Table of Contents
Planning your preparation for the CSIR CFTRI Technician Recruitment 2026 starts with two questions: what is the exam pattern, and what is the syllabus? The notification (Advertisement No. Rec.02/2026) clearly gives the exam pattern: three papers, 150 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes. The detailed topic-wise syllabus, however, is not part of the notification. The only guidance given is that Paper-III is based on the advertised qualification in the relevant trade, and that the exam standard is SSC + ITI / XII.
In this guide you will find:
- The official exam pattern and marking scheme, as per the notification
- A detailed expected syllabus for Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III for all 13 trades (TE01 to TE13)
- Trade Test preparation points
- A paper-wise preparation strategy
The topic-wise syllabus in this blog is an expected syllabus, prepared on the basis of the paper names and standard ITI-level trade theory. It is not an official CFTRI syllabus. CFTRI has said that all updates will appear only on www.cftri.res.in, so check that site for any official syllabus notification.
CSIR CFTRI Technician Exam Pattern 2026 – Official
- Paper-I is qualifying. Paper-II and Paper-III are checked only for candidates who secure the minimum threshold marks in Paper-I, as decided by the Selection Committee.
- The merit list uses only Paper-II and Paper-III, which together carry 300 marks (my addition).
- The Mental Ability Test covers general intelligence, quantitative aptitude, reasoning, problem solving and situational judgement.
- Paper-III’s “concerned subject” is based on the advertised qualification in the relevant trade of the post.
- Before the written exam, shortlisted candidates take a Trade Test, which is qualifying in nature.
Written examination scheme
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Mode of examination | OMR-based or Computer-Based Objective Type Multiple Choice |
| Medium of questions | English and Hindi (except the questions on English language) |
| Standard of exam | SSC + ITI / XII standard |
| Total number of questions | 150 |
| Total time allotted | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Paper-wise marking scheme
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Maximum marks | Marks per correct answer | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Mental Ability Test | 50 | 100 | 2 | 1 hour | No negative marking |
| Paper-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 3 | 30 minutes for the paper | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Paper-II | English Language | 25 | 75 | 3 | (same 30 minutes) | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Paper-III | Concerned Subject (trade) | 50 | 150 | 3 | 1 hour | 1 mark per wrong answer |
CSIR CFTRI Technician Syllabus 2026 – Expected Syllabus
1: Between the period of 1858-1947, how many Viceroys ruled over India?
Paper-I: Mental Ability Test (50 Questions, 100 Marks, Qualifying)
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Analogy, classification (odd one out), series (number, letter, figure), coding-decoding, blood relations, direction and distance, ranking and order, alphabet and number tests, syllogism, statement and conclusions, Venn diagrams, mathematical operations, matrix and figure puzzles, mirror and water images, paper folding and cutting, embedded figures, counting figures, cubes and dice |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number system, HCF and LCM, simplification, fractions and decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, time-speed-distance, mixtures, mensuration (area, perimeter, volume), basic algebra, basic geometry, data interpretation (tables, bar and pie charts) |
| Problem Solving | Arrangement and puzzles, logical sequences, decision making, data sufficiency |
| Situational Judgement | Workplace and safety situations, ethics, teamwork, handling emergencies and the best course of action |
Paper-II: General Awareness (25 Questions)
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | National and international events of the last 6 to 12 months, government schemes, appointments, awards, sports, summits, important days, science and technology news, space and defence updates |
| General Science | Physics (motion, force, work, energy, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism), Chemistry (matter, acids, bases and salts, metals and non-metals, chemical reactions, everyday chemistry), Biology (cells, human body, nutrition, diseases, plants, environment) |
| Food, Nutrition and Technology | Basic nutrition, vitamins and minerals, food preservation, food adulteration, food safety basics, packaging, agriculture and post-harvest basics |
| Science and Technology Institutions | CSIR (role and labs), CFTRI (location, field of work), ISRO, DRDO, DST, ICAR and major Indian research organisations and their achievements |
| History and Culture | Ancient, medieval and modern Indian history in outline, freedom struggle, art and culture, important personalities |
| Geography | Indian geography (rivers, mountains, climate, soils, crops, minerals), world geography basics, Karnataka and the states of the southern region at a basic level |
| Polity and Economy | Constitution basics, fundamental rights and duties, Parliament, panchayati raj, basic economic terms, banking, budget, Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog |
| Static GK | Books and authors, capitals and currencies, national symbols, first in India and the world, important dates |
Paper-II: English Language (25 Questions)
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Grammar | Parts of speech, tenses, articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement, voice, narration, conditionals |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases, homonyms, commonly confused words, spelling correction |
| Sentence Skills | Error spotting, sentence improvement, sentence rearrangement (jumbled sentences), fill in the blanks, cloze test |
| Comprehension | Reading passages with short questions on the main idea, inference and vocabulary |
| Basic Writing Awareness | Choosing correct sentences, word usage, simple paragraph completion |
Note that English questions are set only in English, and the other papers are in English and Hindi.
