ISRO Scientist / Engineer Recruitment 2026 is the flagship entry route for engineering graduates into the Indian Space Research Organisation, run centrally by the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) and separately by individual centres. This cycle, U R Rao Satellite Centre has already notified Advertisement No. URSC:01:2026 (window closed on 12 April 2026), while the next big centralised ICRB drive is keenly awaited. Meanwhile, ISTRAC:02:2026 for Technician ‘B’ and Draughtsman ‘B’ posts is open till 20 July 2026.
ISRO Scientist / Engineer Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Recruiting Body | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — via ICRB and individual centres |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ (also ‘SD’); Technician ‘B’/Draughtsman ‘B’ at centres |
| Category | Central Government Jobs (Group ‘A’ Gazetted for Scientist/Engineer) |
| Total Vacancies | 320 (last ICRB drive); 04 (URSC:01:2026); next as per notification |
| Job Location | ISRO centres across India (Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Sriharikota, etc.) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | www.isro.gov.in |
Important Dates
Kindly note: the next centralised ICRB notification is yet to be released; “expected” dates follow the previous drive’s pattern and must be confirmed officially.
| Event | URSC:01:2026 (actual) | Next ICRB Drive (expected/tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 21 March 2026 | To be announced (last drive: 27 May 2025) |
| Application Start | 23 March 2026 | Expected second half of 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 12 April 2026 | About three weeks from notification (tentative) |
| Written Exam Date | As per official notification | 3–5 months after notification (2025 test: 26 October 2025) |
| Admit Card | As per official notification | Around 10–15 days before the exam (tentative) |
Vacancy Details
The most recent centralised drive, ISRO:ICRB:02(EMC):2025, carried 320 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts — 113 Electronics, 160 Mechanical and 44 Computer Science, plus 3 at the Physical Research Laboratory. Under URSC:01:2026, only 04 posts were notified: 02 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’, 01 ‘SD’ and 01 Medical Officer ‘SC’. Separately, ISTRAC:02:2026 (open till 20 July 2026) covers Technician ‘B’, Draughtsman ‘B’, Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant and allied posts. Discipline-wise break-up for the next ICRB round will appear only in the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
For Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’, ISRO requires BE/B.Tech or equivalent in the relevant discipline in first class with minimum 65% aggregate marks or CGPA 6.84 on a 10-point scale, averaged over all semesters. Straight from ISRO’s official FAQs: there is no relaxation in marks for any category; CGPA-to-percentage conversion (or vice versa) is not permitted; the degree must be completed within the minimum stipulated duration, so a four-year course stretched to five years due to backlogs makes you ineligible; MCA and correspondence-mode degrees are not accepted, though part-time BE/B.Tech is. B.Sc.(Engg), Diploma + BE/B.Tech (lateral entry) and AMIE count as equivalent. For Technician ‘B’/Draughtsman ‘B’, the norm is SSLC/SSC plus ITI in the relevant trade.
Age Limit
The upper age limit for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ is 28 years as on the last date of application (35 years for the URSC ‘SD’ and Medical Officer posts). Relaxation applies as per Government of India orders — generally 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD, and ex-servicemen as per rules.
Application Fee
As per the last ICRB notification, every applicant pays a processing fee of Rs 750 per application via the Bharatkosh portal (online only — net banking, UPI or domestic cards). Rs 250 of this is non-refundable. Women and SC/ST/PwBD/ex-serviceman candidates get the full Rs 750 refunded, while male General/OBC candidates get Rs 500 back — in both cases only if they actually appear in the written test.
Salary / Pay Scale
Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ is a Group ‘A’ Gazetted post in Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, basic pay Rs 56,100 per month. With DA, HRA and Transport Allowance, gross emoluments in a city like Bengaluru work out to roughly Rs 1 lakh per month; in-hand is a little lower after NPS deductions. ISRO also offers medical cover for dependants, group insurance and LTC — verify exact emoluments in the official notification.
Selection Process
Selection for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ has two stages: a written test followed by a personal interview. After norm-based screening, the written test shortlists candidates for interview (roughly 1:5 against vacancies in recent drives); final empanelment follows the weightage prescribed in the notification, subject to minimum qualifying marks in the interview. For Technician/Draughtsman posts, selection is typically a written test plus a skill test.
Exam Pattern & Syllabus Highlights
The ICRB written test (2025 pattern) runs 2 hours (10 AM to 12 noon) with 95 questions for 100 marks. Part A: 80 technical MCQs from your discipline, 1 mark each, with 1/3 mark negative marking. Part B: 15 aptitude questions for 20 marks, no negative marking. The syllabus mirrors the BE/B.Tech curriculum — Electronics: networks, analog/digital circuits, control systems, communication; Mechanical: thermodynamics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics, machine design; Computer Science: data structures, algorithms, OS, DBMS, networks. Kindly note, ISRO uploads previous years’ question papers on the Careers page against each advertisement — solve them to gauge the GATE-like but more direct nature of the paper.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official ISRO website, open “Careers” and click “Current Opportunities”.
- Locate the relevant advertisement (ICRB or centre-specific) and click “View”.
- Read the bilingual advertisement PDF carefully, then click “Click here to apply online”.
- Fill in personal, educational and discipline details; choose your test centre carefully (changes are allowed only until screening).
- Submit and immediately note the registration number shown on screen.
- Pay the fee via Bharatkosh before the deadline; re-check “Payment Status” after 24 hours.
- Keep a printout — nothing is to be posted to ISRO HQ. Apply only through www.isro.gov.in.
Admit Card & Result
The written test date is announced after norm-based screening, and admit cards are released on the same Careers portal — download using your registration number and date of birth, usually 10–15 days before the exam. Thereafter ISRO publishes the answer key with an objection window, the interview shortlist and finally the select list, all against the advertisement number. No letters are posted, so keep checking the portal and your registered e-mail.
Preparation Tips & Document Checklist
Part A decides your rank — revise core subjects to GATE depth but practise direct, single-concept questions; with 1/3 negative marking, blind guessing genuinely hurts. Solve the official ISRO papers under a strict 2-hour window. For the interview, brush up your final-year project and ISRO’s current programmes such as Gaganyaan. Documents to keep ready: Class 10 certificate (DOB proof), all semester marksheets plus degree certificate, category certificate in the prescribed central format, PwBD certificate if applicable, NOC from employer for government/PSU candidates (mandatory at interview), photo ID and passport-size photographs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “SC” in Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ mean the post is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates?
No. ISRO has officially clarified that ‘SC’ is only a designation/grade, unconnected to any caste or category.
My CGPA is 6.5 but my university conversion makes it above 65%. Am I eligible?
No. The figure on your certificate is final — conversion is not allowed; the minimum is strictly 65% or CGPA 6.84/10.
Is the Rs 750 fee refundable?
Partly. Rs 250 is non-refundable. Women and SC/ST/PwBD/ex-serviceman candidates who appear in the test get Rs 750 back; male General/OBC candidates get Rs 500.
Can final-year students apply?
Yes, provided they hold 65% marks or CGPA 6.84 up to the last declared semester and produce the degree as per the notification’s timeline.
When will the next ICRB Scientist/Engineer notification arrive?
ISRO has not announced it yet; going by trend it is expected in the second half of 2026 — keep watching the official Careers page.
Important Links
Official Website / Apply Online
Disclaimer: The above details are compiled from ISRO’s official notifications and FAQs for ready reference. Vacancies, dates, fees and eligibility can change with each advertisement — candidates are strongly advised to verify every detail on https://www.isro.gov.in before applying.