CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), Durgapur, an autonomous R&D institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, released this notification on 3 August 2026 on its official website. As per Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026 (No. 07/HRM-PRCT dated 03.08.2026), the institute will hold a walk-in interview at its Durgapur campus on 13 and 14 August 2026. You can read the official notification PDF directly. This is for candidates who want short-term, hands-on project experience in an R&D institute — from diploma holders to postgraduate and NET/GATE-qualified candidates.
CSIR-CMERI is recruiting for 34 posts spread across 29 post codes, for positions of Project Assistant-II, Project Associate-I/II, Project JRF, Project SRF, Senior Project Associate, Principal Project Associate and Project Scientist-I — a full post-code-wise breakdown follows below. All positions are based at CSIR-CMERI, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur, West Bengal. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official CSIR-CMERI notification No. 07/HRM-PRct., Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026, dated 03/08/2026. Last verified: 4 August 2026.
CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, is holding a walk-in interview for 34 project-staff posts (Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026) on 13 and 14 August 2026 at its Durgapur campus. There is no online application — candidates bring a filled application form (from the institute website) along with original certificates to the interview venue directly. Selection is through a walk-in interview and document verification; there is no written exam.
Quick summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), Durgapur |
| Post | Project Assistant-II / Project Associate-I / Project Associate-II / Project JRF / Project SRF / Senior Project Associate / Principal Project Associate / Project Scientist-I |
| Total Vacancy | 34 (across 29 post codes) |
| Salary | ₹20,000/month to ₹56,000/month (consolidated, varies by post code — full table below) |
| Application Mode | Walk-in interview (no online application) |
| Eligibility | Varies by post code — Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s or NET/GATE-qualified, per discipline |
| Selection Process | Walk-in interview and document verification (no written exam) |
| Place of Posting | CSIR-CMERI, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur, West Bengal |
| Last Date | Not applicable — walk-in on 13 & 14 August 2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Diploma / Bachelor’s / Master’s / NET-GATE-qualified candidates in Engineering, Technology and allied disciplines, depending on post code |
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About CSIR-CMERI
CSIR-CMERI, established in 1958, is the national R&D institute for mechanical engineering and allied disciplines, working under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. Its current research areas include farm machinery, advanced design, electric mobility, robotics, additive manufacturing, tribology and digital manufacturing. This walk-in interview is for temporary project positions under various sponsored research projects at the institute — a hands-on route into applied R&D work rather than a permanent government post.
Reaching Durgapur — travel and local context
Durgapur is an industrial town in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district, on the Howrah–Delhi main railway line, so it is reachable by train from Kolkata and most parts of the state without needing to change zones. Durgapur also has its own domestic airport, Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal, with scheduled flights connecting to Kolkata and other major cities. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm current train and flight schedules independently before travelling.
For candidates travelling from Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri or elsewhere in North Bengal, the practical route is by train or road via Kolkata, Asansol or Howrah, since there is no direct link from North Bengal to Durgapur. This is added context, not part of the official notification. The notification itself confirms that the interview can be conducted in Hindi or English, so candidates are not required to know Bengali for the interview, though the campus is in a Bengali-speaking region.
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Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 3 August 2026 (Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026) |
| Walk-in interview — Group 1A & 1B (post codes P-2691 to P-2696, and P-26112 to P-26119) | 13 August 2026 (Thursday) |
| Walk-in interview — Group 2 (post codes P-2697 to P-26111) | 14 August 2026 (Friday) |
| Reporting time | 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. |
The notification states this reporting time against the 13 August group in Table-II of the official PDF; the same window is understood to apply to the 14 August group in the same table. Candidates should confirm the exact reporting time for their own post code from the official notification PDF before travelling.
