The Digha Regional Station of ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) is hiring one Young Professional-I (YP-I) at ₹30,000 a month — and the window is short. Applications close on Thursday, 19 November 2026, and the interview is held online, so you can apply from anywhere in India without travelling to West Bengal first.
The post is for the project “Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to inform management decisions for marine fisheries of Odisha and West Bengal (SFD/IAF/12)”. In plain terms, the selected candidate will help collect and analyse the field data that fisheries managers use to decide how the marine fisheries of two east-coast states are run. If you are a fisheries or zoology graduate with field experience, this is a genuine, paid research opening at India’s premier marine fisheries institute — not a training seat, and not an unpaid internship.
The notification (F.No.3-1/2022-23/DRS) was issued on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, giving candidates just over two weeks to apply. Do not wait until the last evening: the notice says applications received after 19 November will not be considered, and it does not print a closing time for that day.
The vacancy at a glance
| Institute | Digha Regional Station, ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Ramnagar, West Bengal |
|---|---|
| Post | Young Professional-I (YP-I) — 1 vacancy |
| Advertisement | F.No.3-1/2022-23/DRS, dated 4 November 2026 |
| Project | Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to inform management decisions for marine fisheries of Odisha and West Bengal (SFD/IAF/12) |
| Pay | ₹30,000 per month (consolidated, as per ICAR guidelines) |
| Place of work | Digha Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI, Ramnagar, West Bengal |
| Duration | Purely contractual — 1 year from the date of joining, or till termination of the project, whichever is earlier |
| Age limit | Minimum 21 years; maximum 45 years, with relaxation as per rules (age counted on 1 October 2026) |
| How to apply | Email only — to digharscmfri@gmail.com |
| Last date to apply | Thursday, 19 November 2026 |
| Interview | Online — date and time intimated by email to shortlisted candidates only |
What the job actually involves
The notification does not ask for a postgraduate degree or a NET qualification. It asks for a graduate degree plus relevant experience in the majority of the following fields — so you do not need every single one, but you need most of them, with proof:
- Feeding and reproductive biology of marine finfish and shellfish species
- Marine finfish and shellfish species identification
- Marine fisheries data collection
- Prior experience in research projects
- Data entry, data mining, compilation, tabulation and analysis
Two conditions in the notice deserve attention, because they describe the real working life of the post. First, the candidate should be willing to undertake field sampling during sea-going expeditions — this is not a desk-only job; you will go out on boats and collect samples at sea. Second, the candidate should be willing to travel to various locations for field sampling activities — the project covers the marine fisheries of Odisha and West Bengal, so the fieldwork moves along the coast.
That combination — a graduate degree, hands-on fish biology and identification skills, and a willingness to work at sea — is exactly what the project needs. The Integrated Assessment Framework the project is building is only as good as the data fed into it, and that data comes from landing centres, fishing grounds and research cruises along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
Who can apply
| Condition | What the notification says |
|---|---|
| Essential qualification | Graduate degree (any discipline named as “Graduates” — no specific degree stream printed in the notice) |
| Essential experience | Relevant experience in the majority of the fields listed above, with proof attached |
| Age | 21 to 45 years, with relaxation as per rules; age counted on 1 October 2026 |
| Duration | 1 year from joining or till the project ends, whichever is earlier |
| Nature of engagement | Purely temporary, contractual, co-terminus with the project — no claim for regular appointment at ICAR-CMFRI |
| Fee | No application fee is mentioned in the notification |
| TA/DA | No TA/DA will be paid for appearing for the online interview |
Note what the notification does not ask for: there is no minimum percentage printed, no NET/GATE requirement, and no demand for a postgraduate degree. What it does demand is proof — scanned originals of every certificate from the 10th standard onwards, plus experience certificates. Without those certificates, the notice says plainly, applicants will not be allowed to appear for the online interview.
If your marks were issued as CGPA or OGPA, carry the approved conversion table or formula — the notification says candidates who cannot produce it at the time of reporting for interview will not have their candidature considered.
How to apply — step by step
- Download the official notification and the Annexure-I and Annexure-II forms from the Career section of cmfri.org.in. The Digha YP-I notice is listed there with issue date 4 November 2026 and closing date 19 November 2026.
- Fill Annexure-I — the application form. It asks for your name in block letters, father’s or husband’s name, category (SC/ST/OBC/General), date of birth, age on 1 October 2026, sex, present and permanent address, email ID and mobile numbers, educational qualifications from 10th class onwards with subjects, percentage or OGPA, division and year of passing, and details of working or professional experience with proof.
- Fill Annexure-II — the declaration about relatives working at ICAR or CMFRI. Everyone must furnish it: if a near or distant relative is an ICAR/CMFRI employee, declare their name, designation, nature of duties and relationship in writing; if none, declare that too. The declaration must reach the station by email on or before 19 November 2026 — the notice warns that a candidate who declares a relative only on the interview date will not be interviewed.
- Scan your original certificates from 10th standard onwards, along with your biodata and experience proofs, and your signed Annexure-I and Annexure-II.
- Email everything to digharscmfri@gmail.com on or before Thursday, 19 November 2026. Concealing facts or canvassing in any form leads to disqualification or termination, the notice says.
- Wait for the email. Only shortlisted candidates who receive an official email will be told the date and time of the online interview. No interview date is printed in the notification itself, so do not travel anywhere — and do not assume you are shortlisted until that email arrives.
