NIMHANS Bengaluru Recruitment 2026: Apply for 52 Senior Scientific Assistant, Stenographer & Other Posts

NIMHANS Recruitment 2026 – Overview

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru has announced a major recruitment drive for 2026, targeting qualified professionals across technical, scientific, and administrative domains. As an institute of national importance under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NIMHANS plays a crucial role in mental health research and treatment in India.

This recruitment covers eleven distinct positions spanning Group B and Group C categories. The positions range from highly specialized scientific roles requiring postgraduate degrees to support staff positions requiring basic qualifications. What makes this recruitment particularly significant is the diversity of roles available, from Senior Scientific Assistant in Human Genetics to technical positions like EEG Technician and administrative roles such as Stenographer Grade-II.

The selection methodology follows a transparent, computer-based system designed to ensure fairness. Candidates will first appear for a Multiple Choice Question based eligibility test worth 100 marks. Those who qualify will then proceed to Stage-II, which includes skill assessments for specific positions like Stenographer, followed by mandatory document verification for all shortlisted candidates.

Eligibility, Selection Process & Key Highlights

Understanding eligibility requirements is absolutely critical for this recruitment. Each position has distinct educational and experience requirements that candidates must fulfill completely by the application deadline. For instance, if you are applying for Senior Scientific Assistant, merely having a Master's degree in Life Science is insufficient. You must also demonstrate two full years of research experience specifically in Biological Sciences, and this experience must be verifiable through proper documentation.

The March 4, 2026 deadline serves multiple purposes beyond just being the last day to apply. This date is the reference point for calculating your age, determining whether your qualifications are complete, and verifying your work experience. If you complete your degree on March 5, 2026, you are ineligible, even if you submit your application on March 3, 2026.

One aspect that catches many government employees off-guard is the No Objection Certificate requirement. If you currently work in any government organization, public sector undertaking, or autonomous body, you must obtain formal permission from your employer before applying. Submitting your application without this NOC will result in automatic rejection, regardless of how qualified you are for the position.

The provisional eligibility clause is particularly important to understand. When you submit your application, NIMHANS accepts it conditionally. Your actual eligibility will be verified during document verification or even after you join the organization. If any discrepancy surfaces at any point during or after the recruitment process, your candidature can be terminated immediately without prior notice.

About Important Dates for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

Understanding the recruitment timeline is crucial for planning your preparation effectively. The application window opens on February 3, 2026 and closes on March 4, 2026 at precisely 4:30 PM. This closing time is non-negotiable, and the online portal will automatically shut down at this moment. Many candidates make the mistake of waiting until the last hour to submit their applications, only to face technical issues or internet connectivity problems.

Here is what makes March 4, 2026 particularly important. This date acts as the universal cutoff for determining your eligibility across all parameters. Your age will be calculated based on this date. If you turn 30 on March 5, 2026, you will be considered 29 years old for this recruitment. Similarly, if your Master's degree final results are declared on March 10, 2026, you cannot claim to have completed the qualification by the cutoff date.

The tentative exam schedule places the computer-based test somewhere between April and May 2026. While these dates may shift, candidates should not delay their preparation. Start studying immediately after submitting your application. The admit card will be released in March or April 2026, available only through the online portal for download. There is no provision for receiving admit cards through postal mail or email.

Document verification and skill tests are scheduled for June 2026 onwards. Candidates who qualify the written exam should start organizing their original certificates immediately. NIMHANS will not accept photocopies during verification, regardless of whether your originals are attested or notarized.

Common Mistake: Candidates often assume they can submit documents after the deadline if they have valid reasons like illness or travel. NIMHANS does not entertain such requests. All deadlines are absolute.

About Application Fee for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

The application fee structure follows a tiered system based on two factors: the group category of the post you are applying for and your reservation category. Understanding this structure is essential to avoid payment errors that could lead to application rejection.

For Group B positions, unreserved category candidates (General, OBC, and EWS) must pay Rs. 1,180, which includes 18 percent GST. This amount is not arbitrary; it covers the administrative costs of conducting a computer-based examination and processing applications. For the same Group B posts, SC and ST candidates receive a fee concession and pay only Rs. 885.

Group C positions have lower fees. General, OBC, and EWS candidates pay Rs. 885, while SC and ST candidates pay Rs. 590. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities who have 40 percent or more disability are completely exempted from paying any application fee, regardless of which post they apply for or what group it belongs to.

