Blog

Introduction

DRDO Recruitment 2026 searches mostly point to the CEPTAM-11 cycle for Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B) and Technician-A. The official notification covers 764 vacancies in total — 561 STA-B and 203 Technician-A — and the DRDO CEPTAM page currently hosts the apply portal, admit-card link, mock test, question challenge portal, and syllabus PDF. As of 6 April 2026, DRDO’s main vacancies page also shows a new TBRL, Chandigarh RA/JRF walk-in interview, so the official vacancies page remains the best place to track live openings.

Direct Apply Link: The official CEPTAM-11 page carries the “Click here to apply” link, along with the admit-card and question-challenge links.

Key Highlights

• Total vacancies: 764.
• Post split: 561 STA-B and 203 Technician-A.
• Salary range: Pay Level 6 for STA-B and Pay Level 2 for Technician-A.
• Age limit: 18 to 28 years on the crucial date, with category relaxations.
• Selection mode: CBT-based Tier-I and Tier-II, plus Trade Test for Technician-A.
• Fees: ₹750 for STA-B UR/OBC/EWS/MSP and ₹600 for Technician-A General/OBC/EWS/MSP; fee waiver applies to women, SC, ST, PwBD, and eligible ex-servicemen.
• Latest official DRDO opening: TBRL Chandigarh RA/JRF walk-in interview, open from 6 April 2026 to 29 April 2026.

Details: State-wise / Category-wise / Post-wise Vacancies

DRDO does not publish CEPTAM-11 as a state-wise vacancy chart. It publishes post-wise and category-wise vacancy data, plus posting-station codes across India. The notification also says candidates serve with all-India service liability and must be ready for posting anywhere in India as per organisational need.

Posting stations include places such as Ahilyanagar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Visakhapatnam and others, and the notification says candidates must keep their first posting preference final.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

For STA-B, the notification asks for the exact relevant diploma or B.Sc. qualification mapped to the post code. It also says candidates with higher qualifications like B.Tech/B.E., M.Sc., or PhD are not considered for recruitment against these posts if they do not match the required EQR.

For Technician-A, the notification requires Class 10th plus ITI in the relevant trade, and it also accepts certain alternate certificates where the relevant trade does not issue an ITI certificate, such as a minimum one-year recognised course, National Trade Certificate, or National Apprenticeship Certificate in the same discipline.

Age Limit

The age band is 18 to 28 years as on the crucial date 1 January 2026, with relaxation for OBC-NCL, SC/ST, PwBD, departmental candidates, defence personnel with disability, ex-servicemen, widows/divorced/separated women for Technician-A, and meritorious sportspersons where applicable. Only Indian nationals apply.

Experience

This cycle is mainly a direct recruitment route for technical posts. The notification does not make prior experience mandatory for these entry-level STA-B and Technician-A posts, but it does use strict post-code-wise qualification matching.

Application Process

The official CEPTAM-11 page routes applicants through the “Click here to apply” portal on the DRDO website. Candidates must keep a working mobile number, valid email ID, photo, signature, qualification documents, 10th certificate, reservation certificates, and active bank details ready before submission. If a candidate applies for more than one post code, DRDO asks for separate applications and separate fees.

The notification also says the exam city is shown around 10 days before the exam, and the admit card is downloadable 2–3 days before the test from the DRDO website. It further says exam city, centre, date and shift once allotted are not changeable.

Application Fees

The notification splits the fee into a non-refundable part and a refundable ₹500 component. DRDO says the ₹500 refundable part is paid back only to candidates who appear in Tier-I. Payment happens online through card, net banking, or UPI, and bank charges are extra.

Selection Process

STA-B

STA-B uses Tier-I CBT for screening and Tier-II CBT for provisional selection. Tier-I carries 150 questions, 150 marks, and 120 minutes, covering General Science, General English, Quantitative Aptitude/General Maths, and General Intelligence & Reasoning. Tier-II has a 20-minute personality test and a subject-specific test of 120 questions, 120 marks, and 120 minutes. DRDO applies 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers in Tier-I and Tier-II Part II, and the minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR/OBC/EWS and 35% for SC/ST/PwBD.

