NHAI Deputy Manager (Technical) Recruitment 2026: Official Details, Selection Architecture & Status

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, notified recruitment for the post of Deputy Manager (Technical) across the country.

The recruitment provides career opportunities for civil engineering graduates seeking to participate in India's national highway infrastructure programs, including the Bharatmala Pariyojana, National Highways Development Project (NHDP), and access-controlled expressway corridors.

A total of 60 posts were advertised on direct recruitment basis. The online registration window opened on May 15, 2026, and concluded on June 15, 2026 (18:00 hrs).

Application Status: Applications are officially closed. The recruitment relies purely on GATE 2026 scores in Civil Engineering. There is no separate NHAI written test, no Computer-Based Test (CBT), and no written exam admit card. Candidates are evaluated and ranked based on their normalized GATE 2026 score, followed by document authentication.

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1. Executive Summary & Official Status Overview

Key Parameter	Official Specification
Recruitment Body	National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Parent Ministry	Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Govt. of India
Post Title	Deputy Manager (Technical)
Cadre Classification	Group 'A' Executive Post
Total Vacancies	60 Posts
Recruitment Method	Direct Recruitment through GATE 2026 (Civil Engineering)
Written Exam / CBT by NHAI	None (No written exam or CBT is conducted)
Application Start Date	May 15, 2026
Application Closing Date	June 15, 2026 (18:00 Hrs) — Closed
Current Operational Status	application_closed (Scrutiny & Merit Preparation)
Pay Matrix Level	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) under 7th CPC
Official Portal	nhai.gov.in

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2. Official Recruitment Timeline & Milestone Tracker

The recruitment calendar for NHAI Deputy Manager (Technical) adheres to the following milestones:

Milestone / Activity	Official Scheduled Date / Status	Notes & Verification
Official Advertisement Release	May 10, 2026	Published on nhai.gov.in and Employment News
Commencement of Online Applications	May 15, 2026 (10:00 AM)	NHAI online portal opened for registration
Final Deadline for Online Application	June 15, 2026 (06:00 PM)	Application window closed successfully
Application Scrutiny & GATE Verification	July – September 2026	Verification of GATE 2026 registration and scores
Release of Shortlisted Merit List for DV	October / November 2026 (Expected)	To be uploaded on official portal (nhai.gov.in)
Document Verification (DV) Phase	November / December 2026 (Tentative)	In-person verification at NHAI HQ, New Delhi
Issuance of Offer of Appointment	Early 2027	Subject to medical clearance and character verification

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3. Vacancy Distribution Across Reservation Categories

The 60 vacancies for Deputy Manager (Technical) are distributed across categories as per Government of India reservation rosters:

Reservation Category	Number of Posts	Eligibility / Certification Requirements
Unreserved (UR) / General	25	Open to all merit candidates meeting base eligibility
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)	16	Valid Central Government format non-creamy layer certificate
Scheduled Castes (SC)	9	Prescribed format community certificate from competent authority
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	4	Prescribed format community certificate from competent authority
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)	6	Valid Income & Asset certificate for FY 2025-26
Total Vacancies	60	Includes horizontal reservation for PwBD as per GoI norms

Note for PwBD Candidates: Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in identified sub-categories (e.g., Locomotor Disability — One Arm / One Leg affected, Hearing Impairment within permissible limits) are considered in accordance with Ministry of Social Justice guidelines.

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4. Eligibility Mandates & Educational Criteria

Candidates must fulfill all prescribed qualifications as on the crucial cutoff date (June 15, 2026):

A. Academic Qualifications

• Essential Qualification: Must possess a Degree in Civil Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech / B.Sc. Engineering in Civil) from a recognized University or Institute incorporated by an Act of Parliament or declared deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
• Minimum Marks / CGPA: Degrees awarded by recognized institutions with standard passing divisions are accepted; candidate marksheets must reflect award of degree on or before June 15, 2026.
• Excluded Streams: Candidates holding degrees in disciplines other than Civil Engineering (such as Architecture, Structural Engineering solely without base Civil, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering) are not eligible.

B. Mandatory GATE 2026 Benchmark

• Candidates must have appeared in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 in the Civil Engineering discipline (Paper Code: CE).
• Must possess a valid GATE 2026 Scorecard with a qualified score.
• Crucial Rule: Scores from GATE 2025, GATE 2024, or any prior exam cycle are strictly invalid for this recruitment drive.

