DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 195 Posts

1. SEO Title

DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 195 Posts

2. Post Date / Last Update

• Last Updated: 3 October 2026
• Advertisement Number: RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027
• Application Deadline: 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in a newspaper. The supplied recruitment details identify 1 November 2026 as the expected deadline, but the exact closing date should be confirmed from the official advertisement.

3. Short Information

The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, has invited online applications from eligible Indian nationals for 195 Apprentice positions for a one-year training period.

The vacancies are for Graduate Apprentices, Technician (Diploma) Apprentices, and Trade Apprentices (ITI). Eligible candidates must meet the prescribed educational qualifications and marks criteria and must apply through the relevant apprenticeship portal.

B.E./B.Tech and Diploma candidates must apply through the NATS 2.0 portal, while ITI candidates must use the Apprenticeship India portal. The notification specifies a minimum age of 18 years as of 1 September 2026.

The closing date is stated as 30 days from the newspaper publication date. Candidates should verify the exact deadline before submitting their applications.

4. Recruitment – Key Details

• Recruiting Organisation: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO, Ministry of Defence
• Designation: Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice, Trade Apprentice (ITI)
• Job Category: Apprenticeship / Technical Training
• Location of Vacancy: Vignyana Kancha, Hyderabad, Telangana – 500069
• Total Vacancies: 195 (tentative; may vary)
• Advertisement Number: RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027
• Training Duration: One year
• Application Mode: Online
• Minimum Age: 18 years as of 1 September 2026
• Stipend: As per Government norms
• Expected Last Date: 1 November 2026, subject to confirmation of the newspaper publication date
• Official Website: https://www.drdo.gov.in

5. Vacancy Details

The notification lists the following tentative category-wise vacancies:

• Graduate Apprentice: 50 posts
• Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: 30 posts
• Trade Apprentice (ITI): 115 posts
• Total: 195 posts

The number of vacancies may vary. The supplied notification details do not provide a discipline-wise or trade-wise vacancy breakdown within these categories.

Graduate Apprentice – Eligible Disciplines

Candidates must hold a B.E./B.Tech degree in one of the following disciplines:

• Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
• Instrumentation Engineering
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE)
• Computer Science Engineering (CSE)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Safety Engineering
• Aeronautical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil Engineering

Technician (Diploma) Apprentice – Eligible Disciplines

Candidates must hold a Diploma in one of the following disciplines:

• Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
• Instrumentation Engineering
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE)
• Computer Science Engineering (CSE)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Safety Engineering

Trade Apprentice (ITI) – Eligible Trades

Candidates must have passed ITI in one of the following trades:

• Fitter
• Welder
• Turner
• Machinist
• Mechanic-Diesel
• Electronic-Mechanic
• Electrician
• Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA)
• Draughtsman (Mechanical)
• Grinder

The ITI qualification must be from an NCVT/SCVT-affiliated institution, as specified in the supplied recruitment details.

6. Educational Qualification

Applicants must possess the qualification relevant to the apprenticeship category for which they apply.

• Graduate Apprentice: B.E./B.Tech in one of the listed engineering disciplines.
• Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: Diploma in one of the listed engineering disciplines.
• Trade Apprentice (ITI): ITI qualification in one of the listed trades.

Additional eligibility conditions include:

• Only regular candidates who obtained at least 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the qualifying examination are eligible.
• The qualifying examination must have been completed in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026.
• Qualifications must be from Indian institutions recognised by the appropriate statutory authority.
• Candidates possessing a higher qualification than the one prescribed for the category are not eligible.
• Applicants must be Indian nationals.

Candidates should read the official notification to confirm the precise qualification and eligibility requirements for their category.

7. Required Experience

• Candidates with more than one year of work experience are not eligible.
• Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship training under any organisation, or who are currently undergoing such training, are not eligible.

The supplied recruitment details do not specify any additional minimum work-experience requirement.

8. Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 18 years
• Age Calculation Date: 1 September 2026
• Maximum Age: Not specified in the supplied notification details.

Candidates should consult the official advertisement for any additional age-related conditions.

9. Application Fee

The supplied recruitment details do not specify an application fee.

Candidates should check the official notification and the relevant apprenticeship portal for any application-related instructions.

10. Salary / Stipend

The stipend will be paid as per applicable Government norms, with reference to the Gazette Notification dated 3 September 2025.

The supplied notification details do not specify the exact monthly stipend amount for each apprenticeship category.

For Graduate and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices, an Aadhaar-seeded bank account is mandatory, as 50% of the stipend is paid by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Candidates should ensure that their bank account is linked to Aadhaar as required.

11. Selection Process

The selection process is described as follows:

1. Academic Merit: Applications are assessed based on academic performance.
2. Interview, if required: Candidates may be called for an interview as part of the selection process.
3. Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates must provide the required original documents and copies.
4. Apprenticeship Contract: Selected candidates must execute the apprenticeship contract through the relevant portal before training begins.

The supplied notification details do not specify the exact academic-merit weightage, interview marks, or shortlisting ratio. No written test is mentioned in the supplied information.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed through the email address provided in their application. Applicants should keep their email account active throughout the selection process.