Carry one valid ID proof at the time of the interview. If you are currently employed, you will need a No Objection Certificate from your present employer. The competent authority can terminate the engagement without assigning any reason at any time, and the Director, ICAR-CMFRI, is the final authority on all matters — both points are stated in the notification’s terms and conditions.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification issued | Wednesday, 4 November 2026 (F.No.3-1/2022-23/DRS) |
| Last date to email application, certificates and declarations | Thursday, 19 November 2026 |
| Online interview | Date and time intimated by email to shortlisted candidates only |
| Age counted as on | 1 October 2026 |
Why this post is worth applying for
Three things make this opening stand out from the usual run of short-term project posts.
First, the work is core fisheries science, not office support. Feeding and reproductive biology, species identification, marine fisheries data collection and sea-going sampling are the skills a fisheries researcher is actually hired for later — in ICAR institutes, in state fisheries departments, and in PhD programmes. A year on this project builds a CV that reads as research experience, not as clerical work.
Second, the interview is online. Many ICAR walk-ins require you to appear in person at the station, which means travel, stay and a day off work for a single post. Here the first — and only — stage is an online interview, so the cost of applying is just the time to assemble your documents properly.
Third, the project itself is about management decisions. An Integrated Assessment Framework is the bridge between raw catch and biology data and the rules that govern a fishery — seasons, gears, protected areas, quotas. Working on one puts you inside the science-policy loop of Indian marine fisheries, which is exactly the experience that strengthens later applications for JRF, SRF, PhD and regular ICAR posts.
The honest limits are equally clear. The post is contractual for one year, or less if the project ends sooner. It gives no claim to a regular appointment at ICAR-CMFRI or any other ICAR institute, and services stand terminated automatically when the project ends. The number of vacancies may also vary depending on project requirements on the date of interview — the notification says so. Treat it as a one-year research contract with real fieldwork, and it is a strong opportunity; treat it as a back door to a permanent job, and it is not.
What not to get wrong
- Do not miss the documents. The notice is explicit: without scanned originals from 10th standard onwards, you will not be allowed to appear for the interview. Send them with the application, not after.
- Do not skip Annexure-II. The relative-declaration is compulsory for every candidate, including those with no relative at ICAR/CMFRI, and it must reach the station by 19 November 2026.
- Do not assume a closing time. The notification says “on or before 19.11.2026” with no hour printed. Send your email well within the day — ideally a day early.
- Do not pay anyone. No fee is mentioned in the notification, and there is no agent or middleman in the process. The only address that matters is digharscmfri@gmail.com, and the only authoritative source is the notification on cmfri.org.in.
- Do not confuse this with other CMFRI YP-I calls. CMFRI has advertised several YP-I posts at different stations in November 2026 — Calicut and Karwar for the Black Seabream project, Veraval for mesopelagic fish, and Kochi headquarters for other projects. Each has its own advertisement number, deadline, email address and interview date. This post is the Digha station call only: F.No.3-1/2022-23/DRS, email digharscmfri@gmail.com, last date 19 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for the CMFRI Digha YP-I post?
Thursday, 19 November 2026. Email your application form (Annexure I & II), biodata and scanned certificates to digharscmfri@gmail.com on or before that date.
What is the salary for the CMFRI Digha Young Professional-I?
₹30,000 per month, consolidated, as per ICAR guidelines. No HRA or other allowance is mentioned in the notification.
Do I need a postgraduate degree?
No. The essential qualification is a graduate degree, plus relevant experience in the majority of the listed fields — feeding and reproductive biology, species identification, marine fisheries data collection, research-project experience, and data handling.
Is the interview online or in person?
Online. The date and time are intimated by email to shortlisted candidates only. No TA/DA is paid.
Where is the place of work?
Digha Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI, Ramnagar, West Bengal.
Is this a permanent government job?
No. It is purely temporary and contractual for one year from joining, or till the project ends, whichever is earlier. It carries no claim to regular appointment at ICAR-CMFRI.
What is the age limit?
Minimum 21 years and maximum 45 years, with relaxation as per rules. Age is counted as on 1 October 2026.
What is the IAF project about?
“Science for Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) to inform management decisions for marine fisheries of Odisha and West Bengal.” The project builds an assessment framework from field and biological data so that management decisions for the marine fisheries of the two states rest on evidence.
Related fisheries opportunities on Fisheries India
- ₹30,000/Month: CMFRI Calicut Hiring — Apply by Nov 19 — ICAR-CMFRI’s Calicut station is hiring one YP-I for its black seabream farming project, same pay, same deadline day.
- CMFRI Karwar YP-I Job: ₹30,000/Month, Apply by Nov 20 — the Karwar station’s YP-I call under the same National Priority Project, with applications closing a day later.
- ₹42,000/Month at NBFGR — Walk In on Nov 27! — ICAR-NBFGR Lucknow is hiring one Young Professional-II at ₹42,000 a month for its antimicrobial-resistance project, with a walk-in interview on 27 November 2026.
- 97 Fisheries Posts in 1,393 ICAR Jobs — Apply by Dec 17 — for candidates who want a permanent post: 97 of the 1,393 ASRB Technical Assistant posts are reserved for Fisheries Science graduates, with online applications closing 17 December 2026.
Fact-check note: every date, figure and eligibility condition in this post was verified on 15 November 2026 against the official ICAR-CMFRI notification (F.No.3-1/2022-23/DRS, dated 4 November 2026) hosted on cmfri.org.in, read in full. The last date — Thursday, 19 November 2026 — is still in the future at the time of publishing. The official notification is the only authoritative source: check it on cmfri.org.in before applying, and do not rely on any summary, including this one, for the final details.
Note: the images in this post are illustrations created for this article, not photographs of the Digha station or its staff.