DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Offline for 50 Graduate, Technician Apprentice Posts

Candidates who have completed their B.Tech degree in Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, Computer Science, or Chemical Engineering are eligible for the Graduate Apprentice positions. Those holding a State Board technical diploma in Civil, CSE, ECE, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Cinematography, or Automobile Engineering can apply for the Technician Apprentice roles. Applicants must have completed their qualifying qualification recently as per NATS norms and should not have undertaken prior apprenticeship training or possess job experience exceeding one year.

To verify your age eligibility against standard relaxation norms for reserved categories, use our free age calculator before submitting your application documents.

• Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech): Fixed monthly stipend of ₹12,300.
• Technician Apprentice (Diploma): Fixed monthly stipend of ₹10,900.

Under the Apprentices Act, 1961, apprenticeship training stipends are not classified as regular salary. Consequently, deductions such as National Pension System (NPS) or Provident Fund (PF) do not apply, nor do apprentices receive Dearness Allowance (DA) or House Rent Allowance (HRA). Selected candidates receive the complete stipend amount directly in their bank accounts without these standard public sector deductions. Compared to initial entry-level private stipends, DRDO apprenticeship training offers invaluable practical exposure on defense evaluation projects. While the apprenticeship period does not guarantee immediate permanent employment at PXE, completing training at a premier DRDO establishment adds significant weight to your resume for future PSU and defense sector job openings. You can compare stipend structures against regular Pay Level posts using our salary calculator.

Upon final selection and document verification, candidates receive an engagement letter detailing joining dates and reporting instructions at Proof & Experimental Establishment, Chandipur. Selected apprentices undergo a mandatory induction to familiarize themselves with defense safety protocols and organizational operational standards.

The training duration is strictly one year. During this period, apprentices work alongside DRDO scientists and technical staff on advanced testing setups. After successful completion of the 12-month training period, apprentices receive a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) issued by the Ministry of Education / NATS, which serves as a recognized credential across Indian defense and industrial sectors.

Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE) is a premier research laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), located at Chandipur in the Balasore district of Odisha. Established to serve as the nation's principal agency for proof and evaluation of armaments and ammunition, PXE plays a critical role in evaluating defense hardware before formal induction into the Indian Armed Forces.

Equipped with state-of-the-art range instrumentation, radar tracking systems, high-speed photography equipment, and specialized telemetry systems, PXE conducts rigorous testing of artillery guns, naval weapons, mortar systems, and small arms. Its work directly impacts the operational readiness and technological reliability of India's defense infrastructure.

As a Graduate or Technician Apprentice at PXE Chandipur, your daily responsibilities focus on assisting DRDO technical staff and scientists during ground testing, instrumentation calibration, and data collection procedures. Graduate apprentices in B.Tech streams support data analysis, hardware testing setups, software execution, and technical documentation across electronics, mechanical, chemical, and computer engineering domains.

Technician apprentices with diploma qualifications engage in operational maintenance, circuit board troubleshooting, civil construction oversight, automotive equipment checkups, or range equipment upkeep depending on their specialized stream. The role offers a professional, safety-oriented environment combining office analysis with direct field exposure on test ranges.