ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an autonomous organisation under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, is filling the post of Director (Group ‘A’ – Scientific) at five of its institutes: ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, New Delhi; ICMR-NITM, Belagavi; ICMR-RM NIHR, Patna, Bihar; ICMR-NIHR North; and ICMR-NIHR South. The posts carry Level-14 of Pay Matrix (Rs.1,44,200-2,18,200) (7th CPC) with usual allowances as admissible to ICMR employees, need 15 years’ experience, and are filled on regular basis under Direct Recruitment/ Deputation (including Short Term Contract)/ Absorption with a tenure of 5 years. Indian Citizens can apply online on recruitment.icmr.org.in up to 30 November 2026 till 5:30 PM.

ICMR Recruitment 2026 at a Glance

The official notification does not specify the number of vacancies for each Director post.

About ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research, headquartered at V. Ramalingaswami Bhavan, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, deals with biomedical and health research in various areas in collaboration with national and international agencies. According to the notice, ICMR works through its Headquarters at New Delhi and 28 Institutes/ Centres and a large number of field stations across the country. The Director posts in this circular head five of these institutes.

Posts and Research Areas

The vacancy circular lists five Director posts. All five share the same pay, qualification and age limit; the area in which the Research & Development experience must have been gained differs from post to post.

*The posts of Director, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, New Delhi and Director, ICMR-NITM, Belagavi are against lien vacancies and are subject to reversion of the lien holder.

Who Can Apply

Applications are invited from Indian Citizens. The same essential qualification and experience apply to all five Director posts.

Essential Qualification (Direct Recruitment)

• MD/MS or equivalent degree recognised by MCI/NMC
• OR MBBS or equivalent degree recognised by MCI/NMC with MPH from a recognised University
• OR Master’s Degree in a subject related to Biomedical Sciences or MBBS or equivalent degree, recognised by MCI/NMC, with Ph.D. from a recognised University in a subject related to Biomedical Sciences

Essential Experience (Direct Recruitment)

15 years, which must include:

• 05 Years in a managerial position and has handled R&D projects independently (viz. PI or Co-PI of Scientific studies, Head of Research Groups/ Centres/ Institutes/ Laboratories), AND
• 02 Years regular service in the pay matrix level-13-A or 07 Years regular service in the pay matrix level-13, or equivalent as amended from time to time

Experience in Research & Development related to Biomedical Sciences in Govt./ Public sector/ Private Institutions will be admissible, in the area set for each post in the table above.

How Degrees Count Towards Experience

• Ph.D. will be considered as 4 years’ experience (irrespective of the duration taken to complete the degree).
• MD/MS or equivalent to be considered as 3 years’ experience.
• MVSc will be considered as 2 years’ experience.
• MPH/M.Tech/ME will not be considered as any experience.
• The period spent on obtaining the minimum essential educational qualification shall not count towards experience.

For applicants from the private sector or laboratories/ institutions abroad, the Screening Committee shall decide the equivalency of Pay Scale. The qualifications and experience may be relaxed in the case of exceptionally meritorious candidates, with the approval of the President, Governing Council, ICMR, for reasons to be recorded in writing.

Eligibility for Deputation (Including Short Term Contract)/ Absorption

Scientists from the Central Government or State Government or recognised autonomous organisations of the Central Government or State Government or Research Institutes or Universities who are:

• Holding an analogous post on regular basis; or
• Possessing the same essential qualifications and experience prescribed for direct recruits.

ICMR Scientists shall not be eligible for appointment on deputation; they shall apply under Direct Recruitment.

Age Limit

The age limit for the Director posts is not exceeding 58 years. For appointment by deputation, the maximum age limit shall not exceed 58 years as on the last date of applications.

• Age relaxation applies as per the existing Government of India instructions.
• In addition, the age limit may be relaxed for exceptionally meritorious candidates, based on their CVs/experience, with the approval of the President, Governing Council, ICMR, for reasons to be recorded in writing.

Candidates should check the official notification for the discipline-specific eligibility of each post.

