CSIR-CMERI Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery (CoEFM), Ludhiana, released this recruitment notification on 21 August 2026 on its official website. As per Advertisement No. CMERI/CoEFM/2026/03 (Notification No. CoEFM/03/HRM-PRct.), the centre will hold a walk-in interview on 2 September 2026 for Senior Project Associate, Project Associate-I, Project Associate-II and Project Assistant-II posts. CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview is for candidates who want short-term, hands-on research experience at a CSIR institute working on farm machinery and precision agriculture.
A total of 7 posts are open across six post codes, spanning mechanical, agricultural, mechatronics, computer science and electronics disciplines. A full post-wise breakdown follows below. Selected candidates will be posted at CoEFM, Ludhiana, working on various ongoing R&D projects. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official CSIR-CMERI notification No. CoEFM/03/HRM-PRct., Advertisement No. CMERI/CoEFM/2026/03, dated 21.08.2026. Last verified: 24 August 2026.
CSIR-CMERI Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery, Ludhiana, is holding a walk-in interview for 7 project-staff posts (Advertisement No. CMERI/CoEFM/2026/03) on 2 September 2026 at its Ludhiana campus. There is no online application — candidates report directly at the venue between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM with a filled application form and original certificates. Selection is through a walk-in interview and document verification; there is no written exam.
Quick Summary of CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | CSIR-CMERI Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery (CoEFM), Ludhiana |
| Post | Senior Project Associate / Project Associate-I / Project Associate-II / Project Assistant-II |
| Total Vacancy | 7 (across 6 post codes) |
| Salary | Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 42,000 + HRA, post-wise (see table below) |
| Application Mode | Walk-in interview — no online application |
| Eligibility | Diploma to Bachelor’s/Master’s in Engineering, post-wise (see table below) |
| Selection Process | Walk-in interview and document verification |
| Place of Posting | CoEFM, Ludhiana, Punjab |
| Last Date | Not applicable — walk-in interview on 2 September 2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Diploma/Engineering candidates in Mechanical, Agricultural, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Electronics or related fields meeting the post-wise experience and age criteria |
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About the CSIR-CMERI
CSIR-CMERI Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery (CoEFM), Ludhiana, is an extension centre of the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, established in 1965. It functions under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The centre’s current research priority is smart farm machines and technology. For a candidate, this means direct exposure to applied research on agricultural machinery and precision-farming systems, working alongside CMERI’s scientists on live projects.
How This Compares to Other CMERI Openings
CoEFM, Ludhiana, held a similar walk-in interview for project positions on 10 July 2026, under Advertisement No. CMERI/CoEFM/2026/02. Separately, CMERI’s main Durgapur campus ran a larger, 34-post walk-in interview on 13 and 14 August 2026, under Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026 — see CSIR-CMERI Recruitment 2026, Durgapur. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm current vacancy status with the hiring office. Compared to the Durgapur drive, this Ludhiana round is smaller — 7 posts across 6 post codes — and is tied specifically to farm-machinery projects rather than the wider mix of disciplines recruited at Durgapur. Candidates with a mechanical, agricultural or mechatronics background who want to work specifically on farm machinery R&D are the closest fit here.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 21 August 2026 |
| Walk-in interview (all post codes, P-601 to P-606) | 2 September 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Reporting time | 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM |
The selection process may continue till late evening or the next day; candidates are advised in the notification to come prepared accordingly.
