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DRDO Recruitment 2026: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Laboratory, Dr DS Kothari Marg, Ratanada Palace, Ratanada, Jodhpur – 342 011, Rajasthan, has released a new recruitment notification inviting eligible Indian candidates to attend a walk-in interview for Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions. The recruitment offers fellowships in Physics, Materials, Electronics, Chemistry, and Mechanical Engineering, with a monthly stipend of up to Rs.67,000.
WALK-IN INTERVIEW FOR AWARD OF RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (RA) AND JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS (JRF
DRDO Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) |
| Laboratory | Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur |
| Post | Research Associate (RA), Junior Research Fellow (JRF) |
| Mode of Selection | Walk-in Interview |
| Interview Venue | Defence Laboratory, Dr. DS Kothari Marg, Ratanada Palace, Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
| Interview Time | 10:00 AM |
| Fellowship Duration | 2 Years |
Vacancy Details for DRDO Recruitment
DRDO has announced a total of 10 fellowship positions across different disciplines.
| Sr. No. | Fellowship | Discipline | No. of Posts | Essential Qualification & Experience | Interview Date |
| 1 | Research Associate (RA) | Physics / Materials | 2 | Ph.D. in Physics/Materials or equivalent degree OR 3 years of Research, Teaching, or Design & Development experience after M.Sc. in Physics/Materials with at least one research paper published in an SCI Journal. | 22 July 2026 |
| 2 | Research Associate (RA) | Electronics | 1 | Ph.D. in Electronics or equivalent degree OR 3 years of Research, Teaching, or Design & Development experience after M.E./M.Tech in Electronics with at least one research paper published in an SCI Journal. | 22 July 2026 |
| 3 | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | Chemistry | 4 | M.Sc. (or equivalent) in Chemistry with First Division and CSIR-UGC NET / GATE / JEST qualification. | 23 July 2026 |
| 4 | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | Physics | 1 | M.Sc. (or equivalent) in Physics with First Division and CSIR-UGC NET / GATE / JEST qualification. | 23 July 2026 |
| 5 | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | Mechanical Engineering | 2 | B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with First Division and NET/GATE qualification OR M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with First Division at both Graduate and Postgraduate levels. | 23 July 2026 |
The interviews will be conducted at the Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur from 10:00 AM on the scheduled dates.
Fellowship Amount
Selected candidates will receive an attractive monthly fellowship along with House Rent Allowance (HRA) and medical benefits as per DRDO rules.
- Research Associate (RA): Rs.67,000 per month
- Junior Research Fellow (JRF): Rs.37,000 per month
The fellowship is initially offered for two years. For JRF candidates, it may be extended and upgraded to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) based on performance and applicable rules.
Educational Qualification
Research Associate (Physics / Materials)
Candidates should possess:
- Ph.D. in Physics or Materials Science or an equivalent degree,
OR
- A postgraduate degree (M.Sc.) with three years of research, teaching, or design and development experience, along with at least one research paper published in an SCI-indexed journal.
Research Associate (Electronics)
Applicants must have:
- Ph.D. in Electronics or an equivalent qualification,
OR
- M.E./M.Tech in Electronics with three years of research, teaching, or design experience and one SCI-indexed research publication.
Junior Research Fellow (Chemistry)
- M.Sc. in Chemistry with First Division
- Qualified in CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or JEST.
Junior Research Fellow (Physics)
- M.Sc. in Physics with First Division
- Qualified in CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, or JEST.
Junior Research Fellow (Mechanical Engineering)
Candidates should have either:
- B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with First Division and NET/GATE qualification,
OR
- M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with First Division at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Age Limit
The maximum age limits are:
- Research Associate: 35 years
- Junior Research Fellow: 28 years
Age relaxation is available as per Government of India rules:
- SC/ST/PwBD: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
Selection Process for DRDO Recruitment
Selection will be based entirely on a Walk-in Interview.
Eligible candidates must report to:
Defence Laboratory
Dr. DS Kothari Marg
Ratanada Palace, Ratanada
Jodhpur – 342011, Rajasthan
Candidates should reach the venue by 10:00 AM on their respective interview date.
Official Notification: Download
Documents Required
Applicants should carry:
- Filled Bio-data with a recent passport-size photograph
- Original educational certificates
- Self-attested photocopies of all certificates
- Age proof
- Experience certificates (if applicable)
- Research papers and thesis (where applicable)
- Caste certificate (for reserved category candidates)
- PwBD certificate (if applicable)
- NOC from employer for candidates working in Government or PSU organisations.
Important Points
- No application fee has been mentioned in the notification.
- No TA/DA will be provided for attending the interview.
- Candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis may also attend the interview for RA. However, the fellowship will be awarded only after the Ph.D. degree or provisional certificate is issued.
- The fellowship does not guarantee permanent employment in DRDO.
- DRDO reserves the right to increase, decrease, or cancel the fellowship positions depending on requirements.
