The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) works under the Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence. By its own description, it is "a network of around 41 laboratories and 05 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories". For many engineering and science graduates, a DRDO job is attractive because of the nature of the work, but getting in depends on choosing the right entry route, and each route has very different requirements.
This guide explains the main ways into DRDO using its own recent advertisements: Scientist 'B' through the Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), technical posts through CEPTAM, and JRF and apprentice positions at individual laboratories. It also shows where each stood in October 2026.
Checked against rac.gov.in and drdo.gov.in on 9 October 2026.
The entry routes at a glance
| Route | Who it suits | Latest official position |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist 'B' (RAC) | First-class engineering graduates or science postgraduates with a valid GATE score | Advt. No. 156 (2025) at the results stage; RAC says 2027 vacancies will be notified "in the next few months" |
| Senior Technical Assistant-B (CEPTAM) | B.Sc. or diploma holders (higher degrees not accepted) | CEPTAM-11: 561 posts; Tier-II done; document scrutiny status published September 2026 |
| Technician-A (CEPTAM) | Class 10 plus ITI | CEPTAM-11: 203 posts |
| Junior Research Fellow (laboratory level) | Postgraduates or B.E./B.Tech holders with NET/GATE | Individual laboratory advertisements, for example at DMRL Hyderabad |
| Apprentice (laboratory level) | Recent graduates and diploma holders | Individual laboratory notices under the Apprentices Act |
Scientist 'B': the GATE route
RAC's Advertisement No. 156 (2025) shows how direct recruitment of Scientist 'B' works:
- Posts: 155 after an addendum (DRDO 127, ADA 9, encadred posts 16, DST 3).
- Pay: Level 10 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, basic pay ₹56,100. RAC put total emoluments at joining at "approximately Rs. 1,00,000/- p.m. at the present metro city rate".
- Eligibility: at least a first-class bachelor's degree in the relevant engineering discipline (or a first-class master's in the relevant science subject) plus a valid GATE score in the matching paper. RAC treats 60%, or a CGPA of 6.75 on a 10-point scale, as first class.
- Age: up to 35 for UR/EWS, 38 for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 40 for SC/ST, with relaxation for persons with disabilities.
- Selection: shortlisting on GATE score at 1:10, then a personal interview. Final merit uses 80% GATE score and 20% interview, and candidates need at least 70% (UR) or 60% (reserved categories) in the interview.
- Training: selected DRDO candidates undergo two years of post-induction training at DIAT, Pune, leading to an M.Tech in Defence Technologies.
On 31 August 2026, RAC issued a public notice saying it "would be notifying vacancies of Scientist 'B' for the year 2027 in the next few months" and encouraging aspirants to appear for GATE 2027. No Advertisement number, vacancy count or dates had been published when we checked.
RAC's 2026 advertisement, No. 157, is different: it is lateral recruitment of 33 Scientists C, D and E with experience, not an entry route for fresh graduates.
Worked example: how the 80:20 weighting works
Illustrative only, assuming both components are expressed out of 100. A candidate's GATE marks convert to 72 and their interview score is 75:
- GATE component: 72 × 0.8 = 57.6
- Interview component: 75 × 0.2 = 15.0
- Aggregate: 72.6
A second candidate with GATE 78 and interview 70 scores 62.4 + 14.0 = 76.4 and ranks higher despite the lower interview score, because GATE carries four times the weight. The interview still matters: a UR candidate scoring below 70% in it does not qualify, whatever their GATE score.
CEPTAM: technical posts
CEPTAM (DRDO's Centre for Personnel Talent Management) recruits the DRDO Technical Cadre. CEPTAM-11, advertised in December 2025, covered 561 Senior Technical Assistant-B posts (Level 6, ₹35,400–1,12,400) and 203 Technician-A posts (Level 2, ₹19,900–63,200).
- Age: 18–28 on 1 January 2026, with relaxations as per government rules.
- Qualification: STA-B needs a B.Sc. or diploma in the specified subject; Technician-A needs Class 10 plus ITI. Holders of higher qualifications such as M.Sc., Ph.D., B.E. or B.Tech are not considered.
- Tier-I (screening): 150 questions, 150 marks, 120 minutes, covering general science, English, quantitative aptitude and reasoning.
- Tier-II: a subject-specific test (120 questions) plus a personality test that does not count; Technician-A also has a qualifying trade test.
- Marking: one mark per question, 0.25 deducted for each wrong answer; minimum 40% for UR/OBC/EWS and 35% for SC/ST/PwBD.
DRDO's CEPTAM-11 page shows that Tier-II has been held and that a status list from the preliminary document scrutiny for STA-B was published on 23 September 2026. We did not find a final selection list or a CEPTAM-12 notice.
JRF and apprenticeships
DRDO laboratories advertise Junior Research Fellowships and apprenticeships individually. Two recent examples:
- DMRL, Hyderabad (advertisement dated 6 October 2026): JRF positions with a stipend of ₹37,000 plus HRA, for up to four years, an upper age limit of 28, and shortlisting on NET or GATE scores.
- PXE, Chandipur (notice dated 23 September 2026): one-year apprenticeships under the Apprentices Act, with a graduate apprentice stipend of ₹12,300 a month and registration on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal.
These are fixed-term positions, not permanent appointments, but they give direct experience of a DRDO laboratory. Watch the vacancies page on drdo.gov.in for new laboratory notices.
A decision checklist
My qualification: ITI / diploma / B.Sc. / B.E. or B.Tech / postgraduate
GATE paper and year, if aiming for Scientist 'B' (score validity):
CEPTAM: am I excluded by holding a higher qualification?
Age on the advertisement's reference date:
Laboratories near me that advertise JRF or apprenticeships:
Date I last checked rac.gov.in and drdo.gov.in
For other central recruitment routes, see our central government jobs guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is GATE compulsory for DRDO Scientist 'B'?
For the GATE-based direct recruitment in Advertisement No. 156, yes: a valid GATE score in the relevant paper was an essential qualification, and RAC's 2026 public notice says the next cycle will also be GATE-based.
Can a B.Tech graduate apply for CEPTAM STA-B?
Not under CEPTAM-11, which states that candidates with higher qualifications such as B.E. or B.Tech will not be considered.
Has the DRDO Scientist 'B' 2027 recruitment been notified?
Not as of 9 October 2026. RAC said on 31 August 2026 that it would notify 2027 vacancies in the next few months.