The Defence Institute of Biodefence Technologies (DIBT), Mysuru, an institute under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, has released an official advertisement inviting applications for Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF). The advertisement was officially released on the website of DRDO dated 25th of August 2026. Applications must be sent only in hard copy, by post — there is no online or email mode for this recruitment. The DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026 suits candidates with a postgraduate or doctoral qualification in food science, food technology, food processing engineering, food engineering, or polymer science who want research experience at a Ministry of Defence laboratory.
A total of 5 posts are on offer — 1 Research Associate and 4 Junior Research Fellows, spread across two disciplines. A full discipline-wise breakdown, along with stipend, qualification and age details for each post, follows in this article. The posts are based at DIBT, Siddharthanagar, Mysuru – 570011, Karnataka. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official DIBT, DRDO advertisement for Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF). The notice does not print a notification number or publication date. Last verified: 26 August 2026.
DIBT, DRDO is recruiting 1 Research Associate and 4 Junior Research Fellows at its Mysuru campus. The official notice does not give a fixed calendar deadline; it states that applications must reach DIBT within 30 days of the advertisement’s publication. Applications are accepted only offline, in hard copy, sent by post to the Centre Head, DIBT, Mysuru. Selection is through a written test (if required) and an interview.
Quick summary of DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | DIBT, DRDO (Ministry of Defence, Govt of India) |
| Post | Research Associate (RA) & Junior Research Fellow (JRF) |
| Total vacancy | 5 (1 RA + 4 JRF) |
| Salary | RA: ₹67,000 + HRA/month; JRF: ₹37,000 + HRA/month |
| Application mode | Offline — hard copy by post only |
| Eligibility | PhD (RA); PG with NET/GATE or M.Tech (JRF) — see eligibility section |
| Selection process | Written test (if necessary) + Interview |
| Place of posting | DIBT, Siddharthanagar, Mysuru – 570011, Karnataka |
| Last date | 30 days from advertisement publication — see Important Dates |
| Who can apply | PhD / PG candidates in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Processing/Food Engineering, or Polymer Science |
Also Read: DIBT–DRDO RA & JRF official notification (PDF)
About DIBT
The Defence Institute of Biodefence Technologies (DIBT) works under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It is based at Siddharthanagar, Mysuru. DIBT’s charter covers developing detection technologies for food-borne pathogens and toxins of biodefence importance, and providing military nutrition solutions. For a candidate, a fellowship here means working on food-safety and detection research that supports India’s defence and military nutrition needs, inside a DRDO research environment.
How this vacancy compares
DIBT, Mysuru is one of several DRDO laboratories currently recruiting Junior Research Fellows and Research Associates. Other DRDO units — including ones in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Chennai, Bengaluru and Jodhpur — have opened similar posts around the same period, generally following the same national fellowship structure: a postgraduate degree with a valid NET or GATE score for JRF, and a PhD for Research Associate. This is added context, not part of the official DIBT notification. Confirm current openings at other DRDO laboratories on the official DRDO website. Compared with those drives, this DIBT vacancy is narrower in scope — it accepts candidates only from food science, food technology, food processing, food engineering and polymer science backgrounds, rather than a broad range of engineering or science disciplines.
Important dates for DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026
The DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026 notice ties the age limit to two different reference points depending on the post — receipt of application for Research Associate, and date of interview for JRF. It does not print a fixed calendar closing date; instead, it gives a rule.
| Event | Date/detail |
|---|---|
| Advertisement release date | 25th of August 2026 |
| Application mode | Offline only — hard copy by post |
| Last date for receipt of application | 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement (see note below) |
| Written test/interview date | Not yet announced |
The official notice does not state a fixed closing date. It only says applications must reach DIBT within 30 days of publication. Other job portals report this working out to 24 September 2026, but this figure is not printed in the official notice itself. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm the exact last date with DIBT or on the official DRDO website before applying.
Vacancy details and salary
| Post / Discipline | Grade | No. of Posts | Stipend (as per notice) | Category-wise split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate — Food Processing Engineering / Food Engineering & Technology / Food Engineering | Research Associate (RA) | 01 | ₹67,000 per month + HRA, as per DRDO rules | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Junior Research Fellow — Food Science & Technology | JRF | 4 (combined with the row below — see note) | ₹37,000 per month + HRA | Not mentioned in the official notification |
| Junior Research Fellow — Polymer Science / Polymer Science & Technology / Polymer Engineering | JRF | 4 (combined with the row above — see note) | ₹37,000 per month + HRA | Not mentioned in the official notification |
Verified total: 5 posts (1 Research Associate + 4 Junior Research Fellow).
Note: the notification lists one combined vacancy count of 4 for Junior Research Fellow, covering both the Food Science & Technology and Polymer Science disciplines together. It does not give a separate number of posts for each of these two disciplines.
Research Associate tenure is for two years. JRF tenure is initially two years, and may be extended for a third and fourth year based on performance.
