The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced a major contractual recruitment drive for 134 project-based positions under the Mission Mausam Scheme (Advt. No. 02/2025 IMD). This is a significant opportunity for individuals with scientific and administrative backgrounds to contribute to India's national weather and climate research efforts.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | November 15, 2025 |
| Online Application Start Date | November 24, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | December 14, 2025 |
| Job Location | Delhi/Pune or anywhere in India (as per requirement) |
| Total Vacancies | 134 |
The recruitment covers various levels of Project Scientists, as well as Scientific and Administrative roles:
| Post Name | Number of Vacancies | Salary (Consolidated) | Maximum Age (as of 14/12/2025) |
| Project Scientist E | 01 | ₹1,23,100/- + HRA | 50 Years |
| Project Scientist III | 13 | ₹78,000/- + HRA | 45 Years |
| Project Scientist II | 29 | ₹67,000/- + HRA | 40 Years |
| Project Scientist I | 64 | ₹56,000/- + HRA | 35 Years |
| Scientific Assistant | 25 | ₹29,200/- + HRA | 30 Years |
| Admin. Assistant | 02 | ₹29,200/- + HRA | 30 Years |
Eligibility is based on three main factors: educational qualifications, relevant experience, and age limits. Age relaxation is applicable for SC/ST/OBC candidates as per Government of India rules.
Project Scientist (E, III, II, I):
M.Sc. Degree in subjects like Physics, Mathematics, Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Electronics, Electronics & Instrumentation, Electronics and Communication, etc., OR
B.Tech / B.E. Degree in relevant engineering subjects.
Minimum requirement: At least 60% marks in the qualifying degree. (Note: Specific disciplines are mentioned for various post codes in the official notification.)
Scientific Assistant:
Bachelor’s Degree in Science (with Physics as one of the subjects), OR
Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, Electronics, IT, or a related engineering field.
Admin. Assistant:
Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University/Institute AND
Must have passed a Computer Proficiency Test.
| Post Name | Essential Post-Qualification Experience |
| Project Scientist E | 11 years in Research and Development (R&D). |
| Project Scientist III | 7 years in R&D or relevant fields. |
| Project Scientist II | 3 years in R&D or relevant fields. |
| Project Scientist I | No essential post-qualification experience specified. |
| Scientific & Admin Assistant | No prior essential experience listed. |
The positions are contractual, with an initial appointment for one year, extendable up to March 31, 2026, based on satisfactory performance.
Remuneration: Selected candidates receive a consolidated monthly salary (emoluments) plus House Rent Allowance (HRA), which varies based on the city of posting.
Performance Increment: Project Scientist positions receive a valuable perk: an increment of 5% for every 2 years of experience, subject to a performance review.
The selection process is based on screening of applications followed by a personal interview.
Screening of Applications: If a large number of applications are received, IMD will shortlist candidates based on:
Meeting the essential qualifications and age limit.
Completeness of the application form.
Possession of desirable qualifications and experience.
Consistent academic performance.
Interview: Final selection is based on the candidate's performance before the Selection Board. Shortlisted candidates will be notified of the interview schedule on the official IMD website. No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.
All candidates must apply online through the official IMD website (link activates on Nov 24, 2025).
Gather Documents: Prepare scanned copies of required documents: educational certificates (10th, 12th, Degree, PG), Date of Birth proof, experience certificates (if applicable), SC/ST/OBC certificate (if applicable), passport-size photograph, and signature.
Visit the Official Website: Go to the official IMD website and navigate to the "Recruitment" section.
Find the Advertisement: Click on the link for “Advertisement No. 02/2025 IMD for Recruitment of Project Staff.” and read the official PDF carefully.
Access Online Application: Click the "Online Application" link (active from November 24, 2025).
Fill and Upload: Fill out the application form with accurate personal and professional details. Upload all required scanned documents.
Submit and Print: Double-check all entered information before final submission. It is mandatory to take a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.
This recruitment is specifically for project staff to implement the Mission Mausam Scheme, which is a major initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years (2024–2026).
