DRDO SSPL JRF & RA Recruitment 2026 – 23 Posts, Walk-in Interview

The Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), a Delhi-based laboratory of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, has invited candidates for a walk-in interview for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Research Associate (RA) positions. The notice was released on 23rd July 2026 as per Advertisement No. 625/SSPL/HR/JRF&RA/Rectt/2026-27/Main/01. There is no separate online application window for this recruitment; eligible candidates walk in directly with a filled form and documents on the scheduled interview date. This opening suits M.Sc./B.Tech./M.Tech. graduates in Physics or Electronics, and Ph.D. holders or experienced researchers in semiconductor devices, who want to work on a DRDO research project.

A total of 23 fellowships are on offer across the two categories, with a full discipline- and post-wise breakdown given below, and the place of posting is SSPL, Timarpur, Delhi. Candidates should check all details in the article below.

Information verified from the official Solid State Physics Laboratory notification No. 625/SSPL/HR/JRF&RA/Rectt/2026-27/Main/01 dated 23rd July 2026. Last verified: 23 July 2026.

DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory is recruiting 16 Junior Research Fellows and 7 Research Associates, a total of 23 posts, through Notification No. 625/SSPL/HR/JRF&RA/Rectt/2026-27/Main/01. There is no online application; candidates attend a walk-in interview at the SJB Auditorium, SSPL Complex, Timarpur, Delhi, on dates between 1 and 9 September 2026 depending on the post and discipline. Selection is through a screening test (if needed) followed by the walk-in interview itself.

Quick Summary

Also Read | NMDC Steel (NSL) Executive Trainee Jobs

About the Organisation

The Solid State Physics Laboratory is one of the DRDO laboratories functioning under the Ministry of Defence, and works on semiconductor materials, device fabrication and characterisation for defence applications. It is based in Timarpur, Delhi. For a candidate, working at SSPL means joining a Defence Research and Development Organisation project in semiconductor research, under a fellowship rather than a permanent post.

DRDO Fellowships and Similar Openings

This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office. DRDO laboratories across the country periodically invite JRF and RA candidates in physical sciences and engineering disciplines through walk-in interviews similar to this one, rather than long online application cycles. Candidates who track DRDO and other central government research fellowships (such as those from CSIR or ISRO laboratories) will find similar eligibility patterns built around NET/GATE qualification for JRF and a Ph.D. or equivalent research experience for RA posts. This SSPL notice, with 23 combined posts across Physics and Electronics, is a mid-sized intake compared to typical single-laboratory JRF/RA drives.

Also Read | AAI Recruitment 2026 – 389 Manager & JE Posts

Important Dates

Fellowship interviews are the operative dates for this recruitment, since there is no separate application deadline.

Candidates must report at the SJB Auditorium, SSPL Complex, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, at 0930 hours on their respective interview date.

Vacancy Details and Salary

The notification gives a category-wise breakdown for JRF and RA, but does not split the vacancy count separately by discipline (Physics/Electronics) — only the interview schedule is divided by discipline.

*Some of the notified fellowships are regular positions, while others are attached to specific DRDO projects and may be terminated once the project ends. Category-wise (SC/ST/OBC) vacancy split is not mentioned in the official notification; only age relaxation “as per Govt rules” is stated.

Stipend for both categories will be paid as per the availability of project funds, up to the Project Definition Completion (PDC) date of the concerned project.

Also Read | NERIE Assistant Professor Recruitment 2026

Eligibility (Post-wise)

Junior Research Fellow (JRF)

Candidates need any one of the following:

• Post Graduate Degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Physics/Electronics with 1st Division, with NET qualified
• Graduate Degree (B.E./B.Tech in Engineering Physics/Electronics) with 1st Division, with NET/GATE qualified
• Post Graduate Degree (M.E./M.Tech) with 1st Division at both graduate and postgraduate level

Upper age limit: 28 years (maximum), with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates as per government rules.

Research Associate (RA)

Candidates need any one of the following:

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Physics/Electronics
• M.E./M.Tech with 3 years of research experience in Semiconductor Materials, Devices Fabrication and Characterization, with at least one research paper in an SCI journal

Upper age limit: 35 years (maximum), with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates as per government rules.

Candidates who have already submitted their Ph.D. thesis may also apply for the RA post, but the Research Associateship will be awarded only after the degree or a provisional certificate has actually been issued, on or before the date the offer is made.

Also Read | DRDO ARDE JRF & Research Associate 2026

Selection Process

Selection for both JRF and RA posts happens on the interview day itself, in up to two stages:

1. Screening test — conducted only if the number of candidates for a discipline turns out to be higher than the laboratory can interview on that day, held on the same date as the interview.
2. Walk-in interview — held at the SJB Auditorium, SSPL Complex, Timarpur, Delhi, at 0930 hours on the date fixed for that post and discipline.

Candidates should carry all original and attested documents for verification at this stage, since there is no separate document-verification round mentioned in the notice.

How to Apply

There is no online application for this recruitment. Eligible candidates apply by attending the walk-in interview directly, following these steps:

1. Download the application form as per Appendix ‘A’ from the official notification.
2. Fill in all details — personal information, category, NET/GATE score, educational qualification table, and experience table.
3. Affix a recent passport-size photograph on the top right corner of the form.
4. Attach attested copies of all required certificates and documents (see checklist below).
5. Report to the SJB Auditorium, SSPL Complex, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, at 0930 hours on the date scheduled for the relevant post and discipline.
6. Appear for the screening test (if held) and the walk-in interview on the same day.

Also Read | PNB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026

Documents to Keep Ready

• Filled Appendix ‘A’ application form with photograph affixed
• Attested copies of mark sheets and certificates
• Caste certificate (where applicable)
• Experience certificates
• Copies of publications, if any
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) — required only for candidates currently employed in a government department, PSU, or autonomous body
• Any other document relevant to the application

Two practical points from the notification: electronic gadgets are not allowed inside the SSPL lab premises, and no TA/DA (travel allowance) will be paid for attending the interview or for joining afterward.

Important Links

• Official Notification PDF – DRDO SSPL JRF & RA Recruitment 2026
• DRDO Official Website

Should You Apply?

This notice suits two different kinds of candidates. For the JRF posts, it suits recent M.Sc. or B.Tech. graduates in Physics or Electronics who are NET or GATE qualified and are under 28 years of age, and are looking for a research fellowship rather than a corporate job straightaway. For the RA posts, it suits Ph.D. holders or M.Tech. graduates with hands-on research experience in semiconductor materials and device fabrication, who already have at least one SCI-journal publication.

This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office. A fellowship of this kind can work as a stepping stone toward a Ph.D. or a longer research career inside a defence laboratory, though this depends on the specific project SSPL assigns and is not guaranteed by this notice.

The clearest trade-off to weigh is that this is a purely temporary fellowship, not a regular DRDO job — it does not carry any right to future absorption or regular appointment, and it can be ended with just one month’s notice if the project’s funding position changes. Candidates who need long-term job security should factor this in before applying, and those already employed in government or PSU roles will need a No Objection Certificate before the interview.

FAQs

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

Join me on social media – Facebook | LinkedIn