ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) Recruitment 2026: Career Guide & Vacancy Details

About NBPGR Careers

🏛️ Organization Overview

NBPGR was established in 1976 and is headquartered at the Pusa Campus in New Delhi.⁶ It is the sole authority in India responsible for the quarantine of all imported plant genetic resources, including transgenics, meant for research.⁷ The Bureau operates through five specialized divisions and maintains 10 Regional Stations across different agro-climatic zones of India (e.g., Shimla, Jodhpur, Thrissur, and Shillong).⁸+2

For a job seeker, NBPGR offers an intellectually rich environment focused on Genomic Resources, Plant Quarantine, and Germplasm Evaluation.⁹ As an ISO 9001:2015 certified institute, it maintains world-class standards in preserving over 4.68 lakh accessions.¹⁰ Employees here collaborate with international bodies like CGIAR and various national crop-based institutes to protect India's natural agricultural heritage.¹¹+2

💼 Key Job Profiles (Evergreen Roles)

• Scientist (Grade B to G): The core research cadre. Recruitment for permanent positions is handled by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) via the ARS exam. Requires a Ph.D. in relevant agricultural/life sciences.¹²
• Young Professional (YP-I & YP-II): Contractual technical roles supporting specific lab and field activities.¹³ YP-I requires a Bachelor's in Agriculture/Life Sciences, while YP-II typically requires a Master's degree with NET/GATE.
• Research Associate (RA) / Senior Research Fellow (SRF): Project-based roles funded by DBT, DST, or CGIAR.¹⁴ These are high-level research positions often requiring a Ph.D. or Master's with 2-3 years of research experience.¹⁵+1
• Technical Assistant: Provides laboratory and field support for germplasm characterization and DNA fingerprinting. Recruited via ICAR-wide technical exams.

💰 Salary & Employee Benefits

NBPGR follows the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) scales for regular staff and ICAR-prescribed consolidated stipends for project staff.

• Scientist: Level-10 (₹57,700 - ₹1,82,400).
• Project Scientist-I/II: ₹56,000 - ₹67,000 + 27% HRA.¹⁶
• Young Professional-I: ₹25,000 - ₹30,000 (Consolidated).¹⁷
• SRF / Research Associate: ₹37,000 - ₹67,000 + HRA (based on degree).¹⁸
• Standard Perks: Regular employees receive DA, HRA, Medical facilities, and coverage under the National Pension System (NPS).

🎯 Selection Process

NBPGR utilizes a merit-based approach tailored to the cadre:¹⁹

1. Permanent Faculty/Scientist: Through national-level exams and interviews conducted by the ASRB (Agricultural Research Service).
2. Project Staff (RA/SRF/YP):
   • Shortlisting: Based on academic performance and research publications.²⁰
   • Interview: Usually conducted as Walk-in-Interviews or via Virtual Mode (Video Conferencing) at the New Delhi headquarters.²¹
3. Administrative & Technical: Through ICAR centralized examinations followed by a Skill Test (where applicable).

💡 Expert Tips (How to Crack NBPGR Exams)

Master Computational Genomics

NBPGR's research is increasingly data-driven. For Scientific and YP-II roles, proficiency in Bioinformatics tools, R/Python programming, and NGS data analysis is a major differentiator.²²

Focus on Plant Quarantine Rules

If applying for roles in the Plant Quarantine division, be thoroughly familiar with the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. This is a frequent topic in technical interviews.

Prepare for Practical Lab Skills

For Technical Assistant and Field Worker roles, the interviewers often ask about specific laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR, or seed viability testing protocols.