The fee payment must be completed exclusively through the online portal during the application process. NIMHANS does not accept fee payments through bank drafts, challan deposits, or offline modes. Once you pay the fee, it becomes non-refundable under all circumstances. Even if NIMHANS cancels the recruitment or you decide to withdraw your application, you will not receive your money back.

Common Mistake: Many candidates select the wrong category while filling the application form, either accidentally or to pay lower fees. During document verification, when they cannot produce valid category certificates, their candidature gets rejected despite paying the fee. Choose your category carefully and honestly.

Clarity Note - Who Pays What: If you are a General category candidate applying for Junior Secretarial Assistant (Group C), you pay Rs. 885. If you are an OBC candidate applying for Senior Scientific Assistant (Group B), you pay Rs. 1,180. If you have 45 percent disability certificate, you pay nothing regardless of your category or post choice.

Strategic Analysis of Vacancy Distribution

The vacancy distribution across 52 posts reveals NIMHANS's current staffing priorities and provides candidates with valuable insights for application strategy. With 22 vacancies for Junior Secretarial Assistant (42% of total), this represents the largest opportunity pool, ideal for candidates with intermediate education and basic computer/typing skills. The 9 Stenographer vacancies (17% of total) offer significant prospects for graduates with shorthand skills, though the 80 wpm dictation requirement creates a high skill barrier. Scientific positions are limited but specialized: only 1 Senior Scientific Assistant vacancy exists, indicating extremely selective hiring for this research role. The 3 EEG Technician positions require specific clinical neurophysiology training, making them suitable for diploma holders in this niche field.

Understanding this distribution helps candidates make informed decisions. For example, applicants with intermediate qualifications might focus on Junior Secretarial Assistant (22 vacancies) rather than competing for graduate-level positions. Similarly, candidates with Panchakarma certification have two distinct options: 4 Assistant Instructor positions (requiring experience) and 2 Hospital Assistant positions (entry-level). The technical and artistic roles (Artist, Photographer, Barber) have single-digit vacancies but face less competition due to specialized requirements. Importantly, these are total vacancies that will be divided among reservation categories, so the actual seats in your specific category may be 1-2 positions even for posts with higher vacancy counts.

Critical Analysis of Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility criteria follow a clear hierarchy of requirements, with strict "AND" conditions that must all be satisfied simultaneously. For Senior Scientific Assistant, candidates need BOTH the Master's degree in Life Sciences AND 2+ years of specific molecular biology research experience. The "Desirable" qualifications (diagnostic lab experience, PCR, IHC, microscopy) become crucial differentiators for this single vacancy position. For EEG Technician, the "OR" condition offers two pathways: either a Clinical Neuro Physiology diploma OR a Physiology/Electronics diploma, but both require the 2-year clinical EEG experience.

Several posts have critical skill requirements beyond education. Stenographer candidates must not only be graduates but also demonstrate 80 wpm dictation speed and transcription accuracy within strict time limits (65 minutes English, 75 minutes Hindi). Junior Secretarial Assistant requires specific typing speeds (35 wpm English/30 wpm Hindi) despite needing only intermediate education. Artist and Photographer positions demand both formal diplomas AND 2-3 years of verifiable professional experience in their specific fields, with preference given to those with health education or medical photography experience respectively.

Common Documentation Errors to Avoid: Experience certificates must explicitly state the "nature of duties performed" - a generic "worked as assistant" is insufficient. For research positions, certificates should detail specific techniques used, equipment operated, and research methodologies. Certificates must show exact dates (day-month-year format) for both start and end of employment. All qualifications must be from institutions recognized by appropriate authorities - distance learning degrees must be from UGC-recognized universities. The cut-off date of 04 March 2026 is absolute - candidates completing qualifications or experience after this date are ineligible. Candidates currently in their final semester/year can apply only if their results will be declared on or before this date.

About Age Limit and Category-Wise Relaxation

The age limit structure for NIMHANS recruitment 2026 contains several nuances that candidates frequently misunderstand. The notification provides age relaxations for various categories but does not clearly state the base upper age limit. This information requires candidates to check the detailed official advertisement or contact NIMHANS directly for clarification on specific posts.

Age relaxations work by extending the maximum permissible age beyond the base limit. For scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidates, this extension is five years. If the base age limit for a post is 30 years, SC/ST candidates can apply up to 35 years of age. Other Backward Classes receive a three-year relaxation, making them eligible up to 33 years for the same post.

