Wildlife Institute of India Recruitment 2026 – 11 Project Associate, Project Assistant & Other Posts
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has released a September 2026 recruitment advertisement for 11 project-based positions under various wildlife research projects. The recruitment is open to eligible Indian nationals for positions including Project Associate-I, Project Associate-II (Ecology), Senior Project Associate (Ecology), Principal Project Associate and Project Assistant.
The online application process starts on 24 September 2026 and closes on 8 October 2026. Interested candidates should check the project-specific educational qualification, experience, age limit and other requirements before applying.
Important: These are purely temporary project positions. Their tenure is linked to the duration of the respective research project and the positions will stand abolished after completion of the project.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
| Organization | Wildlife Institute of India (WII) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India |
| Advertisement No. | WII/ADVT. 1/RP–CELL/September, 2026 |
| Advertisement Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Total Positions | 11 |
| Post Categories | Project Associate-I, Project Associate-II (Ecology), Senior Project Associate (Ecology), Principal Project Associate and Project Assistant |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 24 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 8 October 2026 |
| Monthly Emoluments | ₹27,000 to ₹67,000 + HRA, depending on the post |
| Job Type | Temporary / Project Based |
| Official Website | wii.gov.in |
The official advertisement states that WII is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, and invites online applications from Indian nationals for 11 different categories of positions for various research projects.
WII Vacancy Details 2026
A total of 11 positions are available across four research projects. Candidates should carefully match the position with the essential qualification and experience mentioned in the official advertisement.
| Research Project / Position | No. of Posts |
|---|---|
|
Project 01 – Project Associate-I Integrated Study of Effects of Construction of Twin Tunnel on Wildlife of SGNP |
1 |
|
Project 02 – Principal Project Associate Bringing Back Cheetah in India |
1 |
| Project 02 – Senior Project Associate (Ecology) | 1 |
| Project 02 – Project Associate-II (Ecology) | 1 |
| Project 02 – Project Associate-I | 2 |
| Project 02 – Project Assistant | 2 |
|
Project 03 – Project Associate-I Long-term monitoring protocol for Amphibians, Reptiles and Fishes in Keoladeo National Park |
2 |
|
Project 04 – Project Assistant Movement ecology and population connectivity of Nicobar Megapode |
1 |
| Total | 11 |
Note: Similar post names occur under different research projects. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the exact project-specific eligibility and responsibilities.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Educational Qualification
The required qualification varies by project and position. Depending on the advertised post, eligible educational backgrounds include Natural Sciences, Wildlife Science, Zoology, Ecology, Marine Sciences, Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Geoinformatics, Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Forestry Sciences, Veterinary Science and specified Engineering/Technology disciplines.
- Four-year Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or related disciplines, wherever prescribed.
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences for applicable positions.
- Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science for specified Project Associate positions.
- Specified Engineering/Technology qualifications including Computer Science, Information Technology, Remote Sensing, GIS, Data, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication, AI Technology and Data Science for the Project Associate-II (Ecology) position.
- Three-year Diploma in Engineering for the applicable Project Assistant position.
Some positions also require relevant research or work experience after the qualifying degree. Therefore, candidates should not rely only on the general qualification list; the essential qualification for the specific project/position must be checked in the official notification.
Post-Wise Qualification & Experience
1. Project Associate-I – SGNP Twin Tunnel Project
- Four-year Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences or Forestry Sciences; OR
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences.
- Desirable experience includes wildlife field surveys, camera trapping, biodiversity assessment, ecological monitoring, GIS, remote sensing and data analysis.
- Experience in linear infrastructure projects, human-wildlife interactions, habitat assessment and report writing is desirable.
2. Principal Project Associate – Bringing Back Cheetah in India
- Four-year Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences, Agricultural or Forestry Sciences and 8 years of relevant R&D/scientific experience; OR
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences and 8 years of relevant R&D/scientific experience.
- Desirable areas include wildlife/ecology research, statistical analysis, spatial ecological modelling in R, project coordination, field data collection and research publications.
- The selected candidate will manage teams and plan/conduct field research, surveys, data analysis and report writing.
3. Senior Project Associate (Ecology)
- Four-year Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences, Agricultural or Forestry Sciences with four years of relevant experience; OR
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences with four years of relevant experience; OR
- Doctoral Degree in Science from a recognized institute/university.
- Relevant wildlife/ecology research, statistical analysis, spatial modelling, field research, project coordination and publications are desirable.