The core goal of the mission is to make India a "Weather-ready and Climate-smart" nation. This involves:
Enhancing Observations: Deploying state-of-the-art instruments like Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Radio Sondes/Radio Wind (RS/RW) stations, and Wind Profilers to capture weather phenomena with higher precision.
Improving Forecasting: Developing new insights into atmospheric processes, implementing advanced Earth system models, and utilizing technologies like AI/Machine Learning (AI/ML) to improve forecast accuracy by 5-10%.
Advanced Services: Providing more frequent (e.g., hourly nowcasting) and higher-resolution forecasts (up to the Panchayat level) across short-term, medium-range, and seasonal scales.
Decision Support: Developing an advanced Decision Support System (DSS) for rapid data dissemination and actionable advisories for sectors like Agriculture, Disaster Management, Civil Aviation, and Water Resources.
The selected Project Scientists and Assistants will be directly involved in the R&D and implementation work crucial for achieving these national meteorological objectives.
That is a great question. For recruitment to project-based contractual posts like Project Scientist and Assistants at IMD, the official notification usually does not provide a formal syllabus document, as the selection is primarily based on screening followed by a personal interview.
However, you can prepare effectively by focusing on two key areas: the Job Requirements (technical syllabus) and the common syllabus for competitive exams (for Assistant roles).
For Project Scientists, the selection focuses heavily on your post-qualification experience, research aptitude, and core subject knowledge relevant to the job requirements under the Mission Mausam Scheme.
The syllabus is derived directly from the specific job needs mentioned in the official IMD notification (which varies by post code). You should prepare in detail for the following technical areas based on the typical requirements for IMD research roles:
Core Meteorology & Climatology: Atmospheric thermodynamics, boundary layer meteorology, cloud physics, dynamic meteorology, and physical meteorology.
Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP): Working knowledge of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Coupled General Circulation Models (GCMs). Understanding of model initialization, data assimilation techniques, and forecast verification.
Climate Research: Climate predictions (extended, seasonal, and beyond), climate data products, services, and climate change science.
High-Performance Computing (HPC): Experience working with HPC systems.
Programming Languages: Proficiency in FORTRAN 90, C/C++, and potentially modern languages like Python for data analysis.
Data Analysis Tools: Working knowledge of meteorological data analysis and visualization tools like GrADS, FERRET, NCL, NCO, and CDO.
Data Handling: Handling of large-volume data and conversant with common data formats like NetCDF, HDF, and GRIB.
GIS/Remote Sensing: Experience with Satellite Meteorology, handling remote sensing data, and using open-source Geographical Information Tools (GIS) for meteorological and hydrological applications (e.g., Web-GIS).
Atmospheric Observations: Doppler Weather Radar, Radio Sondes/Radio Wind, and other observational networks.
Hydrometeorology: Work on hydrological data, drought monitoring/forecasting, and GIS applications.
IT/System Administration: Knowledge of UNIX/LINUX System Administration and IT-enabled services.
While the selection process for these specific contractual posts is by Interview, if IMD decides to conduct a written test or assess general aptitude before the interview, the syllabus would likely follow the pattern of the SSC Scientific Assistant IMD Exam, which covers General Aptitude and Subject Knowledge.
| Section | Key Topics |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Alphanumeric Series, Direction Sense. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number Systems, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Interpretation. |
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Detection of Errors, Sentence Improvement, Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms). |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs (National & International), Static GK (History, Geography, Polity), Basic Science, Indian Climate and Weather. |
This part would focus on your Bachelor’s degree specialization, typically one of the following:
| Stream | Key Topics |
| Physics | Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic Structure, Electronics. |
| Computer Science & IT | Computer Basics, Operating Systems, Fundamentals of Programming, Internet Technology, Fundamentals of Geographical Information System (GIS). |
| Electronics & Telecommunication | Basics of Electronics, Digital Communication, Principles of Telecommunication, Modulations, Propagation of Signals. |
| Link Description | Click Here |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (Activates on 24/11/2025) | Click Here |
| Download Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |