The ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata, has announced recruitment and research engagement opportunities under its multi-institutional inland fisheries, wetland ecology, and riverine aquatic conservation projects for 2026. ICAR-CIFRI is India’s premier national institute dedicated to the sustainable management of inland open-water fisheries resources, including rivers, reservoirs, floodplains, estuaries, and wetlands.
Program Overview: Inland Fisheries Research Fellowships
Inland aquatic ecosystems across India are vital for nutritional security, rural livelihoods, and aquatic biodiversity. ICAR-CIFRI conducts comprehensive research across major river basins (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery), reservoirs, and Ramsar wetland sites. Selected research fellows and young professionals will actively participate in cutting-edge field sampling, environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, fish stock assessment, wetland eco-restoration, and GIS-based habitat mapping.
| Key Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata |
| Positions Available | Young Professional-I (YP-I), Young Professional-II (YP-II), Junior Research Fellows (JRF), and Project Associates |
| Core Research Areas | Riverine Fisheries, Floodplain Wetland Ecology, Fish Stock Assessment, Aquatic Ecosystem Health, Biofloc/RAS, Remote Sensing & GIS |
| Remuneration / Stipend | YP-I: ₹30,000/month (consolidated) YP-II: ₹42,000/month (consolidated) JRF/SRF: ₹37,000 – ₹42,000/month + HRA (as per ICAR/DST norms) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 45 years (relaxations applicable for SC/ST/OBC/Women candidates as per GoI rules) |
| Application Mode | Online application / Walk-in Interview notifications via official portal |
Priority Research Domains
- Riverine Ecosystem Health & River Ranching: Assessment of environmental flows, migratory fish corridors (e.g., Tenualosa ilisha), and fish stock replenishment across the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins.
- Floodplain Wetland (Beel/Pat) Ecology: Pen culture, cage culture interventions, macro-invertebrate dynamics, macrophyte management, and sustainable harvest strategies in wetland fisheries.
- Aquatic Biogeochemistry & Water Quality: Heavy metal kinetics, pesticide residues, microplastics assessment, nutrient cycling, and eutrophication control in inland open waters.
- Fish Biodiversity & Molecular Taxonomy: eDNA metabarcoding, genetic stock characterization, and molecular identification of vulnerable indigenous inland fish species.
- Geospatial Analysis & Catchment Modeling: Satellite remote sensing, digital elevation modeling, and GIS tools for mapping reservoir fisheries potential and wetland shrinkage.
Eligibility Criteria
Young Professional-I (YP-I)
- Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.), Aquaculture, Zoology, Marine Science, Environmental Science, or related aquatic life sciences from a recognized university.
- Prior exposure to fish sampling, aquatic water quality testing, or field surveys is desirable.
Young Professional-II (YP-II) & Project Associate
- Master’s degree in Fisheries Resource Management, Aquaculture, Aquatic Environment Management, Marine Biology, Zoology (Fisheries specialization), Biotechnology, or Environmental Science (M.F.Sc. / M.Sc.).
- Candidates with NET/GATE qualification and experience in statistical data analysis (R/Python), GIS/QGIS, or molecular biology techniques will be given preference.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should regularly monitor the official ICAR-CIFRI recruitment section for project-wise vacancy notifications, walk-in interview schedules, and application submission portals.
Official Website & Recruitment Portal: ICAR-CIFRI Official Website (cifri.res.in)
Direct Vacancy Section: Check the “Recruitment / Walk-in-Interview” section on the CIFRI home page for active downloadable notification PDFs and application proformas.