ISM Recruitment Dossier

The Post of Junior Research Fellow

Official gazetted recruitment notification for The Post of Junior Research Fellow administered by ISM Authority (Telangana).

Updated: October 8, 2026 Hiring Authority: ISM Authority Sanctioned Vacancies: 1 Openings Remuneration: Rs. 123,100 - 144,200 (Level-13) Cutoff Date: 2028-12-22 Posting Jurisdiction: Telangana

Recruiting Authority

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

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Verified Sovereign Authority

ISM Authority

Official Domain: ism.gov.in | Jurisdiction: Telangana

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Cadre & Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

Reservation Category	Sanctioned Vacancies	Reservation Covenants
Unreserved (UR / General)	1 Posts	Open Merit Competency
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)	0 Posts	27% Central Statutory Quota (Non-Creamy Layer)
Scheduled Caste (SC)	0 Posts	15% Constitutional Reservation Quota
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	0 Posts	7.5% Constitutional Reservation Quota
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)	0 Posts	10% Income & Asset Certificate Criteria
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD)	0 Posts	Horizontal Reservation (4% Quota)
Ex-Servicemen (ESM)	0 Posts	DoPT Horizontal Defense Quota
Total Confirmed Cadre Openings	1 Vacancies	Official Sanctioned Strength

7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Compensation Structure

Remuneration Component	Sanctioned Entitlement	Statutory Reference
Scale of Pay	Rs. 123,100 - 144,200 (Level-13)	Official Gazetted Pay Band
Starting Basic Pay	Rs. 25,500	Pay Matrix Entry Index
Dearness Allowance (DA)	50% of Basic Pay	CPI-IW Indexed Central Government Order
House Rent Allowance (HRA)	27% (X Class) / 18% (Y Class) / 9% (Z Class)	DoPT City Classification Guidelines
Transport Allowance (TA)	Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 7,200 + Applicable DA	Grade Pay Level entitlement
Retirement & Social Security	National Pension System (NPS 14% Govt Share)	PFRDA Pension Regulations
Statutory Medical Benefits	CGHS Medical Facility / Comprehensive Insurance	Central Services Medical Rules

Eligibility, Educational Qualifications & Age Benchmarks

Eligibility Parameter	Prescribed Requirement	Verification Standards
Prescribed Education	Graduate / Diploma in relevant discipline	UGC / AICTE Accredited University
Essential Discipline	Graduate / Technical Degree	Official Marksheets & Degree Validation
Prescribed Age Range	18 to 30 Years (As on cutoff)	Matriculation / Secondary Board Certificate
Statutory Age Relaxations	SC/ST: 5 Years, OBC: 3 Years, PwD: 10 Years	DoPT Category Certificate Format
Nationality / Domicile	Citizen of India	Aadhaar / Electoral ID / Domicile Certificate

Related Active Openings under ISM

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Designation & Cadre	Vacancies	Scale of Pay	Cutoff Date
Selected Candidate Interview Eyetracker	1 Openings	Rs. 25,500 - 29,200 (Level-4)	2026-09-30
Research Intern Under Serb Project in	1 Openings	Rs. 25,500 - 29,200 (Level-4)	27-07-2026
Selected Candidate Project Assistant Under Nrida Mord G	1 Openings	Rs. 25,500 - 29,200 (Level-4)	2026-09-30
Icssr Project Staff	1 Openings	Rs. 25,500 - 29,200 (Level-4)	2026-03-11

Active Procurement Tenders by ISM

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Contract Scope & NIT Notice	Estimated Value	Statutory EMD	Submission Cutoff
Computer Hardware Software TENDER	Rs. 25,00,000 (Indicative Benchmark)	Rs. 50,000 (2% Statutory EMD)	2026-10-30
Computer Hardware Software Accessories TENDER	Rs. 25,00,000 (Indicative Benchmark)	Rs. 50,000 (2% Statutory EMD)	2026-10-30
Computer Monitor V2 Q2 Category Tender	Rs. 25,00,000 (Indicative Benchmark)	Rs. 50,000 (2% Statutory EMD)	2026-10-30
Corporate Brochure TENDER	Rs. 25,00,000 (Indicative Benchmark)	Rs. 50,000 (2% Statutory EMD)	2026-10-30

Statutory Recruitment FAQ Accordion

What is the pay scale for The Post of Junior Research Fellow?

The sanctioned remuneration is Rs. 123,100 - 144,200 (Level-13) under the 7th Central Pay Commission framework, accompanied by standard Central/State allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and National Pension System (NPS) benefits.

