DRDO ARDE JRF & RA Recruitment 2026 Notification for 25 Junior Research Fellow & Research Associate Posts
🔄 Last Updated: 22 July 2026
Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), has invited applications from eligible Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Research Associate (RA) positions. The recruitment offers opportunities to work in advanced defence research in Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Aerospace Engineering and allied disciplines. Eligible candidates possessing the prescribed educational qualifications and valid NET/GATE qualification can submit their applications in the prescribed format before the closing date.
Quick Navigation
Main Information Eligibility Vacancy Details Selection Procedure Salary Structure Application Fees Important Links Important Instructions Required Documents FAQs| Recruitment Name | DRDO ARDE JRF & RA Recruitment 2026 |
| Organisation | Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), DRDO |
| Advertisement No. | ARDE/JRF-RA/2026 |
| Posts | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) & Research Associate (RA) |
| Total Vacancies | 25 |
| Application Mode | Offline |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 August 2026 |
| Selection Process | Shortlisting, Interview and/or Written Test |
| Job Location | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Official Website | https://www.drdo.gov.in |
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Junior Research Fellow (Electronics & Allied Disciplines) | B.E./B.Tech in Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Applied Electronics, Signal Processing, Microwave, Microelectronics, Microwave Engineering, Power Electronics, Electronics & Instrumentation, Instrumentation & Control, Applied Physics, Applied Optics (Laser & Fiber Optics), Photonics or similar disciplines with First Division and valid NET/GATE qualification; OR M.Sc. in the relevant discipline with First Division and NET/GATE qualification; OR M.E./M.Tech in the relevant discipline with First Division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels. |
| Junior Research Fellow (Computer Science & Allied Disciplines) | B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Computer Applications, Information Science, Informatics & Networking, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, AI & ML, Big Data Analytics or similar disciplines with First Division and valid NET/GATE qualification; OR M.Sc. (Computer Science) with First Division and NET/GATE qualification. |
| Junior Research Fellow (Mechanical / Metallurgy / Materials & Allied Disciplines) | B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Metallurgical Engineering, Material Engineering, Material Science, Manufacturing Engineering or Production Engineering with First Division and valid NET/GATE qualification; OR M.E./M.Tech in the relevant discipline with First Division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels. |
| Junior Research Fellow (Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering) | B.E./B.Tech in Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering with First Division and valid NET/GATE qualification; OR M.E./M.Tech in Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering with First Division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels. |
| Research Associate (RA) | Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from a reputed institution; OR M.E./M.Tech in Electronics Engineering with a minimum of 3 years of R&D experience in a reputed institution. Candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis may also apply. At least one research publication in a JCR/SCI indexed journal is essential. Experience in RF, Microwave or Antenna is desirable. |
| NET / GATE Requirement | Candidates possessing B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc. qualification must have a valid UGC/CSIR-NET or GATE score. |
| Nationality | Applicant must be an Indian Citizen. |
Candidates possessing B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc. or Ph.D. in the relevant discipline along with valid NET/GATE qualification (where applicable) can apply for Junior Research Fellow and Research Associate positions.
| Particular | Details |
| Stage 1 | Screening of Applications |
| Stage 2 | Shortlisting of Eligible Candidates |
| Stage 3 | Written Test (If Conducted) |
| Stage 4 | Personal Interview |
| Stage 5 | Document Verification |
| Final Selection | Based on performance in the Interview and/or Written Test, subject to document verification and fulfillment of eligibility conditions. |
Selection will be based on shortlisting followed by Interview and/or Written Test wherever applicable.
| Post | Vacancy |
| Junior Research Fellow (Electronics & Allied Disciplines) | 8 |
| Junior Research Fellow (Computer Science & Allied Disciplines) | 4 |
| Junior Research Fellow (Mechanical / Metallurgy / Materials & Allied Disciplines) | 10 |
| Junior Research Fellow (Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering) | 1 |
| Research Associate (Electronics Engineering) | 1 |
| Grand Total | 25 |
DRDO Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune has released 25 vacancies including 24 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and 1 Research Associate (RA) posts in Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Aerospace and related disciplines.
| Category | Age Limit |
| Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | Maximum 28 Years as on the date of Interview. |
| Research Associate (RA) | Maximum 35 Years as on the date of Interview. |
| SC / ST Candidates | Upper age relaxation of 5 Years. |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Candidates | Upper age relaxation of 3 Years. |
| Age Relaxation | Other relaxations, if applicable, shall be as per Government of India and DRDO Rules. |
| Stage 1 | Submission of Offline Application |
| Stage 2 | Screening of Applications |
| Stage 3 | Shortlisting of Candidates |
| Stage 4 | Written Test (If Required) |
| Stage 5 | Personal Interview |
| Stage 6 | Document Verification |
| Stage 7 | Final Selection |
Selection will be based on shortlisting, Interview and/or Written Test, Document Verification and Final Selection.