Pay and Terms

All five Director posts are in Level-14 of Pay Matrix (Rs.1,44,200-2,18,200) (7th CPC), with usual allowances as admissible to ICMR employees. The posts are filled on regular basis, with all India transfer liability under the Council.

Tenure by Direct Recruitment

• 5 years, extendable by maximum 5 years, or till superannuation, whichever is earlier.
• During the tenure as Director, ICMR Scientists shall hold lien on their substantive post at ICMR.
• ICMR Scientists, on completion of the tenure (including extension, if any) as Director, shall be given the position of Scientist ‘G’ in any of the Institutes/Centres/HQ of ICMR, till superannuation; pay and allowances shall be protected in accordance with rules.
• A Non-ICMR Scientist holding the tenure post of Director can be considered for absorption in ICMR as Director’s Grade Scientist, i.e., Scientist ‘G’, subject to availability of vacancy in the scientific cadre, on completion of minimum 5 years of continuous regular service as Director.

Tenure by Deputation (Including Short Term Contract)/ Absorption

• The tenure of deputation shall be 5 years (extendable maximum by 5 years, only if the incumbent is absorbed in ICMR).
• The period of deputation, including deputation in another ex-cadre post held immediately before this appointment in the same or other organisation/Department of the Central Government, shall ordinarily not exceed 5 years.
• The Director on deputation can be considered for absorption in ICMR as Director’s Grade Scientist, i.e., Scientist G/Head, subject to availability of vacancy in the scientific cadre, on completion of minimum 5 years of continuous regular service as Director.

Application Fee

The fee is paid through the online link given in the application form.

How to Apply for ICMR Recruitment 2026

1. Apply only through online mode on https://recruitment.icmr.org.in.
2. Enclose the self-attested required documents listed below with the online application.
3. Pay the application fee of Rs.1500/- through the online link given in the application form (SC/ST/Women/PwD/EWS candidates are exempted).
4. To apply for more than one Director post, submit a separate online application for each post, with the prescribed fee wherever applicable.
5. Complete the application by 30 November 2026 till 5:30 PM; applications received after the closing date, for whatever reason, are liable to be rejected.

Documents named in the notice

• Proof of Date of Birth
• Educational qualifications
• Experience Certificates issued by Head of Office/ Head of Organization/ Head HR clearly indicating period and dates of service
• Relevant documents of educational qualification/ specialization/ experience as claimed must be invariably uploaded
• At the time of personal discussion: a “No Objection Certificate” from the employer, for applicants working in Central/ State Government Departments/ Public Sector Undertakings & Govt. funded research agencies

Selection Process

The notice describes selection through shortlisting followed by interview:

• Initial shortlisting: all candidates who fulfil minimum eligibility in respect of age, essential qualifications and essential experience (wherever required) shall be short-listed.
• Further shortlisting: if the number of shortlisted candidates is high and it is not possible to call all of them for interview, ICMR shall further shortlist on suitable criteria fixed by the Competent Authority, ICMR. ICMR generally prefers to call candidates with higher experience in the relevant fields or with higher educational qualification, as decided by the Appointing Authority.
• Interview / personal discussion: shortlisted candidates are called for interview; government and PSU employees must bring the NOC with an undertaking that “the applicant will be relieved within one month of his/her receipt of appointment order”.

Important Instructions

• Application should be submitted along with the online application fees.
• Incomplete applications or applications without supportive documents are liable to be rejected.
• False information or suppression of any material, noticed at any time during the recruitment process or thereafter, makes candidature/services liable to be terminated.
• Any outside influence (political or otherwise) brought in by a candidate shall disqualify him/her.
• Any further detail/ communication shall be displayed on the ICMR website only.
• ICMR retains the liberty to either modify or cancel or publish afresh this vacancy circular; matters with no specific instruction shall be decided by ICMR.
• Any dispute regarding this recruitment will be under the jurisdiction of Courts in New Delhi.
• For technical support or payment queries, call 011-26589167 or email [email protected] on working days between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM (IST).

Important Links