Vacancy Details and Salary
| Post Code | Post / Discipline | Project No. | No. of Posts | Tenure | Upper Age Limit | Consolidated Remuneration (per month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-601 | Senior Project Associate | MMP025303 | 1 | 31/03/2028 (Extendable) | 40 years | Rs. 42,000 + HRA |
| P-602 | Project Associate-II | MMP025303 | 1 | 31/03/2028 (Extendable) | 35 years | Rs. 35,000 + HRA for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET (including lectureship/assistant professorship) or GATE, or a national-level exam conducted by central government departments (e.g. DBT/DST) or their agencies/institutions; Rs. 28,000 + HRA for others |
| P-603 | Project Associate-II | MMP002503 | 1 | 31/03/2028 (Extendable) | 35 years | Rs. 28,000 + HRA |
| P-604 | Project Associate-I | MMP025303 | 1 | 31/03/2028 (Extendable) | 35 years | Rs. 25,000 + HRA |
| P-605 | Project Assistant-II | MMP025303 | 2 | 31/03/2028 (Extendable) | 35 years | Rs. 20,000 + HRA |
| P-606 | Project Associate-I | MMP015202/2/2 | 1 | 31/03/2027 | 35 years | Rs. 25,000 (notification does not add HRA for this post code) |
| Total | 7 |
Note on HRA: All research fellows may be provided hostel accommodation wherever available. Those who take hostel accommodation are not entitled to HRA. Where hostel accommodation is not possible, HRA is allowed as per Central Government norms applicable to the city where the candidate is working, calculated as a percentage of the fellowship amount.
Note on vacancy count: The actual number of posts may vary on the date of the walk-in interview, and the tenure mentioned may be extended or curtailed. In every case, the tenure is co-terminus with the project, or with the duration of the requirement, whichever ends earlier.
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Eligibility (Post-Wise)
P-601 — Senior-Project Associate
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology in Mechanical / Agricultural / Mechatronics / Computer Science / Electronics from a recognised university or equivalent, with 3 years’ experience in R&D in industrial/academic institutions or science and technology organisations. OR Master’s/Integrated Master’s in the same fields with 2 years’ experience. Desirable: proficiency in mechanical design, CAD/CAE tools, prototype development and validation of agricultural machinery; or programming knowledge in C/C++/Python for image processing and AI applications in agriculture. Age limit: 40 years.
P-602 — Project Associate-II
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology in Computer Science and Engineering / Electronics and Communication Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Information Technology, with 2 years’ R&D experience. OR Master’s/Integrated Master’s in the same fields. Desirable: programming knowledge in C/C++/Python for image processing and AI applications in agriculture; working knowledge of Mechatronics/Robotics system design. Age limit: 35 years.
P-603 — Project Associate-II
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering / Agricultural Engineering / Mechatronics, with 2 years’ R&D experience. OR Master’s/Integrated Master’s in the same fields. Desirable: knowledge of CAD software, mechanical fabrication techniques, and design/development of agricultural machinery. Age limit: 35 years.
P-604 — Project Associate-I
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering/Agriculture Engineering / Mechatronics (no prior experience specified). Desirable: working knowledge of CAD software and mechanical fabrication techniques; knowledge of agricultural machinery design and development. Age limit: 35 years.
P-605 — Project Assistant-II
Qualification: 3-year Diploma in Agricultural Engineering / Mechanical Engineering from a recognised university. Desirable: not mentioned in the official notification. Age limit: 35 years.
P-606 — Project Associate-I
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering / Agricultural Engineering / Mechatronics — same as P-604. Desirable: same as P-604. Age limit: 35 years. Note the shorter tenure for this post code — 31/03/2027, not extendable on the same terms as the other five.
For every post code, the date for determining the upper age limit, qualification and experience is the date of interview of that specific post code, not a single fixed cut-off. Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD and women candidates applies as per Government of India/CSIR rules.
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Selection Process – CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview
Selection process for CSIR-CMERI Project Associate will be through a walk-in interview, followed by verification of original certificates. There is no written examination and no separate online screening stage.
- Candidates report at the venue with the filled application form and original certificates on 2 September 2026, between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
- The selection committee verifies eligibility documents against the originals.
- A personal interview follows; the process may continue till late evening or the next day, so candidates are advised to come prepared accordingly.
- No TA/DA (travel allowance) is paid for attending the interview.
Hindi or English can be chosen as the medium of communication during the interview.