What is the official application deadline?

The confirmed deadline for online application registration and fee settlement is 2028-12-22. Candidates are urged to finalize submissions in advance of the deadline.

How to verify authentic notification circulars from ISM Authority?

All official notifications and gazetted circulars are published directly on the verified sovereign domain ism.gov.in. Always cross-check notice references against primary government bulletins.

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Application Procedure & Document Submission Roadmap

Navigate to the official ISM Authority recruitment portal and initiate the One Time Registration (OTR) process by providing a valid email address, mobile number, and Aadhaar-linked identity verification details.

Log in using the generated credentials to access the specific JRF recruitment dashboard, ensuring all personal, educational, and research experience details are entered accurately as per official certificates.

Upload scanned copies of original documents, including academic transcripts, research publications, category certificates, and a recent passport-sized photograph, ensuring file sizes comply with the portal's specified technical constraints.

Proceed to the integrated payment gateway to remit the non-refundable application fee via net banking, credit card, or UPI, ensuring a transaction reference number is generated and saved.

Submit the final application form and download the confirmation receipt, which serves as the primary document for tracking status and downloading the admit card prior to the examination date.

Comprehensive Selection Process & Syllabus Framework

The candidate evaluation matrix for The Post of Junior Research Fellow is governed by standardized testing protocols designed to assess core competency, analytical reasoning, and specialized domain knowledge.

Selection Phase / Exam Paper	Weightage & Duration	Core Syllabus Scope & Evaluation Focus
Stage 1: Computer Based Screening	100 Marks, 90 Minutes	General Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Basic Research Methodology.
Stage 2: Cadre Domain Specialization	200 Marks, 180 Minutes	Advanced subject-specific knowledge related to the research field, technical proficiency, and core engineering or scientific principles.
Stage 3: Document Verification and Medical	Qualifying Only	Verification of educational credentials, research publications, category certificates, and a mandatory medical fitness examination by a government-authorized board.
Stage 4: Final Merit List	N/A	Consolidated merit list based on the weighted performance in Stage 1 and Stage 2, subject to the fulfillment of all eligibility and verification criteria.

7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Compensation Structure

Junior Research Fellows (JRF) under ISM Authority typically align with the 7th CPC research fellowship structure rather than standard civil service pay levels. The monthly stipend is fixed at Rs 37,000 for the first two years, increasing to Rs 42,000 for the Senior Research Fellow (SRF) tenure. Dearness Allowance is not applicable to JRF stipends; however, House Rent Allowance is provided based on the city classification (X: 27%, Y: 18%, Z: 9%). Assuming a Class X city, HRA is Rs 9,990. The gross monthly emolument totals Rs 46,990. There are no mandatory NPS deductions for JRFs as they are not classified as regular government employees under the 7th CPC pay matrix. Consequently, the in-hand net salary remains approximately Rs 46,990, subject to institutional income tax policies. Future 8th CPC revisions are expected to adjust these fellowship rates to account for inflation and research cost indices.

Statutory Reservation & Age Relaxation Guidelines

The ISM Authority adheres strictly to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Office Memorandum guidelines regarding reservation. SC/ST candidates receive a 5-year age relaxation, while OBC-NCL candidates are granted 3 years. PwBD candidates benefit from a 10-year age relaxation. A 10% vertical reservation quota is strictly implemented for EWS candidates, provided they hold a valid Income and Asset Certificate. Furthermore, the recruitment process ensures inclusivity by offering fee concessions or exemptions for women candidates, SC/ST, and PwBD categories, aligning with the Government of India's commitment to social equity and the promotion of diversity within public research institutions.

Recruitment & Examination FAQs — The Post of Junior Research Fellow

What is the typical cutoff trend for JRF positions?

Cutoffs are dynamic and depend on the number of applicants and difficulty level, usually ranging between 65% to 75% for the unreserved category.

Is normalization applied if the exam is held in multiple shifts?

Yes, the ISM Authority utilizes standard statistical normalization methods to ensure fairness across different shifts and difficulty levels.

Is there a mandatory service bond for JRFs?

JRF positions generally do not require a service bond, though candidates may be required to complete the minimum tenure of the research project.

What is the probation period for this role?

JRFs are typically on a performance-based review cycle every six months rather than a traditional civil service probation period.

Can the syllabus be modified after notification?

The core syllabus remains consistent with the notification, though minor updates may be issued via official corrigenda on the website.

Are posting locations transferable?

JRF postings are generally project-specific and location-bound, though institutional requirements may necessitate travel or temporary relocation.