College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Ranipool, a constituent college of Central Agricultural University, has released the Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 notification on 02/06/2026 at the official website www.cau.ac.in. As per Ref No. CAEPHT/PFE/IITKGP/2025-26/74 dated 02/06/2026, the walk-in interview process begins from the notified date and closes on 27/06/2026. This Vacancy in Sikkim is for candidates who want a project-based research job in the agricultural engineering and food processing sector.
CAEPHT is inviting candidates for 1 vacancy for the post of Junior Research Fellow (JRF), for a project titled “Improved Technology and Process for Parboiled Rice and Selected Extruded Products,” with the place of posting at Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim. Candidates should check all details from the below article.
Read this article carefully and go through the official notification before applying. Information verified from official Central Agricultural University notification No. CAEPHT/PFE/IITKGP/2025-26/74 dated 02/06/2026.
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Quick Summary of Junior Research Fellow (JRF) Recruitment
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation / Employer | College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Central Agricultural University |
| Name of the Post | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) |
| Total Vacancy | 1 |
| Salary / Pay Scale | ₹37,000 per month |
| Additional Salary Benefits | HRA as applicable |
| Application Mode | Email application + in-person Walk-in Interview |
| Eligibility | M.Tech in Food Process Engineering / Processing and Food Engineering / Food Technology / Food Engineering and Technology, minimum CGPA 6.5/10.0 or 60% aggregate, qualified through NET/GATE or equivalent national-level exam |
| Selection Process | Walk-in interview |
| Place of Posting | Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim |
| Last Date of Application | 25/06/2026 (email submission) |
| Who Can Apply | Candidates meeting the qualification and NET/GATE/equivalent criteria |
| Interview Date | 27/06/2026 at 11:00 AM |
About Central Agricultural University (CAU)
Central Agricultural University, headquartered at Imphal, is a central university serving the North Eastern Region of India through its constituent colleges in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary science, fisheries, and post-harvest technology. The College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), located at Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim, is one of its constituent colleges. This recruitment is for a project sponsored by IIT Kharagpur, and the JRF position will be attached to the Department of Processing & Food Engineering at CAEPHT. The official website is www.cau.ac.in, and the college website is www.caephcau.ac.in.
Working at CAEPHT, Ranipool, Sikkim
CAEPHT is located at Ranipool, around 8 to 10 kilometres from Gangtok town, on the East Sikkim side of the state. Candidates travelling from Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri (NJP), the nearest major rail and air-linked hub in North Bengal, typically take a shared jeep or taxi to Gangtok, a journey of roughly 4 to 5 hours by road depending on traffic at the hill checkpoints. Bagdogra Airport, near Siliguri, is the closest airport, and onward travel to Ranipool from there follows the same hill route. Nepali, English, and Hindi are commonly used in Sikkim, so candidates from West Bengal, Bihar, and other parts of the North East should not face a language barrier during the interview or while working on the project. This is editorial context, not part of the official notification — confirm specifics with the hiring office. Other agricultural and post-harvest research institutions in the Sikkim-Darjeeling belt, such as ICAR research centres in Sikkim, draw from a similar candidate pool of food technology and agricultural engineering graduates from North Bengal and the North East.
Important Dates
The notification gives two separate dates for candidates to track: the email application deadline and the in-person interview date. Candidates who miss the email submission deadline may not be considered, since the bio-data and documents are required in advance for verification purposes.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 02/06/2026 |
| Last Date to Email Application | 25/06/2026 |
| Walk-in Interview Date | 27/06/2026, 11:00 AM |
Vacancy Details & Salary
Here’s the breakdown of posts, total vacancy and salary for your reference.
| Post Name | Total Vacancy | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | 1 | ₹37,000 per month + HRA as applicable |
Based on comparable JRF positions advertised under ICAR and CSIR-sponsored projects in 2025–26, a consolidated pay of ₹37,000 with HRA falls within the standard JRF pay range set by the Department of Science and Technology for candidates with a qualifying M.Tech and NET/GATE score. This is editorial context, not part of the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) include education and age requirements. Candidates should make sure they meet all the conditions before applying.
Educational Qualification
- M.Tech in Food Process Engineering / Processing and Food Engineering / Food Technology / Food Engineering and Technology
- Minimum CGPA of 6.5/10.0 (or 60% aggregate)
- Qualification must be supported by selection through one of the following:
- National Eligibility Test (CSIR-UGC NET, including lectureship/Assistant Professorship) or GATE
- Selection through a National Level Examination conducted by a Central Government Department or agency such as DST, DBT, DAE, DOS, DRDO, MoE, ICAR, ICMR, IIT, IISc, IISER, or NISER
Desirable (not mandatory): Prior research experience in operating twin-screw extruders, rice milling, and paddy parboiling equipment. Knowledge of Machine Design, CAD software, Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning (AI-ML) modelling, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is considered an added advantage.
