DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2026

DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2026 Apply Online for 33 Premium Group ‘A’ Gazetted Vacancies (Scientist C, D, & E) Total Openings: 33 Vacancies Cadre: DRDS (Group A Gazetted) Application Mode: Online Only Deadline: 19 June 2026 (16:00 Hrs) Critical Recruitment Overview The Recruitment & Assessment Centre (RAC) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has issued an official employment notification (Advt. No. 157) for the direct lateral recruitment of highly qualified scientists. Applications are invited from meritorious Indian nationals to fill up 33 executive vacancies across the core Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) cadre on a regular basis. These premier Group ‘A’ Technical Service positions are categorized into Scientist ‘C’, Scientist ‘D’, and Scientist ‘E’ profiles, distributed across multiple advanced engineering and scientific streams. Aspiring senior and mid-career professionals possessing the required continuous research, design, or developmental experience must lock their digital applications through the official RAC dashboard before the closing boundary of 19 June 2026 at 1600 Hrs. Comprehensive Content Index 1. Important Dates & Registration Schedule 2. Grade-Wise Vacancy & Core Pay Scales 3. Post-Wise Discipline Allocation 4. Academic & Higher Qualification Weightage 5. Mandated Experience Length & Age Limits 6. Application Fee Parameters 7. Multi-Stage Screening & Interview Process 8. Step-by-Step Online Registration Process 9. Important Links 10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. Important Dates & Registration Schedule Candidates must complete all submission steps before the designated server lock. Eligibility boundaries will be verified strictly against the closing date. DRDO RAC Recruitment Calendar 2026 Official Notification Publication Date (Employment News): 30 May 2026 Absolute Closing Date & Time for Online Applications: 19 June 2026 (1600 Hrs) Crucial Target Date for Age, Experience, & Qualification: 19 June 2026 2. Grade-Wise Vacancy & Core Pay Scales All advertised openings belong to the regular DRDS cadre and provide career progression under the vacancy-delinked Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS). Scientist Grade Level 7th CPC Pay Scale Matrix Starting Basic Pay Total Vacancies Scientist ‘E’ Pay Level 13 ₹ 1,23,100/- 02 Posts Scientist ‘D’ Pay Level 12 ₹ 78,800/- 11 Posts Scientist ‘C’ Pay Level 11 ₹ 67,700/- 20 Posts Grand Total Vacancies Matrix 33 Vacancies 3. Post-Wise Discipline Allocation The 33 vacancies are divided across item codes, mapping out specific technical specializations required by the research wings. Item No. Scientist Grade Core Subject / Discipline Vacancies A. Regular Posts in DRDS Cadre 1 Scientist ‘E’ Electronics & Communication Engineering 01 2 Scientist ‘D’ Computer Science & Engineering 01 3 Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering 01 4 Mechanical Engineering 01 5 Physics / Photonics / Optics / Engineering Physics 01 6-7 Chemical Engineering 02 8 Mechanical Engineering 01 9-11, 13-14, 16 Scientist ‘C’ Electronics & Communication Engineering 11 12, 15 Computer Science & Engineering 02 17 Oceanography / Physical Oceanography 01 18 Mathematics / Applied Mathematics / Modeling & Simulation 01 19 Chemical Engineering 01 21 Electrical Engineering 01 22 Pharmacology 01 B. Encadered Posts in DRDS Cadre 24 Scientist ‘E’ Mechanical / Production / Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering 01 25 Scientist ‘D’ Mechanical / Production / Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering 01 26 Electronics & Telecommunication / Communication Engineering 01 27 Physics / Radiation Physics 01 28 Mechanical Engineering 01 29 Scientist ‘C’ Physics / Radiological Physics / Medical Physics 02 30 Electronics & Communication / Mechanical Engineering 01 4. Academic & Higher Qualification Weightage UPSC frameworks map rigorous testing criteria to select candidates holding excellent professional aggregate marks. Mandatory Academic Standards Possession of 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 is mandatory. Where an institution does not define a first-class boundary, an aggregate mark score of 60% or a CGPA/CPI of 6.75 on a 10-point scale (as per AICTE guidelines) will be treated as the baseline equivalent. No rounding off of percentage parameters is permitted. Higher Qualification Experience Weightage Advanced degrees can be equated directly to equivalent years of core research experience, provided the qualification has been acquired before the closing timeline: Post Graduate Qualification in Engineering (M.E. / M.Tech): Counts as 2 years of experience weightage. Post Graduate Degree in Medicine / Physiology: Counts as 3 years of experience weightage. Doctorate Degree in Science / Pharmacy (Ph.D.): Counts as 3 years of experience weightage. Doctorate Degree in Engineering (Ph.D.): Counts as 4 years of experience weightage. Note: In the case of overlapping timelines, study periods and job experience terms cannot be counted simultaneously. The weightage remains subject to the assessment of technical relevance to DRDO. 5. Mandated Experience Length & Age Limits Since recruitment operates under a lateral model, matching lengths of post-qualification executive experience are required. Target Scientist Post Mandatory Experience Length Upper Age Ceiling (UR) Scientist ‘E’ Minimum 11 Years of experience in research, design, development, or technological management in the relevant field. Not exceeding 45 Years. Scientist ‘D’ Minimum 07 Years of core post-qualification research/design/production experience. Not exceeding 45 Years. Scientist ‘C’ Minimum 03 Years of post-qualification research or developmental operational experience. Not exceeding 35 Years. Important Age Relaxation Rules: The upper age boundary is relaxable up to 10 years for Divyang/PwD candidates. It is relaxable up to 5 years for regular Civilian Central Government Employees with at least 3 years of continuous service in allied lines. For Scientist ‘C’ and above, category-based reservation relaxations do not apply to upper age limits. The absolute maximum age limit across all relaxations shall not exceed 56 years. 6. Application Fee Parameters Processing fees must be cleared through online payment gateways before the submission lock. General, OBC, and EWS Male Candidates: A non-refundable, non-transferable application fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) applies. SC, ST, Divyang (PwBD), and All Women Candidates: Completely Exempted from paying the application fee. 7. Multi-Stage Screening & Interview Process Selection is governed by a thorough verification system executed by independent expert screening panels. Administrative Screening: Initial filtering to verify identity logs, age limits, validity of engineering degrees, and verification of the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) declaration.