UPSC Scientist B Recruitment 2026: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released its official notification for Scientist-B posts under Advertisement No. 05/2026. A total of 46 vacancies are on offer for the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences. Science and engineering graduates meeting the prescribed eligibility can submit their applications online from 23 May 2026 to 12 June 2026. The maximum age limit for General/EWS candidates is 35 years, with relaxations applicable as per rules.
Important Dates
- Online Apply Start Date : 23 May 2026
- Online Apply Last Date : 12 June 2026 (up to 18:00 Hrs)
- Last Date Fee Payment : 12 June 2026
- Eligibility Determination Date : 12 June 2026
- Recruitment Test / Interview Date : To be intimated separately by UPSC
- Admit Card : Before Exam
- Result Date : Not Released Yet
Application Fee
- General / OBC / EWS (Male) : ₹25/-
- SC / ST / PwBD / Women : ₹0 (Nil)
- Payment Mode : Online (UPI / Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking) or Cash at SBI
Age Limit
(As on 12 June 2026)
- Minimum Age : As per official notification
- Maximum Age : 35 Years (General / EWS)
- Age relaxation applicable as per rules — OBC (NCL): 3 years, SC/ST: 5 years, PwBD: 10 years.
Eligibility Qualification
| Post Name | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Scientist-B (Atmospheric Sciences) | Master’s Degree in Engineering & Technology in Atmospheric Sciences / Ocean Science / Hydrology / Atmospheric Physics / Atmospheric Ocean Science & Technology / Radar & Microwave Engineering from a recognized University/Institute |
| Scientist-B (General Meteorology) | Master’s Degree in Science in Mathematics / Physics / Atmospheric Science / Physics with Meteorology from a recognized University/Institute |
| Scientist-B (Instrumentation) | Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering / Technology in Electronics & Communication / Mechanical / IT / Instrumentation / Mechatronics / Electrical / Computer Science from a recognized University/Institute |
No essential experience is required for any of the three posts.
Post Details
| Post Name | Category-wise Vacancies | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist-B (Atmospheric Sciences) | UR-03, EWS-03, SC-01, PwBD-01* | 07 |
| Scientist-B (General Meteorology) | UR-12, EWS-11, OBC-01, SC-05, ST-01, PwBD-01* | 30 |
| Scientist-B (Instrumentation) | UR-03, EWS-03, OBC-02, SC-01, PwBD-01* | 09 |
| Total | — | 46 |
*PwBD reservation is horizontal within overall notified vacancies. Pay Scale: Level 10 in the Pay Matrix (7th CPC). Nature of post: Permanent, Group A Gazetted, Non-Ministerial.
How To Apply Online for UPSC Scientist B Recruitment 2026
- Read the official notification carefully before filling the form
- Visit the UPSC ORA portal at upsconline.nic.in/ora/
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) registration first
- Fill the vacancy-specific module for the preferred Scientist-B post
- Upload required documents — photograph, signature, 10th certificate, degree/marksheets, category certificate (if applicable), PwBD certificate (if applicable)
- Pay the application fee online (if applicable)
- Submit the form before 12 June 2026, 18:00 Hrs
- Take a printout of the final submitted application for future reference
No hard copy is required to be sent to UPSC by post.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
|---|---|
| Download Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Important Questions & Answers for UPSC Scientist B Recruitment 2026
Q1. When did the application process start?
A1. Online applications opened from 23 May 2026 on the UPSC ORA portal.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
A2. The last date to submit the online application is 12 June 2026 up to 18:00 Hours.
Q3. What is the age limit for UPSC Scientist B 2026?
A3. Maximum age is 35 Years for General/EWS candidates (as on 12 June 2026). Relaxation is available — OBC (NCL): 3 years, SC/ST: 5 years, PwBD: 10 years — as per UPSC rules.
Q4. What is the eligibility qualification?
A4. The required qualification differs by discipline — Master’s degree in relevant science/engineering fields for Atmospheric Sciences and General Meteorology posts; Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology for the Instrumentation post. Candidates must refer to the official notification for complete discipline-wise details.
Q5. What is the selection process?
A5. Selection will be through Interview or a Recruitment Test followed by Interview, depending on the number of applications received. UPSC may also apply shortlisting criteria based on higher qualifications where applicant numbers are large.
Q6. How many total vacancies are there?
A6. A total of 46 posts have been notified — 07 for Atmospheric Sciences, 30 for General Meteorology, and 09 for Instrumentation.