Paper-III: Concerned Subject – Trade-wise Expected Syllabus (50 Questions, 150 Marks)
Each trade has its own Paper-III. The topics below are standard ITI-level topics for each trade and are an expected syllabus only. Common topics in all trades are safety, hand tools, measuring instruments, basic workshop mathematics, basic engineering drawing and materials.
TE01 – Fitter (6 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Safety and workshop practice | Personal protective equipment, fire safety, first aid, housekeeping, workshop layout |
| Hand tools | Files, hacksaw, chisels, hammers, scrapers, vice, punches, taps and dies, reamers |
| Measuring and marking | Steel rule, vernier caliper, micrometer, dial gauge, feeler gauge, try square, bevel protractor, height gauge, surface plate, marking media, scribers |
| Limits, fits and tolerances | Basic size, limits, allowance, clearance, interference and transition fits, hole and shaft basis |
| Machining operations | Drilling, reaming, tapping, threading, counter-sinking, counter-boring, basic lathe, shaper and grinder operations, cutting speeds |
| Assembly and maintenance | Bearings, keys, pins, couplings, clutches, gears, belt and chain drives, lubrication, sealing, dismantling and assembly, preventive maintenance |
| Pipe fitting | Pipe types, pipe threads, flanges, valves, joints |
| Materials and heat treatment | Ferrous and non-ferrous metals, properties of materials, annealing, hardening, tempering |
| Related topics | Basic welding, sheet metal work, hydraulics and pneumatics basics, engineering drawing and reading simple drawings, workshop calculation |
TE02 – Electronics Mechanic (7 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Basic electricity | Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, series and parallel circuits, network theorems, AC and DC fundamentals, power, resistance colour code |
| Components | Resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, switches, relays, connectors, testing of components |
| Semiconductor devices | Diodes, Zener diode, LED, BJT, FET, MOSFET, SCR, TRIAC, UJT, optoelectronic devices |
| Analog circuits | Rectifiers, filters, regulators, transistor biasing, amplifiers, feedback, oscillators, operational amplifiers, 555 timer |
| Digital electronics | Number systems, logic gates, Boolean algebra, combinational circuits (adders, multiplexers, decoders), flip-flops, counters, registers, memories, ADC and DAC |
| Microcontrollers | Basics of microprocessors and microcontrollers (such as 8051), interfacing basics |
| Power electronics | SMPS, UPS, inverters, battery charging, motor control basics |
| Instruments and practice | Multimeter, CRO, function generator, power supply, soldering and desoldering, PCB making, fault finding |
| Communication and sensors | Basics of AM and FM, antennas, transducers and sensors, basic audio and video systems |
TE03 – Instrument Mechanic (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Measurement basics | Accuracy, precision, error, range, span, sensitivity, calibration, units |
| Process instruments | Pressure gauges and transmitters, temperature (thermocouples, RTD, thermistors, bimetallic), flow (orifice, venturi, rotameter, magnetic and ultrasonic), level (float, differential pressure, capacitance, ultrasonic) |
| Control systems | Open and closed loop, on-off, P, PI and PID control, controllers, control valves, actuators, positioners |
| Signals and automation | 4–20 mA signals, transmitters, PLC basics, ladder logic, introduction to SCADA and DCS |
| Analytical instruments | pH meter, conductivity meter, basics of spectrophotometer, gas analysers |
| Support skills | Pneumatics and hydraulics, tubing and fittings, P&ID symbols, electrical and electronics basics, soldering, instrument installation, maintenance and troubleshooting, safety in hazardous areas |
TE04 – Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant) (2 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Laboratory safety | PPE, chemical hazards, fire safety, first aid, safety data sheets, handling and storage of chemicals, waste disposal |
| Laboratory practice | Glassware and apparatus, weighing balances, preparation of solutions (molarity, normality, percentage), dilution, standard solutions, sampling |
| Basic chemistry | Atoms and molecules, periodic table, acids, bases and salts, pH and buffers, oxidation and reduction, basic organic and inorganic chemistry |
| Analysis techniques | Titrations and indicators, filtration, distillation, crystallisation, extraction, chromatography basics, colorimetry |
| Chemical plant operations | Unit operations (mixing, size reduction, filtration, evaporation, drying, distillation), heat exchangers, pumps, valves, piping, boilers, steam, cooling water, compressors |
| Instruments and calculation | Pressure, temperature, flow and level instruments in a plant, material balance basics, unit conversions |