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities enjoy a substantial ten-year relaxation. This relaxation acknowledges the additional challenges faced by disabled individuals in completing their education and gaining work experience. When a PwBD candidate also belongs to OBC category, the relaxations combine to create a thirteen-year extension. Similarly, PwBD candidates from SC/ST categories receive a cumulative fifteen-year relaxation.

Central government employees currently in service receive five years of age relaxation, but this benefit comes with conditions. You must have completed at least three continuous years of service in a civilian capacity under the central government as of the application deadline. Contractual or temporary employment does not qualify unless specifically mentioned in your appointment orders as counting toward continuous service.

Ex-servicemen have a unique calculation method. Their relaxation equals the total length of their military service plus an additional three years. If you served in the armed forces for seven years, your age relaxation would be ten years in total. This policy recognizes that military personnel cannot apply for civilian jobs while in active service.

Critical Rule - Age Relaxation for Unreserved Posts: If you belong to OBC, SC, or ST category but apply for an unreserved vacancy, you do not receive any age relaxation whatsoever. Age relaxations apply only when you apply for reserved category posts matching your category certificate. This rule surprises many candidates who assume their category benefits apply universally.

Clarity Note - Calculating Your Eligibility Age: Your age is calculated as on March 4, 2026. If you were born on March 5, 1996, you will be considered 29 years and 364 days old, not 30 years old. If you were born on March 4, 1996, you will be exactly 30 years old. Even one day makes a difference in age calculation.

Common Mistake: Candidates often claim age relaxation benefits without possessing valid category certificates. When you apply claiming SC/ST or OBC relaxation, you must upload valid certificates during application. Without these documents, your age relaxation claim becomes invalid, and your application may face rejection if you exceed the base age limit.

About Exam Pattern for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

The Stage-I examination follows a computer-based testing format where candidates sit before a computer terminal and answer multiple-choice questions within a fixed time frame. The test comprises 100 questions carrying 100 marks, with each correct answer earning you one mark. You get 90 minutes to complete the entire examination, which translates to approximately 54 seconds per question on average.

Negative marking is a crucial feature that significantly impacts your strategy. Every incorrect answer deducts 0.25 marks from your total score. If you attempt 80 questions, answer 60 correctly and 20 incorrectly, your score calculation works as follows: 60 correct answers give you 60 marks, while 20 wrong answers deduct 5 marks, resulting in a final score of 55 marks. Unattempted questions neither add nor subtract marks.

This negative marking system fundamentally changes how you should approach the examination. Random guessing becomes counterproductive. If you blindly guess answers to 20 questions about which you have no knowledge, probability suggests you might get 5 correct and 15 wrong, earning you 5 marks but losing 3.75 marks, netting only 1.25 marks for substantial effort and risk. The same time spent carefully attempting 10 questions you understand could yield 8-9 marks with minimal deductions.

Qualifying marks vary by category, creating different minimum thresholds for different candidates. Unreserved and EWS category candidates must score at least 40 marks out of 100 to qualify. OBC candidates need only 35 marks, while SC, ST, and PwBD candidates must achieve 30 marks. These are minimum qualifying marks, not cutoff marks for selection.

Understanding the difference between qualifying marks and cutoff marks is essential. Qualifying marks represent the minimum score required to pass the examination and move forward in the selection process. Cutoff marks represent the actual score of the last candidate selected for the next stage, which is always higher than qualifying marks when competition is strong. You might qualify by scoring 40 marks, but the actual cutoff for unreserved candidates might be 75 marks, meaning you would not proceed to document verification despite qualifying.

The examination will be conducted entirely in English medium. No Hindi or regional language options are available. This requirement means you must be comfortable reading and understanding English questions quickly, as spending extra time deciphering language nuances will cost you valuable seconds.

The syllabus broadly covers general aptitude, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, basic numeracy, data interpretation, current affairs, interpersonal skills, and analytical ability. For scientific posts, questions related to your specific subject area will be included based on the qualification requirements mentioned in the eligibility criteria.

Common Mistake: Many candidates focus exclusively on speed during preparation, attempting to answer all 100 questions within 90 minutes. This approach leads to careless mistakes and heavy negative marking. Instead, develop accuracy first, then gradually build speed. Attempting 70-80 questions accurately yields better results than attempting all 100 questions with numerous errors.