Vacancy details and salary (full postcode-wise breakdown)
This is the complete list of all 29 post codes exactly as given in the notification. “No. of Posts” totals 34.
| Post Code | Position | No. of Posts | Discipline (essential qualification, in brief) | Age Limit (yrs) | Consolidated Pay (₹/month) | Project Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-2691 | Project Assistant-II | 03 | B.Sc. / 3-yr Diploma (Engg./Tech.) | 35 | 20,000 + HRA | 15/10/2026 to 15/10/2027 (Extendable) |
| P-2692 | Project Assistant-II | 01 | 3-yr Diploma, Agricultural/Mechanical | 35 | 20,000 | 31/03/2027 |
| P-2693 | Project Assistant-II | 02 | 3-yr Diploma, Agricultural/Mechanical | 35 | 20,000 | 30/10/2027 |
| P-2694 | Project Assistant-II | 01 | 3-yr Diploma, Electrical/EE/Electronics/E&C/E&I/Instrumentation | 35 | 20,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-2695 | Project Assistant-II | 01 | 3-yr Diploma, Mechanical/Automobile/Manufacturing/CAD/CAE | 35 | 20,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-2696 | Project Assistant-II | 01 | 3-yr Diploma, Mechanical Engg./Tech. | 35 | 20,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or project closure |
| P-2697 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Manufacturing/Production/Industrial/CAD-CAM | 50 | 37,000 (NET/GATE route) or 30,000 (others) | 13/11/2026 |
| P-2698 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical Engg./Tech. | 35 | 31,000 + HRA (NET/GATE route) or 25,000 + HRA (others) | 01/10/2026 to 01/10/2027 (Extendable) |
| P-2699 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Manufacturing/Metallurgy/Production/Electronics/IT/CSE | 35 | 31,000 (NET/GATE route) or 25,000 (others) | 8 Months |
| P-26100 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical Engg./Tech. | 35 | 25,000 | 31/03/2027 (Extendable up to 31/03/2031) |
| P-26101 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Master’s/Integrated Master’s, Chemistry/Physics | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2029 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26102 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical Engg./Tech. | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26103 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Agricultural/Automobile | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26104 | Senior Project Associate | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Agricultural/Automobile + 3 yrs R&D experience | 40 | 42,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26105 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Manufacturing/Automobile | 35 | 25,000 | 31/03/2027 |
| P-26106 | Project JRF or Project Associate-I | 01 | JRF: Grad/PG, Chemical/Materials Science/Metallurgical/Energy Science/Nanotechnology/Mechanical (NET/GATE route); PA-I: Bachelor’s, same disciplines | JRF: 28 / PA-I: 35 | JRF: 37,000; PA-I: 31,000 (NET/GATE route) or 25,000 (others) | Up to 31/02/2026 (as printed in the notification) |
| P-26107 | Project Associate-II | 01 | Bachelor’s, Mechanical/Power/Energy/Aerospace + 2 yrs R&D experience, OR Master’s, same disciplines | 35 | 35,000 (NET/GATE route) or 28,000 (others) | 31/03/2027 |
| P-26108 | Project – Junior Research Fellow | 01 | Grad/PG, Mechanical/Foundry/Materials Science/Metallurgical Engineering (NET/GATE route) | 28 | 37,000 | 1 Year (Extendable up to 3 years) |
| P-26109 | Senior Project Associate | 01 | Master’s/Integrated Master’s, Mechanical Engg./Tech. + 2 yrs R&D experience | 40 | 42,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or project closure |
| P-26110 | Project Scientist-I / Principal Project Associate / Senior Project Associate | 01 | Varies by grade — Master’s/Bachelor’s in Robotics/Mechatronics/Mechanical/Design/Control Systems + 3–6 yrs experience (see Eligibility section) | PS-I: 35; PPA & SPA: 40 | PS-I: 56,000 (+5% every 2 yrs); PPA: 49,000; SPA: 42,000 | 31/03/2027 |
| P-26111 | Project Scientist-I / Principal Project Associate / Senior Project Associate | 01 | Varies by grade — Master’s/Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Robotics/Mechatronics + 3–6 yrs experience (see Eligibility section) | PS-I: 35; PPA & SPA: 40 | PS-I: 56,000 (+5% every 2 yrs); PPA: 49,000; SPA: 42,000 | 31/03/2027 |
| P-26112 | Project Associate-I | 02 | Bachelor’s, Computer Science/Electronics/E&C/EE/Electrical | 35 | 31,000 + HRA (NET/GATE route) or 25,000 + HRA (others) | 31/03/2027 (Extendable) |
| P-26113 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Electrical/EE/Electronics/E&C/E&I/Instrumentation | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26114 | Senior Project Associate | 01 | Bachelor’s, Electrical/EE/Electronics/E&C/E&I/Instrumentation + 3 yrs R&D experience | 40 | 42,000 + HRA | 31/03/2028 or co-terminus with project |