TE05 – Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) (2 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Computer fundamentals | Hardware, software, input and output devices, memory, storage, number systems, history and generations |
| Operating systems | Windows and Linux basics, file management, commands, installation, utilities |
| Office applications | MS Word, Excel (formulas, functions, charts), PowerPoint, data entry, typing |
| Networking and internet | LAN and WAN, IP addressing basics, browsers, email, web search, cyber security awareness |
| Programming | Algorithms and flowcharts, basics of C, C++ or Python, variables, loops, arrays, functions, simple programs |
| Databases and web | DBMS concepts, SQL basics, HTML basics |
| Maintenance | Troubleshooting, backups, virus protection, computer ethics |
TE06 – Information and Communication Technology System Maintenance (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Computer assembly and disassembly, motherboard, processor, RAM, storage, power supply, BIOS and UEFI, peripherals, printers and scanners |
| Operating systems and software | Installation of Windows and Linux, drivers, updates, imaging and backup, troubleshooting |
| Networking | OSI and TCP/IP models, IP addressing and subnetting basics, LAN cabling and crimping, switches, routers, Wi-Fi, network troubleshooting commands |
| Security | Antivirus, firewalls, passwords, data backup, basic cyber security |
| Other ICT systems | Servers, UPS, CCTV and surveillance, VoIP, mobile devices, cloud basics |
| Electronics basics | Basic electronics, power supplies, soldering, testing instruments |
TE07 – Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician (2 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Refrigeration fundamentals | Heat, temperature, pressure, units, vapour compression cycle, ton of refrigeration, COP |
| Refrigerants | Types and properties (such as R-134a, R-410A, R-32, R-290), ODP and GWP, safe handling, colour codes |
| Components | Compressors (reciprocating, rotary, scroll), condensers, evaporators, expansion devices (capillary tube, thermostatic expansion valve), filter drier, receiver, accumulator |
| Systems | Domestic refrigerators and freezers, window, split and cassette air conditioners, VRF basics, water coolers, cold storage, chillers, cooling towers |
| Air conditioning | Psychrometrics, humidity, ducts, air distribution, filters, ventilation |
| Electrical controls | Motors, capacitors, relays, overload protectors, thermostats, wiring diagrams |
| Practical skills | Manifold gauge, vacuum pump, evacuation and charging, leak testing, brazing, flaring and swaging, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, safety |
TE08 – Electrician (2 posts)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Electrical fundamentals | Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, series and parallel circuits, AC theory, impedance, power factor, three-phase systems, power and energy |
| Machines | Transformers, DC machines, induction motors, synchronous machines, single-phase motors, starters (DOL, star-delta), motor winding basics |
| Wiring and installation | Domestic and industrial wiring, conduits, cables, switches, lighting circuits, earthing, panel wiring, estimation |
| Protection | Fuses, MCB, MCCB, RCCB and ELCB, relays, lightning protection, Indian Electricity Rules and safety |
| Instruments | Ammeter, voltmeter, wattmeter, energy meter, megger, earth tester, clamp meter |
| Other topics | Batteries, UPS and inverters, lighting systems, basics of solar PV, generating and distribution systems, electrical drawing symbols |
TE09 – Carpenter (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Timber | Types of wood, structure, seasoning, defects, preservation, plywood, laminates, boards |
| Tools and machines | Saws, planes, chisels, drills, measuring and marking tools, circular saw, band saw, planer, wood lathe, tool sharpening |
| Joints and construction | Halving, mortise and tenon, dovetail, dowel and lap joints, doors, windows, frames, furniture, shuttering |
| Finishing | Sanding, polishing, painting, varnishing, adhesives and fasteners |
| Related topics | Drawing and reading plans, workshop calculations, estimation of timber, safety |
TE10 – Plumber (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Pipes and materials | GI, PVC, CPVC, HDPE and copper pipes, sizes and standards, fittings and valves, taps and cocks |
| Tools and skills | Pipe cutting, bending, threading, jointing methods, soldering, brazing, solvent cement joints |
| Water supply | Distribution systems, storage tanks, pumps, hot water systems, water meters, pressure and flow basics |
| Sanitation and drainage | Sanitary fixtures, traps, soil and waste pipes, vent pipes, drainage layout, manholes, septic tanks |
| Other topics | Plumbing drawings and symbols, leak detection, rainwater harvesting, maintenance, safety |
TE11 – Sheet Metal Worker (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Materials | Mild steel, galvanised iron, stainless steel, aluminium and copper sheets, sheet gauges, properties |
