CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026: 50 Project Associate Posts, Apply Online

The CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit (CSIR-TKDL), New Delhi, has opened applications for project personnel under Advertisement No. TKDL/08/2026. The recruitment covers 50 positions for Senior Project Associate and Project Associate-I across Information Technology, Data Science, Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, Siddha, Patent, Sanskrit and Yoga. Applications are being accepted online, with the deadline set for October 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM. CSIR has published the recruitment under Project No. MLP002639 on its official recruitment portal.

CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026 at a Glance

CSIR’s official recruitment listing confirms the advertisement number, project personnel recruitment and October 12 application deadline.

What Is This CSIR TKDL Recruitment About?

The recruitment is for project personnel working under the Information systems of traditional knowledge for protection and promotion project. The notified positions cover a wide range of academic and technical backgrounds, so this is not a single-discipline recruitment.

Candidates from fields such as computer science, information technology, data science, Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, Siddha, chemistry, biological sciences, bioinformatics, Sanskrit and Yoga may find a relevant post, depending on the individual qualification and experience requirements.

The positions are temporary and project-linked, rather than regular permanent CSIR appointments. The engagement is initially up to March 31, 2027, with continuation possible subject to project requirements and the applicable review process.

CSIR TKDL Vacancy 2026: Post-wise Details

The 50 positions are distributed across different disciplines and posting locations.

The recruitment therefore combines technical, medical-system, language, patent and traditional-knowledge-related positions rather than following one common qualification pattern.

Who Can Apply for CSIR TKDL Project Associate Posts?

Eligibility depends heavily on the post code. Candidates should therefore check the exact post before applying instead of relying only on the general title of Project Associate.

Information Technology and Data Science

For the IT-related Project Associate-I positions, the required background generally includes a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology in areas such as Computer Science, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science or Electronics, as applicable to the particular post, or MCA.

The IT-Data Science positions also mention skills such as Python, SQL, machine learning, data analysis and visualization, statistical modelling and predictive analytics as desirable areas.

The Senior Project Associate IT position has additional experience requirements and expects candidates to have relevant R&D experience along with technical expertise in areas such as Java, J2EE, SQL, databases, web technologies and related development or database administration work.

Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Siddha

The relevant qualifications include:

• Ayurveda: BAMS for Project Associate-I positions; Senior Project Associate positions require BAMS with relevant experience or MD in Ayurveda with the specified experience.
• Unani: BUMS for Project Associate-I positions.
• Sowa Rigpa: Bachelor’s degree in Sowa Rigpa medicine for Project Associate-I positions; higher qualification and relevant experience apply to the Senior Project Associate post.
• Siddha: BSMS for Project Associate-I; Senior Project Associate requires BSMS with relevant experience or MD in Siddha with the specified experience.

Some posts also mention language knowledge as desirable, such as Sanskrit or Malayalam for Ayurveda and Arabic and/or Persian for Unani.

Patent, Sanskrit and Yoga

The Patent positions require backgrounds in areas such as Chemical or Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics or Cheminformatics, depending on the post and level.

For Senior Project Associate, the notification additionally requires relevant R&D experience, while experience in patent analytics/informatics or a postgraduate qualification in IPR is desirable.

The Senior Project Associate Sanskrit post requires a Master’s degree in Sanskrit or a doctoral qualification with the required experience. The Project Associate-I Yoga position requires a Master’s degree in Yoga or equivalent.

Age Limit

The maximum age is:

• Senior Project Associate: 40 years
• Project Associate-I: 35 years

The notification uses October 12, 2026 as the relevant date for determining eligibility. Applicable relaxation is available according to the stated CSIR/Government of India rules.

Candidates who want to check their age against the relevant cutoff can use the CareerAlert24 Age Calculator.

The notification does not specify a minimum age.

Salary and Monthly Emoluments

The monthly emoluments depend on the post and, for Project Associate-I, on the candidate’s qualifying credentials.

The higher Project Associate-I amount applies to candidates meeting the conditions specified in the notification, including qualifying CSIR-UGC NET/GATE or the stated national-level examination route.

These are project-based engagements, so candidates should not interpret the monthly emoluments as a regular permanent CSIR salary.

How Long Is the Engagement?

The project personnel are engaged on a temporary basis.

The initial engagement is up to March 31, 2027, with continuation possible up to the project-defined maximum period subject to review and project requirements.

The engagement does not create a right to regular appointment, absorption or permanent continuation in CSIR.