| P-26115 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, Electrical Engg./Tech. | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2027 (Extendable up to 31/03/2031) |
| P-26116 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, CSE/Data Science, OR Master’s, Computer Science/Data Science/AI & ML | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2027 (Extendable up to 31/03/2031) |
| P-26117 | Project Associate-I | 01 | Bachelor’s, CSE/Data Science/Electronics & Instrumentation, OR Master’s, Computer Science/Data Science/AI & ML/Electronics | 35 | 25,000 + HRA | 31/03/2027 (Extendable up to 31/03/2031) |
| P-26118 | Project Associate-I (PAT-I) or Project Associate-II (PAT-II) | 02 | PAT-II: Bachelor’s + 2 yrs experience or Master’s, Electrical/Electronics/CSE group; PAT-I: Bachelor’s, same group | 35 | PAT-II: 28,000; PAT-I: 25,000 | 31/03/2027 |
| P-26119** | Project-Senior Research Fellow | 01 | Grad/PG, Computer Science/Electronics/Instrumentation/E&C/E&I/Electrical/IT/Mechatronics/Biomedical, OR PG Physics (Electronics)/Radio Physics (NET/GATE route) + 2 yrs research experience | 32 | 42,000 | 26/07/2027 |
Verified total: 34 posts across 29 post codes, matching the sum of the “No. of Posts” column in the official notification.
**Note on P-26119: the notification states offer letters for this post will be issued only after the institute receives the requisite fund or project extension letter from CSIR or the concerned funding agency.
Category-wise vacancy split: not mentioned in the official notification — only age relaxation by category is specified (see Eligibility section).
Important: the notification states the actual number of positions may vary on the date of the interview, and that the tenure mentioned for every post is tentative and may be curtailed or extended by the competent authority, subject in every case to project closure or a maximum of six years, whichever comes first.
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Eligibility — desirable qualifications, experience and pay-tier rules (post-wise)
Several posts share the same essential qualification pattern but differ in desirable skills or pay tier. The full details for each are below.
Diploma-level posts (Project Assistant-II)
- P-2691 (03 posts, RAC project): desirable — experience in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning design.
- P-2692, P-2693 (Agricultural/Mechanical Diploma): desirable — knowledge of testing agricultural machinery and plant protection equipment.
- P-2694 (Electrical/Electronics group Diploma): no desirable criteria specified.
- P-2695 (Mechanical/Automobile/CAD-CAE Diploma): desirable — 2D & 3D CAD software, mechanical mechanisms, electric drive trains of automobiles, basic production/workshop technology for prototype fabrication.
- P-2696 (Mechanical Diploma): desirable — hands-on CNC machine experience, CAD modelling proficiency, UTM machine operating knowledge.
Bachelor’s-level posts (Project Associate-I/II)
- P-2697: desirable — Additive Manufacturing, Robotics, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CNC Programming.
- P-2698: desirable — Refrigeration and Air Conditioning design experience.
- P-2699: desirable — Python programming, AI, Machine Learning, Image/Signal Processing.
- P-26100: desirable — mechanical design exposure, CAD, structural finite element analysis.
- P-26101 (Master’s, Chemistry/Physics): desirable — energy materials synthesis and electrochemical techniques.
- P-26102: desirable — composite materials modelling, finite element analysis of composite structures.
- P-26103: desirable — CAD (2D/3D/analysis) software, mechanical design, agricultural tractors and farm machinery, vehicle drive train, manufacturing processes.
- P-26104 (Senior Project Associate, 3 yrs R&D experience required): desirable — mechanical design, CAD/CAE tools, agricultural tractors and farm machinery, prototype development, engineering validation.
- P-26105: desirable — AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, hands-on experimentation, hardware integration, mechanical fitting/assembly.
- P-26107 (Project Associate-II; Bachelor’s + 2 yrs R&D experience OR Master’s): desirable — AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS, ANSYS-FLUENT; preference for candidates with Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Thermodynamics and Heat & Mass Transfer knowledge.
- P-26109 (Senior Project Associate, Master’s + 2 yrs R&D experience): no separate desirable criteria specified.
- P-26112 (02 posts): desirable — Python/ROS/C++, Analog & Digital Electronics, SBC interfacing, Arduino/Raspberry Pi micro-controllers, algorithm development, sensor/system integration, field data survey, technical report writing.
