The Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chatra North Forest Division, Jharkhand, has invited applications for three purely temporary, contractual research posts (1 Senior Research Fellow and 2 Junior Research Fellows) in the Research/Study Team preparing the Working Plan of the division under the National Working Plan Code (NWPC), 2023. The consolidated pay is ₹35,000 per month for the SRF and ₹30,000 per month for the JRF. Candidates need CSIR UGC NET/GATE and a postgraduate degree. Applications go by email or post to reach the office by 10:00 AM on 20 November 2026, and the walk-in interview is on 20 November 2026 at 11:00 AM at Van Bhavan, Chatra.
About Chatra North Forest Division
The Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chatra North Forest Division, is located at Van Bhavan, Chatra (Jharkhand) - 825401. The notice is signed by the Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Working Plan Officer. The research team will prepare the Working Plan of the division in accordance with the National Working Plan Code (NWPC), 2023. This is a government forest department engagement for a project, not a regular post.
Vacancy Details
The notice lists a tentative 3 posts, and the number of posts may increase or decrease.
The notice prints no category-wise break-up of these posts.
Who Can Apply
Senior Research Fellow (SRF)
- Experience: a minimum of two year's research experience, or a candidate pursuing Ph.D. in a relevant discipline.
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)
- No experience requirement is printed for this post.
The notice mentions no desirable qualification. For discipline-specific eligibility, candidates should check the official notification.
Pay and Tenure
The remuneration is consolidated and all-inclusive. No TA/DA, HRA, accommodation, food, medical expenses or any other allowance is admissible. Field travel specifically authorised in writing by the Divisional Forest Officer is reimbursed under applicable departmental norms.
The engagement is purely temporary and contractual, coterminous with the project and subject to satisfactory performance. Extension may be considered based on the progress of the Working Plan exercise. It may be terminated at any time for unsatisfactory performance, non-availability of funds or any other administrative reason. It gives no right to regularisation, permanent employment or continuation in service.
Activity timelines in the notice run from 2 to 4 months from commencement of each activity. Examples are field enumeration (4 months), biodiversity assessment (4 months), NTFP inventory (3 months) and forest carbon stock assessment (2 months).
Chatra North Forest Division Recruitment 2026 Job Description
The researchers assist in data collection, field surveys, analysis and documentation for the Working Plan. The studies include socio-economic survey, soil survey, biodiversity, NTFP including medicinal and aromatic plants, forest carbon stock, bamboo/rattan, soil erosion and watershed assessment, forest fire impact, wildlife habitat and human-wildlife conflict, and the impact of mining on forest areas. Work is in the interior forest areas of the division and, where required, the peripheral area adjoining the forest boundary for Trees Outside Forests.
Senior Research Fellow (SRF)
- Overall coordination and supervision of field teams and research activities in accordance with NWPC, 2023.
- Preparation of study designs, sampling frameworks and data-collection protocols.
- Analysis and interpretation of field data and preparation of thematic reports under the guidance of the DFO/Working Plan Officer (WPO).
- Compilation and maintenance of Division-level datasets, including compartment histories, growing-stock data and GIS layers, in the formats prescribed under NWPC, 2023.
- Maintenance of accurate records, registers and data repositories.
- Any other work assigned by the DFO(WPO) from time to time.
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)
- Conduct field surveys and collect data in accordance with approved format under NWPC, 2023.
- Undertake local community/stake holder interaction for socio-economic and NTFP assessments.
- Undertake soil sampling, botanical and zoological enumeration and biodiversity documentation.
- Compile, enter and validate field data.
- Assist the SRF in preparation of reports, maps and other project outputs/documents.
- Any other work assigned by the DFO(WPO)/SRF from time to time.
The Research Fellows are monitored and supervised by the Working Plan Officer-cum-DFO and submit a fortnightly progress report to the Divisional Forest Officer.
How to Apply for Chatra North Forest Division Recruitment 2026
- Prepare the application in the pro forma given as Annexure-A in the notice, with a passport-size photograph.
- Prepare your curriculum vitae (CV), scanned copies of educational and experience certificates, e-mail ID and mobile number.
- Email them to [email protected] or [email protected], clearly indicating the post applied for.
- Alternatively, send the application by post to the Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chatra North Forest Division, Van Bhavan, Chatra (Jharkhand) 825401.
- Make sure the application reaches by 10:00 AM on 20 November 2026. No application is entertained after the stipulated date and time.
- Eligible candidates may also appear in person for the Walk-in Interview with all requisite original documents and self-attested copies.
Documents named in the notice
- Duly filled application form in the prescribed pro forma.
- Self-attested copies of educational qualification and experience certificates.
- Original certificates, mark-sheets and experience certificates, produced at the time of interview and verification.
- One set of self-attested photocopies.
- A recent passport-size photograph.
- A valid photo identity document.
The Annexure-A form asks for name, gender, mobile number, date of birth, email ID, father's and mother's names, PAN, Aadhar (UID) number, correspondence and permanent addresses, educational qualification, work experience and a signed declaration.
For queries, write to [email protected] or [email protected], or call during office hours: Mr. Sunil Kumar 9097740294, Mr. Manish Kumar 7003187099, or 8987790214/9097740294. The office telephone number printed is 06541-296022. Detailed eligibility, remuneration and terms are said to be on https://forest.jharkhand.gov.in/.
Selection and Interview
The Walk-in Interview is on 20 November 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chatra North Forest Division, Van Bhavan, Chatra (Jharkhand) 825401. The notice gives the venue's GPS coordinates as 24.215506°N - 84.860053°E. Possessing the prescribed qualification gives no right to selection or engagement, and the Divisional Forest Officer's decision on selection and engagement is final. The selected candidate executes the prescribed undertaking, after which the engagement order is issued. The notice may be cancelled, postponed or modified at any stage without reason.
Important Instructions
- No TA/DA is admissible for attending the Walk-in Interview.
- The remuneration is all-inclusive; field travel is reimbursed only if authorised in writing by the Divisional Forest Officer.
- Data, maps, reports and other outputs remain the exclusive property of the Jharkhand Forest Department and are handed over in hard copy and editable soft copy.
- No data, photograph, map, report or finding may be published, shared or used for academic, commercial or any other purpose without prior written permission of the Divisional Forest Officer.
- Assets, software, images and instruments supplied by the Department must be handed over on completion of the assignment.
- The Department may terminate the engagement on one week's prior notice if timelines or responsibilities are not met; a selected candidate leaving must give at least 15 days' prior written notice.
- Roles and responsibilities may be modified from time to time, and the terms may be amended; any corrigendum forms part of the notice.
- Any false statement or concealment may make the candidature liable to cancellation or termination of engagement.
- Disputes fall under the courts at Chatra, Jharkhand.
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