| Particular | Details |
| Junior Research Fellow (JRF) Fellowship | ₹37,000 per month |
| Research Associate (RA) Fellowship | ₹67,000 per month |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Admissible as per DRDO Rules |
| Medical Facilities | Admissible as per DRDO Rules |
| Contingency Grant | Admissible as per DRDO Rules |
| Initial Fellowship Period | 2 Years for JRF (Extendable as per DRDO Rules) |
| Other Benefits | Research facilities, laboratory exposure, leave benefits and other admissible facilities as per DRDO Fellowship Rules. |
Selected candidates will receive a monthly fellowship of ₹37,000 for Junior Research Fellow and ₹67,000 for Research Associate along with HRA and other admissible benefits.
| Salary Structure, In-Hand Salary & Allowances | Check DRDO ARDE JRF & RA Recruitment 2026 Notification for 25 Junior Research Fellow & Research Associate Posts Salary Details 2026 |
| Category | Application Fee |
| All Candidates | No Application Fee |
| Mode of Application | Offline (Application in prescribed format) |
No application fee has been prescribed in the notification.
| Application Mode | Applications should be submitted only in the prescribed format along with self-attested copies of all required documents. |
| Last Date | The completed application should reach the Director, ARDE, Pune on or before 31 August 2026. |
| Envelope | The envelope should be superscribed with the name of the Fellowship/Post applied for. |
| NET / GATE | Candidates possessing B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc. qualification must have a valid UGC/CSIR-NET or GATE score. |
| Government Employees | Candidates working in Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings or Autonomous Bodies must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of interview. |
| Shortlisting | Only shortlisted candidates will be called for the Interview and/or Written Test through email. |
| Original Documents | Candidates must bring the original certificates along with a copy of the Bio-data for verification during the interview. |
| Travel Allowance | Shortlisted candidates attending the interview/written test will be reimbursed actual train/bus fare by the shortest route limited to Sleeper Class railway fare as per DRDO rules. |
| Fellowship | The award of JRF/RA Fellowship does not confer any right for absorption into DRDO. |
| Final Decision | The decision of ARDE/DRDO regarding shortlisting, interview and selection shall be final and binding on all candidates. |
Applications in the prescribed format along with supporting documents must reach ARDE, Pune on or before the last date.
| Document | Purpose |
| Recent Passport Size Photograph | Application Form |
| Duly Filled Bio-data / Application Form | Application Submission |
| Class 10 Certificate | Date of Birth Verification |
| Class 12 Certificate | Educational Record |
| Graduation Degree & Mark Sheets | Educational Qualification Verification |
| Post Graduation Degree & Mark Sheets (If Applicable) | Educational Qualification Verification |
| Ph.D. Degree / Thesis Submission Proof (For RA, If Applicable) | Eligibility Verification |
| NET / GATE Score Card | Eligibility Verification |
| Research Publications (For RA, If Applicable) | Research Experience Verification |
| Experience Certificates (For RA, If Applicable) | Experience Verification |
| Valid Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Voter ID/Driving Licence) | Identity Verification |
| Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC, If Applicable) | Reservation Benefit |
| No Objection Certificate (For Government/PSU/Autonomous Body Employees) | Document Verification |
| Any Other Supporting Documents | As prescribed in the notification |
Candidates should submit educational certificates, NET/GATE scorecard, caste certificate (if applicable), experience certificates, photograph and other relevant documents.
| Application Format | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| DRDO Official Website | Click Here |
| What is DRDO ARDE JRF & RA Recruitment 2026? | Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune under DRDO has released the recruitment notification for 24 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and 1 Research Associate (RA) posts in various engineering and science disciplines. |
| How many vacancies are available in DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026? | A total of 25 vacancies have been announced, including 24 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) posts and 1 Research Associate (RA) post. |
| What is the last date to apply for DRDO ARDE JRF Recruitment 2026? | The completed application in the prescribed format must reach the Director, ARDE, Pune on or before 31 August 2026. |
| What educational qualifications are required? | Candidates should possess B.E./B.Tech, M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc. or Ph.D. in the relevant discipline. NET/GATE qualification is mandatory for JRF candidates possessing B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc. qualifications. |
| What is the age limit for DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026? | The maximum age is 28 years for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and 35 years for Research Associate (RA). Age relaxation is applicable for reserved category candidates as per Government of India rules. |
| What is the selection process for DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026? | Selection will be based on shortlisting of applications followed by an Interview and/or Written Test, Document Verification and final selection. |
| What fellowship will selected candidates receive? | Junior Research Fellows will receive a fellowship of ₹37,000 per month, while Research Associates will receive ₹67,000 per month. HRA, Medical Facilities and Contingency Grant are also admissible as per DRDO Rules. |
| Is there any application fee for DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026? | No. There is no application fee for applying to the Junior Research Fellow or Research Associate posts. |
| Will the fellowship guarantee permanent employment in DRDO? | No. Award of the JRF or RA Fellowship does not confer any right to permanent absorption or employment in DRDO. |
| Where can I apply for DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026? | Candidates need to download the prescribed application format, fill it correctly and send it along with the required self-attested documents to the Director, ARDE, Pune before the closing date. |