Clarity Note - Should You Guess: Guess only when you can eliminate at least two wrong options and have a strong intuition about the remaining choices. Never guess when all four options appear equally plausible. The negative marking penalty makes blind guessing statistically unprofitable in most scenarios.

About Application Process for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

The application process for NIMHANS recruitment is entirely online, with no provision for submitting physical application forms through post or in person. You must complete every step through the designated online portal. Here is a detailed walkthrough of what you need to do and what mistakes to avoid.

Begin by visiting the official application portal. Create a new registration using your valid email address and mobile number. These contact details are crucial because NIMHANS will communicate all future updates exclusively through email and SMS. Using someone else's email or a temporary email address can result in missing critical notifications about admit cards, exam schedule changes, or result announcements.

After registration, you will receive login credentials. Keep these credentials secure and accessible, as you will need them multiple times throughout the recruitment process to download admit cards, check results, and track your application status. If you forget your password, the recovery process may take time, potentially causing you to miss important deadlines.

When filling the application form, approach each field with extreme caution. The notification explicitly states that no corrections will be permitted after final submission through any mode whatsoever. If you accidentally enter your date of birth as 1996 instead of 1995, you cannot change it later. If you select the wrong post or wrong category, no modification is possible. This policy is strictly enforced without exceptions.

The document upload section requires specific file formats and size limits. Your photograph must be a recent passport-size color image with a light background, saved in JPG or JPEG format, typically not exceeding 50 KB in file size. Your signature should be done on white paper with a black or blue pen, scanned, and saved in the prescribed format and size limit. Blurry, oversized, or improperly formatted documents will cause technical errors during upload or rejection during verification.

For government employees, the No Objection Certificate must be on official letterhead, signed by competent authority, clearly stating that the organization has no objection to your applying for this NIMHANS recruitment. The NOC must be dated and bear an official seal. A NOC from your immediate supervisor without proper authorization is insufficient. Contractual employees must ensure their NOC comes from the appointing authority mentioned in their contract.

Category certificates require particular attention because their validity is strictly time-bound. OBC-NCL certificates must be issued for Financial Year 2025-26, meaning they should be dated between April 1, 2025 and March 4, 2026. A certificate issued in March 2025 for FY 2024-25 is invalid, even if you belong to OBC category. EWS certificates must be based on income for FY 2024-25 and issued for FY 2025-26.

The digital certificate format with QR code is mandatory. Old paper-based certificates or PDF scans without QR codes will be rejected outright. These digital certificates must be obtained from competent authorities like District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or Tehsildar. Certificates issued by lower-level officials may not be accepted. The QR code enables NIMHANS to verify your certificate's authenticity through government databases.

After uploading all documents, proceed to fee payment. The payment gateway accepts credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and UPI payments. Ensure you complete the payment transaction fully and wait for the confirmation message. If your internet connection drops during payment, check your bank statement before attempting payment again to avoid duplicate charges. Save the payment receipt that appears after successful transaction.

Before clicking the final submit button, review your entire application at least twice. Check every personal detail, educational qualification, experience entry, uploaded document, and category selection. Once you submit, the system locks your application permanently. After submission, take multiple printouts of the complete application form and keep them safely. You will need to carry this printout during document verification.

Common Mistake: Candidates often upload documents in the wrong fields. For example, uploading their photograph in the signature field or uploading their degree certificate in the experience certificate field. Such misplacements create confusion during verification and may lead to rejection. Double-check that each document goes into its correct designated field.

Clarity Note - What Happens After Submission: After you submit your application, you cannot make any changes to any information. NIMHANS will not issue any acknowledgment by post or email beyond the system-generated confirmation. Your application goes into provisional acceptance mode, where it remains until document verification. Do not expect any intermediate communication unless you qualify for the next stage.

About Syllabus for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

The syllabus for NIMHANS recruitment is deliberately broad, designed to assess your overall cognitive capabilities rather than specialized academic knowledge in most cases. Understanding what each section tests will help you prepare more effectively and allocate your study time appropriately.

Aptitude and reading comprehension evaluate your ability to understand written passages quickly and answer questions based on their content. You might encounter a 400-word passage about medical research or healthcare policy, followed by questions about the main idea, supporting details, author's perspective, or implied meanings. Developing speed reading skills without sacrificing comprehension accuracy is essential for this section.