Also Read: UKPSC Veterinary Officer Recruitment 2026
DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026 – Eligibility
| Post | Qualification | Additional condition | Age limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate | PhD in Food Processing Engineering / Food Engineering & Technology / Food Engineering | Desirable: experience in AI/ML/Simulation tools in the relevant field | 35 years, as on receipt of application (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC) |
| JRF — Food Science & Technology | Post Graduate Degree (MSc) in first division from a recognised University/Institute | Valid NET/GATE score required | 28 years, as on date of interview (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC) |
| JRF — Polymer Science / Polymer Science & Technology / Polymer Engineering | Post Graduate Degree (M.Tech) in first division | Not mentioned in the official notification | 28 years, as on date of interview (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC) |
Only candidates holding the qualification from a recognised University/Institute may apply. Candidates already working in a Government Department, PSU or Autonomous Body must apply through proper channel and produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of interview.
Selection process
Selection has these stages, as per the notice:
- Screening of applications against the eligibility criteria for each post.
- A written test of objective-type Multiple Choice Questions, if the institute decides it is necessary to shortlist candidates for the interview round.
- Interview at DIBT, Mysuru.
- A merit panel prepared from interview performance, valid for one year from the date of interview, used to fill current and future anticipated vacancies.
No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview or for joining, if selected. Candidates must bring original certificates and testimonials, along with a valid government photo ID — Aadhaar, Passport or Driving Licence — to the interview. The decision of the Centre Head, DIBT, is final in case of any discrepancy.
How to apply for DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026
- Before applying for DIBT DRDO Recruitment 2026, candidates should read the full notification and confirm they meet the qualification, discipline and age criteria for the specific post.
- Prepare the application with personal, academic and category details, along with the supporting documents named in the notice.
- Candidates already employed in a Government Department, PSU or Autonomous Body must route the application through proper channel.
- Send the completed application, in hard copy only, to: The Centre Head, Defence Institute of Biodefence Technologies (DIBT), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Siddharthanagar, Mysuru – 570011.
- Ensure the application reaches this address before the last date. The notice does not offer an online or email mode of application.
Documents to keep ready
- Original certificates and testimonials (to be produced at the interview)
- A valid government-issued photo ID — Aadhaar card, Passport, or Driving Licence (for the interview)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer, only for candidates already working in a Government Department, PSU or Autonomous Body
- The exact list of documents to attach with the initial postal application is not mentioned in the official notification beyond “supporting documents”
Also Read: SECI Recruitment 2026 – 28 Posts
Important links
| Link | What it is |
|---|---|
| DIBT–DRDO RA & JRF official notification (PDF) | Official notification |
| Apply | Not applicable — offline, hard-copy application only, to the postal address given above; no online application portal is given in the notice. Download Application Format Here |
| DRDO official website | For updates and other current DRDO vacancies |
| Government Jobs | More central and state government vacancies |
| Latest Jobs (All India) | Pan-India job listings |
| Post Graduate jobs | Other postgraduate-eligible vacancies |
| Age Calculator | Check age as on the relevant cut-off date for this notice |
Should you apply?
This vacancy suits postgraduate or doctoral candidates from food science, food technology, food processing engineering, food engineering, or polymer science backgrounds who want research experience at a Ministry of Defence laboratory. A valid NET or GATE score is required for the JRF post in Food Science & Technology, so candidates without one should check this before applying. It does not suit candidates looking for a permanent government job straightaway — the notification states clearly that a fellowship award does not give any right to absorption in DRDO, and both JRF and Research Associate posts are fixed-tenure, not permanent. With only one Research Associate post and four Junior Research Fellow posts split across two specific disciplines, competition is realistically meaningful among candidates who meet the exact qualification, even though the discipline requirement narrows the applicant pool. The main trade-off is a time-bound research stipend and a Mysuru posting, in exchange for defence-sector research exposure rather than job security. This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm current expectations with DIBT before applying.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for DRDO DIBT Research Associate and JRF 2026?
The official notice does not print a fixed closing date. It states that applications must reach DIBT within 30 days of the advertisement being published. Other job portals report this as 24 September 2026, but candidates should confirm the exact date with DIBT or on the official DRDO website before applying.
What is the salary of JRF and Research Associate in DRDO DIBT Mysuru?
Research Associate gets ₹67,000 per month plus HRA as per DRDO rules. Junior Research Fellow gets ₹37,000 per month plus HRA. Both figures are stated in the official notification, and neither has a separate category-wise break-up given.
What is the qualification required for DRDO DIBT JRF 2026?
Junior Research Fellow requires a Postgraduate Degree in the first division. Candidates in Food Science & Technology need an MSc with a valid NET/GATE score; candidates in Polymer Science need an M.Tech in the first division. The Research Associate post requires a PhD in Food Processing Engineering or a related field.
Does a JRF or Research Associate position at DRDO lead to a permanent job?
No. The notification states plainly that a fellowship does not give the candidate any right to absorption in DRDO. Many candidates use JRF or RA experience to strengthen a PhD application or move into other research roles afterwards. This is added context, not part of the official notification.
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