The Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), an independent unit of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, has released a recruitment notification (official PDF) for the post of Chairperson, RAC. As per Advertisement No. 158, the closing date to send applications is 07 September 2026. The date this advertisement first opened for applications is not mentioned in the official notification. This vacancy is for eminent retired or serving persons at Secretary-to-Government-of-India level who are looking for a senior re-employment assignment in India’s defence research and recruitment set-up.
RAC has 1 vacancy for the post of Chairperson, and the place of posting is Timarpur, Delhi. A full breakdown of the post, pay and eligibility is given below. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), DRDO notification No. 158 dated not mentioned in the official notification. Last verified: 11 August 2026.
RAC is recruiting one Chairperson, RAC through Advertisement No. 158. The last date to send the filled biodata is 07 September 2026. Eligible candidates can download the biodata format from the official RAC website (rac.gov.in) and send it by Speed Post to the Director, RAC, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi – 110054. Selection is through a high-level Search-cum-Selection Committee.
Quick Summary of DRDO RAC Chairperson Recruitment 2026
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
| Post | Chairperson, RAC |
| Total Vacancy | 1 |
| Salary | Pay Level 17 (7th CPC), Pay level ₹2,25,000; Basic pay (less pension) ₹1,12,500 + DA and allowances |
| Application Mode | Offline — biodata sent by Speed Post |
| Eligibility | Eminent retired/serving Scientist, Technologist, Academician or Civil Servant at Secretary-to-Govt.-of-India level (Pay Matrix Level 17) |
| Selection Process | Screening by a Search-cum-Selection Committee, with approval of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) |
| Place of Posting | Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi – 110054 |
| Last Date | 07 September 2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Eminent retired or serving persons at the Secretary level |
Also Read: DRDO Tezpur JRF Recruitment 2026 – 6 Posts
About Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC)
The Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC) is an independent, self-accounting unit of DRDO under the Ministry of Defence. It handles recruitment, assessment and training of DRDO scientists, and extends the same selection services to the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and other allied agencies. RAC was set up on 23 July 1985, after DRDO was exempted from the purview of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This background matters to a candidate because it shows the Chairperson’s role sits at the centre of how DRDO recruits and assesses its scientific workforce nationwide.
How this appointment compares
This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the official website. Most DRDO vacancies covered on this site are direct-recruitment posts for scientists or technical staff, filled through written exams or interviews open to a wide pool of applicants. The Chairperson, RAC post works differently: it is a single re-employment position filled through a Search-cum-Selection Committee that can also consider names beyond those who send in a biodata. Candidates comparing this to a typical DRDO scientist recruitment should note the process, eligibility bar, and appointment structure are not comparable to entry- or mid-level government hiring.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last date to send biodata | 07 September 2026 |
| Biodata must reach within | 30 days from the date of publication of this advertisement in Employment News |
Also Read: DRDO DRDL Internship 2026 – 165 Posts
Vacancy details and salary
| Post | Grade / Pay Level | No. of Posts | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairperson, RAC | Level 17, Pay Matrix (7th CPC); Pay level ₹2,25,000 | 1 | Basic pay (less pension): ₹1,12,500; plus Dearness Allowance as applicable |
Total vacancies: 1
The notification also lists the following indicative entitlements for the Chairperson, RAC, subject to government rules and amendments:
- Dearness Allowance (DA) on basic pay, as applicable
- Accommodation, or House Rent Allowance if staying in own house or on rent
- Staff car
- Reimbursement of newspaper expenditure
- Reimbursement of telephone bill expenditure
- Reimbursement of briefcase / office bag expenditure every three years
Also read: DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice 2026-27
Eligibility
Eminent retired or serving Scientists, Technologists, Academicians and Civil Servants at the level of Secretary to the Government of India (Level 17 of the Pay Matrix in the 7th CPC / Pay level ₹2,25,000) are eligible to apply. The notification does not set a separate numeric age limit for eligibility; it states only that the appointment itself will run for three (03) years or till attainment of 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Selection process
Selection for this post is not through a written exam. It follows this route:
- Interested and eligible persons submit a biodata in the prescribed format.
