The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has invited applications for DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship positions under Advertisement No. DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01.
The opportunity is intended for eligible senior officers/scientists who have retired or are due to retire from Central Government, Central Government Autonomous Bodies and the categories specified in the notification. The engagement is on a contractual basis, initially for one year, with provision for annual renewal up to a maximum of three years, subject to the conditions mentioned in the notification.
The recruitment covers 15 positions across DRDO and Non-DRDO categories, with monthly honorarium of up to ₹1,25,000 depending on the position.
DRDO Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence |
| Directorate | Directorate of Human Resource & Vigilance (DHR&V) |
| Recruitment | DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship |
| Advertisement No. | DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01 |
| Total Positions | 15 |
| Engagement Type | Contractual |
| Initial Contract | 1 Year |
| Maximum Tenure | Up to 3 Years, subject to annual renewal |
| Application Mode | Typed A-4 size application by post; advance copy may also be sent by email |
| Official Advertisement Date | 15 September 2026 |
The official DRDO vacancy page lists the advertisement as published on 15 September 2026, with the application start date also shown as 15 September 2026.
What Is This DRDO Recruitment About?
This is not a conventional fresh-recruitment drive for graduates or entry-level candidates.
DRDO is inviting applications from experienced senior scientists/officers who meet the specified retirement status, designation/equivalent level and pay-level requirements. The selected candidates will work with DRDO Labs/Establishments in areas connected with their R&D expertise.
The notification specifically states that applicants may be required to serve anywhere in India, particularly at locations where DRDO Labs/Establishments are situated and where the work is related to the applicant’s R&D area.
Why Consider This DRDO Opportunity?
For eligible retired or retiring senior scientists/officers, this opportunity provides a route to continue contributing to defence R&D through a contractual engagement with DRDO.
The notification provides:
- DRDO Chair positions with an honorarium of ₹1,25,000 per month.
- DRDO Distinguished Fellowship positions with an honorarium of ₹1,00,000 per month.
- DRDO Fellowship positions with an honorarium of ₹80,000 per month.
- Initial contractual engagement of one year.
- Possibility of annual renewal up to three years.
- Work opportunities connected with several defence R&D disciplines.
- Continued professional engagement in the applicant’s relevant R&D area.
These are features of the notified opportunity, not a guarantee of selection or renewal. Annual renewal is subject to performance and deliverables.
DRDO Vacancy 2026
There are 15 positions in total:
| Position | DRDO | Non-DRDO | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRDO Chair | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| DRDO Distinguished Fellowship | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| DRDO Fellowship | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | 15 |
The notification states that Non-DRDO includes the Tri Services, Scientific and Academic Institutions of the Central Government, and Autonomous Bodies under the Central Government.
R&D Areas
The notified R&D areas include:
- Aeronautics
- Armaments
- Combat Vehicles
- Communication Engineering
- Computer Science / IT
- Electronics
- Life Science
- Instrumentation
- Material Science
- Missiles
- Naval Systems
These areas are specifically listed in the recruitment notification.
Who Can Apply for DRDO Recruitment 2026?
This is the most important eligibility section.
The recruitment is intended for eligible and willing officers/scientists who have retired or are due to retire by 30 November 2026, subject to the specific eligibility requirements for the position applied for.
1. DRDO Chair
Candidates must be scientists who:
- Have retired or are due to retire within three months from the relevant advertisement date;
- Have retired from the post of Distinguished Scientist (DS) or equivalent;
- Are from DRDO or other Scientific/Academic Institutions;
- Meet Pay Level-16 requirements.
Retired Lt. General or equivalent officers in Pay Level-16 can also be considered.
2. DRDO Distinguished Fellowship
Candidates must be scientists who:
- Have retired or are due to retire within three months from the relevant advertisement date;
- Have retired from the post of Outstanding Scientist (OS) or equivalent;
- Are from DRDO or other Scientific/Academic Institutions;
- Meet Pay Level-15 requirements.
Retired Lt. General or equivalent officers in Pay Level-15 can also be considered.
