DRDO RCI RA JRF Recruitment 2026: Apply for 21 Posts Before Sept 13

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited offline applications for Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) positions at the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. The recruitment is being conducted for candidates interested in research and advanced technology development for defence applications.

According to the official DRDO notification, the recruitment includes 2 Research Associate vacancies and 19 Junior Research Fellow vacancies. The last date to submit the application is September 13, 2026.

DRDO RCI RA JRF Recruitment 2026 Key Details

The table below summarises the important details of the DRDO RCI RA JRF recruitment, including vacancies, application mode and deadline.

DRDO published the RCI recruitment notification on August 17, 2026. The official notification states that applications must be submitted offline through Speed Post or Courier.

DRDO RCI Vacancy 2026

RCI has announced vacancies across engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry and metallurgy-related disciplines.

The notification also states that the number of vacancies may change depending on requirements.

DRDO RCI JRF Eligibility 2026

Candidates applying for the DRDO RCI JRF Recruitment 2026 must meet the prescribed educational and age requirements.

Candidates should have one of the following qualifications:

• First Class B.E./B.Tech in relevant engineering disciplines with a valid GATE score.
• First Class B.E./B.Tech in the relevant discipline with M.E./M.Tech in the relevant field.
• First Class M.Sc in Chemistry or Physics with a valid NET, GATE or SLET score.
• Relevant disciplines include EEE, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, ECE, CSE, IT, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy Engineering.

The upper age limit for JRF applicants is 28 years as on August 1, 2026. Age relaxation will be provided to eligible SC/ST and OBC candidates as per Government of India rules.

DRDO RCI RA Eligibility 2026

For the Research Associate positions, candidates must have the required PhD or postgraduate qualification along with relevant research experience.

The eligibility includes:

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science or Artificial Intelligence with relevant specialisation.
• PhD in Mechanical, Structural or Aerospace Engineering with relevant research experience.
• PhD in EEE with research experience in Power Electronics.
• PhD in ECE with research experience in RF, Microwave or Radar Engineering.
• First Class M.Tech with three years of relevant research experience and at least one SCI journal research paper.
• For the Physics position, candidates can have a PhD in Physics or First Class M.Sc in Physics with four years of research experience and at least one SCI research paper.

The upper age limit for RA applicants is 35 years as on August 1, 2026. SC/ST candidates can receive up to five years of relaxation, while OBC candidates can receive three years as per government norms.

DRDO RCI RA JRF Stipend 2026

Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend according to Government of India norms. The fellowship is temporary and does not provide any right to permanent absorption in DRDO.

For JRF, the fellowship is initially offered for two years. Depending on performance, it may be upgraded to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) for the third year and extended for another year.

The RA position is offered for a period of two years.

DRDO RCI Application Fee 2026

The official notification does not mention any application fee for the DRDO RCI RA JRF recruitment. Therefore, candidates are not required to pay an application fee based on the published notification.

Application Fee: INR 0

How to Apply for DRDO RCI RA JRF Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates must submit the application in the prescribed format through offline mode.

The application process includes:

1. Download the DRDO RCI RA JRF application form.
2. Fill in the required details in capital letters.
3. Select the post and relevant discipline.
4. Attach self-attested copies of educational and other required certificates.
5. Attach the relevant GATE/NET/SLET scorecard, wherever applicable.
6. Attach research publications for RA applications, wherever required.
7. Sign the completed application form.
8. Send the application through Speed Post/Courier only.
9. Address the envelope as instructed in the official notification.

Applications must be sent to Head HRD, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), PO-Vigyana Kancha, Hyderabad, Telangana – 500 069. Applications through email or by hand will not be accepted.

Documents Required for DRDO RCI RA JRF Application

Candidates should attach the required supporting documents with the application form. These include:

• Educational and professional certificates
• Class 10 certificate or birth certificate
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• Work experience certificates
• Aadhaar card
• GATE/NET/SLET scorecard, wherever applicable
• Research publication for RA applicants
• Other documents specified in the notification

Candidates called for selection must produce original documents for verification.

DRDO RCI RA JRF Selection Process 2026

The selection process will begin with scrutiny of applications. For RA positions, candidates will be shortlisted based on the relevance of their research work experience and PhD thesis.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. For JRF positions, candidates may be shortlisted based on their percentage and called for a written test, interview or both.

No TA/DA will be provided for attending the interview or joining the post.

DRDO RCI RA JRF Recruitment 2026 FAQs