The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, has announced a massive recruitment drive for passionate and dedicated individuals. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the nation-building process by empowering tribal students through quality education. The Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are fully residential institutions established to provide holistic education from Class VI to XII for students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes category. NESTS is inviting online applications from eligible Indian citizens for various teaching and non-teaching positions on a direct recruitment basis. This recruitment, titled the EMRS Staff Selection Exam (ESSE)-2025, aims to fill over 7267 vacancies across India, offering a chance to be part of a transformative educational mission.
Important Dates at a Glance
- Last Date to Apply : October 23, 2025, until 11:50 PM.
- Admit Card & Exam Dates: The specific dates for the Tier-I and Tier-II examinations, as well as the download of admit cards, will be notified shortly on the official NESTS website. Candidates must regularly check the website for updates.
- Examination Mode: The selection process will involve Computer Based Tests (CBT) for most posts.
Breakdown of Vacancies (Post-Wise)
This recruitment covers a wide range of positions. Here is the total number of tentative vacancies:
- Principal (Group-A): 225 Posts
- Post Graduate Teachers – PGTs (Group-B): 1460 Posts
(Subjects: English, Hindi, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Commerce, Economics, Computer Science) - Trained Graduate Teachers – TGTs (Group-B): 3962 Posts
(Includes TGTs for Hindi, English, Maths, Social Studies, Science, Computer Science, various Regional Languages, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Librarian) - Non-Teaching Staff: 1620 Posts
- Female Staff Nurse: 550 Posts
- Hostel Warden (Male & Female): 635 Posts
- Accountant: 61 Posts
- Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): 228 Posts
- Lab Attendant: 146 Posts
Note: These are tentative vacancies and include current and anticipated vacancies due to retirement and promotion. Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, ESM, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) is applicable as per Government of India rules. The detailed category-wise vacancy list is provided in the official notification.
Application Fee Details
The application fee consists of two components: an Application Fee and a mandatory Processing Fee.
- Processing Fee: ₹500 is applicable to ALL candidates, without exception.
- Application Fee: This is in addition to the processing fee and varies by post. However, it is fully exempt for Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
Fee for Candidates other than Female/SC/ST/PwBD:
| Post Category | Application Fee | Processing Fee | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | ₹2000 | ₹500 | ₹2500 |
| PGT & TGT | ₹1500 | ₹500 | ₹2000 |
| Non-Teaching | ₹1000 | ₹500 | ₹1500 |
Fee for Female/SC/ST/PwBD Candidates:
| Post Category | Application Fee | Processing Fee | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Posts | Exempt (₹0) | ₹500 | ₹500 |
Payment Mode: Fees must be paid online only through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. No other modes like demand draft or money order are accepted.
Eligibility Criteria
1. Age Limit (as on the notified cutoff date)
- Principal: Not exceeding 50 years.
- PGTs: Not exceeding 40 years.
- TGTs, Art/Music Teacher, PET, Librarian: Not exceeding 35 years.
- Non-Teaching Posts (Staff Nurse, Warden, Accountant): Not exceeding 35 years.
- JSA, Lab Attendant: Not exceeding 30 years.
Age Relaxation: Standard age relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen, and other categories as per Government of India rules is applicable.
Special Provision for Existing EMRS Employees: For all posts, the maximum age limit for existing regular EMRS employees is 55 years, including all applicable relaxations.
2. Educational Qualifications and Experience
A. PRINCIPAL
- Essential:
- Master’s Degree with at least 50% marks.
- B.Ed. degree or integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. or 4-year integrated degree with B.Ed. component with at least 50% marks.
- Experience: Must be holding an analogous post (Principal) OR have 9 years of combined service as PGT and Vice-Principal (with min. 3 yrs as VP) OR have at least 12 years of service as a PGT/Lecturer.
- Desirable: Experience in a residential school; proficiency in English, Hindi, and a regional language; computer knowledge.
B. POST GRADUATE TEACHERS (PGTs)
- Essential: Two pathways:
- Integrated Post Graduate course from an NCTE-recognized institution in the concerned subject with 50% marks (includes B.Ed. component). OR
- Post Graduation (Master’s Degree) with 50% in the concerned subject AND a B.Ed. degree or integrated B.Ed. degree with 50% marks.
- Desirable: Experience as a TGT; experience in a residential school; computer knowledge.
C. TRAINED GRADUATE TEACHERS (TGTs) – (Main Subjects, Regional Languages, Art, Music, PET, Librarian)
- Essential (A, B, C):
- A (Graduation): 4-year integrated degree from NCTE institution (50% marks) OR Bachelor’s Degree with 50% marks OR Post Graduation in the concerned subject (55% marks).
