CDS Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Professor Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 3 Faculty Posts

Vacancies: 3 · Posts: 1 designation · Type: Regular Government Service · Mode: Online · Fee: Not mentioned · Apply: 11 Sep–30 Oct 2026 · Salary: Academic Level 10 (₹57,700 entry, 7th CPC) · Selection: Shortlisting + Presentation + Interview · Location: Thiruvananthapuram

Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram, has reopened the faculty pipeline after tightening the marks-relaxation wording on 23 September 2026. Faculty Recruitment 02/2026, dated 11 September 2026, seeks three Assistant Professors — 2 Unreserved and 1 Person with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) — on Academic Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Matrix.

CDS is an autonomous social science research institution under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Government of India, and the Department of Planning and Economic Affairs, Government of Kerala. Its M.A. and PhD degrees in Applied Economics and Economics are awarded by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 5:00 PM on the CDS Samarth portal. Selected faculty are expected to join in the first week of January 2027. There is no written exam. Shortlisting is followed by a presentation and interview.

⚠️ Application Alerts

• The PhD must already be awarded. The form asks for a scanned PhD degree certificate. A submitted thesis or a “result awaited” status is not treated as the advertised qualification.
• One of the three seats is a PwBD reserved vacancy. The 23 September 2026 corrigendum requires a valid Disability Certificate / UDID (or other prescribed certificate) showing the nature and percentage of disability. A claim without that certificate is not enough.
• The live form sits on cdsrec.samarth.edu.in, not on the jobs listing page. Saving a draft on cds.edu/jobs/ is not an application.

📋 Official Source Chain

• Official notice: Faculty Recruitment 02/2026, dated 11 September 2026 — Download CDS Faculty Recruitment 2026 PDF
• Addendum/Corrigendum dated 23 September 2026 — Download CDS Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 Corrigendum PDF
• Official application route: Online on the CDS Samarth portal at cdsrec.samarth.edu.in, reached via the CDS jobs page
• Official updates page: cds.edu/jobs
• Last checked: 27 September 2026, 10:36 PM IST

Also Read: NARIP Cheruthuruthy Senior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 – 1 Pharmacology Post

Who Should Apply?

• PhD (awarded) in Economics / Statistics / Demography, or in a Social Science subject working on development issues + Master’s with at least 55% marks + at least 1 publication in Development Economics / Development Studies in a UGC-approved or SCOPUS-indexed journal → Assistant Professor – 3 posts (2 UR + 1 PwBD)
• PwBD candidates with the same academic and publication conditions, plus a valid Disability Certificate / UDID showing nature and percentage of disability → the 1 PwBD reserved seat (and the 5% marks relaxation at Bachelor’s and Master’s, as amended on 23 September 2026)
• SC / ST / OBC-NCL candidates meeting the same PhD and publication conditions may use the 5% marks relaxation at Bachelor’s and Master’s (55% becomes 50% on qualifying marks only, with no grace marks), as inserted by the corrigendum. That relaxation is not a reserved vacancy for those categories in this advertisement. The printed split remains 2 UR + 1 PwBD.
• Indian nationals abroad with the same qualifications may apply. If shortlisted, the interview may be held by video conference on the same day as campus interviews.
• Serving employees of Government / PSUs / Boards / Autonomous Bodies may apply, but must produce a No Objection Certificate and Vigilance Clearance at the presentation and interview if those papers were not uploaded with the form.
• Preferred teaching fields (not a separate eligibility route): Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Econometrics, Statistics, Demography, Environmental Economics, Agricultural Economics, Public Finance, and Topics in Development Economics at Master’s and PhD levels, plus doctoral supervision.

Because the notice uses “any Social Science subjects who work in issues related to development,” candidates whose degree title sits outside Economics, Statistics or Demography should obtain written confirmation from CDS rather than assume equivalence.

