Join ASI’s 2026 Archaeology Diploma Program
- Oct 26, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Entrance Exam Result Out: Check Shortlisted Candidates list here for the Interview
List of Shortlisted Candidates for Written Test (28/11/2025) Shortlisted Candidates, Examination Venue: Institute of Archaeology, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya campus, Plot No-2, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, UP201310. General Instructions: 1. The entrance test would comprise objective type, short notes and long descriptive type questions. The successful candidates of the written test shall be required to appear for the interview, in person, at the same venue on 1st and 2nd December 2025. 2. Candidates should bring the following documents in original and a set of self-attested Xerox copies viz., Aadhar Card, Date of Birth Certificate, Caste Certificate, Degree Certificate and Mark Sheets of all semesters/years, and other relevant testimonials during the date of Interview, failing which he/she will not be allowed to appear in the Interview. Candidates are also instructed to bring their three recent passport-size photographs. 3. For the final shortlisted candidates after the interview, medical fitness certificate (not older than 60 days) from Govt. hospitals only shall be required at the time of joining to the course of Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology. 3. Candidates shall have to make their own arrangements for boarding and lodging during the period of entrance test & interview. No TA/DA shall be paid. 4. No candidate shall be permitted to leave the Examination Hall before the end of the examination. 5. For any query/information, please contact on +911202333125 (Monday to Friday and 10 am to 5pm) or E-mail dirins.asi@gmail.com. Exam date and time out (28/11/2025 | 11:00 am to 01:00 pm), check your admit card now for more details Track Your Application Status here: Click here
Admit cards of short listed candidates will be available for download from 13th November 2025 onwards, revisit this page for more updates.
For details, see the Official Institute Site
Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology (PDUIA), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
The Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, functioning under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), invites online applications for
admission to the One-Year Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology (PGDA) course for the Session 2026 batch.
The Institute provides world-class facilities, including research and stay infrastructure, resources, and hands-on field experience through an India tour.
Institute Location: FF4W+447, Galgotias University Road, Noida-Greater Noida Expy, Knowledge Park II, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201310
Key Details
Category | Details |
Course Duration | One-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology (Transitioned from a two-year diploma starting last batch). |
Total Seats | 15 seats every year. In case of in-service candidates (serving archaeologists) from state governments, museums, university, colleges, etc., application should be forwarded through proper channel to the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. |
Eligibility Criteria
Qualification: Candidates must hold a Master’s Degree in Ancient Indian History/ Culture/ Archaeology from a recognised University or equivalent.
A minimum aggregate of 55% marks is required.
A minimum aggregate of 50% marks is required for candidates belonging to the reserve categories as per Government rules.
Age Limit: The upper age limit is 25 years
Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS, etc., is provided as per the Government of India regulations issued from time to time. Relaxable by 5 years for SC/ ST candidates, 3 years for OBC candidates. There is no age bar for in-service candidates from the Archaeological Survey of India, or for candidates sponsored by state departments of archaeology/museums/universities or colleges teaching the subject of archaeology. Candidates from SAARC and BIMSTEC nations will be governed by guidelines issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Selection Procedure & Stipend
The application process for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology (PGDA) course begins every year in October.
An indicative advertisement is placed in the Employment News, directing applicants to the Institute of Archaeology's website for full details. The application link is also mirrored on the Archaeological Survey of India's website and shared across social media for wider visibility.
The deadline for applications is 15 days from the date the application link is activated on the website. If technical issues occur during this period, the deadline will be extended proportionally.
The mode of application will be exclusively online.
Exam: The procedure will comprise a written test (Hindi and English) followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. This will be undertaken in November.
The final results will be announced in December.
The marks for the entire process shall be out of 100; the ratio of marks between the written and personal interview shall be 70:30.
The written test will be a combination of multiple-choice objective type questions, short notes, and one essay type question on ancient history and archaeology.
The question paper shall be attempted within 2 hours.
Personal interview:
Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the written test for a personal interview.
The list of the shortlisted candidates shall be made public for the information of all through the website and notice board. Personal interviews of the shortlisted candidates from the written examination shall be carried out on the day after the declaration of the results for the written test. The final results will be announced in December.
Stipend: Students (not sure about sponsored candidates) would be entitled to a stipend of Rs. 8,000/- per month. In addition, the Institute also covers students' travel costs during tours to different parts of the country.
Accommodation
Students are provided with hostel facilities within the sprawling Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya campus in Knowledge Park II, Greater Noida, on a twin-sharing basis. The rooms are equipped with an attached washroom and a small verandah. The kitchen and dining room are available for hostelers. The hostel mess is managed by the students themselves. Security guards are present 24x7 in the hostel. The room charge is debited from the student's stipend.
Attendance
The student must have a minimum attendance of 85%, inclusive of training camps and study tours. Students falling short of the required attendance will not be eligible for the award of a Diploma.
No leave is permissible to students during the academic session. Leave is admissible only under unforeseeable exigent circumstances for which prior permission of the Director of the Institute or his/her representative is required.
Attendance below 85% shall result in the student's rustication from the course.
Important Dates
Online Application Start Date: 27 October 2025
Last Date to Apply: 10/11/2025
Written Entrance Examination Date: To be announced soon.
Personal Interview Dates for Shortlisted Candidates: To be announced soon.
The academic session will start from the 1 January with an orientation
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria should apply online through the ASI's official website.
Official Website: ptduia.com
To verify all the information mentioned above click here We request you to please read the prospectus carefully before making any decisions. Inarch Center will not be responsible for anything.
Old Update: Application Form Link is active.
To know more (like eligibility and important dates) please WhatsApp us on +91 8826672990, or wait for our next update soon.
Old Update: Indicative advertisement
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Institute of Archaeology, located at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Campus, Greater Noida- 201310, has released an indicative advertisement for admission to its One-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology.
The Institute is inviting online applications for the 2026 batch. The application process for this diploma course will be conducted exclusively online.
Candidates seeking detailed information on the selection procedure and the application form are advised to visit the Institute's official website at www.ptduia.com.
Important Cautionary Note
It is noted that the information currently available is derived from an indicative advertisement and is therefore very limited. Furthermore, the Institute's official website (www.ptduia.com) is currently not updated with the specific details for the 2026 admission cycle.
The application form will be activated from 27th October. Opening Date and Timing: 27/10/2025 ; 0.00 hours
Although extensive information regarding the required procedures was shared on our platforms during the last admission cycle, interested candidates can refer to the PGDA admission 2025 advertisement for a general understanding of the process.
Crucially, since we have not received an official notice with all the information, apart from the indicative advertisement, no assurance can be given regarding the specific selection procedure and the application form for the 2026 session.
We request you to please wait and re-visit this page for our next update or visit official website for more details.
Last year's advertisement: Click here To know about basics: Click here
To check PYQs: Click here or here
For assistance and regular updates, you can join our Institute of Archaeology assistance WhatsApp group for free.
When I applying the pg diploma form ,there is an error showing during submit.
Error- application.ptduia.com says [ object object]