The CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit (CSIR-TKDL) has released Advertisement No. TKDL/08/2026 for the engagement of 50 Senior Project Associate and Project Associate-I positions under Project No. MLP002639 – Information systems of traditional knowledge for protection and promotion.
The vacancies are available in IT, Data Science, Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, Siddha, Patent, Sanskrit and Yoga disciplines at Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Palampur, Chennai and Hyderabad. CSIR has officially listed the recruitment with the last date of 12 October 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
EXPERIENCE IMPORTANT: Experience is mandatory for Senior Project Associate posts, generally requiring 2–3 years of relevant R&D experience depending on the qualification. Project Associate-I posts generally require the prescribed educational qualification, while certain desirable skills/experience may apply post-wise.
CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Details | Information |
| Organisation | CSIR – Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit |
| Post Names | Senior Project Associate, Project Associate-I |
| Total Posts | 50 |
| Age Limit | Up to 40 Years for Senior Project Associate; Up to 35 Years for Project Associate-I |
| Qualification | B.E./B.Tech/MCA, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, Sowa Rigpa, Master’s/Doctoral Degree in relevant fields, Sanskrit, Yoga & others |
| Application Fee | Not Mentioned |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Salary | ₹42,000 + HRA / ₹31,000 + HRA / ₹25,000 + HRA |
| Experience | Post-wise; relevant R&D experience required for Senior Project Associate |
| Eligibility | Candidates meeting prescribed qualification, age and post-wise requirements |
| Job Type | Temporary / Contractual Project Engagement |
| Job Location | Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Palampur, Chennai & Hyderabad |
Vacancy Details
A total of 50 positions are available across multiple disciplines:
- Senior Project Associate – Information Technology
- Project Associate-I – Information Technology & Data Science
- Senior Project Associate / Project Associate-I – Ayurveda
- Project Associate-I – Unani
- Senior Project Associate / Project Associate-I – Sowa Rigpa
- Senior Project Associate / Project Associate-I – Siddha
- Senior Project Associate / Project Associate-I – Patent
- Senior Project Associate – Sanskrit
- Project Associate-I – Yoga
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Starts | As per official application portal |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 12 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Written Test | 14 October to 30 October 2026, post-wise |
The written test will be conducted at the respective posting location according to the post code and scheduled date.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess the prescribed qualification for the relevant post, such as:
- B.E./B.Tech/MCA in Computer Science, IT, AI, ML, Data Science or related fields
- BAMS for Ayurveda posts
- BUMS for Unani posts
- BSMS for Siddha posts
- Bachelor’s/MD qualification in Sowa Rigpa
- Master’s/Doctoral qualification in Chemical/Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics or Cheminformatics for Patent posts
- Master’s/Doctoral Degree in Sanskrit
- Master’s Degree in Yoga
Candidates must fulfil the required eligibility conditions as on 12 October 2026.
Experience
EXPERIENCE IMPORTANT
For Senior Project Associate posts, relevant R&D experience is required. Depending on the qualification, candidates generally need 2 or 3 years of relevant experience in R&D/industrial/academic institutions or S&T organisations.
For Project Associate-I, experience is generally not prescribed as an essential requirement for the basic qualification, but post-specific desirable skills may apply.
Candidates should carefully check the experience and desirable-skill requirements for the specific post code before applying.
Salary / Monthly Emoluments
- Senior Project Associate: ₹42,000 + HRA per month
- Project Associate-I: ₹31,000 + HRA per month for candidates meeting the specified NET/GATE/national-level examination criteria
- Project Associate-I: ₹25,000 + HRA per month for other eligible candidates
The engagement is temporary and project-based, initially up to 31 March 2027, and may be extended subject to project requirements and review.
Selection Process
The selection process includes:
- Written Test
- Shortlisting based on written-test performance
- Interview
- Document Verification
The written test will be conducted at the prescribed posting location. Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, which may be conducted in hybrid mode.
How to Apply for CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can apply online through the CSIR application portal.
- Visit the official CSIR website/recruitment page.
- Open Advertisement No. TKDL/08/2026.
- Select the relevant post/post code.
- Fill in educational qualification, experience and other details.
- Upload the required certificates, experience documents, category certificate and detailed bio-data.
- Submit the application before 12 October 2026, 5:00 PM.
- Save the generated application number for future reference.
Candidates applying for more than one post must submit a separate application for each post/post code.
Official Apply Link
Candidates can submit their application through the CSIR-TKDL online recruitment portal:
Apply Online – CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026
Candidates should complete the online application before the prescribed deadline and keep the generated application number safely.
Official Details PDF
Before applying, candidates should read the official TKDL/08/2026 notification carefully for post-wise qualification, experience, test dates, documents and terms of engagement:
Download Official CSIR TKDL Recruitment Notification PDF
CSIR’s official recruitment page also lists the advertisement and its associated documents.
Important Links
| Link | Details |
| Apply Online | Click Here to Apply Online |
| Details PDF | Download Official Notification PDF |
| Official Website | Visit CSIR Official Website |
About CSIR-TKDL
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is a CSIR initiative focused on protecting India’s traditional knowledge, particularly knowledge related to systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga. TKDL uses information technology and structured classification to make traditional knowledge accessible for prior-art searches and help prevent inappropriate patent claims.
FAQs – CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026
Q1. How many vacancies are available in CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026?
There are 50 Senior Project Associate and Project Associate-I positions.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 12 October 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
Q3. Is experience required?
Yes, experience is important for Senior Project Associate posts. The required R&D experience varies according to the post and qualification.
Q4. What is the salary?
Monthly emoluments range from ₹25,000 + HRA to ₹42,000 + HRA, depending on the post and eligibility criteria.
Q5. What qualifications are required?
Qualifications vary by post and include B.E./B.Tech/MCA, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, Sowa Rigpa qualifications, Master’s/Doctoral degrees, Sanskrit and Yoga qualifications.
Q6. What is the selection process?
Selection consists of a written test followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates.
Q7. Where are the posts located?
The positions are available in Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Palampur, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Q8. Is this a permanent government job?
No. These are temporary, project-based contractual engagements linked to the project tenure.