C. Age Limitations & Permissible Relaxations

• Maximum Age Limit: Not exceeding 30 Years as on the closing date of application (June 15, 2026).
• Relaxation in Upper Age Limit:
  • SC / ST Candidates: Relaxation of up to 5 years (Max 35 years).
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Candidates: Relaxation of up to 3 years (Max 33 years).
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Relaxation of up to 10 years (cumulative with category reservation where applicable).
  • Ex-Servicemen: As per Government of India statutory orders.
  • Departmental Candidates (NHAI employees): Relaxation as governed by NHAI service regulations.

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5. Direct Selection Methodology (No CBT / No Written Exam)

Many aspirants often search for exam dates or admit cards for NHAI recruitment. It is critical to recognize how the recruitment operates:

[Application Submission via nhai.gov.in] (Completed 15 June 2026)
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[Direct Merit Shortlisting Based on GATE 2026 (CE) Score]
  • No CBT / No NHAI Written Exam
  • No Interview Round
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[Document Verification (DV) at NHAI HQ, New Delhi]
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[Pre-Employment Medical Examination & Police Verification]
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[Final Allotment & Appointment as Deputy Manager (Technical)]

Clarification on Written Examination & Admit Cards

1. Zero NHAI Written Tests: NHAI does not schedule or administer any written examination, CBT, screening paper, or aptitude test.
2. No Exam Admit Cards: Because no physical or digital examination exists, no examination hall ticket or CBT admit card is generated.
3. Shortlisting Metric: Shortlisting is executed strictly on the basis of the normalized GATE 2026 score in Civil Engineering.
4. Tie-Breaking Principles: If two or more candidates secure identical GATE 2026 scores:
   • The candidate with higher marks/percentage in the qualifying Civil Engineering degree is ranked higher.
   • If a tie persists, the candidate senior in age is placed higher in the merit list.

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6. Remuneration, Benefits & Allowances (Pay Level 10)

The post of Deputy Manager (Technical) at NHAI offers a competitive compensation package structured under the 7th Central Pay Commission:

Compensation Component	Details & Official Rates
Pay Matrix Level	Pay Level 10 (7th CPC)
Basic Pay Band	₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 (Initial starting basic: ₹56,100)
Dearness Allowance (DA)	Payable at Central Government rates (currently 50%+ of Basic Pay)
House Rent Allowance (HRA)	27% (X Cities), 18% (Y Cities), or 9% (Z Cities), or leased accommodation
Transport Allowance (TPTA)	As per central government executive entitlement plus applicable DA
Gross Monthly Salary	Approximately ₹95,000 to ₹1,15,000 per month (depending on posting city)
Annual CTC (Cost to Company)	Approximately ₹15 to 17 Lakhs per annum including retirement benefits

Key Executive Perquisites & Allowances

• Performance-Related Pay (PRP): Disbursed annually based on NHAI corporate performance and individual appraisal ratings.
• Medical Facilities: Comprehensive indoor and outdoor medical coverage for employee and dependent family members through empanelled hospitals.
• Loan Facilities: Subsidized House Building Advance (HBA), Vehicle Loan, and Computer Advance.
• Retirement & Social Security: National Pension System (NPS) with full employer contribution, Gratuity, Group Personal Accident Insurance, and Leave Encashment.
• Communication & Tech Allowances: Monthly mobile and broadband reimbursement, laptop purchase grant as per executive entitlement.

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7. Job Profile & Responsibilities of Deputy Manager (Technical)

Officers appointed as Deputy Manager (Technical) are the core project engineers driving highway construction and asset management across India:

Core Roles at Project Implementation Units (PIUs)

• Project Supervision & Monitoring: Supervising execution of high-speed corridors, expressways, bypasses, bridges, and flyovers being built under EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) and HAM (Hybrid Annuity Model) contract frameworks.
• Quality Assurance & Inspection: Ensuring concessionaires and contractors adhere strictly to Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards, MoRTH specifications, and environmental mitigation protocols.
• Contract Management & Bill Audits: Scrutinizing milestone certification, contractor running account (RA) bills, variation proposals, and extension of time (EOT) claims in coordination with the Independent Engineer (IE) / Authority's Engineer (AE).
• Land Acquisition & Utility Shifting: Interacting with District Collectors, Competent Authorities for Land Acquisition (CALA), and state forest/electricity departments for right-of-way (RoW) clearance and tree felling permissions.