| Tools and machines | Snips, mallets, stakes, folding bar, shearing, bending and rolling machines, press brake, power press |
| Layout and development | Marking out, parallel line, radial line and triangulation development, allowances for joints and seams |
| Operations | Cutting, bending, folding, forming, rolling, hemming, wiring, edging |
| Joining | Seams, lap joints, riveting, soldering, brazing, spot welding and basics of arc welding |
| Fabrication | Ducts, tanks, funnels, cabinets, trays, drawing reading, measurement, safety |
TE12 – Turner (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Lathe | Types and parts, controls, accessories, work-holding devices (chucks, centres, mandrels, steady and follow rests) |
| Turning operations | Facing, plain and step turning, taper turning, drilling, boring, parting, knurling, thread cutting, grooving |
| Cutting tools | Tool materials (HSS, carbide), tool geometry and angles, tool grinding, cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, coolants |
| Measurement | Vernier caliper, micrometer, dial gauge, gauges, limits, fits and tolerances, surface finish |
| Thread and gearing calculations | Screw threads and forms, change gear calculations, taper calculations |
| Other machines | Basics of milling, shaping and grinding machines, CNC lathe basics |
| Support topics | Engineering materials, workshop calculation, drawing, maintenance and safety |
TE13 – Welder (1 post)
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Welding processes | Arc welding (SMAW), gas welding and cutting, MIG and MAG, TIG, resistance welding, plasma cutting, brazing and soldering |
| Equipment and consumables | Welding transformers, rectifiers and inverters, electrodes and classification, coating functions, filler rods, gases and regulators, flux |
| Joints and positions | Butt, lap, T, corner and edge joints, welding positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead), weld symbols and drawing reading |
| Quality | Welding defects (porosity, slag inclusion, undercut, cracks) with causes and remedies, distortion and its control, preheating, weld testing and inspection (visual, dye penetrant) |
| Metals | Weldability of mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, cast iron, basic welding metallurgy |
| Safety | PPE, fire and fume hazards, gas cylinder handling, electrical safety |
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Join NowCSIR CFTRI Technician Trade Test – What to Expect
The notification says only that the Trade Test is held in the relevant trade and is qualifying. It does not give the format, marks or syllabus. In my expectation, it will test practical skills from your ITI or apprenticeship trade. CFTRI and other CSIR labs have in the past notified trade test syllabus and details separately for shortlisted candidates, so watch the CFTRI website after the screening list is out.
General preparation points suggested –
- Practise the common jobs and measurements of your trade with correct tool use and safety.
- Be ready to read a drawing and complete a simple job within a given time.
- Carry original certificates and your admit card as instructed.
CSIR CFTRI Technician 2026 – Section-wise Preparation Strategy
Paper-III (150 marks)
- Revise ITI trade theory books for your trade. NIMI trade theory books are widely used for ITI preparation.
- Make short notes of tools, formulas, standards and safety rules.
- Practise MCQs by topic, then full 50-question timed sets in 60 minutes (about 1.2 minutes per question).
- Since 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer, mark only the options you can justify.
Paper-II (150 marks)
- You get about 36 seconds per question, so speed matters.
- For General Awareness, read a daily current affairs update and revise static GK and basic science from school textbooks.
- For English, practise grammar rules, vocabulary and error spotting daily.
Paper-I (qualifying)
- Practise reasoning and basic arithmetic regularly to clear the cut-off comfortably.
- There is no negative marking in this paper, so attempt every question.
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Join NowFrequently Asked Questions
What is the exam pattern for CFTRI Technician 2026?
A written exam of 150 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, with three papers: Mental Ability Test (50 questions), General Awareness and English Language (25 each) and Concerned Subject (50 questions).
Is the official syllabus released?
The notification does not contain a topic-wise syllabus. Check www.cftri.res.in for any later syllabus notification.
What is the standard of the exam?
SSC + ITI / XII standard.
Is there negative marking?
No negative marking in Paper-I. In Papers II and III, 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the marking scheme?
2 marks per question in Paper-I, and 3 marks per question in Paper-II and Paper-III.
Which papers count for the merit list?
Only Paper-II and Paper-III. Paper-I is qualifying.
In which language is the paper set?
English and Hindi, except the English Language questions.
