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DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Is Live
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) — the Hyderabad laboratory of the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex under the Defence Research & Development Organisation — has notified 195 Apprentice seats under Advertisement No. RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027. The engagement covers Graduate Apprentices (50), Technician (Diploma) Apprentices (30) and Trade Apprentices (ITI, 115). Applications are online only: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma candidates apply through the NATS 2.0 portal, ITI candidates through the Apprenticeship India portal. The window stays open for 30 days from the date the advertisement is published in newspapers — read the dates section below carefully, because this notice does not carry a single fixed closing date.
DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
| Advertisement No. | RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027 — “Engagement of Apprentices for the Year 2027” |
| Post | Apprentice (Graduate / Technician-Diploma / Trade-ITI) |
| Total seats | 195 (tentative; may vary) |
| Training period | One year |
| Training location | Vignyana Kancha, Hyderabad – 500069, Telangana |
| Application mode | Online only — NATS 2.0 (graduate/diploma) or Apprenticeship India (ITI) |
| Official website | drdo.gov.in |
Why This One Is Worth Your Attention
Defence apprenticeships land in a different league from the usual PSU apprentice calls. RCI is one of DRDO’s core missile-development laboratories, and a year of hands-on training there carries serious weight on a resume — whether you later chase GATE/PSU jobs, M.Tech admissions, or core private-sector roles. Two things make this particular notice stand out. First, there is no written examination at all: selection is on academic merit, with an interview only if RCI deems it necessary. Second, the intake is genuinely broad — eleven B.E./B.Tech disciplines, eight diploma branches and ten ITI trades — so this is not a call reserved for one stream.
The other side of that coin: the eligibility filter is unusually strict. Only regular-mode candidates who passed out between 2022 and 2026 with 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above can apply. If you scraped through with 65%, or passed out in 2021, this notice is not for you — and applying anyway will get your candidature rejected at document verification. Read the eligibility section below before you start the portal registration.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Age reckoning date (minimum age) | 01 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 30 days from the newspaper publication date of the advertisement |
Note: the official notification does not print a fixed calendar closing date — it only says “30 days from the date of publication of this advertisement in a newspaper”. Based on the advertisement reference, this works out to roughly 01 November 2026, but you should confirm the newspaper publication date yourself (or watch drdo.gov.in for a corrigendum) and count 30 days from it. Do not wait for the last day — apply early.
Vacancy Breakup
| Apprentice Category | Seats |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | 50 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | 30 |
| Trade Apprentice (ITI) | 115 |
| Total | 195 |
Vacancies are tentative and may vary. The notification gives no discipline-wise or trade-wise split within each category, and no category-wise (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS) table — reservation applies as per the Apprentices Act 1961, the Apprentice Rules 1992 and the Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules 2019 & 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
| Category | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | B.E./B.Tech in ECE, Instrumentation, EEE, CSE, Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical, Safety, Aeronautical, Aerospace or Civil Engineering |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Diploma in ECE, Instrumentation, EEE, CSE, Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical or Safety Engineering |
| Trade Apprentice (ITI) | ITI pass-out (NCVT/SCVT affiliated institute) in Fitter, Welder, Turner, Machinist, Mechanic-Diesel, Electronic Mechanic, Electrician, COPA, Draughtsman (Mechanical) or Grinder |
On top of the qualification, all of the following conditions must be met:
- Only regular-mode candidates who secured 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the qualifying examination, passed in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026. (This is the single biggest rejection filter — check your marksheet before applying.)
- The qualification must be from an Indian institution recognised by the appropriate statutory authority.
- Candidates with a higher qualification than prescribed for the category are not eligible.
- Candidates who have already undergone, or are currently undergoing, apprenticeship training anywhere are not eligible.
- Candidates with more than 1 year of work experience are not eligible.
- Must be an Indian national.
Age Limit
The candidate should not be less than 18 years of age as on 01 September 2026. The notification does not specify any upper age limit.
Stipend
Stipend is paid as per Government norms, with reference to the Gazette Notification dated 03 September 2025. The notification does not state exact monthly figures for each category — do not trust any website quoting precise stipend numbers for this notice. One hard requirement: Graduate and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices must hold an Aadhaar-seeded bank account, because 50% of the stipend is paid by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. If your bank account is not linked with Aadhaar, get that done before applying.
Selection Process
There is no written test. Selection is based on academic merit and/or interview (as RCI requires), subject to satisfactory document verification. Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS applies as per the Apprenticeship Acts and Rules. A few practical points most applicants miss:
- Shortlisted candidates are informed only through the e-mail ID given in the application — no SMS guarantee, no newspaper list. Keep that e-mail active and check spam.
