Recruiting Organisation
Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India)
Notification & Ref Code
Notification No. 12/2026 (Ref: ADM/SET-GEN/01/2020-21/KAR)
Opportunity Title
Trainee (Development) – 21 Positions
Category Restriction
Exclusively for Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) Candidates
Monthly Stipend
₹20,000 per month (+ TA for spice-field visits)
Training Period
Two (02) Years from Date of Joining
Online Application Deadline
19 October 2026 (http://spicesboard.in/recruitment/)
Written / Walk-in Test Dates
22, 28 & 31 October 2026 (Centre-Specific)
Crucial Clarification: This is a Training Opportunity, Not a Regular Government Job
Candidates must note that Spices Board Recruitment 2026 is strictly a Trainee (Development) selection and training engagement. According to Clause 16 of the official notification:
“The selection as ‘Trainee (Development)’ in Spices Board is only a training and under no circumstances are linked to regular appointments and cannot be regularised at any stage.”
This position must NOT be treated or interpreted as a permanent government vacancy, regular staff post, or guaranteed permanent appointment. Selected candidates receive a fixed stipend during their two-year training tenure.
What is Spices Board Trainee (Development) Recruitment 2026?
The Spices Board, a statutory commodity board functioning under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has published official Notification No. 12/2026 (Reference Code: ADM/SET-GEN/01/2020-21/KAR) for the selection of Trainee (Development) across various regional and field offices in India.
A total of 21 trainee positions are notified. This training initiative is strictly reserved exclusively for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates who possess a recognized Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Botany, Microbiology, or Biotechnology, along with working knowledge in computers.
Interested and eligible candidates are required to submit their application online through the official recruitment portal (spicesboard.in/recruitment/) on or before 19 October 2026. Following online registration, candidates must appear for the certificate verification and Written/Walk-in Test scheduled on 22, 28, and 31 October 2026 depending upon the chosen office and test centre.
Key Differences: Trainee (Development) vs. Regular Employment
To ensure complete transparency, the table below highlights the operational nature of this engagement:
| Feature | Spices Board Trainee (Development) Engagement |
|---|---|
| Nature of Position | Skill Training & Field Development Assignment |
| Permanent Govt Job? | No (Not a regular civil post) |
| Regularisation Rights | Cannot be regularised under any circumstances |
| Monthly Compensation | Fixed Stipend of ₹20,000 per month (Not a regular salary scale) |
| Training Period | Two (02) Years from date of joining |
| Travel Allowance (TA) | Payable in case of travel to spice fields as per Board guidelines |
| Leave Entitlement | 01 day per month |
Total Requirements: 21 Trainee (Development) Positions
In Notification No. 12/2026, the Spices Board uses the specific terminology “No. of trainees required” rather than permanent vacancies. A total of 21 trainees are required across four broad regional zones:
| # | Region | Name of Unit Office / Departmental Nursery | Trainees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gangtok (Total: 3) | F.O., Sukhia Pakhari | 1 |
| 2 | D.O., Kalimpong | 1 | |
| 3 | F.O., Geyzing | 1 | |
| 4 | Sakleshpur (Total: 6) | F.O., Vanagur | 1 |
| 5 | Departmental Nursery, Yeslur | 1 | |
| 6 | Departmental Nursery, Beligeri | 1 | |
| 7 | F.O., Sirsi | 1 | |
| 8 | F.O., Madikeri | 1 | |
| 9 | Departmental Nursery, Bettadamane | 1 | |
| 10 | Guwahati Region (Total: 5) | D.O., Aizwal | 1 |
| 11 | F.O., Senapati | 1 | |
| 12 | F.O., Dimapur | 1 | |
| 13 | F.O., Ziro | 1 | |
| 14 | F.O., Roing | 1 | |
| 15 | Other Region (Total: 7) | R.O., Guntur | 1 |
| 16 | R.O., Nizamabad | 1 | |
| 17 | F.O., Jagadalpur | 1 | |
| 18 | F.O., Koraput | 1 | |
| 19 | R.O., Mumbai | 1 | |
| 20 | F.O., Paderu | 1 | |
| 21 | F.O., Patna | 1 | |
| GRAND TOTAL (No. of Trainees Required) | 21 | ||
* Note: F.O. denotes Field Office, D.O. denotes Divisional Office, R.O. denotes Regional Office. The indicated number of requirements is provisional and may vary at the time of selection as per official administrative exigencies.
Spices Board Trainee Development Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must fulfill all prescribed eligibility conditions as on the crucial dates specified in the official advertisement:
1. Social Category Restriction (Exclusively SC / ST)
This recruitment drive is strictly open only to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Candidates belonging to General (Unreserved), OBC, or EWS categories are NOT eligible to apply. Valid category certificates issued by competent authorities must be produced during document verification.