- B (B.Ed.): B.Ed. degree or integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. with 50% marks from an NCTE-recognized institution. (For TGT Regional Language, a state-approved Education degree is also acceptable).
- C (CTET): Must have qualified the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) Paper-II. The CTET certificate must be issued on or before the cutoff date.
- Subject-Specific Requirements: Specific combinations of subjects studied at the graduation level are required for TGT (Maths), TGT (Science), and TGT (Social Studies). Please refer to the official notification for precise details.
- For TGT Computer Science: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Application (BCA) or Computer Science/IT or B.E./B.Tech. (CS/IT) with 50% marks.
- For TGT Art: Bachelor’s degree in Drawing & Painting/Sculpture/Fine Arts with 50% marks.
- For TGT Music: Bachelor’s degree in Music/Performing Arts with 50% marks.
- For PET: Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) or equivalent as per NCTE norms.
- For Librarian: Bachelor’s degree in Library Science or Library & Information Science with 50% marks.
D. NON-TEACHING POSTS
- Female Staff Nurse: B.Sc. (Nursing) or Post Basic B.Sc. (Nursing) + Registered Nurse (RN/RM) with a State Nursing Council + 2.5 years of experience in a 50-bedded hospital.
- Hostel Warden: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university.
- Accountant: Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com). BBA is not eligible.
- Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): Senior Secondary (12th Pass) + A minimum typing speed of 35 wpm in English or 30 wpm in Hindi.
- Lab Attendant: 10th Pass with a diploma in Laboratory Technique OR 12th Pass with a Science stream.
Salary Scale and Benefits
Selected candidates will be placed in the following pay levels as per the 7th Central Pay Commission, along with other admissible allowances:
- Principal: Level-12 (₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200)
- PGTs: Level-8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100)
- TGTs, Art/Music Teacher, Librarian: Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400)
- Physical Education Teacher (PET): Level-7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400)
- Female Staff Nurse, Hostel Warden, Accountant: Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400)
- Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100)
- Lab Attendant: Level-2 (₹19,900 – ₹63,200)
Special Allowance: In addition to the basic pay and allowances, all staff in EMRS are eligible for a special pay @ 10% of the basic pay for performing residential duties.
Accommodation: Being fully residential institutions, rent-free accommodation will be provided to all teaching and non-teaching staff on the campus, subject to availability.
Nature of Duties and Important Conditions
- Residential Role: All positions are residential. Teachers are not only responsible for academic instruction but also for holistic student development, including house mastership, remedial classes, organizing co-curricular activities, and general student welfare. Non-teaching staff are also required to perform residential duties.
- Gender Policy: To align with the student admission policy (50% girls, 50% boys), NESTS aims to have a balanced gender ratio among staff (20-60% female staff in each school).
- Posting: Selected candidates can be posted to any EMRS anywhere in India. Requests for a change of posting location will not be entertained.
- Probation: Appointees will be on probation for a period of two years, which may be extended. Services can be terminated during probation without any reason.
- Functional Requirements for PwBD Candidates: Candidates under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category must ensure they meet the specific functional requirements for the post. Shortlisted candidates will need to submit a certificate from a Civil Surgeon or CMO confirming this.
Selection Process
The selection process will vary slightly depending on the post:
- For All Posts (Except Principal & JSA): The selection will be based on performance in Tier-II of the computer-based examination.
- For Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA): Selection will be based on performance in Tier-II, followed by a Skill Test (Typing Test) which is qualifying in nature.
- For Principal: Selection will involve a Tier-II examination followed by an Interview. The final merit will be calculated with 80% weightage for the Tier-II score and 20% for the interview.
How to Apply
- Applications must be submitted ONLINE ONLY. No offline forms will be accepted.
- Visit the official website to access the application portal.
- The application form is divided into two parts:
- Part-A: For filling generic details (Name, Category, Date of Birth, etc.). Once you proceed to Part-B for any post, you cannot edit Part-A.
- Part-B: To be filled separately for each post you wish to apply for.
- A candidate can apply for more than one post if eligible but must pay the requisite fee separately for each application.
- Ensure you have a valid personal email ID and mobile number, which should remain active throughout the recruitment process. All communication will be sent via email/SMS or updated in your application login.
- After successful fee payment, a confirmation page will be generated. Keep this safe for future reference.
General Instructions
- Scrutiny of documents will be done at a later stage before appointment. The admission to the CBT is provisional.
- Candidates must provide correct information. Any discrepancy found at any stage will lead to disqualification and removal from service, even after joining.
- Candidates are strictly advised not to carry any prohibited items like mobile phones, electronic devices, calculators, or study material into the examination hall.
- The examination center for the Principal post will be in Delhi only. For all other posts, the exam city will be allotted randomly by the exam agency anywhere in India. No requests for change will be considered.