Technician-A

Technician-A also uses Tier-I CBT for screening, followed by Tier-II and then a Trade Test. Tier-II includes a 20-minute personality test and a subject-specific paper of 120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes. The Trade Test is qualifying in nature, ITI-level, and the minimum qualifying marks are 50% for UR/OBC/EWS and 45% for SC/ST/PwBD. DRDO shortlists candidates for Technician-A at a 1:15 ratio from Tier-I to Tier-II and 1:8 from Tier-II to Trade Test, subject to requirement. DRDO apprentices who completed apprenticeship within the last two years are exempted from the Trade Test.

Syllabus & Exam Pattern

Tier-I stays common across posts and focuses on General Science, General English, Quantitative Aptitude/General Maths, and General Intelligence & Reasoning. DRDO says the medium is Hindi and English.

Tier-II is where the real separation happens. For STA-B, the syllabus follows the relevant subject discipline and includes topics such as Automobile Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical/Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Psychology and more. For Technician-A, the Tier-II syllabus follows trade-specific topics such as Fitter, Electrician, COPA, Machinist, Book Binder, Carpenter, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Welder and other ITI-level trades.

A practical prep map looks like this:

Salary / Pay Scale

STA-B comes under Pay Matrix Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400). Technician-A comes under Pay Matrix Level 2 (₹19,900–₹63,200). DRDO also states that recruited candidates get DA, HRA, transport allowance, children education allowance, LTC, medical facilities, CSD facility, and other allowances as per Government of India rules. They are covered under NPS/UPS as per extant rules, stay on two years probation, and can be posted anywhere in India.

Important Dates & Details

The Tier-I notice says city intimation appears first, followed by the admit-card download link on the DRDO website.

Competitors Comparison

Admit Card / Result Update

DRDO’s CEPTAM-11 page already carries the Tier-I admit-card link and question challenge portal. The Tier-I notice says city intimation comes first and the admit card follows on the website. DRDO also says answer keys publish after the exams and results for Tier-I, Tier-II and Trade Test publish on the DRDO website. As of 6 April 2026, the CEPTAM-11 page shows application, admit card, mock test, and syllabus links, but no separate result notice on that page.

Required Documents

Keep these ready before applying: valid email ID, mobile number, recent colour photograph, scanned signature, EQR certificates, Class 10 certificate for age proof, reservation or relaxation certificate if applicable, and active bank account details for fee refund.

How to Prepare

For Tier-I, build speed in General Science, English, Maths, and Reasoning first. For Tier-II, shift to your exact subject or trade and revise the syllabus topic list line by line. For Technician-A, practice ITI-level practical concepts and trade questions because the Trade Test is qualifying but compulsory.

Pros & Cons

Pros: strong central-government technical job, clear pay matrix, allowances, national posting scope, and structured career progression through DRDO’s cadre system.

Cons: age cap is tight, qualification matching is strict, the exam has multiple stages, negative marking applies, and posting can happen anywhere in India.

Who Should Apply?

This recruitment fits diploma holders, B.Sc. graduates, and ITI candidates who match the exact post code, accept all-India posting, and want a stable technical government career in DRDO. It suits candidates who can handle CBT-based selection and subject-heavy preparation.

Final Verdict

DRDO CEPTAM-11 remains a strong technical recruitment cycle for India’s public-sector job aspirants, but the key point is accuracy: match the exact EQR, check the post code, and prepare for the CBT pattern with discipline-specific depth. Since the main apply cycle is already past, the smartest move now is to monitor DRDO’s live vacancies page for the newest openings such as the current TBRL RA/JRF call.

5 SEO FAQs

1) What is the last date for DRDO Recruitment 2026 apply online?
The corrigendum revises the CEPTAM-11 online application closing date to 11 January 2026, and the fee payment deadline to 13 January 2026.

2) How many vacancies are there in DRDO CEPTAM-11?
The notification lists 764 vacancies in total: 561 STA-B and 203 Technician-A.

3) What is the DRDO recruitment 2026 salary?
STA-B is at Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400) and Technician-A is at Level 2 (₹19,900–₹63,200), plus standard central-government allowances.

4) What is the DRDO recruitment 2026 syllabus?
Tier-I covers General Science, English, Maths, and Reasoning. Tier-II is discipline-specific for STA-B and trade-specific for Technician-A.

5) Is the DRDO CEPTAM-11 result out?
DRDO says results publish on the official website after the exams, but the CEPTAM-11 page currently shows no separate result notice.

Important Links