CSIR-IHBT Recruitment 2026: 44 Project Associate & Senior PAT Posts – Walk-In Interview from 16 October 2026 @ www.ihbt.res.in

CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, has released Advertisement No. 17/2026 inviting eligible candidates for 44 temporary, project-based positions through walk-in interviews. The posts of Senior PAT, Project Associate PAT-I, Project Associate PAT-II, and Project Assistant-I are available under five ongoing research projects at CSIR-IHBT. Walk-in interviews are scheduled across seven dates from 16 October 2026 to 27 October 2026 at the CSIR-IHBT campus in Palampur.

Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale

Projects Under Which Positions Are Available

1. Deciphering the Stress-induced and Chloroplast-triggered Programmed Cell Death in Arabidopsis thaliana (GAP 0340)
2. Genome Editing for Crop Improvement (GE-Crop) (MMP025301)
3. CSIR Aroma 4.0: Driving Sustainable Rural Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through Aromatic Plants (MMP025304)
4. Smart Village (MMP045201)
5. Determinants of Attitudes Toward Novel Agrotechnologies (IHP002414)

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualification

Eligibility is determined on a post-wise basis. The following is a summary of essential qualifications for each position code. Detailed desirable experience and project-specific requirements must be verified against the Download CSIR-IHBT Advertisement No. 17/2026 Official Notification PDF with Application Form before attending the interview.

• Senior PAT Age Limit: Maximum 40 years (Codes 17001, 17003, 17023)
• Other Posts Age Limit: Maximum 35 years (PAT-I, PAT-II, Project Assistant-I)
• Age Relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST/PwBD/Women; 3 years for OBC; or as per Government of India instructions from time to time. Age is counted as on the interview date for the respective position code.
• All Degrees: Must be from a recognized university. Candidates whose results are awaited are not eligible.
• R&D Experience (Senior PAT & PAT-II): Must be in industrial or academic institutions, or in science & technology organizations, and scientific activities and services.

Walk-In Interview Schedule — Post-Wise

Selection Process & Screening Clause

• Stage 1 — Screening (If Applicable): The Selection Committee may conduct an objective test (multiple-choice questions) to screen candidates if the number of eligible applicants exceeds the shortlisting threshold for a given position code.
• Stage 2 — Interview: All shortlisted candidates will appear for a direct interview on the same day as the screening test (if conducted).
• Final Authority: The Director, CSIR-IHBT, holds the final decision on selection of candidates.
• Online Interviews: Requests for online interviews will not be entertained under any circumstances.
• TA/DA: No travelling allowance or daily allowance will be paid to candidates appearing for the walk-in interview. Candidates must bear their own travel expenses.
• Result Variance: The number of candidates finally selected may differ from the advertised number of vacancies, depending on the performance of candidates in the selection process.

Terms of Engagement

• The engagement is temporary and co-terminus with the project tenure or 6 years, whichever is earlier.
• The position confers no right or claim to a regular post at CSIR or CSIR-IHBT.
• Performance is reviewed every six months; unsatisfactory staff may be terminated at any time.
• Project end dates range from 31 March 2027 to 31 March 2029, depending on the specific project.
• This is a project-based, temporary engagement and does not carry permanent government job security or pension benefits.

Required Documents & Instructions for Candidates

• Original Matriculation (10th) Certificate / Birth Certificate as Proof of Date of Birth
• All Degree and Consolidated Mark Sheets — M.Sc., M.Pharm, B.Tech, Ph.D., or 10th + ITI/SSC (as per post applied)
• Experience Certificates on Official Letterhead (Mandatory for Senior PAT and Project Associate PAT-II)
• Valid Category / Caste Certificate in Central Government prescribed format (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/Women — if applicable for age relaxation)
• Two Recent Colour Passport-Size Photographs (Cross-Signed by Candidate)
• Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN)
• Filled Prescribed Application Form Downloaded from www.ihbt.res.in
• Self-Attested Photocopies of All Age, Qualification, and Experience Certificates

Important Instructions: Candidates must reach CSIR-IHBT, Palampur by 09:30 AM on the interview date scheduled for their position code. Late arrivals after 10:00 AM will not be permitted to appear. Separate applications must be submitted for each position code if applying for more than one post. The filled application form must be accompanied by a recent colour passport-size photograph, cross-signed by the candidate, and self-attested photocopies of all relevant documents. No TA/DA will be paid.

How to Apply for CSIR-IHBT Walk-In Interview 2026

1. Identify the position code that matches your educational qualification and age.
2. Download the Prescribed Application Form for CSIR-IHBT Advt. No. 17/2026 (Official PDF from www.ihbt.res.in).
3. Fill in all details in the application form and affix a recent colour passport-size photograph, cross-signed by the candidate.
4. Attach self-attested photocopies of your age, qualification, and experience certificates.
5. Apply separately for each position code if you wish to apply for multiple posts.
6. Appear for the walk-in interview at CSIR-IHBT, P.O. Bagi, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh on the scheduled date for your position code, carrying all original certificates.
7. No travelling allowance or daily allowance will be paid.

There is no online application facility in this notification. Candidates must apply offline by attending the walk-in interview with the filled application form and all original documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the walk-in interview dates for CSIR-IHBT Recruitment 2026?

Walk-in interviews for CSIR-IHBT Advertisement No. 17/2026 are scheduled on 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27 October 2026. Each position code is assigned a specific interview date. Candidates must appear on the date corresponding to their position code (e.g., Codes 17001–17005 on 16 October 2026, Codes 17006–17007 on 19 October 2026).

What is the walk-in interview venue and reporting time?

The walk-in interview will be held at CSIR-IHBT, P.O. Bagi, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh – 176061. The reporting time is 09:30 AM. Candidates arriving after 10:00 AM will not be permitted to appear for the interview. No TA/DA will be paid.

Is there an application fee for CSIR-IHBT Recruitment 2026?

No application fee is mentioned in Advertisement No. 17/2026. Candidates are not required to pay any application fee for the walk-in interview. Candidates must attend in person with the filled application form and all original documents.

What is the nature of employment for these CSIR-IHBT posts?

All positions under Advertisement No. 17/2026 are temporary, project-based, and co-terminus with the project tenure or 6 years, whichever is earlier. These posts do not confer any right to a regular government post at CSIR or CSIR-IHBT, and there is no permanent job security or pension. Project end dates range from 31 March 2027 to 31 March 2029. Performance is reviewed every six months, and unsatisfactory staff may be terminated.

What is the salary structure for each post?

The consolidated monthly stipend, payable along with HRA, is as follows: Senior PAT — Rs. 42,000 + HRA; Project Associate PAT-II — Rs. 28,000 + HRA; Project Associate PAT-I — Rs. 25,000 + HRA (or Rs. 31,000 + HRA for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET, GATE, or equivalent national-level examinations at select position codes 17002, 17007, 17012, 17016, 17020, 17022, and 17024); Project Assistant-I — Rs. 18,000 + HRA. The HRA rate is specified as 10% for codes 17002 and 17022 and as per applicable Government of India rates elsewhere.

Can candidates apply for multiple positions?

Yes. Candidates may apply for more than one position code if they are eligible. A separate application form must be filled and submitted for each position code. The candidate must appear for the walk-in interview on the date scheduled for each respective code, carrying original documents for that specific post.

Important Links

• Download CSIR-IHBT Advertisement No. 17/2026 Official Notification PDF with Application Form
• Visit CSIR-IHBT Official Recruitment Portal www.ihbt.res.in
• Browse Latest Himachal Pradesh Government Job Notifications