Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur (DLJ), a Material Cluster Laboratory under the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), released a walk-in interview notification on 7 July 2026 on its official website. The notification invites Indian nationals for 10 posts of Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) across Physics, Materials, Electronics, Chemistry, and Mechanical disciplines. There is no online application for this recruitment; eligible candidates should attend the interview directly with their documents. DRDO Jodhpur vacancy suits candidates with a Ph.D., NET/GATE qualification, or relevant post-graduate research experience who want a fellowship in a DRDO laboratory.
DLJ has announced 10 vacancies in total: 3 Research Associate posts (2 in Physics/Materials, 1 in Electronics) and 7 JRF posts (4 in Chemistry, 1 in Physics, 2 in Mechanical). The place of posting is Defence Laboratory, Ratanada Palace, Ratanada, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official DRDO Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur notification dated 7 July 2026.
Join Official India Job Alerts WhatsApp Group for Instant Local & National Job Updates – Click here to Join Group
Quick Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | DRDO, Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur |
| Post | Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) |
| Total Vacancy | 10 posts |
| Salary | RA: ₹67,000/month; JRF: ₹37,000/month (plus HRA and medical facilities as per rules) |
| Selection Mode | Walk-in interview (no online application) |
| Eligibility | Ph.D./NET/GATE in Physics, Materials, Electronics, Chemistry, or Mechanical (post-specific) |
| Selection Process | Single-stage walk-in interview |
| Place of Posting | Defence Laboratory, Ratanada, Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
| Interview Dates | 22 July 2026 (RA posts), 23 July 2026 (JRF posts) |
| Who Can Apply | Indian nationals meeting the qualification and age criteria below |
Also Read | IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026
About Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur (DRDO)
Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur functions under DRDO, the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The lab works on materials suited to arid and desert conditions, a specialisation tied directly to its Rajasthan location. For a candidate, an RA or JRF fellowship here means working alongside DRDO scientists on live research problems, with access to lab infrastructure that most university departments do not have. It is a fixed-term research fellowship, not a permanent government job, but it is often a stepping stone into DRDO’s scientist cadre or into academic and industry research roles.
Location and How This Compares
Jodhpur is well connected by rail and air, with the Jodhpur Airport and Jodhpur Junction railway station both roughly 20–25 minutes from Ratanada Palace, where the lab is located. Candidates from Rajasthan cities such as Jaipur, Ajmer, and Bikaner can travel by direct train or bus. Ratanada is a known locality within Jodhpur city, close to Umaid Bhawan Palace, which is a useful landmark for candidates unfamiliar with the route.
This is added context based on general travel information, not part of the official notification. Confirm exact routes and timing independently.
Compared to similar DRDO fellowship notifications in 2026, this recruitment is smaller in scale — 10 posts against labs like DMSRDE or DRDL, which sometimes advertise 20 or more RA/JRF posts together. The RA salary of ₹67,000 and JRF salary of ₹37,000 are in line with DRDO’s standard fellowship pay scale nationwide, since these figures are fixed centrally and do not vary much by lab.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification published | 7 July 2026 |
| Interview — Research Associate posts (Physics/Materials, Electronics) | 22 July 2026 |
| Interview — JRF posts (Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical) | 23 July 2026 |
| Reporting time on interview day | 10:00 Hrs |
The notification does not mention a separate reporting cut-off time before 10:00 Hrs; candidates are expected to be present and ready at 10:00 Hrs on their respective interview date.
Also Read | NHIDCL Associate Recruitment 2026
Vacancy Details and Salary
| Post | Discipline | Vacancy | Salary (per month) | Fellowship Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate (RA) | Physics/Materials | 2 | ₹67,000 | 2 years |
| Research Associate (RA) | Electronics | 1 | ₹67,000 | 2 years |
| JRF | Chemistry | 4 | ₹37,000 | 2 years (extendable, upgradable to SRF as per rules) |
| JRF | Physics | 1 | ₹37,000 | 2 years (extendable, upgradable to SRF as per rules) |
| JRF | Mechanical | 2 | ₹37,000 | 2 years (extendable, upgradable to SRF as per rules) |
HRA and medical facilities are payable as per rules, in addition to the above emoluments.