3. DRDO Fellowship
Candidates must be scientists who:
- Have retired or are due to retire within three months from the relevant advertisement date;
- Have retired from the post of Scientist ‘G’ or equivalent;
- Are from DRDO or other Scientific/Academic Institutions;
- Meet Pay Level-14 requirements.
Retired Major General or equivalent officers in Pay Level-14 can also be considered.
Eligibility Summary
| Position | Minimum Eligibility | Pay Level | Armed Forces Equivalent Mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRDO Chair | Distinguished Scientist (DS) or equivalent, retired or due to retire within the specified period | Level 16 | Retired Lt. General or equivalent |
| DRDO Distinguished Fellowship | Outstanding Scientist (OS) or equivalent, retired or due to retire within the specified period | Level 15 | Retired Lt. General or equivalent |
| DRDO Fellowship | Scientist ‘G’ or equivalent, retired or due to retire within the specified period | Level 14 | Retired Major General or equivalent |
Educational Qualification
The notification’s position table specifies:
- DRDO Chair: B.Tech./B.E.
- DRDO Distinguished Fellowship: B.Tech./B.E./M.Sc./PhD.
The notification’s main eligibility condition is also based on the required senior designation/equivalent and Pay Level. The PDF does not provide a separate additional educational-qualification line for DRDO Fellowship beyond the information shown in the table and the minimum-eligibility section. Therefore, applicants should not assume an additional qualification that is not expressly specified.
Age Limit
The maximum age limit for DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship is:
Up to 5 years after superannuation.
This means the notification permits engagement up to a maximum period of five years after retirement, subject to the other applicable eligibility requirements.
DRDO Honorarium / Salary
The notification uses the term Honorarium, rather than regular salary.
| Position | Monthly Honorarium |
|---|---|
| DRDO Chair | ₹1,25,000 per month |
| DRDO Distinguished Fellowship | ₹1,00,000 per month |
| DRDO Fellowship | ₹80,000 per month |
The fixed monthly honorarium is subject to the condition that it is restricted to the amount calculated by deducting basic pension from the last basic pay drawn at retirement.
Allowances and Other Benefits
The notification states that there will be:
- No annual increment.
- No percentage increase during the contract period.
- No Dearness Allowance.
- No House Rent Allowance.
- No government accommodation.
- No medical reimbursement.
- No telephone/broadband reimbursement.
- Transport Allowance as admissible is the exception specifically mentioned.
Is This a Permanent DRDO Job?
No.
This is a contractual engagement, not a regular permanent DRDO appointment.
The initial contract is for one year and may be extended annually up to a maximum of three years, subject to performance and deliverables.
Tenure
The maximum contractual tenure is:
Up to 3 years from the date of charge assumption.
Renewal is carried out annually and depends on performance and deliverables.
Leave
Selected officers are entitled to:
1.5 days of paid leave for each completed month of service.
Who Should Not Apply?
This recruitment is not aimed at ordinary fresh graduates, entry-level job seekers or candidates looking for a regular permanent DRDO appointment.
A candidate should carefully check the required:
- Retirement status
- Designation/equivalent designation
- Pay Level
- Relevant discipline
- Experience
- R&D area
- Age after superannuation
before submitting an application.
The notification itself specifically instructs applicants to ensure their eligibility with respect to discipline, experience and Pay Level.
Application Form – Important Details
The official DRDO application form contains several fields that applicants need to complete.
The form asks applicants to select the category being applied for and states that a separate application must be submitted when applying for more than one category.
Important application-form fields include:
- Area/Field of Specialisation with proposed area of work
- Full Name in CAPITAL letters
- Designation at the time of superannuation
- Name and address of the last institution/organisation served
- Date of Birth
- Age as on 30 November 2026
- Gender
- Pay Level as per 7th CPC at superannuation
- Last Basic Pay drawn
- PPO Number
- Date of issue of PPO
- PAN
- Official and residential correspondence address
- Mobile and alternate number
- Email ID
- Educational Qualifications & Trainings/Courses
- Proposed area of work and brief past work experience in 100 words
- Complete service record before superannuation
- Details if currently working anywhere
- Complete list of published books, monographs, research papers, patents, etc.
