DRDO — the Defence Research and Development Organisation — runs recruitment through more than 50 separate laboratories across India, not one central office. That means a new JRF, Research Associate, Scientist or Apprentice notice can appear from any lab at any time, each with its own deadline, its own application address, and often its own rules.
This page tracks every DRDO vacancy India Job Alerts has covered in 2026 and keeps the “currently open” list updated as deadlines close and new labs release notices. As of today, two DRDO recruitments are still accepting applications; the rest have closed and are kept below for reference. Candidates should check the full article for each vacancy before applying, since eligibility and the application process differ by lab.
Information compiled from India Job Alerts’ own verified DRDO recruitment articles, each cross-checked against its official DRDO lab notification at the time of publishing.
As of 10 August 2026, DRDO has two open recruitments: 165 Paid Internship posts at DRDL, Hyderabad (apply by 16 August 2026, walk-in, tentative), and 24 Junior Research Fellow / Research Associate posts at ARDE, Pune (apply by 31 August 2026, by post). All other DRDO vacancies covered on this site in 2026 have passed their deadline or interview date.
A Request to Job Seekers : Our goal is to bring the best careers right to your screen. If our updates have helped your job search, we’d love to hear from you !
Currently open DRDO recruitments
| Lab | Post | Vacancies | Stipend / Salary | Last Date | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRDL, Hyderabad | Paid Internship (UG/PG Engineering, Physical Science) | 165 | ₹5,000/month | 16 Aug 2026 (tentative) | Walk-in |
| ARDE, Pune | Junior Research Fellow / Research Associate | 24 | Fellowship as per DRDO norms | 31 Aug 2026 | By post (offline) |
DRDL Hyderabad Paid Internship 2026 — 165 posts
Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad has 165 paid internship positions open across four engineering and physical-science branch codes, for final-year UG and PG students. The internship runs for six months at a stipend of ₹5,000 per month. Applications are on a walk-in basis; the notice lists the last date as 16 August 2026 (tentative), so candidates should confirm the exact date on the official notice before travelling.
Read the full DRDL Internship 2026 article →
ARDE Pune JRF & Research Associate 2026 — 24 posts
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune has 24 posts open across Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical/Metallurgy and Aeronautical disciplines, plus one Research Associate post. Applications must be sent offline by post to the Director, ARDE, Armament Post, Pune – 411 021, by 31 August 2026.
Read the full ARDE JRF & RA 2026 article →
Recently closed DRDO recruitments (for reference)
These notices have passed their last date or interview date. They stay here because the same labs typically repeat similar recruitment cycles, and the eligibility pattern is a useful guide for what to expect next time.
| Lab / Body | Post | Vacancies | Status | Article |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAC (DRDO) | Scientist C/D/E, Advt. 157 | 33 | Closed 19 Jun 2026 | Read → |
| R&DE (Engrs), Pune | Paid Internship | 40 | Closed 27 May 2026 | Read → |
| SAG, Delhi | Internship (final-year B.Tech/M.Tech/M.Sc) | 40 | Closed 15 Jun 2026 | Read → |
| DYSL-QT, Pune | Research Associate | 1 | Closed ~22 Jul 2026 | Read → |
| CAIR + 7 labs | JRF & Paid Internship (multi-lab) | 127 | Closed May–Jun 2026 | Read → |
| UPSC (for DRDO) | Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II | 29 | Closed 29 May 2026 | Read → |
| ACEM, Nashik | Graduate & Technician Apprentice | 41 | Closed 26 Jul 2026 | Read → |
| Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur | RA & JRF (walk-in) | 10 | Interview closed 22–23 Jul 2026 | Read → |
| CFEES, Delhi | JRF (walk-in) | 9 | Interview closed 4–5 Aug 2026 | Read → |
| SAG, Delhi | JRF, Cryptology (walk-in) | 11 | Interview closed 5 Aug 2026 | Read → |
About DRDO
The Defence Research and Development Organisation works under the Ministry of Defence and runs more than 50 laboratories covering aeronautics, missiles, electronics, naval systems, life sciences and materials research. Recruitment happens at two levels: centrally, through the Recruitment & Assessment Centre (RAC) for Scientist posts and through UPSC for administrative posts, and separately, at each individual lab, for JRF, Research Associate, Apprentice and Internship posts. This split is why DRDO vacancies appear scattered across many different notices rather than one central list.
Government Jobs | Latest Jobs (All India)
How DRDO recruitment works, in practice
This is added context, not part of any single official notification. Confirm current process with the hiring lab.
DRDO postings on this site generally fall into four types, and each behaves differently:
- Scientist posts (RAC-run): online application, structured pay scale, multi-year experience requirements. Advertised occasionally, in batches across disciplines.
- JRF / Research Associate posts (lab-run): usually offline, by post or email, often walk-in interview only, no written exam. Each lab sets its own address and format — there is no single DRDO careers portal for these.
- Apprentice posts: under the Apprentices Act, fixed stipend, usually diploma or graduate entry, one year of training.
- Paid internships: for final-year UG/PG students, typically ₹5,000/month, six months, offered by individual labs as capacity allows.
Because JRF and RA posts are lab-run and offline, a candidate’s best strategy is checking each lab’s notice individually rather than expecting one common DRDO application form — the “how to apply” section differs post to post even within DRDO.
Should you track DRDO recruitment closely?
This is useful ground for candidates in engineering, physical sciences and administration who want research exposure or a stable central government track, but it rewards patience over urgency. Vacancy counts per notice are usually small — single digits to a few dozen — competition for JRF and RA posts is sharp given the stipend and research-lab prestige, and the offline, lab-specific application process means a missed detail (wrong address, missing annexure) can disqualify an otherwise eligible candidate. Internships are the easiest entry point for students, since eligibility is broader and volume is higher, but the stipend is modest and the role is time-bound. This is added context, not part of any official notification.
FAQs DRDO Recruitment
Is DRDO recruitment 2026 still open?
Yes, as of 10 August 2026, two DRDO recruitments are open: the DRDL Hyderabad Paid Internship (165 posts, closes 16 August 2026, tentative) and the ARDE Pune JRF/RA recruitment (24 posts, closes 31 August 2026). All other DRDO notices covered on this site have closed.
How can I apply for DRDO JRF or Research Associate posts?
Most DRDO JRF and RA posts use an offline process — sending the application form and documents by post or email directly to the specific lab, not through a common portal. The exact address, format and required annexures differ by lab, so candidates should follow the steps in that lab’s own notification.
Does DRDO recruit through one central website?
DRDO’s main site, drdo.gov.in, lists notices from all labs, but each lab runs its own recruitment separately with its own dates and application method. There is no single common online application form for JRF, RA, Apprentice or Internship posts across DRDO. This is added context, not part of any official notification.
What is the typical stipend for a DRDO JRF or intern?
This varies by post and is stated in each notice — for example, JRF stipends and internship stipends published on this site in 2026 differ by lab and post. Check the specific vacancy’s article or official notice for the exact figure rather than assuming one DRDO-wide rate.
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