4. Project Associate-II (Ecology)
- Relevant four-year Bachelor's Degree with two years of relevant R&D/scientific experience; OR
- Relevant Master's Degree with two years of relevant R&D/scientific experience; OR
- Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science with two years of relevant experience; OR
- Specified Engineering/Technology degree with two years of relevant experience.
- Specified technical backgrounds include Computer Science, Information Technology, Remote Sensing, GIS, Data, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication, AI Technology and Data Science.
5. Project Associate-I – Bringing Back Cheetah in India
- Four-year Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences, Agricultural or Forestry Sciences; OR
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences; OR
- Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science; OR
- Specified Engineering/Technology qualification as mentioned in the advertisement.
- Relevant wildlife, ecology, field research, data analysis and project experience is desirable.
6. Project Assistant – Bringing Back Cheetah in India
- Bachelor's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences, Agricultural or Forestry Sciences; OR
- Three-year Diploma in Engineering.
- Prior field research, survey, team coordination and field activity experience is desirable.
- The work may involve arduous field work in remote locations with limited logistics.
7. Project Associate-I – Keoladeo National Park Project
- Master's Degree in relevant Natural Sciences or Agricultural Sciences; OR
- Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Science.
- Experience in biodiversity assessment, amphibian/fish surveys, field data collection, species identification and ecological monitoring is desirable.
- The position is primarily field-based and involves extensive travel to project sites.
8. Project Assistant – Nicobar Megapode Project
- Bachelor's Degree in relevant Science disciplines including Wildlife Science, Zoology, Ecology, Marine Science, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Geoinformatics, Life Sciences, Agricultural or Forestry Sciences.
- Curiosity for ecological research and willingness to undertake arduous field work in remote locations across the Nicobar Islands is desirable.
- Candidates with a Master's Degree will be preferred.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Salary / Monthly Emoluments
| Position | Monthly Emoluments |
|---|---|
| Principal Project Associate | ₹67,000 + HRA |
| Senior Project Associate (Ecology) | ₹57,000 + HRA |
| Project Associate-II (Ecology) |
₹42,000 + HRA for NET/GATE qualified candidates; ₹33,000 + HRA for non-NET/GATE candidates |
| Project Associate-I |
₹37,000 + HRA for NET/GATE qualified candidates; ₹30,000 + HRA for non-NET/GATE candidates |
| Project Assistant | ₹27,000 + HRA |
The applicable monthly emoluments depend on the particular project position and, where specified, NET/GATE qualification.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Age Limit
- Maximum age for most advertised positions: 50 years.
- Project Associate-I under the SGNP Twin Tunnel project: 35 years.
- Project Associate-I under the Keoladeo National Park project: 35 years as on the last date of application.
Applicable Government of India age relaxation rules will apply. The notification specifies relaxation of up to 5 years for SC/ST candidates and up to 3 years for OBC candidates, subject to the applicable rules and supporting documents.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Application Fee
General Category: ₹500 application fee.
SC/ST/OBC/EWS and Physically Challenged (PC): Exempted from the ₹500 application fee, but required to pay ₹100 as Application Processing Fee.
The applicable fee/processing fee is non-refundable. Candidates must upload the payment receipt with the online application.
Candidates should follow the payment instructions in the official advertisement and retain the payment receipt for their records.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Important Dates
| Advertisement Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 24 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 8 October 2026 |
Candidates should complete the online application before the closing date and avoid waiting until the final day.
WII Recruitment 2026 – Selection Process
WII will shortlist candidates for an online interview based on the prescribed screening criteria. The notification states that shortlisting may consider essential qualification, age limit, percentage of marks in Bachelor's/Master's Degree, specialization relevance, research experience and publications.
Screening Criteria
- Field / Lab / Project Assistant: 25 marks for Bachelor's Degree percentage + 25 marks for project-relevant specialization = 50 marks.
- Project Associate-I: 25 marks for Master's Degree percentage + 25 marks for project-relevant specialization = 50 marks.
- Project Associate-II / Senior Project Associate / Principal Project Associate: UGC/CSIR/ICAR NET with JRFship/WI-INET – 5 marks; Post-Graduation – 25 marks; Research/Work Experience – 10 marks; Publications – 10 marks; Total – 50 marks.
Mere fulfilment of the minimum advertised qualification and experience does not automatically entitle a candidate to an interview.
Based on the stated screening criteria, the notification says that the top 10 shortlisted candidates for each respective advertised project/position will be called for interview. A duly constituted Selection Committee will conduct the recruitment process.
Who Can Apply?