- P-26113: no separate desirable criteria specified.
- P-26114 (Senior Project Associate, 3 yrs R&D experience required): no separate desirable criteria specified.
- P-26115: desirable — electrical drives, power electronics, motor control systems; aptitude for integrated electrical-mechanical systems with controls and embedded software.
- P-26116, P-26117: desirable — microcontroller and edge computing, data communication/networking, backend software/data management, software development.
- P-26118 (02 posts; PAT-I/PAT-II by qualification and experience): desirable — power electronic design/testing, motor control, MATLAB/SIMULINK, embedded programming, EV components and electrical system design, wire harness fabrication, embedded systems, cluster UI design, Raspberry Pi, CAN/I2C/RS485 communication.
Junior Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow posts (NET/GATE route)
- P-26106 (Project JRF or Project Associate-I): JRF route requires selection via CSIR-UGC NET (incl. lectureship/Assistant Professorship), GATE, or a national-level exam by a central government department/agency. Desirable — Advanced Materials, Energy Materials, Nanoscience/Nanotechnology, MATLAB/COMSOL simulation experience.
- P-26108 (Project JRF): same NET/GATE/national-exam route. Desirable — Casting, physical metallurgy, 3D modelling software, technical report writing, research paper/literature review exposure.
- P-26119 (Project-SRF, age limit 32): NET/GATE/national-exam route AND two years of research experience after the qualifying degree. Desirable — Machine Learning/Deep Learning, Data Engineering, Signal Processing, Python/C++/Octave/MATLAB, Embedded Systems/Microcontrollers, hardware integration, sensor characterisation, biomedical instrumentation.
Project Scientist-I / Principal Project Associate / Senior Project Associate (P-26110 and P-26111) These two post codes are recruiting one candidate each, at whichever grade the candidate’s qualification and experience matches:
- P-26110 — Project Scientist-I: Master’s/Integrated Master’s in Robotics/Robotics & Automation/Mechatronics/Mechanical/Design/Machine Design/Mechanical Design/Mechanics & Design/Control Systems + 4 years’ R&D experience. Principal Project Associate: Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Mechatronics/Aerospace/Aeronautical/Production + 6 years’ R&D experience, OR Master’s in the Robotics/Mechatronics/Design group + 3 years’ experience. Senior Project Associate: Bachelor’s in the same group + 3 years’ experience, OR Master’s in the same group + 2 years’ experience. Desirable across all three grades: Robotics, robot mechanics/dynamics/algorithms, Control Systems, MATLAB/Octave, SolidWorks/CATIA, ANSYS/ADAMS, hardware integration, hands-on robotic platform/medical device experience.
- P-26111 — Project Scientist-I: Master’s/Integrated Master’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Robotics/Robotics & Automation/Mechatronics/Intelligent Systems + 4 years’ R&D experience. Principal Project Associate: Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Mechatronics/Robotics + 6 years’ R&D experience, OR (Master’s in the same group, OR a Doctoral degree in Engineering/Technology) + 3 years’ experience. Senior Project Associate: Bachelor’s in the same group + 3 years’ experience, OR Master’s in the same group + 2 years’ experience. Desirable across all three grades: robot path/motion planning, robot mechanics/dynamics/algorithms/control/programming, ROS, MATLAB/SIMULINK, PyBullet/Gazebo, hardware integration, hands-on robotic platform/device experience.
Age relaxation (all post codes): 5 years for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates, 3 years for OBC candidates, or as per Government of India/CSIR rules. The date for determining age, qualification and experience is the date of the interview of the respective post code — not the notification date. Since a candidate’s age is checked against their own post code’s interview date, it is worth checking your exact age on that date before the interview.
Who is not eligible
The notification sets out two clear exclusions that a general reading of the post codes will not show:
- Candidates who have already worked at CSIR-CMERI or any other CSIR lab/institute as a Trainee, Project Assistant, Project Fellow, JRF, SRF, Project Associate or Research Associate for 6 years or more are not eligible for this engagement. Candidates who have served less than 6 years, if selected, will have their tenure end automatically on completing six years.
- Candidates who are currently engaged in any project at CSIR-CMERI or any other CSIR lab/institute must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent authority to be allowed to appear for the interview. Without the NOC, they will not be permitted to appear.
