The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited applications for DRDO Chair and Fellowship posts. The official DRDO advertisement PDF carries Advertisement No. DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01. It was issued by the Directorate of Human Resource & Vigilance (DHR&V) at DRDO Headquarters, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi. Applications for DRDO Chair and Fellowship 2026 close 21 days from the date the advertisement is published in newspapers.
There are 15 vacancies in all, across three position types. A full position-wise breakdown follows below. The posts are open only to officers who have retired, or who are due to retire by 30 November 2026, from the Central Government or an autonomous body of the Central Government. Posting can be anywhere in India, mainly in cities where DRDO labs and establishments are located. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official DRDO advertisement No. DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01. The advertisement does not carry a date of issue. Last verified: 15 September 2026.
DRDO is recruiting for 15 posts of DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship through Advertisement No. DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01. The last date to apply is 21 days from the date the advertisement appears in newspapers. Applications must be typed on A-4 paper and posted to the Director of Human Resource & Vigilance at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi, with an advance copy allowed by email. Selection is by a screening committee and then a selection committee.
Quick summary of DRDO Chair and Fellowship 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) |
| Posts | DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship, DRDO Fellowship |
| Total vacancy | 15 Posts |
| Salary | ₹80,000 to ₹1,25,000 per month, capped (see below) |
| Application mode | Offline, by post |
| Eligibility | Retired or retiring by 30 November 2026 from Pay Level 14, 15 or 16 |
| Selection process | Screening committee, then selection committee |
| Place of posting | Anywhere in India, mainly cities with DRDO labs |
| Last date | 21 days from newspaper publication |
| Who can apply | Senior scientists and equivalent service officers |
Also Read: DRDO CASDIC Internship 2026
About DRDO
DRDO is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It develops defence technologies and weapon systems for the three Services. Its work covers aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. The advertisement lists the Agni and Prithvi missile series, the Tejas light combat aircraft, the Pinaka rocket launcher and the Akash air defence system among its programmes. Recruitment for these posts is handled by DHR&V at DRDO Headquarters in New Delhi. More such openings appear on our government jobs page.
Place of posting and how it compares
The advertisement states the liability to serve anywhere in India. In practice, this means the cities where DRDO labs and establishments sit, matched to the applicant’s own research field. DRDO Chairs, Distinguished Fellows and Fellows must attend office on all working days of the lab they report to.
This is not a desk-free advisory appointment. The attendance rule is written into the advertisement itself. Candidates who are unwilling to relocate to a lab city should weigh that before applying.
This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office. DRDO labs and establishments are spread across several states, so the posting city depends on which cluster accepts the application.
Important dates
The advertisement does not give a fixed calendar closing date. It ties the deadline to newspaper publication instead.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement number | DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01 |
| Advertisement date | 15th Sept 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 21 days from the date of publication in newspapers |
| Retirement cut-off for applicants | 30 November 2026 |
Candidates should note the second cut-off carefully. Eligibility also allows scientists due to retire within three months from the date the advertisement appeared on the DRDO intranet, the DRDO website and in a national newspaper.
Also Read: LRDE JRF Recruitment 2026 — 2 ECE Posts | DRDO Walk-In
Vacancy details and salary
The advertisement splits every position between DRDO candidates and non-DRDO candidates. Non-DRDO covers the Tri Services, scientific and academic institutions of the Central Government, and autonomous bodies under the Central Government.
| Position | DRDO | Non-DRDO | Total | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRDO Chair | 02 | 00 | 2 | ₹1,25,000 |
| DRDO Distinguished Fellowship | 03 | 04 | 7 | ₹1,00,000 |
| DRDO Fellowship | 03 | 03 | 6 | ₹80,000 |
| Total | 08 | 07 | 15 |
The pay figures are a ceiling, not a flat amount. The advertisement says the fixed monthly honorarium is restricted to the amount arrived at by deducting the basic pension from the last basic pay drawn at retirement. There is no annual increment and no percentage increase during the contract. Allowances such as dearness allowance, house rent allowance, government accommodation, medical reimbursement and telephone or broadband reimbursement are not payable. Transport allowance is payable as admissible. [The advertisement also states that the number of positions available may vary.]
Eligibility
The qualification printed in the vacancy table is B.Tech./B.E./M.Sc./PhD. The binding condition, though, is the pay level the applicant retired from. Candidates with a B.Tech background will find most of the listed research areas familiar.
| Position | Retired From | Pay Level | Also Considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRDO Chair | Distinguished Scientist (DS) or equivalent | Level 16 | Retired Lt. General or equivalent in Level 16 |
| DRDO Distinguished Fellowship | Outstanding Scientist (OS) or equivalent | Level 15 | Retired Lt. General or equivalent in Level 15 |
| DRDO Fellowship | Scientist ‘G’ or equivalent | Level 14 | Retired Major General or equivalent in Level 14 |
The retirement must be from DRDO or another scientific or academic institution. Scientists due to retire within three months from the date of advertisement are also eligible.