2. Educational Qualifications & Qualifying Disciplines
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University or Institute in any one of the following exact qualifying disciplines:
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Forestry
- Botany
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
In addition, candidates must possess working knowledge in computer. The notification does not mandate separate computer diploma certificates or specific coding proficiencies.
3. Age Limit (Crucial Cut-Off Date)
The candidate's age must not exceed 35 years.
📌 Important Cut-Off Rule: As explicitly laid down in Notification No. 12/2026, the age limit is reckoned “as on the date of Written Test” (and not as on the notification publication or application closing date).
4. Mandatory Degree Certificate Rules (Clause 4 & 18)
- Final Degree Certificate: Candidates who have not yet received their final degree certificate need not appear for the test.
- Two-Year Original Certificate Rule: Candidates shall obtain the original Degree certificate within two years from the date of issue of the Provisional Degree certificate. Those who have not obtained the original Degree certificate within the stipulated period of two years shall NOT be eligible to apply for the test.
5. Previous Training Bar (Clause 7)
Candidates who have undergone training in any office of the Spices Board earlier need NOT apply again, regardless of whether they completed their previous training or left midway.
Spices Board Trainee (Development) Stipend & Allowances
Fixed stipend paid monthly throughout the 2-year training period. No standard pay scale or Dearness Allowance (DA) applies.
In case trainees are required to travel to spice fields, Travel Allowance (TA) will be paid as per Spices Board norms.
Trainees are eligible for 1 day of leave per completed month during the two-year training tenure.
Proposed Written / Walk-in Test Dates & Timings (Annexure II)
As outlined in Annexure II of the notification, the examination across all centres may be conducted at 11:00 AM. Candidates must report at the examination centre at 10:00 AM for document verification (or at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled verification).
| Region | Office / Unit | Proposed Test Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gangtok | FO, Sukhia Pakhari | 28 October 2026 |
| DO, Kalimpong | ||
| FO, Geyzing | ||
| Sakleshpur | FO, Vanagur | 22 October 2026 |
| Dept. Nursery, Yeslur | ||
| Dept. Nursery, Beligeri | ||
| FO, Sirsi | ||
| FO, Madikeri | ||
| Dept. Nursery, Bettadamane | ||
| Guwahati | DO, Aizawl | 22 October 2026 |
| FO, Senapati | 22 October 2026 | |
| FO, Dimapur | 28 October 2026 | |
| FO, Ziro | 22 October 2026 | |
| FO, Roing | As per Itanagar centre schedule | |
| Other Region | RO, Guntur | 28 October 2026 |
| FO, Paderu | ||
| RO, Nizamabad | 22 October 2026 | |
| FO, Jagadalpur | 28 October 2026 | |
| FO, Koraput | 31 October 2026 | |
| RO, Mumbai | 28 October 2026 | |
| FO, Patna | 22 October 2026 |
Spices Board Trainee Development Test Centres 2026 (Annexure I)
Candidates must carefully distinguish between the Unit Office where the trainee is required and the designated Examination Centre where the online written test/computer proficiency and document verification will be held. Annexure I specifies the exact venue and contact details:
| Target Office(s) | Official Test / Computer Proficiency Venue & Contact Details |
|---|---|
| RO Guntur & FO Paderu |
Spices Board, Regional Office, Guntur Chuttugunta Centre, Old Agriculture Market Committee Road, Murikipeta, Guntur - 522004, Andhra Pradesh. Ph: 0863-2338570 | Mob: 8142009430 | Email: ro.guntur-sb@spicesboard.gov.in |
| RO Nizamabad |
Spices Board, Regional Office cum Extension Centre Vinayak Nagar, Near Rukmini Chambers, Nizamabad, Telangana State - 503001. Ph: 08462295220 | Mob: 9400882941, 8075711456 | Email: sbnzb2015@gmail.com |
| RO Mumbai |
Spices Board, Regional Office & Quality Evaluation Laboratory Mumbai EL-184, Electronic Zone, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400710. Ph: 022-27630038 | Email: sbromumbai@gmail.com |
| FO Patna |
Spices Board, Field Office Patna Vidhi Nagar, Near Sonu Market, Gola Road, Baily Road, PO Danapur, Patna, Bihar - 801503. Mob: 7980077187 | Email: sbrokolkata@gmail.com |
| DO Aizwal |
Spices Board, Divisional Office, Aizawl Dr. F. Lalhmingsanga Building, H.No. T-61, 1st Floor, Venghlui, Aizawl, Mizoram - 796001. Mob: 8974623818 | Email: sbzoazl@rediffmail.com |
| FO Senapati |
Spices Board, Field Office, Senapati Christian Colony, Senapati District, Manipur - 765106. Ph: 8943878495 | Email: sbfoccpur@gmail.com |
| FO Dimapur |
Spices Board, Field Office, Kohima H/No. 920, Lower Lerie Colony, Kohima, Nagaland - 797001. Ph: 9862504178 | Email: sbfokohima@gmail.com |
| FO Ziro & FO Roing |
Spices Board, Divisional Office, Itanagar Alexander House, VIP Road, Ward No-09, Mowb 1, Itanagar - 791111. Ph: 7005879404 | Email: sbitanagar@gmail.com |
| FO Koraput |
