ISRO ICRB Scientist/Engineer Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 175 Posts

The age ceiling of 28 years is strict for General category candidates. This means you must have been born on or after 16 September 1997 (assuming application date is the deciding factor). If you are SC/ST, you have a 5-year relaxation, taking your upper limit to 33 years. OBC candidates get 3 years extra, capping out at 31 years. Persons with Disability (PwD) receive a 10-year relaxation, extending eligibility to age 38. Use the age calculator to confirm your exact eligibility based on your date of birth.

Your degree must be a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)—or an equivalent qualification recognised by AICTE. The three streams are strictly defined: Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, or Computer Science. You cannot apply for a stream you do not have a degree in. Your final aggregate (or cumulative CGPA) across all semesters must reach 65% or 6.84 out of 10. Backlogs that were later cleared still count as part of your final aggregate; you need the aggregate score at the time of application, not just at the time of degree award.

• All positions (Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science): Level 10, ₹56,100 basic (with additional DA, HRA, and allowances as per 7th CPC).
• Estimated gross salary: ₹85,000–₹92,000 per month (including DA at current rates, HRA as per posting location, and other allowances).
• In-hand after NPS (~10% of basic) and income tax: approximately ₹65,000–₹72,000 per month for most candidates.

Level 10 is the entry grade for scientists and engineers in ISRO. After 6 years of satisfactory performance, you become eligible for promotion to Level 11 (approximately ₹67,700 basic). Promotion to Level 12 typically occurs after another 8–10 years, taking your basic pay to ₹78,800 or higher. The salary is substantially better than private sector entry-level engineering positions (typically ₹4–5.5 lakh annually) and comes with job security, pension under the National Pension Scheme (NPS), medical benefits, and research-oriented work. Use the salary calculator to estimate your take-home salary at different posting locations.

• Aggregate marks below 65% or CGPA below 6.84: ISRO strictly verifies the final aggregate from your degree certificate. If your degree shows an aggregate of 64.5%, your application is liable for rejection, even if you have a good rank or background. Ensure your marksheet clearly shows the minimum 65% aggregate before submitting.
• Wrong degree discipline: Applying for Electronics post with a degree in Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical post with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering will result in outright rejection. Your degree must match the post discipline exactly as listed in the notification.
• Photograph does not meet specifications: A photograph with a coloured or patterned background, or one that is blurry, tilted, or older than 6 months, may be rejected. ISRO uses automated scanning; poor photo quality can prevent face recognition during screening.
• Signature scan is illegible or missing: If your signature is too faint, scribbled, or of poor resolution, it may not match the signature you provide on exam day. ISRO cross-verifies signatures, so ensure a clear, consistent scan.
• Category certificate in wrong format or not issued by competent authority: SC/ST/OBC certificates must be issued by the District Magistrate, Tehsildar, or SDO and must follow the format specified in the notification. A certificate from a municipal corporation or a photocopied/attested copy (if the original was not authenticated) will be rejected.
• Submitting after the deadline or with incomplete payment: The online portal closes at the specified time on 16 September 2026. Submissions after midnight on that date are not accepted, and incomplete payments (session timeout before confirmation) result in no application record. Apply at least 2–3 days before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.

After the provisional selection list is released, ISRO will issue a call letter for Document Verification (DV). During DV, you must bring original certificates of your 10th, 12th, BE/B.Tech degree, mark sheets (all semesters), category certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar card, PAN, passport, and domicile proof. ISRO verifies that all documents match the information submitted online. This stage typically lasts 1–2 weeks and is conducted at ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru, or regional centres (check the notification for venue). After DV clearance, you are called for a medical examination by a panel of civil surgeons approved by ISRO. The medical exam is standard (height, weight, vision, hearing, chest X-ray, blood tests) and usually completed in a single day.

Once you clear medical fitness, ISRO issues a formal appointment order specifying your posting location, joining date (typically 2–4 weeks from the appointment order), and pay level. You are required to join within the specified timeline; failure to do so results in cancellation of appointment. At joining, you undergo an induction/orientation program (1–2 weeks) covering ISRO's mission, safety protocols, laboratory/workplace familiarisation, and administrative procedures. Your first posting is typically at the centre where your recruitment was processed, but within 1–2 years you may be transferred to another ISRO centre based on work requirements and centre needs. The entire process from selection list to joining is approximately 3–4 months.

ISRO, established in 1969 and headquartered in Bengaluru, is India's premier space agency and a department under the Ministry of Space, Government of India. It operates multiple centres across the country: the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram for launch vehicle development, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota for launch operations, the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad for satellite applications, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Mahendragiri, and the Antrix Corporation Limited (commercial arm). ISRO employs over 16,000 scientists, engineers, and technical staff and is responsible for India's satellite program (communication, remote sensing, navigation via NavIC), launch vehicle development (PSLV, GSLV, LVM3), planetary missions (Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan), and human spaceflight program (Gaganyaan). Over the past 50 years, ISRO has launched over 400 satellites, undertaken successful lunar and Mars missions, and established India as a credible space-faring nation. The organisation is known for cost-effective innovations and breakthrough achievements in space technology.

Scientist/Engineer 'SC' is the entry-level scientific and engineering position in ISRO's career hierarchy. The 'SC' designation refers to the 'Senior Category' (non-supervisory, individual contributor track). In this role, you will be assigned to specific projects or departments based on your discipline and the centre's requirement. An Electronics Scientist/Engineer works on satellite communication systems, power systems, payload electronics, or ground station equipment. A Mechanical Scientist/Engineer is involved in structural design, thermal management, mechanical systems integration for satellites or launch vehicles, and testing of mechanical components. A Computer Science Scientist/Engineer develops software for mission control systems, satellite operations, data processing, embedded systems, or scientific data analysis tools.

Your day-to-day responsibilities include: technical design and analysis (using CAD, MATLAB, simulation software, or coding languages like C/C++, Python, FORTRAN depending on your role); participation in project review meetings and design freeze discussions; preparation of technical documentation and design reports; troubleshooting and testing of systems or components; coordination with other teams (manufacturing, testing, quality assurance); and contributing to mission timelines and budgets. You will work in a multi-disciplinary team environment, often on confidential projects. The role is non-uniformed. You will be expected to travel occasionally to other ISRO centres or field test sites. Promotion from SC to SB (Senior Scientist/Engineer) is performance-based and typically occurs within 6–7 years of service, after which supervisory and project leadership responsibilities increase. The position demands high technical competence, problem-solving ability, commitment to deadlines, and alignment with ISRO's mission-critical work.

Three vacancies are also advertised for Scientist/Engineer 'SC' positions at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), an autonomous research institute under the Department of Space but not directly part of ISRO's core structure. PRL is based in Ahmedabad and focuses on fundamental research in space physics, planetary science, and astrophysics. A posting at PRL typically involves theoretical or experimental research, publication of scientific papers, and collaborative work with international research groups. The role is similar to ISRO's SC positions but with a stronger emphasis on research output and publication. The salary, age eligibility, and educational qualifications are identical to ISRO's main recruitment. Candidates interested in research over hardware development may prefer this option, but fewer career progression opportunities exist outside ISRO's main hierarchy.