- Any other relevant information
- Identified DRDO DG Cluster
- Identified DRDO Lab./Estt./Unit
- Recommendation of concerned Lab./Estt. Director
- Recommendation of concerned DG
- Applicant’s signature and date
The official form also provides for relevant annexures, including service-record and other information where applicable.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare the documents specified in the notification.
Mandatory documents mentioned in the notification
- Copy of PPO and Identity Card issued at the time of superannuation/retirement
- Copy of Aadhaar Card
- Copy of PAN Card
- One recent passport-size coloured photograph
- Applicable annexures mentioned in the application format
Additional application-related requirements
The official application form also requires supporting information/proof relating to:
- Educational qualifications and training/courses
- Service record
- Proposed work area
- Past work experience
- Publications/research papers/patents, where applicable
- Other relevant information
- Identified DRDO DG Cluster
- Identified DRDO Lab./Establishment/Unit
- Recommendation/endorsement of the concerned Lab./Estt. Director
- Recommendation/endorsement of the concerned DG
Important: The application form specifically asks applicants to attach proof for educational qualifications and provides separate annexure requirements.
How to Apply for DRDO Recruitment 2026
The application process is primarily through a typed A-4 size application.
Applicants are required to send the neatly typed application to:
The Director
Director of Human Resource & Vigilance (DHR&V)
DRDO, Ministry of Defence
Room No. 229 (DRDS-III)
DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg
New Delhi – 110011
The envelope should be captioned:
“Application for DRDO Chair/DRDO Fellow”
Application Endorsement Is Important
The notification specifically states that duly filled applications must be endorsed by:
- The concerned Lab./Estt. Director, and
- The concerned Cluster DG
where the applicant wishes to render services.
Applicants may also send an advance copy of their application by email to:
Application Fee
Application Fee: Not specified in the provided notification.
The notification does not mention any application fee amount or fee-payment procedure. Therefore, applicants should not assume that a fee is payable.
Selection Process
There is no written examination, CBT or skill test mentioned in the uploaded notification.
The stated selection procedure is:
- Applications received by DRDO will first be examined by a Screening Committee.
- The Screening Committee will shortlist/recommend names.
- The shortlisted names will be submitted to the Selection Committee.
- The Selection Committee will recommend the final list.
- The final list will be sent for approval of the Competent Authority.
| Stage | Process |
|---|---|
| 1 | Applications examined by Screening Committee |
| 2 | Shortlisted names recommended by Screening Committee |
| 3 | Names submitted to Selection Committee |
| 4 | Selection Committee recommends final list |
| 5 | Approval by Competent Authority |
Work Location and Liability to Serve
Selected DRDO Chairs, Distinguished Fellows and Fellows may be required to serve anywhere in India, particularly in cities where DRDO Labs/Establishments are located and where the work is connected with the applicant’s R&D area.
The notification also states that selected officers must attend the office on all working days of the concerned lab/establishment to which they report.
Important Dates
There is an important date clarification that should not be hidden in the article.
The uploaded advertisement PDF states:
Closing Date: 21 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in newspapers.
However, the current official DRDO vacancy page for Advertisement No. DRDO/DHR&V/C&F-2026-01 lists the end date as 16 October 2026.
For a JobDekho article, I recommend displaying 16 October 2026 as the currently listed official DRDO deadline, while retaining a note that the advertisement PDF itself states the closing date as 21 days from newspaper publication.
| Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Published | 15 September 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Closing Date in Advertisement PDF | 21 days from publication of the advertisement in newspapers |
| End Date Listed on Official DRDO Vacancy Page | 16 October 2026 |
Important Candidate Checklist
Before sending the application, eligible candidates should verify all of the following:
- Correct position/category selected
- Eligibility based on designation/equivalent and Pay Level checked
- Retirement/superannuation status checked
- Age limit checked
- Relevant R&D discipline checked
- Application typed properly on A-4 paper
- Recent colour passport-size photograph attached
- PPO copy attached
- Retirement Identity Card copy attached
- Aadhaar copy attached
- PAN copy attached
- Educational qualification proof attached where required by the application form
- Relevant annexures prepared
- Service record details completed
- Proposed area of work completed
- Past work experience summary completed
- Publication/research paper/patent details provided where applicable
- DRDO DG Cluster identified
- DRDO Lab./Estt./Unit identified
- Concerned Lab./Estt. Director endorsement obtained
- Concerned DG endorsement obtained
- Envelope caption written correctly
- Advance copy emailed to DHR&V if required/desired
- Contact details kept accurate and unchanged
The requirement to verify discipline, experience and Pay Level and the warning regarding incorrect or concealed information are expressly stated in the notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the DRDO Chair, Distinguished Fellowship and Fellowship Recruitment 2026?