How to Attend the CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview
- To apply for CSIR-CMERI Project Associate, first download the application form from the official CSIR-CMERI website, cmeri.res.in.
- Fill the form and attach a recent passport-size photograph.
- Prepare self-attested photocopies of every original certificate and mark sheet.
- Report at CSIR-CMERI CoEFM, Opp. GNE College, Gill Road, Ludhiana-141006, Punjab, on 2 September 2026, between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
- Candidates currently engaged in any project at CSIR-CMERI or any other CSIR lab/institute must bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their competent authority — without it, they will not be permitted to appear.
Documents to keep ready:
- Filled application form
- All original certificates and mark sheets
- Self-attested photocopies of each certificate and mark sheet
- One recent passport-size photograph
- NOC from competent authority (only for candidates currently engaged in a CSIR project)
Candidates who have already worked for six years or more at CSIR-CMERI or any other CSIR lab as Trainee, Project Assistant, Project Fellow, JRF, SRF, Project Associate or Research Associate are not eligible for these posts. Candidates who have served for less than six years will have their tenure end automatically on completion of six years, if selected.
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Important Links
| Link | What it is |
|---|---|
| Official notification PDF | Full Advertisement No. CMERI/CoEFM/2026/03 |
| CSIR-CMERI official website | Application form and updates |
| Age Calculator | Check eligibility against the post-wise age limits |
| Latest Government Jobs — All India | More current openings across India |
| Diploma / ITI Jobs | Other diploma-eligible vacancies |
Should You attend CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview?
CSIR-CMERI Project Associate Walk-In Interview suits diploma holders and engineering graduates or postgraduates in mechanical, agricultural, mechatronics, computer science or electronics streams who want direct, hands-on exposure to applied agricultural-engineering research, without going through a long online application cycle. Each post code has only one or two vacancies, so how competitive a specific post code turns out to be will depend on how many eligible candidates from that discipline show up on the day — the notification does not state expected applicant numbers. The main trade-off is tenure: every post is co-terminus with its project, running only till 31 March 2027 or 31 March 2028 at most (extendable), and total engagement across any CSIR lab cannot exceed six years. This is not a route to a permanent CSIR position. It works well as short-term research experience or a step toward further study; it suits less well anyone who needs long-term job security or cannot travel to Ludhiana without reimbursement, since no TA/DA is paid.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for CSIR-CMERI CoEFM Recruitment 2026?
There is no last date to apply, because this is a walk-in interview and not an online application. Candidates can report directly at CoEFM, Ludhiana, on 2 September 2026, between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM, with a filled application form and original documents.
What is the salary for Project Associate posts in CSIR-CMERI CoEFM 2026?
The consolidated remuneration ranges from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 42,000 per month plus HRA, depending on the post. Project Associate-II under post code P-602 carries a two-tier pay of Rs. 35,000 + HRA for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC/ICAR/ICMR NET, GATE, or an equivalent national-level exam, and Rs. 28,000 + HRA for others.
Is there an application fee for the CSIR-CMERI CoEFM walk-in interview 2026?
The official notification does not mention any application fee. Since this is a walk-in interview with no online application step, no fee is charged for attending.
Is a CSIR-CMERI Project Associate post a permanent government job?
No. This is added context, not part of the official notification — confirm with the hiring office. Project Associate and related posts at CSIR-CMERI are temporary, project-linked engagements, co-terminus with the funded project. Total engagement across any CSIR lab is capped at six years, and none of these posts leads automatically to a permanent CSIR appointment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Sandeep Khati, the founder of India Job Alerts. I hold a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). My career began as a Systems Engineer at TCS, and I have been active in the digital publishing space since 2011, starting with the launch of SearchDarjeeling.com and my work as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics.
Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is my most focused project to date. I am dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for candidates in West Bengal, Sikkim, and across India. To guarantee accuracy, I personally cross-check every post against official notifications before publishing. Know more