- A high-level Search-cum-Selection Committee, appointed by the Government of India in accordance with DOP&T instructions, reviews candidates. The Committee has the authority to also consider names beyond those who sent in a biodata against this advertisement.
- The final appointment is made with the approval of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC).
- The selected candidate is appointed on re-employment, on contract, for three years or till the age of 65, whichever comes first.
Every biodata must include a signed undertaking that the applicant will join the post if selected. A biodata submitted without this undertaking will be summarily rejected.
Also Read: DRDO Recruitment – JRF, Scientist, Apprentice & Internship Vacancies
How to apply
- Download the biodata format from the official RAC website: rac.gov.in.
- Fill in all sections of the biodata — general information, educational qualifications, area of specialisation, employment details, publications, best papers/books, scholarships/awards/memberships, and details of referees.
- Write the required justification (approximately 250 words) on why you consider yourself suitable for the post.
- Sign the declaration and the undertaking confirming you will join the post if selected. A biodata without this undertaking is rejected.
- Attach proof of Pay Level 17 / Secretary-level post, such as an appointment letter or Pension Payment Order (PPO).
- Send the completed biodata by Speed Post to: The Director, Recruitment and Assessment Centre, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi – 110054.
- Ensure the biodata reaches this address within 30 days of the advertisement’s publication in Employment News, and in any case by the closing date of 07 September 2026.
Documents to keep ready
- Filled and signed biodata form with undertaking
- Proof of Pay Level 17 / Secretary-level post (appointment letter or PPO)
- Educational qualification certificates
- List and copies of key publications or books, where applicable
- Details of referees with contact information
Important links
- Official notification and biodata format (PDF) — the full Advertisement No. 158 with eligibility, pay, and the biodata form
- RAC official website — for details and the biodata format download
- Latest government jobs on India Job Alerts — for other current openings across India
- More government jobs — for more central and state recruitment notices
For queries, the notification lists the official email: director.rac@gov.in.
Should you apply?
This post suits only a narrow group: retired or currently serving persons who have already reached the level of Secretary to the Government of India, typically senior scientists, technologists, academicians or civil servants with an established track record. It is not a fit for early- or mid-career candidates, since there is no lower eligibility band and no written exam route in. The appointment itself is a three-year, re-employment contract, not a fresh permanent government post, and it ends earlier if the appointee turns 65 within that period. Competition is realistically limited to a small pool of eligible, senior-level individuals, and the Search-cum-Selection Committee can also bring in names on its own, so sending a biodata does not guarantee shortlisting. For someone who does meet the eligibility bar, the role carries a policy-level responsibility over DRDO and ADA’s recruitment and assessment activities, along with Level 17 pay and standard entitlements such as a staff car and accommodation support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for the DRDO RAC Chairperson post 2026?
The last date to send the filled biodata for the Chairperson, RAC post is 07 September 2026. It must also reach the RAC office within 30 days of the advertisement’s publication in Employment News, whichever condition applies.
What is the salary of the Chairperson, RAC in DRDO?
The post carries Pay Level 17 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, with a pay level of ₹2,25,000. The notification lists the basic pay (less pension) as ₹1,12,500, along with Dearness Allowance and other entitlements such as accommodation or HRA and a staff car.
How can I apply for the Chairperson, RAC post?
There is no online application for this post. Candidates must download the biodata format from the official RAC website, fill it with the required undertaking, and send it by Speed Post to the Director, RAC, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi – 110054, within the stated deadline.
Is the Chairperson, RAC post a permanent government job?
No. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the official website. The notification states the Chairperson is appointed on re-employment, on contract, for three years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier — not as a fresh permanent appointment, which is different from most direct-recruitment government posts covered on this site.
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