assistant (Chemistry) Post

HowrahExp: Sep 16

Central Institute of Fisheries Education

ICAR CIFE Mumbai Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in for Young Professional-II (YP-II) Post

MumbaiExp: Sep 22

Mahatma Gandhi Central University

Mahatma Gandhi Central University Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 01 JRF / Project Fellow Post

MotihariExp: Sep 23

Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology

MMMUT Gorakhpur SRA Recruitment 2026 – Apply for Senior Research Assistant Post

GorakhpurExp: Sep 25

Indian Institute of Technology Jammu

IIT Jammu Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 01 Project Assistant Post

JammuExp: Sep 22

National Institute of Technology, Uttarakhand

NIT Uttarakhand Recruitment 2026 – Walk in for 1 Counsellor Post

Srinagar Garhwal, Pauri GarhwalExp: Sep 19

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal

AIIMS Bhopal Recruitment 2026 – Walk in for Project Research Scientist-1 (Non-Medical) Post

BhopalExp: Sep 30

Frequently Asked Questions & Crucial Aspirant Queries

5 Queries Resolved

Clear, verified answers to top eligibility, exam format, salary calculation, and application queries for this notification.

ASTRA-Q (Astronomical and Space Weather Tracking with Quantum Artificial Intelligence) is a DST National Quantum Mission project offering 12 positions across IIT Indore (Lead), University of Calcutta, TCG CREST, SRM University, Sharda University, and Adamas University.

Sarkari Job Khojo is an independent information service and job discovery platform. All recruitment insights, syllabi, previous year exam cutoffs, and selection stages are compiled from official government notifications, gazettes, and recruitment portals. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, or an official representative of any government agency or recruitment board. Always verify details in the official advertisement PDF before applying.

Join TelegramJoin WhatsApp