General mental ability and logical reasoning test your capacity to identify patterns, solve puzzles, and think systematically. Questions might involve number series, alphabet series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, or syllogistic reasoning. These questions assess whether you can apply logical frameworks to unfamiliar problems, a skill crucial for professional work environments.

Basic numeracy and data interpretation cover arithmetic, percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, time and work, and interpretation of graphs, charts, and tables. You do not need advanced mathematics knowledge, but you must be quick with basic calculations. Practice solving problems without calculators to build computational speed.

Current affairs section tests your awareness of recent events in national and international news, government policies, scientific developments, sports, awards, and appointments. Focus on events from the six months preceding the examination date. Reading newspapers daily and maintaining notes on important events will serve you well.

Interpersonal and communication skills questions assess your understanding of workplace behavior, professional ethics, conflict resolution, and effective communication principles. These scenario-based questions evaluate whether you can navigate complex interpersonal situations appropriately in a professional healthcare environment.

Analytical ability questions require you to analyze information, draw conclusions, identify assumptions, strengthen or weaken arguments, and evaluate cause-and-effect relationships. These questions test critical thinking skills essential for research and scientific work.

For scientific posts like Senior Scientific Assistant, additional questions specific to your field of study will appear. If you have a Master's in Life Science, expect questions on genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and related subjects at the postgraduate level. The depth and breadth of these subject-specific questions will match the educational qualification required for the post.

About Selection Methodology for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

The selection process operates in two distinct stages. Stage-I is the computer-based eligibility test worth 100 marks. Your performance in this stage serves two purposes: determining whether you qualify for the next round and establishing your position in the merit ranking. Merely qualifying is insufficient; you must score high enough to rank within the cutoff determined by the number of available vacancies.

Stage-II varies depending on the post you applied for. For positions like Stenographer, you must appear for a practical skill test that evaluates your shorthand and typing abilities. For other posts, Stage-II consists of document verification where you must present original certificates proving your eligibility claims. Some candidates may undergo both skill testing and document verification.

The final merit list combines your scores from both stages. If you scored 75 marks in Stage-I written test and 85 marks in Stage-II skill test, your combined score would determine your final ranking. Document verification itself does not carry marks but is mandatory for final selection. Failing to produce valid documents results in immediate disqualification regardless of your test scores.

When multiple candidates achieve identical combined scores, NIMHANS applies tiebreaker rules in sequential order. The candidate with higher age gets preference first. If ages are also identical, the candidate who required fewer attempts to complete their qualifying degree gets preference. If that is also tied, the candidate with higher percentage in their degree gets preference. If even that matches, the candidate with fewer negative marks in Stage-I gets selected.

Common Mistake: Many candidates believe that once they qualify Stage-I, they are guaranteed selection if they clear document verification. This assumption is wrong. Your ranking in the combined merit list determines selection. Even if you qualify, you may not get selected if your rank falls beyond the number of available vacancies.

Clarity Note - How Skill Tests Work: For Stenographer, the skill test is not just qualifying but carries substantial weightage in final merit. A candidate scoring average marks in Stage-I but excellent marks in skill test can surpass candidates who scored higher in Stage-I but lower in skill test. Do not neglect skill test preparation even if you are confident about the written examination.

About Document Requirements for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026

Document preparation is where many otherwise qualified candidates face rejection. Understanding exactly what documents you need, in what format, and what details they must contain can make the difference between successful selection and disappointing disqualification.

During the online application phase, you must upload digital copies of several documents. Your photograph should be a recent color image taken within the last three months. The background should be light colored, preferably white or light gray. Avoid wearing sunglasses, caps, or any headgear unless required for religious reasons. The image should clearly show your face without shadows or glare. Save this photograph in JPG format with file size between 20 KB and 50 KB.

Your signature should be executed on clean white paper using black or blue ink pen. Sign in your usual manner, maintaining consistency with how you sign official documents. This signature will be used for verification purposes throughout your career if selected. Scan this signature and save it in JPG format within the prescribed file size limit, typically between 10 KB and 20 KB.

The No Objection Certificate requirement applies exclusively to candidates currently employed in government organizations, public sector undertakings, or autonomous bodies. If you work in a private company, you do not need an NOC. However, if you work in any government-affiliated organization, even on contract or temporary basis, you must obtain formal permission from your employer before applying.