Who cannot apply

• Persons who are not Indian nationals
• Applicants whose PhD is not yet awarded
• Applicants with no publication in Development Economics / Development Studies in a UGC-approved or SCOPUS-indexed journal
• Applicants claiming the PwBD seat without a valid disability certificate as specified in the corrigendum

Important Dates

📢 Corrigendum (23 September 2026): Vacancies stay at 3 (2 UR + 1 PwBD). Deadline is unchanged. What changed is marks relaxation and the PwBD certificate rule. Already applied? No fresh form is required solely because of this addendum. If you become eligible only after the expanded 5% relaxation, you can still apply until 30 October 2026.

Quick Overview – CDS Assistant Professor 2026

• Organisation: Centre for Development Studies (CDS)
• Sector: Teaching & Education
• Recruitment / Exam Name: CDS Faculty Recruitment 2026 (Assistant Professor)
• Notification / Advertisement No.: Faculty Recruitment 02/2026
• Post / Trade / Exam Name(s): Assistant Professor
• Total vacancies: 3 (1 designation)
• Job Location / Exam Centre: CDS campus, Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala
• Job Type / Nature: Regular Government Service – faculty appointment at an autonomous ICSSR institution on Academic Level 10
• Approx. Salary: Academic Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Matrix (entry basic ₹57,700 in the standard UGC academic matrix)
• Apply / Register Between: Open now to 30 October 2026, 5:00 PM
• Apply Online: Apply online for CDS Assistant Professor 2026 on the Samarth portal
• Notification PDF: Download CDS Faculty Recruitment 2026 PDF
• Official Portal: https://cds.edu/jobs/

What Posts Are Available? – CDS Vacancy & Eligibility 2026

CDS is hiring a single designation. Two of the three seats are Unreserved. One seat is reserved for PwBD. Teaching preference is listed in the notice; it is not a second post.

The rare seat here is the single PwBD vacancy. Open-market UR applicants are competing for two seats only. Preference language in the notice points to candidates who can teach core applied-economics papers and supervise doctoral work in a multicultural research setting.

Eligibility – Education, Age & Domicile

1. Educational Qualification

• Essential: PhD (awarded) in Economics, Statistics or Demography, or in any Social Science subject where the candidate works on development issues.
• Master’s: at least 55% marks, or an equivalent grade on a point scale where a grading system is followed.
• Corrigendum relaxation: 5% at Bachelor’s and Master’s for SC / ST / OBC-NCL and PwBD, for eligibility and for assessing good academic record. The 55% / relaxed 50% test uses qualifying marks only. Grace marks are not counted.
• Publication: at least 1 paper in Development Economics or Development Studies in a UGC-approved journal or a SCOPUS-indexed journal.

2. Nationality & Domicile

Only Indian nationals need to apply. Applications from Indian nationals abroad will also be considered. No Kerala domicile condition is printed in this notice.

3. What Is the Age Limit?

The official notification does not print a numerical age band or an age cut-off date. Do not assume a standard UGC “40 years” cap from other university advertisements. Date-of-birth proof is still a mandatory upload.

Examples:

• ✅ Eligibility by age cannot be computed from Faculty Recruitment 02/2026, because no maximum age or cut-off date is printed.
• ❌ A candidate should not treat “UGC 40 years” as CDS’s rule for this cycle. That figure is not in this advertisement.

Use our Age Eligibility Calculator to check instantly against any later official cut-off CDS may publish.

4. Additional Eligibility

• Ability to work in a multicultural research environment (stated in the notice).
• PwBD applicants must upload the certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format, as restated in the corrigendum.
• CDS strongly encourages qualified women candidates to apply.

5. Higher Qualification / Experience Rules

No minimum years of teaching or research experience are printed for Assistant Professor. Teaching-area preference and doctoral-supervision capacity are stated as preferences, not as a second mandatory gate.

6. Reservation & PwBD Suitability (Summary)

• Printed vacancy split: 2 UR + 1 PwD / PwBD.
• SC / ST / OBC-NCL receive marks relaxation under the corrigendum. This notice does not print separate SC, ST or OBC vacancy numbers.
• PwBD suitability by disability type is not itemised post-wise. Candidates should confirm from the disability certificate rules cited in the corrigendum and from CDS if their specific disability category is accepted for this faculty role.
• Reservation certificates must follow UGC regulations and Government of India norms applicable on the last date of application.

