SETS Project Associate Recruitment 2026 - Full Notification, Eligibility, Salary

SETS Project Associate Recruitment 2026: Overview

The Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS), a premier research institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has released an official notification for the recruitment of 4 Project Associate (Software) posts. This is a significant opportunity for engineering graduates interested in cybersecurity, software development, and electronic transactions security. The recruitment is for a contract position in project mode, offering a competitive consolidated salary.

Recruitment Type: This recruitment involves a Competitive Selection Process consisting of Shortlisting, a Written Test, and/or a Personal Interview. It is not a direct merit-based recruitment without an examination.

Key Highlights Table

Vacancy Details

The recruitment is strictly for the position of Project Associate (Software). Detailed breakdown is provided below:

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• Essential: B.Tech / B.E in Computer Science / Information Technology / Information Security / Cyber Security / ECE or equivalent with 60% or above marks.
• Desirable: M.Tech / M.E in relevant discipline with 60% or above marks.

Skill Sets Required

Candidates must possess knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Programming Experience in C/C++, Python, and MATLAB.
• Networking Protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, HTTP/HTTPS).
• Security Tools: Firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, SIEM, SoC tools.
• Packet Analysis (Wireshark, tcpdump).
• Software Testing (Manual and Automation).
• Penetration Testing, Web App Security, Linux Hardening.
• Exploit Development, Reverse Engineering, Binary Analysis (Ghidra, IDA Pro), Assembly (ARM, MIPS, x86).

Age Limit & Relaxation

• Maximum Age: 35 years.
• Age as on Date: Age is calculated as of the closing date of the advertisement (19 February 2026).
• Experience: 0 – 4 Years of relevant experience is preferred.

Mandatory Requirements

• Selection is based on a Written Test and/or Interview conducted at SETS, Chennai.
• Candidates must bring all original documents (educational certificates, experience letters, ID proof) for verification on the day of the interview.
• No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.

Examination Structure & Selection Process

Since this is a project-based recruitment, the selection process is competitive and involves the following stages:

Selection Stages

1. Shortlisting: Based on educational qualifications and experience.
2. Written Test: Candidates may be required to appear for a written test covering technical subjects (Software, Networking, Cybersecurity).
3. Interview: Shortlisted candidates from the written test (or directly based on profile) will be called for a personal interview at SETS, Chennai.
4. Document Verification: Final appointment is subject to verification of original documents.

Written Test Pattern (Expected)

Note: The specific pattern is determined by SETS. Based on standard project associate recruitments, the pattern is likely to be:

Negative Marking: To be confirmed in the admit card/notification. Usually, 0.25 marks may be deducted for wrong answers in such technical tests.

Application Fee

According to the official notification released by SETS, there is No Application Fee required for any category (Gen/OBC/SC/ST/PwD).

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Visit the official SETS website: https://setsindia.in.
2. Navigate to the "Careers" or "Recruitment" section and find the notification for SETS/Chn/Rec/Proj/2025-26/49.
3. Click on the Apply Online / Upload Application link.
4. Fill in all required details accurately in the online application form.
5. Prepare and upload the following documents as a Single PDF document each:
   • Academic Certificates (Degree/Mark sheets).
   • Experience Certificates (if applicable).
6. Review the application form and submit it.
7. Important: Submit the application before 19 February 2026 (6:00 PM).
8. Keep a printout of the submitted application for future reference.

Important Dates

• Notification Release Date: 13 February 2026
• Application Start Date: 13 February 2026
• Last Date for Online Application: 19 February 2026
• Written Test/Interview Date: To be notified via email to shortlisted candidates.

Important Links

• Official Notification PDF
• Apply Online Link (Available on Official Website)
• Official Website