Last Updated: 22 August 2026
CPCB Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 51 Scientist, DEO & Field Assistant Posts, ₹0 Fee, Salary up to ₹1,71,597
Quick definition: CPCB Recruitment 2026 is an official recruitment drive conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board on cpcb.nic.in for 51 Scientist, DEO, and Assistant vacancies under the Namami Gange River Ganga Project, with monthly pay up to ₹1,71,597 and ₹0 application fee, from 24 August to 7 September 2026.
The Central Pollution Control Board just opened up 51 posts under Advertisement No. 02/WQM-II/2025-Admin.(R), and here's the detail that should catch your attention first: it costs nothing to apply. Zero rupees, across every single post, every category. That's rare enough for a central government project that it's worth saying twice. These roles sit under the "Strengthening of Environmental Regulators (SER)-Phase-III" project on River Ganga, funded through the Namami Gange Programme under MoEF&CC. Postings land in Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, or Chandigarh. Notice this major candidate advantage: pay for the senior scientist roles climbs as high as ₹1,71,597 a month — not bad for a contractual position, and that's exactly what makes this drive worth a closer look even if "contractual" makes you hesitate at first glance.
CPCB Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), MoEF&CC |
| Advertisement No. | 02/WQM-II/2025-Admin.(R), dated 21 August 2026 |
| Project | SER-Phase-III, River Ganga (Namami Gange / NMCG funded) |
| Total Vacancies | 51 posts, 9 designations |
| Nature of Job | Contractual, 1 year initially, co-terminus with project (up to 6 May 2028) |
| Application Fee | ₹0 (all posts, all categories) |
| Application Window | 24 August 2026 (10:00 AM) – 7 September 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Salary Range | ₹38,741 – ₹1,71,597 per month (post-wise) |
| Official Website | cpcb.gov.in |
A one-year contract that pays up to ₹1.71 lakh a month sits in a very different bracket than most "contract job" postings you'll come across.
No Reservation, No Relaxation — What Competitors Don't Say Out Loud
All 51 posts are unreserved — no category-based reservation applies anywhere in this drive. That alone surprises people used to standard government recruitment. Here's the part that surprises them more: there's no age relaxation either, not for SC/ST/OBC, not for ex-servicemen, not for persons with disabilities. Every applicant, regardless of category, competes against the same age ceiling for their chosen post. Time spent completing a Ph.D. does get counted toward the experience requirement where applicable, which is the one exception worth knowing.
Quick note: don't assume your category certificate buys you anything here. It won't hurt your application, but it won't extend your eligibility window either. Check your exact date of birth against the post's upper age limit before you invest time preparing documents.
Post-Wise Vacancy & Salary Breakdown
| Post | Vacancies | Approx. Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist-D | 1 | Up to ₹1,71,597 |
| Scientist-B | 12 | ₹58,000 – ₹61,000 |
| Scientific Assistant | 13 | Mid-range (post-specific) |
| Field Assistant | 8 | ₹34,500 – ₹36,500 |
| Data Entry Operator | Included in 51 | ₹51,000 – ₹54,000 |
| Scientist-C, Assistant Manager (Finance), Administrative Assistant, Taxonomist | Remaining posts within the 51 total | Post-specific — check notification |
Scientific Assistant carries the single highest vacancy count at 13, followed by Scientist-B at 12. Exact figures for the remaining designations aren't consistently confirmed across every source checked — cross-reference the official annexure before finalizing which post code to apply under.
Eligibility — Scientist vs Field-Level Posts
Scientist-B and Scientific Assistant need a First-Class Master's or B.E./B.Tech in a relevant discipline, plus either a GATE score at 90th percentile or above, or NET-JRF. Field Assistant, by contrast, just needs 10+2 in Science with a minimum of 55% marks. That's the entire eligibility gap in one sentence — a 12th-pass candidate and a GATE-qualified postgraduate are both genuinely in scope here, just for very different posts.
Scientist-D asks for a First-Class Master's in Environmental or Natural Science (or a First-Class B.E./B.Tech in Environmental, Chemical, Civil, Energy & Environment, or Biotechnology), backed by 7 years of relevant experience and either a cumulative research impact factor of 10+, 5 published books/chapters, or 5 technical reports through CPCB or a State Pollution Control Board. Assistant Manager (Finance) leans toward CA/MBA-Finance backgrounds. Administrative Assistant and DEO sit closer to standard graduate-level clerical and typing requirements. Every post has its own age ceiling too, running roughly from 27 to 50 years depending on seniority — don't assume one number applies across the board.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official CPCB website, cpcb.gov.in.
- Go to the Jobs/Recruitment section and find Advt. No. 02/WQM-II/2025-Admin.(R).
- Register with a valid email ID and active mobile number to get your Registration Number.
- Log in using your Registration Number and date of birth.
- Fill in personal, educational, and post-specific experience details, then upload documents.
- Review everything carefully, submit — no fee required — and save your confirmation page.
Selection Process
Screening happens first, based on eligibility and how well your experience matches the specific post. DEO and Administrative Assistant candidates then face a Skill/Typing Test. Everyone who clears the earlier stages moves to a Personal Interview at CPCB Head Office in New Delhi — no TA/DA provided for that trip, so factor travel costs into your decision before you apply.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 21 August 2026 |
| Application Start | 24 August 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Application Last Date | 7 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Interview Location | CPCB Head Office, New Delhi |
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Final Word:
Zero fee, real salary, and a genuine project attached to River Ganga's cleanup — CPCB Recruitment 2026 is worth applying to even knowing it's contractual. Match your qualification to the exact post code before you register, since eligibility swings hard between Field Assistant and Scientist-D, and get your documents ready now rather than in the final week before 7 September.