Maximum age limit: up to 5 years after superannuation, for all three positions.
Tenure: contractual, for a maximum of 3 years from the date of charge assumption. Renewal is annual and depends on performance and deliverables.
Leave: 1.5 days of paid leave for each completed month of service.
Also Read: DRDO NPOL Kochi JRF 2026 — Walk-in Interview on 10 Oct
Areas of R&D activity
The advertisement lists these fields: aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, communication engineering, computer science and IT, electronics, life science, instrumentation, material science, missiles and naval systems.
Selection process
The selection process for DRDO Chair and Fellowship 2026 runs through two committees and a final approval.
- A screening committee examines all applications received.
- Names recommended by the screening committee are shortlisted and sent to the selection committee.
- The selection committee recommends the final list.
- The final list goes to the Competent Authority for approval.
The advertisement gives no written test and no interview call letter stage. Applicants should make sure of their own eligibility in terms of discipline, experience and pay level before applying. They are also advised not to change their mobile number, email address or residential address after applying.
How to apply
Applications are offline only. There is no online portal for this advertisement.
- Download the DRDO application form PDF and fill it in.
- Type the application neatly on A-4 size paper.
- Get the completed application endorsed by the Director of the concerned lab or establishment, and by the Cluster Director General, for the place where the applicant wishes to serve.
- Attach all required documents.
- Write on the envelope: “Application for DRDO Chair/DRDO Fellow”.
- Post it to: The Director, Director of Human Resource & Vigilance (DHR&V), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Room No. 229 (DRDS-III), DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi-110011.
- An advance copy may also be emailed to director-dhrv@gov.in.
For queries, the advertisement gives Tele 011-23007218 and Fax 011-23014576.
This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office. A postal service that gives a tracking receipt is worth using here, since the deadline runs from newspaper publication and leaves little room.
Also Read: VRDE JRF 2026 – 5 Posts | DRDO Walk-in Interview
Documents to keep ready
- Copy of the PPO and identity card issued at the time of superannuation or retirement
- Copy of Aadhaar card and PAN card
- One recent passport-size coloured photograph
- Annexures mentioned in the application format, wherever applicable
Important links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official advertisement | DRDO Chair and Fellowship advertisement PDF |
| Application form | DRDO application form PDF |
| More vacancies | Latest jobs across India |
Should you apply?
These posts suit retired senior scientists who want to stay on defence research work. The subject fields are wide, from missiles and radar to life sciences and agriculture. The appointment carries standing within DRDO and a clear research brief.
The trade-offs are real. The honorarium is capped at last basic pay minus basic pension, so the actual monthly figure differs from person to person and can fall well below the headline number. Nothing rises during the contract. No dearness allowance, no house rent allowance and no government accommodation are payable. The contract is renewed one year at a time, for a maximum of three years, and renewal depends on deliverables. Attendance is needed on every working day of the lab.
The endorsement step deserves early attention. The application must be signed off by the lab or establishment Director and by the Cluster Director General before it is sent. That takes coordination, and the window is only 21 days from newspaper publication.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for DRDO Chair and Fellowship 2026?
The last date is 21 days from the date the advertisement is published in newspapers. The advertisement does not give a fixed calendar date. Candidates should check the newspaper publication date and count 21 days from it.
What is the salary of a DRDO Fellow?
A DRDO Fellow gets ₹80,000 per month, a DRDO Distinguished Fellow gets ₹1,00,000, and a DRDO Chair gets ₹1,25,000. These are ceilings. The actual honorarium is the last basic pay drawn at retirement minus the basic pension.
Can a retired Army officer apply for DRDO Fellowship 2026?
Yes, within limits. A retired Lt. General or equivalent in Pay Level 16 can be considered for DRDO Chair, and in Pay Level 15 for Distinguished Fellowship. A retired Major General or equivalent in Pay Level 14 can be considered for DRDO Fellowship.
Is the DRDO Chair and Fellowship application online or offline?
It is offline. A typed application on A-4 paper must be posted to the Director of Human Resource & Vigilance at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi. An advance copy may be emailed to director-dhrv@gov.in. There is no online application portal for this advertisement.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Sandeep Khati, the founder of India Job Alerts. I hold a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). My career began as a Systems Engineer at TCS, and I have been active in the digital publishing space since 2011, starting with the launch of SearchDarjeeling.com and my work as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics.
Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is my most focused project to date. I am dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for candidates in West Bengal, Sikkim, and across India. To guarantee accuracy, I personally cross-check every post against official notifications before publishing. Know more