- Before training begins, selected candidates must execute a contract of apprenticeship on the respective portal (NATS for graduates/diploma, NAPS for ITI).
- At the time of joining you must produce a valid Police Verification Certificate from your place of last residence (at least 1 year) or permanent address. This is not asked by most apprentice notices — arrange it in advance rather than after shortlisting.
How to Apply
Portal registration before applying is mandatory — there is no separate offline or e-mail route. Pick the correct portal for your category; applications on the wrong portal will not count.
For B.E./B.Tech and Diploma candidates (NATS 2.0):
- Register on the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in (mandatory if not already registered).
- Log in to NATS 2.0, search for the establishment “Research Centre Imarat, DRDO” — Enrolment ID: STLRAC000010.
- Select the apprenticeship and submit the application within 30 days of the advertisement’s newspaper publication.
For ITI Trade candidates (Apprenticeship India):
- Register on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (mandatory).
- Log in, click “Apprenticeship Opportunities”, and search by Establishment Name “RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT” — Establishment ID: E05203600040.
- Choose your trade and click Apply. Submit within 30 days of the advertisement’s newspaper publication.
There is no application fee mentioned in the notification.
Documents Required (at Verification / Joining)
- Duly filled application form and NATS/NAPS profile printout
- 10th class marksheet and certificate; consolidated/final marksheet of the qualifying examination; original or provisional certificate of the qualifying examination
- Caste certificate / PwD certificate / EWS certificate, if applicable
- Any Government-issued photo ID (PAN, Voter ID, Driving Licence) and Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
- Copy of Aadhaar-seeded bank passbook/statement (mandatory)
- Medical fitness certificate issued by a Government Civil Assistant Surgeon
- Two latest passport-size photographs
Carry all documents in original plus self-attested copies. Document verification is done for shortlisted candidates only — any deviation from the prescribed qualification means rejection.
4 Mistakes That Will Get Your Application Rejected
- Applying on the wrong portal. Graduates and diploma holders must go through NATS 2.0 (nats.education.gov.in); ITI candidates must use apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. This is the most common error in DRDO apprentice notices.
- Ignoring the 70% / CGPA 7.5 rule. The cut is on your qualifying examination marks (degree/diploma/ITI), not 10th or 12th. Below 70% or below 7.5 CGPA — or passed out before 2022 — you are ineligible, full stop.
- An inactive or inaccessible e-mail ID. RCI communicates shortlisting only by e-mail. A dead inbox means a missed opportunity even after you clear merit.
- Waiting for a “last date extension”. Since the closing date is defined relative to the newspaper publication date, there is no single announced deadline to track — and there may be no reminder. Apply in the first week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the last date to apply for DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The notification fixes the closing date as 30 days from the advertisement’s publication in a newspaper — roughly 01 November 2026 — rather than a single printed date. Confirm the newspaper date yourself and count 30 days.
Q. How many apprentice seats are notified?
195 seats in total: 50 Graduate Apprentice, 30 Technician (Diploma) Apprentice and 115 Trade Apprentice (ITI). The numbers are tentative.
Q. What is the minimum percentage required?
70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the qualifying examination (degree/diploma/ITI), passed in 2022–2026, through regular mode.
Q. Where do I apply — NATS or Apprenticeship India?
B.E./B.Tech and Diploma candidates: NATS 2.0 (nats.education.gov.in), establishment “Research Centre Imarat, DRDO”, Enrolment ID STLRAC000010. ITI candidates: apprenticeshipindia.gov.in, establishment “RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT”, ID E05203600040.
Q. Is there a written exam?
No. Selection is on academic merit, with an interview if required, followed by document verification.
Q. Will this apprenticeship lead to a permanent DRDO job?
No. The engagement is strictly under the Apprentices Act 1961, and there is no obligation of employment on completion of training.
Q. Is there any application fee?
No application fee is mentioned in the official notification.
Q. Do apprentices get hostel or transport?
No. RCI does not provide hostel accommodation, quarters or transport, either during selection or during the one-year training.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Application Form | Apply Now |
| Official Notification | Download Now |
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Note: the uploaded PDF is the official RCI/DRDO Advertisement No. RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027 (“Engagement of Apprentices for the Year 2027”) downloaded from drdo.gov.in. The actual application must be submitted online on the NATS 2.0 portal (graduate/diploma) or the Apprenticeship India portal (ITI) — the links and establishment IDs above.
Tracks every Sarkari notification and breaks it down into simple, accurate English so you never miss a date or misread eligibility.