DRDO Issues CEPTAM-11 Recruitment Notification for 2025–26

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), functioning under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has issued the CEPTAM-11 recruitment notification for the year 2025–26 , announcing 764 vacancies across technical cadres. The recruitment drive includes 561 posts of Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B) and 203 posts of Technician-A (Tech-A) under the Defence Research & Development Organisation Technical Cadre (DRTC). The initiative aims to strengthen DRDO’s scientific and technical workforce across its laboratories and establishments located throughout the country .

Online applications for the recruitment process will commence on December 11, 2025 , and candidates can submit their applications until January 1, 2026 (11:55 PM) . The crucial date for determining eligibility has been fixed as January 1, 2026 , meaning all age and educational qualifications must be fulfilled by that date. The last date for payment of application fees is January 3, 2026 , while a correction window for submitted applications will be available from January 4 to January 6, 2026 . Dates for the Tier-I Computer Based Test (CBT) will be notified separately on the official DRDO website.

Under the notification, the post of Senior Technical Assistant-B is classified as Group ‘B’, Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial, with a Pay Matrix Level-6 salary ranging from ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 under the 7th Central Pay Commission. The Technician-A post falls under Group ‘C’ , carrying a Pay Matrix Level-2 salary of ₹19,900 to ₹63,200 . In addition to basic pay, selected candidates will be entitled to allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Leave Travel Concessions, medical facilities, and CSD benefits, as per Government of India rules. Employees will be covered under the National Pension System or Unified Pension Scheme, depending on prevailing norms.

Educational qualifications vary by post and discipline. For STA-B posts, candidates must possess a B.Sc degree or a Diploma in the relevant subject as specified against each post code. For Technician-A posts, the minimum requirement is Class 10 or equivalent along with an ITI certificate in the prescribed trade. DRDO has explicitly stated that candidates holding higher qualifications such as B.Tech, B.E., M.Sc., or Ph.D. are not eligible , even if they otherwise meet the basic criteria. Candidates whose final examination results are awaited as on the crucial date are also not permitted to apply.

The 561 STA-B vacancies are distributed across a wide range of disciplines, including Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Psychology, Geology and Library Science. Among these, Computer Science & Engineering accounts for the highest number of vacancies (160), followed by Mechanical Engineering (127) and Electronics-related disciplines (111). The 203 Technician-A vacancies cover trades such as COPA, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Fitter, Machinist, Welder, Turner, Draughtsman, Carpenter, Photographer, Surveyor and Sheet Metal Worker, reflecting DRDO’s operational and technical requirements.

Applicants must be between 18 and 28 years of age as on January 1, 2026. Age relaxation is applicable as per government norms, with 5 years for SC/ST candidates , 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) , and up to 15 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) depending on category. Additional relaxations are available for departmental candidates, ex-servicemen, widows, divorced women, women judicially separated from their husbands, and meritorious sportspersons, subject to submission of valid certificates.

Reservation benefits are extended to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and Meritorious Sportspersons . PwBD candidates must have a minimum of 40% benchmark disability to be eligible for reservation. The notification also provides detailed provisions for scribes and compensatory time for eligible PwBD candidates appearing in the computer-based examinations.

The application fee structure differs by post and category. For STA-B , candidates belonging to UR/OBC/EWS/MSP categories are required to pay ₹750 , while women, SC/ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen must pay ₹500 . For Technician-A , the fee is ₹600 for General/OBC/EWS/MSP candidates and ₹500 for women, SC/ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen. A refundable amount of ₹500 will be returned to candidates who appear for the Tier-I examination.

The selection process consists of Tier-I and Tier-II Computer Based Tests . Tier-I serves as a screening test and includes questions from General Science, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and General Intelligence & Reasoning . Tier-II comprises a subject-specific examination , while Technician-A candidates must additionally qualify in a Trade Test of ITI level , which is qualifying in nature. Each wrong answer in CBT will attract negative marking of 0.25 marks . Final merit will be prepared based on Tier-II subject-specific performance only , excluding the personality test component.

Selected candidates will be posted to DRDO laboratories and establishments across cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Dehradun and Chandigarh , among others. Candidates will be required to serve a minimum of five years at their initial place of posting . The initial appointment will be on probation for two years , and promotions will be governed by the Limited Flexible Complementing Scheme (LFCS) applicable to the DRTC cadre.

Candidates shortlisted through the examination process will undergo preliminary document scrutiny followed by document verification at the concerned DRDO laboratories or establishments. Production of original certificates relating to age, educational qualification, caste, disability, ex-servicemen status and employment NOC will be mandatory. DRDO has cautioned that any false declaration or discrepancy at any stage will result in cancellation of candidature , even after selection.

DRDO has advised candidates to apply only through its official website and remain cautious of fraudulent job offers. Any dispute arising from the CEPTAM-11 recruitment process will fall under the jurisdiction of courts and tribunals located in Delhi only .