Roles at Regional Offices (ROs) & Headquarters (HQ)

• Formulation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), feasibility studies, and alignment finalization.
• Safety auditing of completed highway corridors, road safety hazard identification, and blackspot rectification.
• Monitoring highway toll operations, Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag) infrastructure, and Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS).

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8. Service Agreement Bond & Probationary Mandates

Candidates selected for the post must agree to standard institutional commitments:

• Probation Period: Newly inducted Deputy Managers (Technical) are placed on probation for a period of two (2) years. Satisfactory completion of probation leads to confirmation in regular service.
• Service Agreement Bond: Appointees may be required to execute a Service Agreement Bond to serve the Authority for a minimum duration of three (3) years from the date of joining. In the event of breach or early resignation, the candidate must pay the stipulated bond amount or training recovery costs.
• Posting Flexibility: NHAI operates nationwide. Selected candidates are liable to be posted anywhere in India across Corporate Headquarters (New Delhi), Regional Offices (ROs), or remote Project Implementation Units (PIUs).

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9. Document Verification Checklist for Shortlisted Candidates

When NHAI publishes the list of shortlisted candidates based on GATE 2026 scores, candidates will be summoned to NHAI Headquarters in New Delhi. Candidates should ensure the following documentation is in order:

1. Printout of Online Application: Signed copy of the submitted online application form.
2. GATE 2026 Scorecard: Original scorecard downloaded from the official GATE 2026 organizing institute portal.
3. Age Proof: 10th / Matriculation Certificate or Birth Certificate showing date of birth.
4. Engineering Degree Certificate: Original B.E. / B.Tech Civil Engineering Degree and all semester/yearly mark sheets.
5. Caste / Category Certificate:
   • OBC-NCL Candidates: Certificate issued in the prescribed Central Government format within the relevant financial year.
   • SC/ST Candidates: Community certificate from competent revenue authorities.
   • EWS Candidates: Income and Asset Certificate for FY 2025-26.
6. No Objection Certificate (NOC): Mandatory for candidates serving in Central/State Government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), or Autonomous bodies.
7. Government Photo ID: Original Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or PAN Card.

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10. Official Authority Portal & Contact Information

All official announcements, merit lists, and verification schedules are hosted on the NHAI corporate portal:

Resource / Channel	Official Details
Official Web Portal	nhai.gov.in
NHAI Recruitment Section	nhai.gov.in/#/vacancies/current
Corporate Headquarters	National Highways Authority of India, G 5 & 6, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075
General Phone Inquiries	+91-11-25074100 / 25074200
Official Email	recruitment@nhai.org / info@nhai.org

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11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When did the NHAI Deputy Manager (Technical) 2026 application process close?

Online applications opened on May 15, 2026, and closed on June 15, 2026 at 18:00 hours. Applications are now closed.

Q2. Is there any written examination or interview conducted by NHAI?

No. NHAI conducts neither a written exam nor a CBT nor a personal interview for this recruitment. Selection is made directly on the basis of valid GATE 2026 scores in Civil Engineering, followed by Document Verification.

Q3. How many vacancies are there in NHAI Recruitment 2026?

There are 60 vacancies for Deputy Manager (Technical) distributed across UR (25), OBC-NCL (16), SC (9), ST (4), and EWS (6).

Q4. Can an engineer with a Mechanical or Electrical background apply for this post?

No. This recruitment is exclusively for graduates holding a Degree in Civil Engineering with a valid GATE 2026 score in Civil Engineering (Paper Code: CE).

Q5. What is the starting gross salary of an NHAI Deputy Manager (Technical)?

An appointed Deputy Manager (Technical) receives starting Basic Pay of ₹56,100 (Level 10) plus Dearness Allowance, HRA, and Transport Allowance, resulting in a gross monthly pay of approximately ₹95,000 to ₹1,15,000 plus annual performance incentives.

Q6. Where will the Document Verification take place?

Document verification is typically conducted at the NHAI Corporate Headquarters located at G 5 & 6, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075. Shortlisted candidates receive individual call letters via registered email.