The recruitment may be relevant to candidates with educational backgrounds in areas such as:
- Wildlife Science
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Marine Science / Marine Biology
- Life Sciences
- Forestry
- Agricultural Sciences
- Geoinformatics
- Veterinary Science
- Relevant Engineering and Technology disciplines
Eligibility is project-specific. Candidates should match their exact degree, specialization and experience with the essential qualification for the position they intend to apply for.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep scanned copies of the required documents ready before starting the online application. Depending on the position and category, these may include:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Digital signature
- Educational qualification certificates
- Mark sheets
- Experience certificates / proof of research experience
- Reserved category certificate, wherever applicable
- UGC/CSIR/ICAR NET or other qualifying examination proof, wherever applicable
- Research publications and supporting documents, wherever applicable
- Application / processing fee payment receipt
- Other supporting documents required for the selected position
Incomplete applications without required proof of age, qualification, experience, photograph, signature or applicable fee receipt may be rejected.
How to Apply for WII Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official WII recruitment website.
- Open the September 2026 recruitment advertisement for the 11 project positions.
- Read the complete official notification carefully.
- Select the project/position that matches your educational qualification and experience.
- Open the WII-RP Cell online application portal.
- Enter your personal, educational and experience details accurately.
- Upload the required certificates, photograph, signature and supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable application/processing fee as instructed.
- Upload the payment receipt.
- Review the complete application before submission.
- Submit the application before 8 October 2026.
- Save or download the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.
Important Things Candidates Should Check
- Check the exact project and position before applying.
- Verify your educational qualification against the essential qualification.
- Check whether relevant research/work experience is mandatory for your position.
- Check the applicable age limit.
- Check whether NET/GATE qualification changes the applicable monthly emoluments.
- Prepare scanned certificates and mark sheets before starting the application.
- Upload the applicable payment receipt.
- If applying for two positions, submit separate applications and supporting documents for each.
- Current WII project workers/PhD scholars should check the NOC requirement.
- Do not wait until the final date to submit the application.
- Keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
WII Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
1. How many vacancies are available in WII Recruitment 2026?
WII has advertised 11 project-based positions under various research projects.
2. When does the WII online application start?
The online application process starts on 24 September 2026.
3. What is the last date to apply for WII Recruitment 2026?
The last date for online applications is 8 October 2026.
4. What is the salary in WII Recruitment 2026?
Monthly emoluments range from ₹27,000 to ₹67,000 + HRA, depending on the position and applicable qualification.
5. What qualifications are required for WII project posts?
Qualifications vary by project and position. Relevant Bachelor's, Master's, Veterinary Science and specified Engineering/Technology qualifications are included in the advertisement.
6. What is the maximum age limit?
The maximum age is generally 50 years for several advertised positions, while specified Project Associate-I positions have a maximum age of 35 years.
7. Is WII Recruitment 2026 permanent?
No. These advertised positions are purely temporary and project-based. They are linked to the duration of the respective research project.
8. What is the WII application fee?
General candidates have to pay ₹500. SC/ST/OBC/EWS and PC candidates are exempt from the application fee but have to pay ₹100 as application processing fee.
9. How will candidates be selected?
Applications will be screened using the criteria specified by WII, followed by an online interview for shortlisted candidates. The notification states that the top 10 candidates against each respective advertised project/position will be called for interview based on the stated screening criteria.
10. Can I apply for more than one WII position?
Yes. A candidate may apply for a maximum of two advertised positions, provided they meet the respective eligibility requirements. Separate online forms, documents and applicable application/processing fee are required for each position.
Official Links
🔗 WII Official Recruitment Page:
https://www.wii.gov.in/recruitments
🔗 WII-RP Cell Online Application Portal:
https://wiirp.com/application.php
🔗 WII Official Website:
https://www.wii.gov.in/
Final Words
Wildlife Institute of India Recruitment 2026 provides 11 temporary research-project opportunities across wildlife ecology, biodiversity monitoring, field research and related scientific activities. The positions have different educational qualifications, experience requirements, age limits and monthly emoluments.
Candidates should carefully identify the project that matches their academic background and experience before submitting the application. Since the online application window opens on 24 September 2026 and closes on 8 October 2026, eligible candidates should complete the application within the prescribed period.
For the latest and legally authoritative information, candidates should always refer to the official WII recruitment advertisement and application portal before submitting their application.
Disclaimer: WayTwoJobs provides recruitment information for educational and informational purposes. Candidates should verify the official notification, eligibility conditions, dates, fees, selection process and other requirements from the Wildlife Institute of India before applying. WayTwoJobs is not responsible for changes, cancellations, corrections or discrepancies arising from the recruiting organization.
Article updated: September 2026
