Applications are open. Apply before 31 Aug 2026 — 14 days left. Read the official notification in full before you submit the form.
About This Recruitment
Defence Research and Development Organisation has notified recruitment for 24 posts under ARDE/JRF-RA/2026. The last date to apply is 31 Aug 2026. The prescribed qualification is A first-division B.E., B.Tech or M.Sc. with NET or GATE for JRF; a Ph.D. or M.Tech with three years' R&D experience for Research Associate. The vacancies are spread across 5 distinct posts, and the category-wise split for each is set out in the vacancy table below.
Selection is made through Shortlisting and Interview or written test. Selected candidates are placed in the pay scale of ₹37,000 a month for Junior Research Fellow and ₹67,000 for Research Associate, plus HRA and a contingency grant. The place of posting is Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pashan, Pune 411021.
The form is submitted offline in the manner set out in the notification. Check the notification for whether a correction window is offered, because most fields cannot be amended once the form is submitted.
Read the official notification in full before you begin the form. Eligibility, fees and dates are revised through corrigenda more often than candidates expect, and an application submitted against the wrong criteria is rejected at document verification rather than at submission — by which point the cycle is over.
Key Highlights
- 24 vacancies notified
- Qualification: A first-division B.E., B.Tech or M.Sc. with NET or GATE for JRF; a Ph.D. or M.Tech with three years' R&D experience for Research Associate
- Pay scale: ₹37,000 a month for Junior Research Fellow and ₹67,000 for Research Associate, plus HRA and a contingency grant
- Last date to apply: 31 Aug 2026
- Application mode: offline
Quick Overview
The notification's own particulars, at a glance.
- Organization
- Defence Research and Development Organisation
- Advertisement No.
- ARDE/JRF-RA/2026
- Total Vacancies
- 24
- Job Location
- Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pashan, Pune 411021
- Qualification
- A first-division B.E., B.Tech or M.Sc. with NET or GATE for JRF; a Ph.D. or M.Tech with three years' R&D experience for Research Associate
- Age Limit
- As per notification
- Salary
- ₹37,000 a month for Junior Research Fellow and ₹67,000 for Research Associate, plus HRA and a contingency grant
- Application Mode
- Offline
- Official Website
- www.drdo.gov.in
Important Dates
Every date below is taken from the official notification. Portals close at the time stated in the notification, not at midnight, and the fee payment window often closes a day after the form does.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last date for the application to reach ARDE | 31 Aug 2026 |
| Interview | Communicated to shortlisted candidates by email only |
Application Fee
Fee is paid on the official portal only. Category-wise exemptions are applied automatically once the category is declared correctly in the form.
| Category | Fee | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates | Nil | — |
Vacancy Details
Vacancy counts are provisional and are revised through corrigenda. The category-wise split determines the cut-off you will actually be measured against.
| Post Name | Total |
|---|---|
| JRF — Mechanical, Metallurgy and Material Science | 10 |
| JRF — Electronics, Applied Physics and Optics | 8 |
| JRF — Computer Science, IT, Data Science and AI-ML | 4 |
| JRF — Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering | 1 |
| Research Associate — Electronics Engineering (RF and Microwave) | 1 |
| Total | 24 |
Educational Qualification
The qualification must be held on or before the cut-off date stated in the notification. Final-year candidates should check whether provisional applications are permitted for this recruitment.
| Post | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellow | A B.E. or B.Tech in the relevant discipline in first division with NET or GATE; or an M.Sc. in the relevant field in first division with NET or GATE; or an M.Tech or M.E. in first division at both levels, where NET or GATE may not be required. |
| Research Associate | A Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from a reputed institution, or an M.E. or M.Tech with at least three years' research and development experience. At least one publication in a JCR or SCI-listed journal is mandatory; RF, microwave or antenna experience is desirable. |
- The fellowship confers no right to absorption in DRDO — the notification says so plainly.
- A published paper in a JCR or SCI-listed journal is mandatory for the Research Associate post.
- A first division is required at every qualifying level, and NET or GATE unless you hold an M.Tech or M.E.
- The bio-data must be handwritten in the prescribed format.
- Invitations go by email only — keep the address on your application active.
Age Limit & Relaxation
Upper age limits are relaxed by category. Read the row that applies to you before you conclude you are ineligible.
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC and ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
The upper limit is 28 years for Junior Research Fellow and 35 for Research Associate, with five years' relaxation for SC and ST and three for OBC.
Pay Scale
Figures are the pay scale, not take-home pay. Dearness allowance, house rent allowance and other allowances are paid over and above the basic pay shown.
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Research Associate | ₹67,000 a month plus HRA, medical facilities and a contingency grant |
| Junior Research Fellow | ₹37,000 a month plus HRA, medical facilities and a contingency grant |
Selection Process
Each stage is qualifying for the next. Clearing a stage does not carry marks forward unless the notification says so.
- 1Shortlisting — only shortlisted candidates are invited
- 2Interview or written test — the invitation is sent by email
How to Apply
Complete the form in one sitting where possible, and check the preview page carefully. Most fields cannot be changed once submitted, except during the correction window.
- 1Write your bio-data by hand in the prescribed format.
- 2Attach self-attested educational certificates, a copy of your NET or GATE scorecard, a caste certificate if applicable, a recent passport photograph, and an NOC if you are employed.
- 3Post it to The Director, Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Armament Post, Pashan, Pune 411021, to arrive by 31 August 2026.
Important Links
Official Links
Links go to the recruiting body’s own websiteVerify before you apply. Eligibility, vacancy counts, fees and dates change through corrigenda. Job Times 24 is an information service, not a recruiter, and never charges candidates. Always confirm every detail in the official notification above.