DRDO

What is DRDO?

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is India's major defence research and development organisation. It works under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India and is involved in developing technologies and systems for India's defence requirements.

DRDO offers career opportunities for candidates from different educational backgrounds, including engineering, science, technical, administrative and other disciplines.

StudySpider's DRDO section will bring together information about DRDO recruitment, eligibility, exam patterns, syllabus, previous year papers, mock tests and preparation resources.

Basic Details

DRDO Recruitment

DRDO recruitment is not conducted through one single examination. Different posts and recruitment bodies can have different:

• Eligibility criteria
• Educational qualifications
• Age limits
• Selection processes
• Examination patterns
• Syllabus
• Pay levels
• Recruitment schedules

Therefore, StudySpider will organize DRDO opportunities exam/post-wise.

Major DRDO Career Categories

DRDO Scientist Cadre

DRDO scientists form the core of India's defence research initiatives. Recruited primarily through the Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), the scientific hierarchy offers structured career progression under the Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS).

DRDO CEPTAM

The Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM) is the dedicated recruitment wing of DRDO responsible for non-gazetted technical, administrative, and allied cadre recruitment.

Research Fellowships

DRDO laboratories offer research fellowships for bright scholars, engineering graduates, and doctorate holders to conduct cutting-edge defence research with attractive monthly stipends and institutional support.

DRDO Apprenticeship

Various DRDO laboratories and research establishments across India invite applications annually under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for one-year apprenticeship training.

Eligibility Criteria

DRDO provides diverse career paths across multiple educational backgrounds. Key eligibility guidelines include:

10th / ITI

Eligible for Technician-A, trade-based technical jobs, and ITI Apprenticeship positions.

Diploma in Engineering

Eligible for Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B) and Diploma Apprenticeship across Mechanical, Electrical, ECE, CS, Civil, and other disciplines.

Bachelor's Degree (B.E. / B.Tech / B.Sc)

B.E./B.Tech graduates are eligible for Scientist 'B' (via GATE/RAC), Graduate Apprenticeships, and technical roles. B.Sc graduates are eligible for STA-B in specialized sciences.

Master's / Doctorate

Eligible for Scientist 'B', JRF / SRF, and Research Associate opportunities in specialized defence disciplines.

*Age relaxations apply for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen as per Government of India rules.

Selection Process

Depending on the post and cadre, the selection process in DRDO follows specific stages:

Salary & Benefits

DRDO employees receive pay and allowances in accordance with the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations along with Central Government amenities.

In addition to basic pay, regular DRDO appointees are eligible for Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), Children Education Allowance, CGHS medical benefits, LTC, and pension benefits under the NPS.

Syllabus

The syllabus varies according to the post and conducting agency (RAC or CEPTAM):

Previous Year Papers

Solve official previous year question papers to understand exam weightage, question trends, and difficulty levels.

Mock Tests

Simulate real exam scenarios with timed test series, subject-specific quizzes, and national ranking analytics.

Study Material

High-yield study notes, formula sheets, quick-revision capsules, and current affairs curated for DRDO exams.

Frequently Asked Questions