  Spectroscopic investigation of the $^{196}$Hg (Z=80, N=116) was carried out
using the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA) setup at the Variable Energy
Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata. Analysis of the acquired data led to the
identification of new $\gamma$-ray transitions and levels in the excitation
pattern of the nucleus along with the spin-parity assignments thereof. The
latter were either previously absent or had been tentatively identified.
Theoretical interpretation of the level structure obtained from these efforts
can be pursued with appropriate model calculations.

Nuclear Experiment