ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026: The Space Applications Centre (SAC), a lead centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation under the Department of Space, has opened applications for 48 temporary project posts spread across 16 post codes. These openings cover Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate (RA), and Project Scientist-I (PS-I) roles, and the window to apply is short, running from 10 September 2026 to 30 September 2026. Whether you are a fresh B.Tech graduate with a GATE score, an M.Tech holder eyeing a research career, or a Ph.D. scholar looking for your next project assignment, this notification opens doors into some of ISRO’s most fascinating work areas, from remote sensing and geophysics to VLSI design and atmospheric science. In this article, we break down every detail you need, from eligibility and salary to the exact steps for applying online, so you can make an informed decision before the 30 September deadline.
ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026: Notification Overview
SAC, Ahmedabad, has issued Advertisement No. SAC:02:2026 dated 10 September 2026, inviting online applications for 48 temporary project positions. These are not permanent government jobs in the traditional sense; they are project-linked research and technical positions that do not confer any right to regular appointment within the Department of Space or ISRO. That said, they remain highly sought after because they offer hands-on exposure to genuine space research, competitive fellowship amounts, and a strong stepping stone for a research or academic career.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad |
| Advertisement Number | SAC:02:2026 dated 10.09.2026 |
| Posts | Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate (RA), Project Scientist-I (PS-I) |
| Total Vacancies | 48 across 16 post codes |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Start Date | 10 September 2026, 10:00 hrs |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 September 2026, 17:00 hrs |
| Application Fee | Nil |
| Official Website | sac.gov.in |
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ISRO SAC Vacancy 2026: Post-Wise Breakdown
One of the most useful things a candidate can do before applying is match their academic specialisation to the exact post code, since SAC recruitment is highly discipline-specific this year. The 48 posts are grouped as JRF (Post Codes 01 to 07), Research Associate (Post Codes 08 to 10), and Project Scientist-I (Post Codes 11 to 16).
| Post Code | Post | Vacancies | Field / Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | JRF | 3 | Semiconductor, Quantum, Micro-Nano Devices, RF & Microwave |
| 02 | JRF | 7 | ECE, VLSI, Digital Systems, Embedded Systems, Signal Processing |
| 03 | JRF | 5 | Engineering Physics, Photonics, Optoelectronics, Material Science |
| 04 | JRF | 10 | Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Oceanography, Physics, Maths |
| 05 | JRF | 2 | Geo-physics, Earth Sciences, Geotechnical Engineering |
| 06 | JRF | 4 | Computer Science, Computer Engineering |
| 07 | JRF | 2 | Geo-informatics, Remote Sensing and GIS |
| 08 | RA | 6 | Oceanic, Marine, Atmospheric, Earth System Sciences, Physics |
| 09 | RA | 1 | Mathematics, Physics |
| 10 | RA | 1 | Earth/Environmental Sciences (Remote Sensing in forestry, ecology, wetlands) |
| 11 | PS-I | 1 | Geophysics (Cryosphere Studies) |
| 12 | PS-I | 1 | Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Geo-informatics |
| 13 | PS-I | 1 | Remote Sensing & GIS, Geo-informatics, Civil Engineering |
| 14 | PS-I | 1 | Geophysics, Earth Sciences (Crustal Deformation) |
| 15 | PS-I | 2 | Water Resources, Hydrology, Soil and Water Engineering |
| 16 | PS-I | 1 | RF & Microwave, Applied Physics |
Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply
Government job vacancies at research institutions like SAC tend to have layered eligibility conditions, and this recruitment is no exception. Here is a simplified breakdown by post category.
Junior Research Fellow (Post Codes 01 to 07)
- Age limit: Maximum 28 years as on 30 September 2026, with standard age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC-NCL candidates as per Government of India norms.
- Qualification: B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech/M.Sc in the relevant discipline linked to the post code.
- A valid NET, GATE, or equivalent national-level test score is compulsory and must be valid as on 30 September 2026.
- Minimum marks required: 60% or CGPA 6.5 out of 10 for M.E./M.Tech candidates, and 65% or CGPA 6.84 out of 10 for M.Sc/B.E./B.Tech candidates. SAC has clarified that rounding off marks or converting CGPA to percentage is not permitted.
