The Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad—an important centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space—has announced 48 temporary research vacancies under Advertisement No. SAC:02:2026. Eligible candidates can apply online for Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate (RA), and Project Scientist-I (PS-I) posts until 30 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Department of Space |
| Advertisement No. | SAC:02:2026 |
| Posts | Junior Research Fellow, Research Associate, Project Scientist-I |
| Total vacancies | 48 |
| Job nature | Temporary / project-based |
| Job location | SAC, Ahmedabad; project work may involve travel or stay elsewhere in India |
| Application mode | Online only |
| Application start date | 10 September 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date to apply | 30 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Application fee | Nil |
| Official portal | SAC career portal / SAC website |
| Notification PDF | ISRO SAC Recruitment 2026 Notification |
SAC works in the design of space-borne instruments and the development of applications of space technology for societal and national needs. This recruitment is especially relevant for candidates in electronics, semiconductor technology, atmospheric and ocean sciences, earth sciences, remote sensing, GIS, computer science, photonics, and related research fields.
Vacancy Details
The 48 posts are distributed across 16 post codes. Junior Research Fellow positions account for the largest share of vacancies, followed by Research Associate and Project Scientist-I roles.
| Post Code | Post | Vacancies | Broad discipline / area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Junior Research Fellow | 3 | Semiconductor technology, quantum, micro/nano electronic devices, RF & microwave |
| 02 | Junior Research Fellow | 7 | Electronics & Communication, VLSI, embedded systems, signal processing |
| 03 | Junior Research Fellow | 5 | Engineering physics, photonics, optoelectronics, material science |
| 04 | Junior Research Fellow | 10 | Atmospheric science, meteorology, physical oceanography, physics, mathematics |
| 05 | Junior Research Fellow | 2 | Geophysics, geoscience, earth science, geotechnical engineering |
| 06 | Junior Research Fellow | 4 | Computer science, computer engineering |
| 07 | Junior Research Fellow | 2 | Geoinformatics, remote sensing, GIS |
| 08 | Research Associate | 6 | Oceanic/marine science, environmental modelling, atmospheric science, earth-system science |
| 09 | Research Associate | 1 | Mathematics / physics |
| 10 | Research Associate | 1 | Earth science, environmental science, remote sensing for ecology/forestry/wetlands |
| 11–16 | Project Scientist-I | 6 | Geophysics, cryosphere, ecology, forestry, remote sensing, GIS and associated areas |
The stated vacancy total is provisional. SAC may increase, decrease, or decide not to fill positions according to actual project and administrative requirements.
Eligibility and Age Limit
Candidates must carefully read the post-code-wise conditions in the official notification before applying. The required qualifications differ by discipline and can include relevant B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc., or Ph.D. credentials. Some JRF posts may also require eligibility through a national-level examination such as CSIR-UGC NET or GATE, as specified for the applicable discipline.
Maximum age limit
- JRF posts (Post Codes 01–07): Maximum 28 years as on 30 September 2026.
- RA and Project Scientist-I posts (Post Codes 08–16): Maximum 35 years as on 30 September 2026.
Applicants should check the official advertisement for category-wise age relaxation, exact essential qualifications, desirable experience, minimum marks, NET/GATE requirements, and any subject-specific conditions. A candidate should apply only for post codes for which their degree specialization precisely matches the notified eligibility criteria.
Salary and Tenure
The selected candidates will receive monthly consolidated emoluments plus admissible House Rent Allowance (HRA), wherever applicable.
| Post | Monthly emoluments |
|---|---|
| JRF, first and second year | ₹37,000 + HRA |
| JRF, subsequent years | ₹42,000 + HRA |
| Project Scientist-I | ₹56,000 + HRA |
| Research Associate – Level I | ₹58,000 + HRA |
| Research Associate – Level II | ₹61,000 + HRA |
| Research Associate – Level III | ₹67,000 + HRA |
SAC’s fellowship information also confirms a ₹37,000 monthly JRF amount plus HRA for eligible scholars, with ₹42,000 plus HRA applicable after the prescribed research-experience progression. Research Associate engagements are initially for one year and may be extended according to performance and project needs, subject to the maximum tenure specified in the recruitment conditions.
How to Apply Online
Candidates must submit the application through the SAC online career portal before the deadline. No offline application is expected to be accepted.
- Visit the official SAC website or the SAC career portal.
- Locate Advertisement No. SAC:02:2026 for JRF, RA and Project Scientist-I recruitment.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in personal, educational, research, experience, and contact details accurately.
- Choose the appropriate post code based on the candidate’s qualification and specialization.
- Upload the required photograph and any other documents in the specified format.
- Review every field before final submission, especially degree details, marks, date of birth, category, national-test score, and post-code selection.
- Submit the application and save/print the completed application form for future reference.
The notification indicates that the application requires a recent colour passport-size photograph in JPEG format, below 1 MB, with a plain or white background. Applicants should avoid uploading selfies, black-and-white photographs, or unclear images.
Important Instructions
- There is no application fee for any of the notified posts.
- The application window closes at 5:00 PM on 30 September 2026; applicants should not wait until the final hours because technical issues may prevent submission.
- These are temporary, project-based positions, not regular permanent ISRO appointments.
- Shortlisting and interview information will be published on the SAC website or career portal; candidates should monitor official updates after applying.
- Candidates may need to travel or work at locations outside Ahmedabad depending on the project assignment.
- Selection-related communications should be checked only through official SAC/ISRO channels, rather than relying on unofficial social-media notices or forwarded messages.
For candidates with specialized postgraduate qualifications or doctoral research in space applications, remote sensing, electronics, atmospheric studies, earth sciences, oceanography, GIS, or advanced computing, this SAC recruitment offers a significant opportunity to work on ISRO-linked scientific projects. Before submitting the form, verify every eligibility condition against the official SAC advertisement and retain copies of all certificates, scorecards, identity proof, photograph, and submitted application details.