District Skill Development Cum Employment Office Koraput Main Road (Towards Sunabeda), Near the Sadar Police Station, Koraput, Odisha - 764020. Mob: 9425591230 |
| FO Jagadalpur |
KD College of Horticulture and Research Station Rd Dharampura No-03, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh - 494001. Mob: 9425591230 |
| Sakleshpur Region (6 Offices) |
Spices Board, Regional Office, Hassan Near Rotary School, Lakshmipura Extension, District: Hassan, Karnataka - 573134. Phone: 08173-295008 / 9483979650 |
| Gangtok Region (3 Offices) |
Spices Board, Regional Office, Gangtok Near State Bank of India, Tadong - 737102. Phone: 03592-231418 / 8250867794 |
Documents Required for Certificate Verification
According to Clause 3 of the instructions, candidates must report at the examination centre at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled verification time (i.e. by 10:00 AM). Candidates must present all original documents along with one set of self-attested photocopies:
- Identity Proof: Valid government-issued photo identity proof (e.g. Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, PAN Card, or Driving License).
- Age Proof: Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) / Class 10 Matriculation certificate displaying candidate's full name and date of birth.
- Educational Qualifications: Original Degree Certificate and Marksheets in Agriculture / Horticulture / Forestry / Botany / Microbiology / Biotechnology from a recognised university.
- SC / ST Caste Certificate: Valid community certificate issued by the competent revenue authority in the prescribed Government of India format.
- Online Application Printout: A printed copy/confirmation of the submitted online application form from the recruitment portal.
Selection Procedure & Rank List Validity Mechanism
The selection process consists of online registration, document verification, and a Written / Walk-in Test. Note the following essential operational rules:
Exam Pattern & Syllabus Notice
Notification No. 12/2026 does not prescribe a detailed exam pattern, question count, marking scheme, negative marking, or syllabus. Candidates should be well-versed in their core qualifying graduation subjects and fundamental computer applications.
Rank List Operation (1-Year Validity)
A rank list will be maintained for trainees. It will be operated only in the event of:
- Non-joining of a selected candidate within the date of joining stipulated in the offer letter; OR
- Separation of a joined trainee on account of death or resignation within one year from the date of joining.
The validity period of the rank list is up to one year from the date of publication of results, unless a fresh notification is issued. Such replacements are not treated as fresh requirements, and the total filled requirements shall under no circumstances exceed 21.
Training Location Flexibility (Clause 8)
Candidates once selected will be required to undergo training in any of the offices of the Spices Board under the mentioned region / regional office. Selection for a specific unit office does not guarantee placement exclusively at that single facility.
How to Apply Online for Spices Board Trainee (Development) 2026
Candidates must register online before the closing date. Follow these official steps:
- Visit the official portal at http://spicesboard.in/recruitment/ or access the Opportunities section on indianspices.com.
- Select the recruitment notification titled “Selection of Trainee (Development) at Various Offices of Spices Board” (Notification No. 12/2026).
- Read the detailed notification carefully to confirm eligibility, degree discipline, and office preference.
- Fill in the online application form with accurate personal details, SC/ST category data, communication address, and educational qualifications.
- Ensure your active email address and mobile number are entered correctly, as all official communications will be transmitted electronically.
- Review the submitted details thoroughly and submit the form prior to the deadline: 19 October 2026.
- Save or print a copy of the final submitted application form for verification at the test centre.
Important Rules & Disqualification Conditions
- Online Application Mandatory: Candidates reporting without submitting their online application by 19 October 2026 will NOT be permitted to participate in the test.
- Reporting Time: Candidates reporting after the specified test time will not be entertained.
- False Information: If at any stage it is detected that a candidate does not fulfill eligibility norms or has furnished incorrect/false information, candidature will be cancelled immediately and training services terminated.
- Canvassing: Canvassing in any form will lead to immediate disqualification.
- Board's Decision Final: Spices Board reserves the right to modify, alter, restrict, enlarge, or cancel the selection process without assigning reasons. No appeal or representation will be entertained.
- Third-Party Websites Warning: Candidates are strictly advised to verify updates directly from the official website
www.indianspices.comand not rely on unverified third-party job blogs.