Age Limit
As on the date of interview (27/06/2026): the maximum age limit is 28 years. Upper age limit is relaxed by up to 5 years for SC/ST, Physically Handicapped, Women, and OBC applicants.
Selection Process
The selection process for this post is a single-stage walk-in interview. There is no written exam stage mentioned in the notification.
- Candidates report in person at CAEPHT, Ranipool, Gangtok with bio-data, original certificates, testimonials, and a passport-size photograph
- Document verification is carried out on the spot
- Interview is conducted on the same day
One practical insight pulled directly from the notification: candidates must also email their bio-data and attested documents in advance, on or before 25/06/2026, in addition to carrying originals on the interview day itself. Skipping the email submission step could affect consideration even if the candidate appears for the walk-in.
Application Fee
Application fee details are not mentioned in the official notification. Candidates are advised to check the official website for any updates.
How to Apply for CAEPHT Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026
Candidates need to follow both an email submission step and an in-person walk-in step, since this is a walk-in interview recruitment, not a portal-based application.
- Prepare bio-data in the prescribed performa given in the notification
- Attach attested copies of all certificates, mark-sheets, and a No Objection Certificate (if currently employed)
- Email the complete set of documents to rakeshiitkgp07@gmail.com.in on or before 25/06/2026
- Report in person at CAEPHT, Ranipool, Gangtok – 737135, Sikkim on 27/06/2026 at 11:00 AM
- Carry one set of bio-data, all original certificates and testimonials, and one recent passport-size photograph for verification
Documents Checklist Before You Leave Home:
- Bio-data in the prescribed performa (signed and dated)
- Original certificates and testimonials (educational qualification, NET/GATE/equivalent)
- Attested photocopies of all certificates and mark-sheets
- No Objection Certificate (NOC), if currently employed
- One recent passport-size photograph
- Detailed CV
Important Links
Candidates applying for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) are advised to visit the important links below for the official PDF and application form:
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Junior Research Fellow Vacancy in Sikkim PDF |
| Latest Sikkim Govt Jobs | Sikkim jobs |
| Latest North East Govt Jobs | North East jobs |
Latest Government and Private Jobs in Sikkim
Should You Apply?
This post suits candidates who hold an M.Tech in food process engineering, food technology, or a closely related discipline, and who already have a qualifying NET, GATE, or equivalent national-level exam score. It is also a reasonable fit for fresh M.Tech graduates within the 28-year age limit who are open to project-based, time-bound research work rather than a permanent academic or government position. Candidates with hands-on experience in extrusion processing, rice milling, or paddy parboiling equipment hold a practical advantage during the interview, since the notification lists this as a preferred but not mandatory qualification.
The post is not a good fit for candidates seeking long-term job security, since the position is purely temporary, co-terminus with a two-year project, and carries no claim to regular appointment or absorption at the institute. Candidates above 28 years (without applicable relaxation) are also not eligible.
With only one vacancy and a relatively specific qualification bar requiring both an M.Tech and a qualifying national exam score, competition is likely to come from a narrow but specialised candidate pool across food technology and agricultural engineering departments in the eastern and North Eastern states. Based on typical JRF-to-SRF progression patterns in ICAR and university-sponsored research projects, candidates completing this fellowship satisfactorily may be considered for a Senior Research Fellow (SRF) role if the project is extended, though this is editorial context and not stated in the notification. One trade-off candidates should weigh is the short, fixed project duration against the research exposure and twin-screw extrusion experience the role offers.
FAQs — Junior Research Fellow (JRF) Recruitment 2026
What is the salary for the CAEPHT JRF post?
The consolidated pay is ₹37,000 per month plus HRA as applicable, as stated in the official notification dated 02/06/2026.
Is this a permanent position at Central Agricultural University?
No. The post is purely temporary and co-terminus with the project, which runs for two years up to 24th March 2028. The selected candidate cannot claim regular appointment or absorption at the institute.
What happens after this JRF project ends?
The notification does not mention any post-project absorption. Based on typical research project cycles, candidates sometimes move to a Senior Research Fellow (SRF) role if the project is extended, but this is editorial context, not a notified benefit.
Will TA/DA be paid for attending the interview?
No. The notification clearly states that no TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.
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