Your NOC must be issued on official letterhead of your current employer. It should be signed by an officer with appropriate authority to grant such permission, typically your department head or administrative officer. The NOC must explicitly state that the organization has no objection to your applying for this NIMHANS recruitment. It should include your name, designation, department, and employee number. The document must be dated and bear the official seal of the organization.

Category certificates represent one of the most critical document requirements. For OBC-NCL category, your certificate must be issued by a competent authority like District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or Tehsildar. The certificate must clearly state that you belong to Other Backward Classes as per the Central List, not the state list. It must explicitly mention that you do not belong to the creamy layer as per government guidelines.

The certificate must be valid for Financial Year 2025-26, which means it should be issued between April 1, 2025 and March 4, 2026. An OBC-NCL certificate issued in March 2025 for FY 2024-25 becomes invalid the moment FY 2025-26 begins. You must obtain a fresh certificate for the new financial year. The certificate must be in the prescribed digital format with a QR code that allows online verification of its authenticity.

For EWS category, the certificate must be based on your family's gross annual income for Financial Year 2024-25. The issuing authority calculates income from all sources including salary, business income, agricultural income, and other earnings of your family members. The certificate should be issued for FY 2025-26 by District Magistrate or authorized revenue officer. Like OBC certificates, EWS certificates must also be in digital format with QR code.

SC and ST certificates are generally permanent in nature, but they must be issued by competent authority and clearly state your caste name, whether it falls under Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, and the state to which you belong. The certificate should be on official letterhead with proper authentication.

Educational certificates include your degree certificates, provisional certificates, mark sheets, and transcripts. For experience-based eligibility, you need properly formatted experience certificates from each previous employer. These certificates must mention the exact dates of joining and relieving in day-month-year format. They must state your designation, department, and basic pay or consolidated pay. Most importantly, they must describe the specific duties and responsibilities you performed during employment.

During document verification, you must carry original certificates along with one set of self-attested photocopies. Original certificates are for verification purposes only and will be returned to you after examination. The self-attested copies remain with NIMHANS for their records. Ensure all photocopies are clear and legible. Missing pages or blurred text in photocopies can create problems.

Carry a valid government-issued photo identity proof like Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license, passport, or voter ID card. This identity proof establishes your identity and should match the details you provided in your application form. Any mismatch in name, date of birth, or photograph can lead to complications.

Common Mistake: Candidates often bring attested photocopies from a notary or gazetted officer, assuming these are required. Self-attestation means you sign the photocopy yourself, writing "certified true copy" and dating it. External attestation is unnecessary and sometimes creates confusion about whose certification applies.

Clarity Note - What Happens if Documents are Missing: If you arrive at document verification without any mandatory document, you will be disqualified immediately without being given time to arrange the missing document. There are no second chances or grace periods. Either you have all required documents on verification day, or your candidature ends.

This NIMHANS notification contains several strict compliance clauses that candidates must understand to avoid disqualification. These are not mere formalities but legally binding conditions that NIMHANS will enforce without exception.

Provisional Eligibility	Application acceptance is provisional. Eligibility verification occurs at document verification or later stages. Ineligibility detected at any stage leads to candidature cancellation.
Mandatory NOC	Govt/PSU employees MUST upload NOC during application. Without NOC, candidature rejected automatically, regardless of exam performance.
Valid Category Certificates	OBC-NCL/EWS certificates must be digital with QR code, valid for FY 2025-26. Paper certificates or expired digital certificates are invalid.
No Corrections Allowed	No correction in application after final submission through any mode (email, letter, etc.). Verify all details carefully before submitting.
Institute's Rights	NIMHANS reserves right to cancel/modify recruitment, change vacancies, introduce skill tests, or not fill any post without assigning reasons.
Canvassing	Any attempt to influence recruitment leads to immediate disqualification. All communication must be through official channels only.
Jurisdiction	All legal disputes subject to Bengaluru courts only. Candidates from other states must approach Bengaluru courts for any litigation.
Experience Verification	NIMHANS may verify experience through bank statements, PF/ESIC records, or any other means at their discretion.
Probation Period	Appointment can be cancelled during probation if found unfit for the job as per applicable rules.

1. What is the last date to apply for NIMHANS Recruitment 2026?

The online application portal will close at exactly 4:30 PM on March 4, 2026. Applications submitted even one minute after this deadline will not be accepted under any circumstances.

2. How many vacancies are there for the Stenographer post?

There are 9 vacancies for Stenographer Grade-II as per the official notification released by NIMHANS.

