DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 195 Posts, Apply Online

DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — Latest Update

Important Dates 2026

• Notification Date: October 2026
• Online Application Start: October 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 30 Days from the Date of Publication of the Advertisement in the Newspaper
• Document Verification / Joining: To be intimated via email

Note: Since the exact closing date depends on the newspaper publication date, applicants should confirm it from the official notification PDF and apply well within the 30-day window rather than waiting for a fixed calendar date.

DRDO RCI Apprentice Vacancy & Qualification Details 2026

Eligibility Criteria 2026

Age Limit (As on 1 September 2026)

The candidate should not be less than 18 years of age as on 1 September 2026. No upper age limit has been specified in the short notice — candidates should confirm from the detailed advertisement if an upper cap applies in their case.

Minimum Marks Required — A Key Eligibility Point

Only regular candidates who secured 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in their qualifying examination (Graduate, Diploma or ITI trade) in the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 are eligible to apply. This is a comparatively high bar compared to many other apprenticeship drives, so check your own marksheet percentage carefully before registering.

Who Is NOT Eligible to Apply

• Candidates with a higher qualification than the one prescribed for the apprenticeship category
• Candidates who have already undergone, or are currently undergoing, apprenticeship training under any organisation
• Candidates with more than one year of work experience

Double-check these three conditions carefully before applying — even one of them being true makes a candidate ineligible, regardless of marks.

Application Fee

Registration Portals & How to Apply 2026

For B.E./B.Tech/Diploma Candidates

• Register on the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in (this is mandatory)
• Log in to the portal and select “Research Centre Imarat, DRDO” (Enrolment ID: STLRAC000010)
• Apply for the respective discipline matching your degree/diploma

For ITI Trade Candidates

• Register on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (this is mandatory)
• Log in to the portal and click on “Apprenticeship Opportunities”
• Type “RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT” in “Search by Establishment Name” (Establishment ID: E05203600040)
• Choose your respective trade and click Apply

Last Date: 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in the newspaper.

DRDO RCI Apprentice Selection Process 2026

• Academic Merit / Interview: Selection is made on the basis of Academic Merit or Interview, as required, subject to satisfactory document verification
• Document Verification: Done for shortlisted candidates before the Contract of Apprenticeship is created. Any deviation from the prescribed qualification will lead to rejection of candidature
• Shortlisting Intimation: Shortlisted candidates are informed only through the email mentioned in their application for correspondence

Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD/EWS categories applies as per the Apprentices Act 1961, Apprentice Rules 1992, and the Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules, 2019 & 2025. No TA/DA is paid for any stage of the selection process, and no correspondence is entertained from candidates who are not selected.

Stipend Details 2026

Documents Required at Document Verification / Joining

• Duly filled Application Form
• NATS/NAPS profile printout
• 10th class marksheet and certificate
• Consolidated/Final marksheet of the qualifying exam
• Original/Provisional certificate of the qualifying exam
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Valid EWS certificate, if applicable
• Any Government-issued photo ID (PAN Card/Voter ID/Driving Licence)
• 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

Important Instructions — Read Carefully

• Registration on the respective portal (NATS 2.0 or Apprenticeship India) is mandatory before applying
• Suppression of facts can lead to disqualification at any stage, including during the apprenticeship period
• Apprentices will not be provided hostel accommodation, quarters, or transport, either during the interview or the training period
• The engagement is strictly under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961, and there is no obligation of employment after completion of training
• Any canvassing or personal follow-up for selection will lead to immediate cancellation of candidature
• RCI reserves the right to terminate the apprenticeship at any time, without assigning a reason
• Candidates selected for training cannot withdraw except for reasons beyond their control
• Before training begins, candidates must execute a Contract of Apprenticeship on the respective portal
• Selected candidates must produce a valid Police Verification Certificate at the time of joining
• Any dispute falls under the jurisdiction of the Honourable High Court, Hyderabad, Telangana

Simple Tips Before You Apply

• Since the deadline is only 30 days from newspaper publication, don’t wait for a “later” reminder — register on the right portal today and keep your documents scanned and ready
• Double-check your own academic percentage meets the 70% / CGPA 7.5 cut-off before you invest time filling out the full application
• Make sure you register on the correct portal for your qualification — NATS 2.0 for Degree/Diploma, Apprenticeship India for ITI — registering on the wrong one wastes valuable time within a short window
• Set up your Aadhaar-seeded bank account now if you don’t already have one, since it’s compulsory for receiving the DBT portion of your stipend as a Graduate/Technician Apprentice
• Keep in mind this is not a guarantee of future employment — treat it as a genuine, hands-on learning opportunity at a premier DRDO missile-technology lab

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