Important Dates

The written test is scheduled according to the post code and takes place at the relevant posting location.

Written Test and Selection Process

The selection process consists of a written test followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates.

Candidates must attend the written test at the location assigned to the post they have applied for. The written-test result is scheduled to be declared on the same day.

Shortlisted candidates will then be interviewed. The interview may be conducted in hybrid mode, and candidates may be required to appear physically if instructed by the committee.

This makes the recruitment different from a standard online-exam-only hiring process. Candidates need to be prepared to attend the designated location and carry the required documents.

Documents to Carry for the Written Test

Candidates should prepare the documents required by the notification before travelling to the test centre.

These include:

• Original educational certificates and testimonials
• Self-attested copies of certificates
• Proof of age
• Qualification and marks-related documents
• Experience certificate, where applicable
• Category certificate for candidates claiming applicable statutory benefits
• Two copies of self-attested photographs
• Neatly typed bio-data on A4 paper

Candidates should also ensure that the documents uploaded with the online application correspond with the original documents they carry for verification.

Application Fee

The recruitment notification does not specify an application fee for these project personnel positions.

Candidates should also note that TA/DA is not payable for attending the test or interview.

How to Apply for CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates need to submit the application online through the recruitment facility linked from the official CSIR website.

Application steps

1. Visit the official CSIR website and open the recruitment notice for Advertisement No. TKDL/08/2026.
2. Open the online application facility for the relevant post.
3. Select the post code for which you are eligible.
4. Enter the required educational, category and experience details.
5. Upload the documents requested in the notification.
6. Check the entered information and uploaded documents carefully.
7. Submit the application before 5:00 PM on October 12, 2026.
8. Save the generated application number and application details.
9. If applying for more than one post, submit a separate application for each position where required.
10. Attend the written test at the specified location with the required originals, copies, photographs and bio-data.

Applications that are incomplete or submitted through an unauthorised mode may not be accepted.

What Candidates Should Check Before Applying

This recruitment requires more than checking whether your degree broadly matches the post. Candidates should specifically verify:

• Post code: IT, Data Science, Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, Siddha, Patent, Sanskrit and Yoga have different requirements.
• Experience: Senior Project Associate positions generally carry additional R&D experience requirements.
• Final-semester status: Candidates whose final results are awaited are not eligible according to the notification.
• Test location: The written test is linked to the posting location of the selected post.
• Multiple applications: Candidates interested in more than one eligible post should follow the notification’s separate-application requirement.
• Documents: Required certificates and bio-data must be prepared for both the online application and the subsequent selection stage.
• Temporary nature: This is project-based engagement and does not provide a claim to regular CSIR employment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Candidates should avoid these recruitment-specific errors:

1. Applying for a post based only on the general Project Associate title without checking its post code and qualification.
2. Ignoring the experience requirement for Senior Project Associate positions.
3. Applying while still awaiting the final qualifying result.
4. Failing to upload the certificates required with the online application.
5. Choosing a post without checking its written-test date and location.
6. Assuming that project engagement is equivalent to a permanent CSIR appointment.
7. Waiting until the final hours to submit the application on October 12.

CareerAlert24 Insight

The key point in this recruitment is the wide difference between the 23 notified post codes. Although all positions fall under the same TKDL project, the eligibility requirements range from IT and data science to Ayurveda, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, Siddha, patent-related sciences, Sanskrit and Yoga.

Candidates should therefore treat the post code as the starting point for eligibility checking, rather than assuming that one common Project Associate qualification applies to all 50 vacancies.

Another important consideration is the selection schedule. The written tests begin only two days after the application deadline for the IT posts, with the other disciplines following soon afterwards. Candidates who apply should therefore check their test date and reporting location immediately after submitting the form.

Important Links

CSIR’s official recruitment listing provides the TKDL/08/2026 notice and links to the advertisement documents and application facility.

Conclusion

CSIR TKDL Recruitment 2026 offers 50 project personnel positions across several technical, scientific, medical-system and language disciplines. Eligible candidates should check the exact post code, qualification, experience and test location before submitting their application. The online application deadline is October 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Candidates should rely on the latest official CSIR notice for any subsequent changes.

Written by

Saanvi

I'm Saanvi Sharma, a content writer with over 3 years of experience in job news and recruitment updates.I focus on providing clear, accurate, and timely information on government jobs, exams, and career opportunities to help job seekers stay informed and succeed.

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