3. I am a final year Master's student. Can I apply for Senior Scientific Assistant?

No, you cannot apply. You must have completed your Master's degree and the required 2-year research experience on or before March 4, 2026.

4. Is there any negative marking in the Stage-I exam?

Yes, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.

5. What is the salary for the Junior Secretarial Assistant post?

The notification does not specify salary details. This information may be available in the detailed official notification on the NIMHANS website.

6. Can I correct a mistake in my application form after submitting it?

No, you cannot make any corrections whatsoever after final submission. Review all details carefully before submitting.

7. Is the skill test for Stenographer qualifying or merit-based?

The skill test is merit-based. Marks from Stage-I and Stage-II are combined to prepare the final merit list.

8. My OBC-NCL certificate is valid until March 31, 2025. Is it acceptable?

No, it must be valid for FY 2025-26 (issued between April 1, 2025 and March 4, 2026).

9. I work on a contractual basis in a government hospital. Do I need an NOC?

Yes, all government/PSU employees, including contractual staff, must obtain and upload an NOC during application.

10. Where will the exam be conducted?

The eligibility test for all posts will be conducted exclusively in Bengaluru as per the notification.

11. What if I do not have an EWS certificate with a QR code?

Your application will be rejected. Only digital certificates with QR codes in the prescribed format are valid.

12. Are PwBD candidates exempted from the application fee?

Yes, PwBD candidates with 40% or more benchmark disability are fully exempted from paying the application fee.

13. What is the qualifying mark for the UR category in Stage-I?

UR and EWS category candidates must score a minimum of 40 marks (40%) to qualify for Stage-I.

14. Can I apply for more than one post?

The notification does not explicitly prohibit it, but you must meet eligibility criteria for each post separately.

15. Will I get an admit card by post?

No, admit cards will only be available for download from the online application portal in March/April 2026.

Deep Dive: Stenographer Skill Test Evaluation

The Stenographer skill test follows a highly structured evaluation methodology that many candidates misunderstand during preparation. This test is not a simple typing speed check but a comprehensive assessment of your stenographic capabilities, accuracy, and professional competence.

The test begins with dictation at 80 words per minute. The examiner will read a passage continuously at this speed, and you must take it down in shorthand. The dictation portion tests your ability to capture spoken words accurately using shorthand symbols while maintaining pace with the speaker. Any hesitation, skipping, or inability to keep up affects your transcription quality.

After dictation concludes, you receive a specified time limit to transcribe your shorthand notes into typewritten text. For English transcription, you get 50 minutes to type out your notes. For Hindi transcription, you receive 65 minutes, acknowledging the slightly longer time required for Devanagari script typing. These time limits are strict and non-negotiable.

The evaluation methodology categorizes errors into two types: Full Mistakes and Half Mistakes. Full Mistakes include serious errors like omitting entire words, substituting wrong words that change meaning, or adding extra words that were not in the original dictation. Each Full Mistake carries more penalty weight in the scoring system.

Half Mistakes include spelling errors, incorrect capitalization, wrong punctuation, missing punctuation, or formatting issues. While these are less serious than Full Mistakes, they still impact your score. Excessive Half Mistakes indicate lack of attention to detail, which is unacceptable for stenographic work.

The scoring conversion follows a formula where your error percentage determines your marks. A candidate who commits no errors receives 100 marks. A candidate with 5 percent errors receives only 40 marks, which is just at the qualifying threshold. The marking curve is steep, meaning even small improvements in accuracy translate to significant mark increases.

This steep curve explains why accuracy must be your primary focus during preparation. Many candidates practice only for speed, training themselves to type faster without emphasis on error reduction. When they appear for the actual test, they type quickly but make numerous mistakes, resulting in poor scores despite completing transcription within time limits.

Proper nouns present particular challenges. Medical terms, drug names, anatomical terminology, and disease names commonly appear in NIMHANS-related passages. Incorrect spelling of these technical terms counts as Full Mistakes because they represent factual errors. Building a vocabulary of common medical and scientific terms is essential.

Keyboard familiarity matters significantly. The test specifies QWERTY keyboard for English transcription and Mangal font keyboard for Hindi transcription. If you practice on one keyboard layout and encounter a different layout during the actual test, your typing speed and accuracy will suffer. Practice exclusively on the keyboard types mentioned in the notification.