What Is the Assistant Professor Salary in Thiruvananthapuram?

The notice names entry-level Academic Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Matrix. It does not print the rupee cell. The standard UGC academic matrix for Level 10 starts at ₹57,700 and runs to ₹1,82,400.

Simplified Monthly Salary Slip (Indicative In-Hand)

Figures below are an illustrative estimate for a Thiruvananthapuram (Y-class, 20% HRA) posting, using confirmed central DA of 60% from 1 January 2026 (Finance Ministry OM dated 22 April 2026). A July 2026 DA revision was still awaiting a Cabinet order when this page was checked. CDS service rules will decide the exact allowances.

Income tax depends on your total annual income from all sources. Do not treat the last row as guaranteed take-home.

Calculate a location-adjusted estimate with our 7th CPC Salary Calculator. Use the conversion and pay-fixation method in the appointment order. This calculator is indicative. Official CDS / UGC pay fixation prevails.

✅ Confirmed in the notice: Academic Level 10, 7th Central Pay Matrix, entry-level Assistant Professor. ❓ Not specified in the notice: exact rupee cell, DA percentage payable by CDS, HRA classification used by CDS, NPS or pension label, probation pay, or any hostel/canteen guarantee.

What Is the Application Fee?

Application Fee: Not mentioned in Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 or in the 23 September 2026 corrigendum.

Do not pay anyone who claims to collect a “CDS faculty fee” on WhatsApp or over the phone. If the Samarth form later displays a payment step, follow only the amount shown on cdsrec.samarth.edu.in.

How to Apply for Assistant Professor 2026? (Step-by-Step)

1. Open the CDS jobs page and then start the live form on the CDS Samarth application portal (open until 30 October 2026, 5:00 PM).
2. Register with a working email and mobile number. Keep the login details.
3. Fill the prescribed online format with complete and correct information.
4. Upload self-attested scanned copies: PG degree certificate and mark/grade sheets; PhD degree certificate; proof of date of birth; PwD / PwBD certificate if claiming that seat or the related relaxation; valid caste/category certificate if claiming the corrigendum relaxation.
5. Resize photo and signature files if the portal rejects the upload. Use our Photo & Signature Resizer.
6. Serving Government / PSU / Board / Autonomous employees should upload NOC and Vigilance Clearance if available, or keep both ready for the presentation and interview.
7. Submit the form before 5:00 PM on 30 October 2026. Save the acknowledgement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Treating cds.edu/jobs as the application itself. That page hosts the PDF. The form is on cdsrec.samarth.edu.in.
• Uploading a PhD submission letter instead of the awarded degree certificate.
• Claiming the PwBD seat, or the 5% marks relaxation, without the certificate named in the corrigendum.
• Assuming a Social Science degree automatically equals “development-related” work. Get written confirmation from CDS if your title is outside Economics, Statistics or Demography.
• Canvassing. The notice treats canvassing in any form as a disqualification.

സിഡിഎസ് തിരുവനന്തപുരം അസിസ്റ്റന്റ് പ്രൊഫസർ റിക്രൂട്ട്‌മെന്റ് 2026 – 3 ഫാക്കൽറ്റി ഒഴിവുകൾക്ക് ഓൺലൈൻ അപേക്ഷ

സെന്റർ ഫോർ ഡെവലപ്‌മെന്റ് സ്റ്റഡീസ് (CDS), തിരുവനന്തപുരം, അസിസ്റ്റന്റ് പ്രൊഫസർ ഒഴിവിലേക്ക് Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 പ്രകാരം മൂന്ന് തസ്തികകൾ ക്ഷണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. രണ്ട് സീറ്റ് അൺറിസർവ്‌ഡ് ആണ്. ഒന്ന് PwBD സംവരണമാണ്. അവസാന തീയതി 30 ഒക്ടോബർ 2026, വൈകുന്നേരം 5:00. തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെടുന്നവർ 2027 ജനുവരി ആദ്യ വാരത്തിൽ ചേരണമെന്നാണ് നോട്ടീസ്.