Research Associate (Post Codes 08 to 10)
- Age limit: Maximum 35 years as on 30 September 2026, with applicable relaxations.
- Qualification: A Ph.D. in the relevant field. For Post Code 08 specifically, candidates with three years of research, teaching, or design experience after M.E./M.Tech, along with at least one paper published in an SCI-indexed journal, are also eligible.
Project Scientist-I (Post Codes 11 to 16)
- Age limit: Maximum 35 years as on 30 September 2026, with applicable relaxations.
- Qualification: A Ph.D. and/or M.E./M.Tech in the specific specialisation mentioned against each post code.
Salary and Fellowship Structure
For many candidates, the fellowship amount is the deciding factor between applying to a research post like this versus preparing for a banking or SSC exam instead. Here is what SAC is offering.
| Post | Monthly Fellowship/Salary |
|---|---|
| JRF (1st and 2nd year) | ₹37,000 + HRA |
| JRF (3rd year onwards) | ₹42,000 + HRA |
| Research Associate (Level 1/2/3) | ₹58,000 / ₹61,000 / ₹67,000 + HRA |
| Project Scientist-I | ₹56,000 + HRA |
Selection Process
Unlike many Sarkari Naukri exams that involve a written test followed by an interview, SAC’s selection process for this recruitment is comparatively straightforward, though certainly not easy to clear.
- Shortlisting (only if the number of applications is very high) based on academic record and area of specialisation matching the post code.
- Interview, which is the sole basis on which the final merit list is prepared.
Step-by-Step Application Process for ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026
Applying online correctly the first time matters here, because SAC’s portal allows only a single submission per candidate, and no corrections are permitted after you hit submit.
- Visit the official careers portal at sac.gov.in/careers or the direct application link at career.sac.gov.in.
- Register using a valid, active email ID and mobile number, since all future communication will happen through these channels.
- Fill in personal, academic, and post-code details carefully, double-checking your discipline against the post code table before selecting it.
- Upload the required documents, including a recent colour photograph (JPEG format, under 1 MB), your signature (JPEG format, under 1 MB, in a 7:2 aspect ratio), and scanned copies of your qualification, category, and PwBD certificates, if applicable, each under 1 MB.
- Review the entire form thoroughly before submission. Since the portal accepts only one application per post, any duplicate submissions will result in only your last submission before the closing date being considered valid.
- Submit before 17:00 hrs on 30 September 2026 and immediately download or print your application summary, as the portal typically disables printing once the window closes.
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Important Dates to Remember
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Release Date | 10 September 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 10 September 2026, 10:00 hrs |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30 September 2026, 17:00 hrs |
| Age and Qualification Cut-off Date | 30 September 2026 |
Final Word
The ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026 notification is a genuine opportunity for engineering graduates, M.Tech and M.Sc scholars, and Ph.D. holders to work on real space and earth-science research at one of ISRO’s most respected centres, even if the appointment itself is temporary in nature. With no application fee, a purely online process, and a clear interview-based selection system, the barrier to applying is low, but the competition for just 48 posts will certainly be high given the reputation SAC carries in India’s research ecosystem. If your qualification and specialisation align with any of the 16 post codes listed above, do not wait until the last week of September. Visit the official SAC careers portal today, keep your documents ready in the specified format, and submit your application well before the 30 September deadline. And if you are exploring options beyond this recruitment, keep an eye on other government job vacancies and PSU recruitment drives opening this season, since September and October traditionally bring a wave of fresh Sarkari Naukri notifications across India. Which post code are you planning to apply for? Share your preparation questions in the comments below, and do bookmark this page for quick reference as the deadline approaches.
Ashutosh Sir is the founder and author of JobKaAlert.com. He shares the latest updates about Government Jobs, Private Jobs, Bank Jobs, Railway Jobs, and Work From Home opportunities in simple Hindi language. His goal is to help students, freshers, and job seekers get accurate job information easily and stay updated with the latest recruitment notifications in India.