Formatting requirements often trip up candidates who focus solely on content. The transcribed text must follow proper business letter format if the passage is a letter, proper report format if it is a report, or proper note format if it is a note. Ignoring formatting instructions results in penalty deductions that lower your overall score.

Common Mistake: Candidates often assume they can correct errors during transcription time. While minor corrections are possible, extensive correction attempts waste valuable time and may not be completed within the allocated period. Developing accuracy from the dictation stage itself is more effective than relying on corrections during transcription.

Critical Importance of Certificate Validity and Format

Category certificates represent one of the primary reasons for rejection during NIMHANS recruitment document verification. Understanding the technical and legal requirements for these certificates is absolutely essential for candidates claiming reservations or fee concessions.

OBC-NCL certificates must satisfy multiple conditions simultaneously. First, the certificate must be based on the Central List of Other Backward Classes, not state lists. Many states maintain their own OBC lists that differ from the central government's list. A certificate issued based on the state list is completely invalid for central government recruitments, even if your caste appears in both lists.

Second, the certificate must explicitly state that you do not belong to the creamy layer. Creamy layer refers to the relatively affluent section within OBC communities who are excluded from reservation benefits. The certificate must confirm your non-creamy layer status as per current government guidelines. A certificate that only mentions your caste without addressing creamy layer status is insufficient.

Third, the certificate must be temporally valid for Financial Year 2025-26. The financial year runs from April 1 to March 31. A certificate issued in March 2025 for FY 2024-25 expires on March 31, 2025. On April 1, 2025, you need a fresh certificate for the new financial year, even if only one day has passed since your previous certificate was issued.

Fourth, the certificate must be in digital format with a QR code. This QR code links to government databases where the certificate's authenticity can be verified electronically. Paper certificates, even if genuine, lack this verification mechanism and are therefore invalid. PDF scans of paper certificates, even with digital signatures, do not satisfy the requirement unless they contain a functional QR code.

Fifth, the certificate must be issued by a competent authority. For OBC-NCL certificates, competent authorities typically include District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, or other revenue officers specifically authorized to issue such certificates in your district. Certificates from lower-level officials like Block Development Officers or Village Administrative Officers may not be accepted unless they hold specific authorization.

For EWS certificates, the validation rules are equally stringent. The certificate must be based on your family's gross annual income for Financial Year 2024-25. If you are applying in February 2026, your EWS certificate should show income for FY 2024-25 (April 2024 to March 2025) and be issued for FY 2025-26.

Income calculation includes salary income, business income, agricultural income, professional income, and other sources for all family members including parents, spouse, and minor children. The total family income must be below the prescribed threshold. Hiding any income source or providing incorrect income information constitutes fraud and can result in criminal prosecution beyond simple recruitment disqualification.

EWS certificates must also be in digital format with QR code, issued by District Magistrate or authorized revenue officers. Additionally, EWS category has certain exclusion criteria based on land holdings and property ownership. Even if your income is below the threshold, owning agricultural land above specified limits or residential property above specified dimensions disqualifies you from EWS benefits.

SC and ST certificates, while generally considered permanent, must still meet format requirements. They must be issued on proper letterhead by authorized authorities, clearly stating your caste name, whether it is Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, and which state you belong to. Some states have subdivisions within SC/ST categories, and your certificate must specify your exact subdivision if applicable.

The practical challenge for candidates is that these digital certificates with QR codes are relatively new requirements. Many district administrations are still transitioning to the new format. Long queues, administrative delays, and technical issues with QR code generation systems can cause significant delays in obtaining certificates.

You must initiate the certificate application process well in advance, ideally several months before the recruitment application deadline. Last-minute applications for certificates often result in delays that cause you to miss the recruitment deadline entirely. Government offices will not expedite certificate issuance just because you have a recruitment deadline approaching.

Common Mistake: Candidates sometimes submit old certificates they used for previous recruitments, assuming they remain valid. Each recruitment has specific requirements, and certificate validity rules change over time. Always verify that your certificate meets the current notification's requirements before submitting it.

Clarity Note - What to Do if Certificate has Errors: If you discover errors in your category certificate after receiving it, such as wrong name spelling, wrong date of birth, or wrong caste name, you must get it corrected immediately. Using an incorrect certificate during recruitment can lead to disqualification. Return to the issuing authority, point out the error, and request a fresh corrected certificate. This correction process can take additional time, reinforcing the importance of applying for certificates early.