ആർക്ക് അപേക്ഷിക്കാം? ഇക്കണോമിക്‌സ്, സ്റ്റാറ്റിസ്റ്റിക്‌സ്, ഡെമോഗ്രഫി, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വികസന വിഷയങ്ങളിൽ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന സോഷ്യൽ സയൻസ് വിഷയത്തിൽ ലഭിച്ച പിഎച്ച്.ഡി വേണം. മാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സിൽ 55% മാർക്ക് വേണം. 23 സെപ്റ്റംബർ 2026-ലെ തിരുത്തൽ പ്രകാരം SC / ST / OBC-NCL, PwBD വിഭാഗങ്ങൾക്ക് ബാച്ചിലേഴ്‌സിലും മാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സിലും 5% ഇളവ് ഉണ്ട്. ഡെവലപ്‌മെന്റ് ഇക്കണോമിക്‌സ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഡെവലപ്‌മെന്റ് സ്റ്റഡീസിൽ UGC അംഗീകൃത അല്ലെങ്കിൽ SCOPUS ജേണലിൽ ഒരു പ്രസിദ്ധീകരണമെങ്കിലും വേണം.

ശമ്പളവും തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പും എന്താണ്? ശമ്പളം ഏഴാം ശമ്പള കമ്മീഷൻ അക്കാദമിക് ലെവൽ 10 ആണ്. രേഖാമൂലമുള്ള പരീക്ഷയില്ല. ഷോർട്ട്‌ലിസ്റ്റ്, പ്രസന്റേഷൻ, ഇന്റർവ്യൂ. ടിഎ / ഡിഎ നൽകില്ല. പി.എച്ച്.ഡി ഇതുവരെ ലഭിച്ചിട്ടില്ലെങ്കിൽ ഈ നോട്ടീസിലെ യോഗ്യത പാലിക്കുന്നില്ല.

എങ്ങനെ അപേക്ഷിക്കും? cdsrec.samarth.edu.in വഴി ഓൺലൈൻ അപേക്ഷ നൽകുക. വിവരങ്ങൾ cds.edu/jobs-ൽ ലഭ്യമാണ്. സംശയങ്ങൾക്ക് 0471-2774277 അല്ലെങ്കിൽ facultyrecruitment2026@cds.edu. പണം ഫോണിൽ ആരോടും കൊടുക്കരുത്.

How Are Candidates Selected?

No written examination is mentioned in Faculty Recruitment 02/2026. Selection is a staged process, not “interview equals appointment.”

1. Online application and document upload on the Samarth portal by 30 October 2026, 5:00 PM.
2. Shortlisting. CDS “reserves the right to shortlist a smaller number of applicants from those who fulfil the minimum advertised conditions.” Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a call.
3. Presentation and interview. No TA/DA is paid. Indian nationals abroad, if shortlisted, may attend by video conference on the same day as other applicants.
4. Document verification of originals at the presentation/interview stage, including category and PwBD certificates where claimed.
5. Selection committee decision, which the notice states will be final.
6. Offer and joining targeted for the first week of January 2027. CDS also reserves the right to keep a post vacant if no suitable candidate is found.

Your publication record and ability to teach the listed Master’s / PhD papers will matter before you reach the interview room. There is no published marks split between presentation and interview.

Why Does CDS Thiruvananthapuram Matter?

Centre for Development Studies is a specialist applied-development-economics campus in Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram. It sits under ICSSR and the Kerala Planning Department, and it runs JNU-awarded M.A. and Ph.D. programmes. Explore more CDS recruitment notifications and other Kerala government and autonomous jobs.

Faculty here work on research themes in development economics while teaching a small, research-heavy student cohort. That mix is why economists search “CDS faculty recruitment” and “CDS Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Professor” rather than a generic college listing.

The honest downside is scale and process risk. Three seats, a closed shortlist, and a presentation with no TA/DA mean a long preparation cycle for a very small offer pool. Add that the Centre can leave a post vacant. Candidates who need a high-volume, exam-mark path will find this campus quieter than a state university mass recruitment.

