DRDO Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 4 Open Notices & Deadlines

Current DRDO Apprentice Recruitment: October–November 2026

DRDO laboratories conduct apprenticeship recruitment independently. On 11 October 2026, four apprenticeship notices remain within their advertised date windows: PXE Balasore, DIPR Delhi, RCI Hyderabad and ITR Chandipur. These are separate applications with different qualification requirements and submission channels, so applicants must refer to the notice for the exact establishment.

DRDO Apprentice Recruitment Overview

Four Verified Official Apprentice Notices

1. PXE Balasore — Deadline 12 October 2026

Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), DRDO Balasore, published advertisement PXE/HRD/AT/01/2026-27 on 23 September 2026. Its closing date is 12 October 2026. The official entry includes the advertisement and application form. Applicants must use the 2026–27 form—not the 2025 notice or its older branch/stipend list.

2. DIPR Delhi — Deadline 13 October 2026

Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), Delhi, published advertisement 0675/Apprentice/DIPR/Adm on 22 September 2026 for ITI pass-out apprentices. The listed closing date is 13 October 2026. Confirm eligible ITI trades and the required submission route in its official vacancy notice.

3. RCI Hyderabad — Deadline 1 November 2026

Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, published advertisement RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027 on 1 October 2026. The official notice lists 1 November 2026 as its deadline. Download the advertisement for precise vacancies, qualifications, reservation criteria and apprentice category.

4. ITR Chandipur — Deadline 2 November 2026

Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, published advertisement ITR/HRD/AT/11/2026 on 9 October 2026. Applications for Graduate and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices are listed through 2 November 2026. DRDO provides separate advertisement and application-form files with this notice.

Eligibility and Qualification Checks

DRDO establishments may recruit BE/B.Tech graduates, diploma holders or ITI-qualified candidates, depending on the apprenticeship category. An application is eligible only when its qualification, discipline, completion year, registration and other conditions match the specific notice.

• Match your exact branch or ITI trade to the advertised disciplines.
• Check the required year of passing and restrictions on prior apprenticeship or work experience.
• Check any required apprenticeship registration on the applicable NATS or NAPS portal.
• Verify age requirements, reservation documentation and eligibility for the relevant recruitment category.
• Confirm whether the laboratory requires application by email, online registration, or a downloaded signed form.

There is no single universally applicable 2026 DRDO apprentice age limit, vacancy count or application fee established by these notices as a group.

Stipend and Training Benefits

Apprenticeship stipends follow the notified category and laboratory terms. For historical reference, the PXE 2025–26 advertisement listed ₹12,300/month for graduate apprentices and ₹10,900/month for diploma apprentices. These figures are not verified stipend amounts for the new 2026–27 PXE, RCI, DIPR or ITR vacancies. The current advertisement is authoritative.

An apprenticeship is a fixed training engagement; it must not be presented as a guaranteed permanent DRDO research or engineering appointment.

Documents to Prepare

• Correct establishment-specific application form, where prescribed.
• Educational marksheets, passing certificates and branch/trade evidence.
• Passport-size photograph and signed form if demanded by the notice.
• Apprenticeship portal registration evidence where relevant.
• Eligible category/reservation certificates in required format, where applicable.
• Any identification, declaration and scanned PDF attachments explicitly named in the notice.

Do not assume the same email address, file naming rule or document order applies at all four DRDO establishments.

How to Apply for a Current DRDO Apprenticeship

1. Open the official DRDO vacancies register and select the specific PXE, DIPR, RCI or ITR notice.
2. Download that establishment’s 2026 advertisement and application form.
3. Confirm eligible degree/diploma/trade, passing year, apprenticeship history, age and registration requirements.
4. Complete the exact current-year form and attach only the prescribed evidence.
5. Submit through the specified channel before the establishment’s closing time and date.
6. Keep the email sent confirmation, online acknowledgement or other proof of submission.
7. Check the laboratory’s official page and your registered email for merit lists, document verification or further instructions.

Historical PXE 2025–26 Recruitment — Closed

The original CareerAidHub article described PXE Balasore’s 2025–26 apprentice recruitment (advertisement PXE/HRD/AT/01/2025-26) with a deadline of 19 October 2025. That notice required an email application to training.pxe@gov.in using a typed form and supporting documents, and listed selected graduate/diploma disciplines.

Do not reuse the historical 2025 application instructions, exact vacancy distribution, stipends or form as current requirements. The new PXE 2026–27 notice is distinct and has a 12 October 2026 deadline.

Selection and Common Application Mistakes

Selection depends on local rules rather than one universal DRDO apprentice examination. Applicants should avoid submitting to an expired advertisement, attaching unreadable certificates, using the wrong diploma/degree category, omitting apprenticeship-registration details where required, or assuming that shortlisted candidates will be offered permanent employment.

Confirm all discipline requirements and advertisement numbers before acting, especially when multiple laboratories recruit simultaneously.

How to Monitor Future DRDO Apprentice Notices

DRDO adds apprenticeship advertisements throughout the year. Bookmark the official vacancies page and filter for the establishment and advertisement number. A notice should only be labelled open when its specified application period has not ended. This article is updated as a guide; the official DRDO listings and application PDFs remain authoritative.