, functioning under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has officially released){kind=link}
New Delhi, May 20, 2026: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), functioning under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has officially released its recruitment notification for 2026. This year, the premier highway infrastructure body is inviting applications from qualified and ambitious Civil Engineering graduates to fill 60 vacancies for the position of Deputy Manager (Technical).
The recruitment drive offers an exceptional career path for engineering freshers and professionals aiming to contribute to India’s rapidly expanding highway infrastructure network. The online application window opened on May 15, 2026, and eligible candidates have until June 15, 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) to submit their forms through the official NHAI portal.
NHAI Recruitment 2026: Key Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) |
| Post Name | Deputy Manager (Technical) |
| Total Vacancies | 60 Posts |
| Discipline | Civil Engineering |
| Selection Mode | Score based on GATE 2026 (No Written Exam) |
| Application Mode | Online via www.nhai.gov.in |
| Crucial Dates | May 15, 2026 to June 15, 2026 |
Detailed Vacancy Breakdown
Out of the 60 announced seats for Deputy Manager (Technical), NHAI has distributed vacancies across various categories in accordance with Government of India reservation guidelines:
- Unreserved (UR): 26 posts
- Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer): 16 posts
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 09 posts
- Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 05 posts
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 04 posts
Additionally, 4 posts within the total tally are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), catering to sub-categories such as Hard of Hearing (HH), Special Learning Disability (SLD), and Mental Illness (MI).
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the direct recruitment process, applicants must satisfy strict educational and age specifications as of the closing date of the application.
1. Educational Qualification
- Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from a recognized University or Institute.
- Special Provision for Final Year Students: Candidates whose final semester results have not been declared by June 15, 2026, are still eligible to apply. However, their selection will remain provisional. They must produce their final degree or provisional degree certificate to NHAI no later than August 31, 2026, failing which their candidature will be summarily cancelled.
2. Mandatory Recruitment Score
- A valid GATE 2026 Score in Civil Engineering (CE) is strictly mandatory. Selection will be purely performance-based relative to this score.
3. Age Limit & Relaxations
The upper age limit for the Unreserved/EWS categories is 30 years as of June 15, 2026. However, age relaxations apply for reserved categories as follows:
- SC / ST: Relaxed by 5 years (Up to 35 years)
- OBC (NCL): Relaxed by 3 years (Up to 33 years)
- PwBD (General): Relaxed by 10 years (Up to 40 years)
Salary and Compensation Structure
Securing a position as a Deputy Manager (Technical) at NHAI brings substantial financial stability and central government perks. Selected candidates will be placed in Level 10 of the Pay Matrix according to the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).
The basic salary scales from Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500. Alongside the base pay, officers receive Central Dearness Allowance (CDA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) or official accommodation, medical facilities, and other travel allowances standard to Central Government autonomous bodies.
Selection Process
NHAI has streamlined the selection to ensure absolute meritocracy. There will be no written examination or personal interview conducted by NHAI for these posts.
Shortlisting is completed purely on the merit of the candidate’s GATE 2026 Civil Engineering score. In the event of a tie where two candidates secure the exact same GATE score, NHAI will implement a two-step tie-break mechanism.