Why Candidates Search

Job-seekers look up CDS because the institute is a named stop on the development-economics research map in India, alongside places such as ISEC Bengaluru and IGIDR Mumbai, and because JNU awards the campus degrees. They also search for Assistant Professor Academic Level 10 pay and for whether a PhD in a neighbouring social science will pass the “development issues” test.

A real constraint is opacity after you click submit. The notice gives no syllabus, no interview calendar, and no published shortlist ratio. That uncertainty is part of why people keep refreshing cds.edu/jobs after they apply.

The SahisarkariJobs.in Analyst’s Take

This is a campus faculty hire, not a UGC-NET screening exam and not a state PSC Assistant Professor drive. The closer tabs on a serious applicant’s browser are ISEC Bengaluru, IGIDR Mumbai, Institute of Economic Growth Delhi, and CDS’s own earlier 2026 Associate Professor notice (Academic Level 13A), not Kerala PSC Lecturer or a private-college walk-in. Those peer processes are separate; their vacancy counts and committee rules are not copied here.

Best fit: awarded PhD holders in Economics, Statistics or Demography who already have one clean Development Economics / Development Studies paper in a UGC-listed or SCOPUS journal, and who can walk into an M.A. / Ph.D. classroom in macro, micro, econometrics or a listed applied field.

Skip this if you still need the degree awarded, if your only papers sit outside development economics, or if you want a written-exam merit list with a published cut-off. A three-seat shortlist-plus-presentation is a poor use of time for that profile.

Also Read: TISS Teaching Faculty Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 9 Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor Posts

Practical tip: Prepare the teaching-and-supervision note around the exact paper list in the advertisement (macro, micro, econometrics, statistics, demography, environmental, agricultural, public finance, topics in development) and keep the PwBD / category PDF in the same filename set as the PhD certificate. The corrigendum is part of the notice. Upload what it asks for.

What Documents Are Required?

Upload self-attested scans with the online form:

Suggested (not stated in the notification): keep each file under the portal’s size cap and use a clear file name such as PhD_Certificate_YourName.pdf.

What Are the Service Conditions? – Probation, Bond & Posting

The notice does not print a probation period, bond amount, NPS/OPS label, or transfer policy. What it does print:

• Posting is at CDS, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Joining is expected in the first week of January 2027.
• Disputes are subject to courts in Thiruvananthapuram only.
• Addenda appear only on the CDS website.

Do not assume regular central-service extras that this advertisement does not name.

What Happens After Selection?

1. CDS issues a call for presentation and interview after shortlisting.
2. You attend (or join by video conference if you are an Indian national abroad) and produce originals, including NOC and Vigilance Clearance if you are already in government or PSU service.
3. The selection committee finalises the recommendation. The Centre may still leave a seat vacant.
4. An offer / joining communication follows for selected candidates, aimed at the first week of January 2027.
5. You join at Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, and begin teaching plus research under CDS rules as stated in the appointment order.
6. Confirmation, leave and retirement benefits, if any, follow CDS / applicable service rules. Those rules are not reproduced in this advertisement.

Contact & Helpline

• CDS Personnel section: 0471-2774277
• Email: facultyrecruitment2026@cds.edu
• Campus: Centre for Development Studies, Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala
• General campus board (from the CDS contact page): +91-471-2774200
• Updates and corrigenda: cds.edu/jobs

⚠️ Contact details sourced from the official notification and the CDS website. Verify before contacting. NEVER pay any money over the phone or to any person claiming to offer job assistance. Report fraud to cybercrime.gov.in.

Important Links – CDS Assistant Professor 2026

FAQs – CDS Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Professor Recruitment 2026

What is the last date to apply for CDS Assistant Professor 2026?

30 October 2026, 5:00 PM. Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 prints that closing time. The 23 September 2026 corrigendum did not extend it. Late portal entries after 5:00 PM should be treated as closed unless CDS posts a fresh addendum on cds.edu/jobs.

What is the age limit for CDS Assistant Professor?

Not printed. Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 asks for proof of date of birth but does not give a minimum or maximum age, and it does not name a cut-off date. Do not copy a 40-year cap from another university notice and treat it as CDS’s rule for this cycle.