Ans: It is a contractual engagement opportunity announced by DRDO for eligible senior scientists/officers for DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship positions.
Q2. How many positions are available?
Ans: A total of 15 positions are notified, including 2 DRDO Chair positions, 7 DRDO Distinguished Fellowship positions and 6 DRDO Fellowship positions.
Q3. Who can apply for DRDO Chair?
Ans: Scientists retired or due to retire within the specified period from the post of Distinguished Scientist (DS) or equivalent in DRDO or other Scientific/Academic Institutions at Pay Level-16 can be considered. Retired Lt. General or equivalent officers at Pay Level-16 can also be considered.
Q4. Who can apply for DRDO Distinguished Fellowship?
Ans: Scientists retired or due to retire within the specified period from the post of Outstanding Scientist (OS) or equivalent at Pay Level-15 can be considered. Retired Lt. General or equivalent officers at Pay Level-15 can also be considered.
Q5. Who can apply for DRDO Fellowship?
Ans: Scientists retired or due to retire within the specified period from the post of Scientist ‘G’ or equivalent at Pay Level-14 can be considered. Retired Major General or equivalent officers at Pay Level-14 can also be considered.
Q6. What is the monthly honorarium?
Ans: The notified monthly honorarium is ₹1,25,000 for DRDO Chair, ₹1,00,000 for DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and ₹80,000 for DRDO Fellowship, subject to the pension-related restriction specified in the notification.
Q7. Is this a permanent DRDO job?
Ans: No. The engagement is contractual, initially for one year, and may be renewed annually up to a maximum of three years based on performance and deliverables.
Q8. What documents are required?
Ans: The notification requires a copy of the PPO and retirement Identity Card, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, one recent passport-size coloured photograph and applicable annexures mentioned in the application format.
Q9. How should the application be submitted?
Ans: The applicant must submit a neatly typed application on A-4 size paper to the Director, Directorate of Human Resource & Vigilance (DHR&V), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Room No. 229 (DRDS-III), DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi-110011. An advance copy may also be sent by email to director-dhrv@gov.in.
Q10. Is there any written examination?
Ans: The notification does not mention a written examination, CBT or skill test. Applications are examined by a Screening Committee, followed by consideration by the Selection Committee and approval by the Competent Authority.
Q11. Can an applicant apply for more than one category?
Ans: The official application form states that a separate application must be furnished when applying for more than one category.
Q12. What is the maximum age limit?
Ans: The notification states that the maximum age limit is up to five years after superannuation.
Q13. Where can selected candidates be required to serve?
Ans: Selected candidates may be required to serve anywhere in India, particularly at DRDO Labs/Establishments related to their R&D work areas.
Q14. Is an application fee mentioned?
Ans: No application fee is specified in the provided recruitment notification.
Q15. What is the last date?
Ans: The official DRDO vacancy page currently lists 16 October 2026 as the end date. The advertisement PDF, however, states that the closing date is 21 days from the date of publication in newspapers. Candidates should verify the latest deadline on the official DRDO recruitment page before submitting the application.
Final Words
The DRDO Chair, DRDO Distinguished Fellowship and DRDO Fellowship Recruitment 2026 is specifically structured for experienced senior scientists and eligible officers who meet the prescribed retirement, designation/equivalent and Pay Level requirements.
Candidates should not apply merely on the basis of educational qualification. The designation/equivalent level, Pay Level, retirement status, relevant discipline and experience are important parts of the eligibility requirements.
Applicants should also carefully complete the official application proforma, attach the required documents and applicable annexures, obtain the required Lab./Estt. Director and Cluster DG endorsements, and verify the latest closing-date information from the official DRDO website before dispatching the application.