Eligibility
Research Associate (RA) — Physics/Materials (2 posts)
- Ph.D. in Physics/Materials or an equivalent degree, OR
- 3 years of Research, Teaching, and Design & Development experience after a post-graduate degree (M.Sc.) in Physics/Materials, with at least one research paper in a Science Citation Index (SCI) journal
Research Associate (RA) — Electronics (1 post)
- Ph.D. in Electronics or an equivalent degree, OR
- 3 years of Research, Teaching, and Design & Development experience after a post-graduate degree (ME/M.Tech) in Electronics, with at least one SCI-indexed research paper
JRF — Chemistry (4 posts)
- Post-graduate degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Chemistry with first division, and a NET qualification from CSIR-UGC NET, MHRD GATE, or JEST
JRF — Physics (1 post)
- Post-graduate degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Physics with first division, and NET qualification from CSIR-UGC NET, MHRD GATE, or JEST
JRF — Mechanical (2 posts)
- Graduate degree (B.E./B.Tech.) in Mechanical with first division and NET/GATE qualification, OR
- Post-graduate degree (M.E./M.Tech.) in a professional Mechanical course, with first division at both graduate and post-graduate level
Age Limit
- RA: not exceeding 35 years as on the date of interview
- JRF: not exceeding 28 years as on the date of interview
- Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST/PH candidates, 3 years for OBC candidates
Selection Process
There is no written exam or online screening for this recruitment. Selection is entirely through a walk-in interview held at Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur.
- Candidates report in person at Defence Laboratory, Dr DS Kothari Marg, Ratanada Palace, Ratanada, Jodhpur, at 10:00 Hrs on their applicable interview date.
- Candidates appear before the selection panel with original and photocopied documents for verification.
- Selection is based on the interview, along with the certificates and testimonials produced on the spot.
No TA/DA (travel allowance/dearness allowance) is paid to candidates attending the interview.
Also Read | HPCL Officer Recruitment 2026
How to Attend the Walk-In Interview
Since there is no online application, candidates simply need to appear at the venue with the required documents.
- Reach Defence Laboratory, Dr DS Kothari Marg, Ratanada Palace, Ratanada, Jodhpur – 342011, Rajasthan, before 10:00 Hrs on the relevant interview date (22 July for RA posts, 23 July for JRF posts).
- Carry a complete Bio-Data with a recent passport-size photograph affixed on the top right corner of the first page.
- Carry one set of self-attested photocopies of all degree certificates, mark sheets, and experience certificates.
- Carry original certificates and testimonials for age, educational qualification, and experience for verification.
- Appear before the panel for the interview.
Documents to keep ready:
- Bio-Data with recent passport-size photo (affixed top right, first page)
- Original certificates: age proof, educational qualifications, experience
- One set of self-attested photocopies of the above
- Caste certificate (original) for SC/ST/OBC candidates, issued by a competent authority
- Medical certificate from a Government Hospital/Medical Board, for PH candidates
- Copies of published research papers and Ph.D. thesis, where applicable
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the current employer, for candidates already working in Government/PSU/Autonomous bodies
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Official DRDO Jodhpur Walk-In Interview Notification (PDF) | Full original notification |
| DRDO Official Website | Organisation homepage and further notifications |
Note to editor: add internal links here to the site’s DRDO recruitment category page and the Rajasthan government jobs page once their live URLs are confirmed. Do not publish placeholder or unconfirmed URLs.
Should You Apply?
This recruitment suits candidates who already hold a Ph.D., or a strong NET/GATE score with a relevant post-graduate or graduate degree, in Physics, Materials, Electronics, Chemistry, or Mechanical disciplines. It particularly suits candidates who want hands-on research experience within a DRDO lab before moving toward a scientist-cadre role or an academic research career, since a DLJ fellowship on a resume carries some weight in both government and private R&D hiring.
It does not suit candidates looking for a permanent job; this is a fixed-term fellowship of 2 years, extendable at the lab’s discretion, with no guarantee of absorption into DRDO afterward, as the notification states clearly. Competition for JRF Chemistry, with 4 posts, is likely to be less intense per seat than for the single-post JRF Physics or RA Electronics openings, purely because more candidates typically clear Chemistry NET than Physics NET each cycle. The honest trade-off: candidates get real DRDO research exposure and a competitive stipend, but no service security and no TA/DA for the interview itself, so budgeting travel and stay independently is necessary.
FAQs
Is there an online application for this DRDO Jodhpur recruitment?
No. This is a walk-in interview. Candidates report directly at Defence Laboratory, Ratanada, Jodhpur, on the scheduled interview date with their documents. There is no application form or portal for this notification.
Can a candidate whose Ph.D. thesis is submitted but not yet awarded apply for the RA post?
Yes, candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis can attend for the Research Associate interview. However, the fellowship will only be awarded once the degree or a provisional certificate is issued, on or before the date the offer is made.
Does clearing this interview lead to a permanent DRDO job?
No. The notification states that the fellowship does not confer any right to absorption in DRDO. It is a research fellowship of 2 years, which may be extended or upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) as per rules, based purely on performance and lab requirement — not a path to a permanent post by default.
How does the JRF stipend here compare to other central research fellowships?
The JRF pay of ₹37,000/month and RA pay of ₹67,000/month match DRDO’s standard nationwide fellowship scale for 2026, which is broadly similar to CSIR and UGC JRF/RA rates. This is added context based on general fellowship pay trends, not part of the official notification.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more