Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Recruitment Circular 2026
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), has released Advertisement No. 157 for the direct lateral recruitment of Scientists.
DRDO is seeking highly qualified and competent Scientists and Technologists to execute programs of scientific research, design, and development relevant to national security.
Important Dates
- Advertisement Number: 157
- Closing Date for Online Applications: 19 June 2026 (1600 hrs)
- Date for Determining Eligibility: 19 June 2026
Vacancy Details and Pay Scale
The recruitment drive offers a total of 33 vacancies for regular and encadered posts within the DRDS cadre.
| Post Name | Basic Pay and Level | Total Vacancies |
| Scientist ‘E’ | Rs. 1,23,100/-, Level 13 | 02 Posts |
| Scientist ‘D’ | Rs. 78,800/-, Level 12 | 11 Posts |
| Scientist ‘C’ | Rs. 67,700/-, Level 11 | 20 Posts |
Relevant Disciplines
Vacancies are distributed across multiple technical and scientific disciplines.
- Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics / Photonics / Optics and Opto-Electronics
- Chemical Engineering
- Oceanography / Physical Oceanography
- Mathematics / Applied Mathematics
- Physiology
- Electrical Engineering
- Pharmacology
- Remote Sensing / Geoinformatics / Civil Engineering
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualifications
- Candidates must possess at least a First Division Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Technology or a First Division Master’s Degree in the relevant science discipline from a recognized University.
- In cases where a university does not specify first division criteria, 60% marks will be considered equivalent to a first division.
- For institutions using a 10-point grading scale, a CGPA/CPI of 6.75 will be treated as equivalent to 60% as per AICTE guidelines.
Work Experience Requirements
- Scientist ‘E’: Requires a minimum of 11 years of experience in research, design, or development in the relevant field.
- Scientist ‘D’: Requires a minimum of 7 years of experience in research, design, or development in the relevant field.
- Scientist ‘C’: Requires a minimum of 3 years of experience in research, design, or development in the relevant field.
- Experience will only be counted after the date the candidate passed their essential qualification.
- Part-time work, daily wage labor, trainee periods, and visiting/guest faculty roles will not be counted toward suitable experience.
Age Limits and Relaxations
- The maximum age limit for Scientist ‘D’ and Scientist ‘E’ is 45 years as of the closing date.
- The maximum age limit for Scientist ‘C’ is 35 years as of the closing date.
- Divyang/PwD candidates are eligible for an age relaxation of up to 10 years.
- Serving Civilian Central Government Employees with at least three years of continuous service are eligible for an age relaxation of up to 5 years.
- Ex-servicemen are eligible for age relaxation in accordance with existing government rules.
- Including all relaxations, the maximum age of any candidate must not exceed 56 years.
Application Fee
- General, OBC, and EWS male candidates are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of Rs. 100/-.
- SC, ST, Divyang, and Women candidates are completely exempted from paying the application fee.
- The application fee must be paid exclusively through online payment modes.
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Selection Process
The selection process involves multiple screening stages to ensure only the most suitable candidates are chosen.
- Administrative Screening: Applications will be initially screened for verification of age, identity, essential qualifications, and length of experience.
- Technical Screening (Level 1): An independent Technical Screening Committee will assess administratively eligible applications based on the relevance of experience and higher qualifications.
- Technical Screening (Level 2): If a large number of candidates pass Level 1, a Preliminary Online Interview lasting 10 to 15 minutes may be conducted for further shortlisting.
- Final Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates must attend an in-person Final Personal Interview at RAC, Delhi. No requests for online interviews will be entertained at this final stage.
- Final Merit: Selection is purely based on the merit of marks scored in the Final Personal Interview. Candidates must secure a minimum of 75% marks (75 out of 100) to be considered for final selection.
How to Apply
- All candidates must register and submit their applications online through the official RAC website at https://rac.gov.in.
- Candidates employed in Government sectors, PSUs, or Joint Ventures must upload a signed Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) Declaration during the online application process.
- A formal No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the candidate’s CCA must be produced at the time of the Final Personal Interview.
- Applicants must ensure that uploaded documents are legible, not password-protected, and do not exceed 500 KB in size.
- Required uploads include date of birth proof, a recent passport-size photograph, a scanned signature, educational certificates, and comprehensive experience proofs featuring start dates, end dates, and salary details.
- Candidates should retain a printed copy of the submitted online application in PDF format for their records.
DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2026 – Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