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Selection process
There is no written examination for this recruitment. Selection is based on the candidate’s performance and overall assessment by the selection committee during the walk-in interview itself, alongside document verification of original certificates.
- Candidates report at the venue on the date and time slot for their post code, with the filled application form and original documents.
- The selection committee verifies original certificates against the self-attested photocopies submitted.
- Candidates appear for the interview; Hindi or English may be used as the medium of communication.
- Results are published on the CSIR-CMERI website, or communicated by email if needed.
The notification specifically states that the selection process may continue till late evening or the next day, so candidates are advised to come prepared accordingly. No TA/DA (travel allowance) will be paid for attending the walk-in interview.
Application fee
Application fee details are not mentioned in the official notification. Since this is a walk-in interview with no online application, no fee appears to apply, but candidates should confirm this on the official website before travelling.
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How to attend the walk-in interview
- Download the Application Form from the CSIR-CMERI official website.
- Fill in the form completely, mentioning the exact post code(s) you are applying for.
- Gather all original certificates and mark sheets, with one self-attested photocopy of each.
- Attach a recent passport-size photograph to the form, and carry spares.
- Report at CSIR-CMERI, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur — 713209, on the date and reporting time listed for your post code in the Important Dates section above.
- If you are currently engaged in any CSIR project or institute, carry an NOC from the competent authority — without it, you will not be allowed to appear.
Documents to keep ready
- Filled-in Application Form (from the institute website)
- All original certificates and mark sheets
- Self-attested photocopy of each certificate and mark sheet
- One recent passport-size photograph (plus spares)
- NOC from competent authority, only if currently engaged in any CSIR-CMERI or other CSIR project
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/Women), if age relaxation is being claimed
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Important links
- Official notification PDF, Advertisement No. PRCT/04/2026
- CSIR-CMERI official website (for the Application Form)
- West Bengal Jobs — more state vacancies
- Government Jobs — latest openings
- Diploma / ITI jobs
- Age Calculator — check your age as of the interview date
Should you apply?
This notification suits candidates who want short, hands-on R&D exposure early in their career — diploma holders looking for a first technical role, engineering graduates who want project experience before higher studies or a permanent job search, and NET/GATE-qualified candidates who want a paid research stint with a higher pay tier. This is added context, not part of the official notification.
It does not suit candidates looking for permanent government employment. Every post here is temporary, tied to a specific project’s funding and timeline, and most are capped at six years of total CSIR service across any lab. There is no written exam, so preparation is about the interview and your certificates, not a syllabus. This is added context, not part of the official notification.
The honest trade-off: pay is fixed for the tenure (only the Project Scientist-I grade gets a periodic increment), there is no TA/DA for the interview itself, and candidates already working on a CSIR project elsewhere need an NOC just to be allowed in the door. Against that, the range of disciplines here — from Diploma-level Mechanical and Electrical to Robotics, Data Science and Materials Science — means a genuine diploma-to-PhD spread of candidates can find a matching post code. This is added context, not part of the official notification.
FAQs
When is the CSIR-CMERI walk-in interview 2026?
The walk-in interview is on 13 and 14 August 2026 at CSIR-CMERI, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur. Post codes P-2691 to P-2696 and P-26112 to P-26119 are called on 13 August, and post codes P-2697 to P-26111 are called on 14 August, with reporting from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.
What is the salary for CSIR-CMERI Project Assistant and Project Associate posts?
Pay ranges from ₹20,000 per month for Project Assistant-II (some with HRA) up to ₹56,000 per month for Project Scientist-I. Project Associate-I/II posts generally pay ₹25,000–₹37,000, with a higher tier for candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC NET, GATE or an equivalent national-level exam. Exact pay for each post code is in the table above.
What documents are required for the CSIR-CMERI walk-in interview?
Candidates need the filled application form, all original certificates and mark sheets with one self-attested photocopy of each, a recent passport-size photograph, and — only if currently engaged in a CSIR project elsewhere — a No Objection Certificate from the competent authority. Category certificates are needed only if claiming age relaxation.
Is a CSIR-CMERI Project Associate post a permanent government job?
No. This is added context, not part of the official notification. All posts under this notification are temporary and tied to the tenure of a specific sponsored project, ranging from 8 months to a few years, and are co-terminus with the project or capped at six years of total CSIR engagement, whichever comes first.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more