12. Important Dates

• Minimum Age Calculation Date: 1 September 2026
• Application Deadline: 30 days from the date the advertisement is published in a newspaper
• Expected Deadline Mentioned in the Supplied Details: 1 November 2026

The official notification describes the deadline relative to newspaper publication rather than providing a fixed calendar date. Candidates should verify the publication date and any official corrigendum before applying.

13. How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the appropriate apprenticeship portal. The procedure differs according to the candidate's qualification.

For B.E./B.Tech and Diploma Candidates

1. Visit the NATS 2.0 portal: https://nats.education.gov.in.
2. Register on the portal if you do not already have an account.
3. Log in using your registered credentials.
4. Search for Research Centre Imarat, DRDO.
5. Select the establishment using Enrolment ID: STLRAC000010.
6. Complete the application according to the portal instructions.
7. Submit the application within the prescribed deadline.

For ITI Candidates

1. Visit the Apprenticeship India portal: https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
2. Register on the portal if you are not already registered.
3. Log in and open the Apprenticeship Opportunities section.
4. Search using the establishment name RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT.
5. Identify the establishment using Establishment ID: E05203600040.
6. Select the appropriate ITI trade and click Apply.
7. Complete the application and submit it within the prescribed deadline.

Important Application Instructions

• Registration on the relevant portal is mandatory.
• There is no separate offline or email application route described for the main application.
• Ensure that all eligibility conditions are met before applying.
• Keep a copy of your application and registration details for future reference.
• Verify the exact closing date from the official notification before submitting your application.

14. Documents Required

The following documents are listed for document verification and/or joining:

• Duly filled application form
• NATS/NAPS profile printout
• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
• Consolidated/final mark sheet of the qualifying examination
• Original or provisional certificate of the qualifying examination
• Caste certificate, where applicable
• PwBD certificate, where applicable
• Valid EWS certificate, where applicable
• Government-issued photo identity proof, such as PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving Licence
• Aadhaar Card
• Copy of Aadhaar-linked bank passbook or bank statement
• Medical fitness certificate issued by a Government Civil Assistant Surgeon
• Two recent passport-size photographs

Candidates must carry the original documents and self-attested copies, as specified in the supplied recruitment information.

15. Important Instructions

• Read the complete official notification before applying.
• Apply through NATS 2.0 for Graduate/Diploma Apprenticeships or Apprenticeship India for ITI trades.
• Ensure that your qualifying examination meets the minimum marks/CGPA requirement and falls within the specified years.
• Candidates with higher qualifications than those prescribed are not eligible, according to the supplied details.
• Candidates with more than one year of work experience or previous/current apprenticeship training are not eligible.
• Ensure your Aadhaar-linked bank account is ready where required.
• Shortlisted candidates must produce the required original documents and self-attested copies.
• A valid Police Verification Certificate must be produced at joining, covering the place of last residence for at least one year or the permanent address.
• No travel allowance or daily allowance (TA/DA) is paid to applicants called for any selection stage.
• Hostel accommodation, quarters, and transport are not provided by RCI during the selection process or apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeship training does not guarantee employment after completion.
• Selected candidates must execute the apprenticeship contract before training begins and are not permitted to withdraw except for reasons beyond their control, as stated in the supplied conditions.
• Suppression of facts may lead to disqualification.
• Canvassing or personal follow-up for selection may result in cancellation of candidature.
• RCI reserves the right to amend, cancel, suspend, or modify the selection process under the conditions stated in the notification.
• Legal disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court of Hyderabad, Telangana.

16. Official Website / Apply Link

• DRDO Official Website: https://www.drdo.gov.in
• NATS 2.0 Portal: https://nats.education.gov.in
• Apprenticeship India Portal: https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in

Official Notification: Search the DRDO website for Advertisement No. RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027, titled Engagement of Apprentices for the Year 2027.

Candidates should confirm the official closing date, eligibility conditions, and application instructions from the notification before applying.

Minimum Age Calculation Date: 1 September 2026

Application Deadline: 30 days from the date the advertisement is published in a newspaper

Expected Deadline Mentioned in the Supplied Details: 1 November 2026

Duly filled application form

NATS/NAPS profile printout

Class 10 mark sheet and certificate

Consolidated/final mark sheet of the qualifying examination

Original or provisional certificate of the qualifying examination

Caste certificate, where applicable

PwBD certificate, where applicable

Valid EWS certificate, where applicable

Government-issued photo identity proof, such as PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving Licence

Aadhaar Card

Copy of Aadhaar-linked bank passbook or bank statement

Medical fitness certificate issued by a Government Civil Assistant Surgeon

Two recent passport-size photographs

For B.E./B.Tech and Diploma Candidates

Visit the NATS 2.0 portal: https://nats.education.gov.in.

Register on the portal if you do not already have an account.

Log in using your registered credentials.

Search for Research Centre Imarat, DRDO.

Select the establishment using Enrolment ID: STLRAC000010.

Complete the application according to the portal instructions.

Submit the application within the prescribed deadline.

For ITI Candidates

Visit the Apprenticeship India portal: https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.

Register on the portal if you are not already registered.

Log in and open the Apprenticeship Opportunities section.

Search using the establishment name RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT.

Identify the establishment using Establishment ID: E05203600040.

Select the appropriate ITI trade and click Apply.

Complete the application and submit it within the prescribed deadline.