Is there an exam for CDS Assistant Professor, or is it interview-based?

No written exam is mentioned. CDS shortlists from those who meet the minimum advertised conditions, then holds a presentation and interview. No TA/DA is paid. Meeting the minimum qualification does not guarantee a call, because the Centre may shortlist a smaller set.

What is the salary of a CDS Assistant Professor?

Academic Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Matrix, named as entry-level in the notice. The standard UGC Level-10 entry basic is ₹57,700. An illustrative Thiruvananthapuram take-home before tax is around ₹90,000–₹1,00,000 if central-style DA and Y-class HRA apply. Confirm fixation from the offer.

Can final-year students or result-awaited candidates apply for CDS 2026?

The essential qualification is a PhD that has been awarded, and the form requires the PhD degree certificate. The notice does not create a separate “thesis submitted” window. Candidates still awaiting the degree should not assume eligibility from a related “last date” clause.

Is CDS Assistant Professor a permanent government job?

The notice does not use the phrase “permanent government job.” This is advertised as a regular Assistant Professor appointment on Academic Level 10 at an autonomous ICSSR institution. Confirmation, pension or NPS coverage, and superannuation follow CDS / applicable service rules, which this advertisement does not reprint.

Can candidates from other states apply for CDS recruitment?

Yes. Only Indian nationality is required. No Kerala domicile condition is printed. Indian nationals living abroad may also apply and, if shortlisted, may be interviewed by video conference on the same day as other candidates.

Where will I be posted if I get selected for CDS Assistant Professor?

At the CDS campus in Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram – 695011. The notice does not describe a transfer cadre or multi-campus posting. Expect teaching and research on this campus if you join.

Do I need UGC NET for this Assistant Professor post?

Not as a separately printed essential condition in Faculty Recruitment 02/2026. The printed gates are an awarded PhD in the listed subjects, the Master’s marks rule, and one specified journal publication. NET may still help a CV. It is not named as a substitute for the awarded PhD.

What are the disadvantages of joining CDS as Assistant Professor?

Worth knowing before you apply: three seats, a closed shortlist, no published interview calendar, and no TA/DA. CDS may also leave a post vacant. The workload is research plus Master’s / PhD teaching on one campus, not a large undergraduate college timetable.

Is an ICSSR research institute post the same as a central university faculty post?

No. CDS is an autonomous research institution under ICSSR and the Kerala Planning Department, with degrees awarded by JNU. Pay is framed as Academic Level 10 of the 7th CPC. Service rules, campus culture and promotion practice follow CDS, not a central-university ordinance copied into this notice.

How much do Assistant Professors earn in development-research institutes?

Entry pay, where Academic Level 10 applies, starts from the UGC matrix basic of ₹57,700 plus DA and HRA. In-hand in a Y-class city often sits near ₹90,000–₹1,00,000 before tax on current central DA assumptions. Institute-specific allowances still depend on that campus’s offer.

Can I apply if my PhD is in sociology or political science?

Only if you work on development issues and you meet the publication rule in Development Economics / Development Studies. The notice uses that broad phrase without listing every accepted title. Get written confirmation from facultyrecruitment2026@cds.edu before you treat the degree as equivalent.

Final Checklist – Is This the Right Job for You?

• Your PhD is already awarded, and you can upload the degree certificate.
• You have at least one Development Economics / Development Studies paper in a UGC-approved or SCOPUS-indexed journal.
• You accept a shortlist-plus-presentation process with no written exam and no TA/DA.
• You can join in Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of January 2027 if selected.
• PwBD or category relaxation claims are backed by the certificates named in the 23 September 2026 corrigendum.
• You will submit the form on cdsrec.samarth.edu.in before 5:00 PM on 30 October 2026.

📄 Source: Primary source: Centre for Development Studies Faculty Recruitment 02/2026 dated 11 September 2026, read with the Addendum/Corrigendum dated 23 September 2026. Supplementary sources: standard UGC Academic Level-10 matrix cell and central DA at 60% from 1 January 2026, used only in the labelled illustrative salary block.