Engineering graduates and diploma holders looking to gain professional experience in India's defence research sector have a new opportunity. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited applications for 50 Graduate Apprentice and Technician Apprentice positions under its 2026 apprenticeship recruitment.

Selected candidates will undergo one year of apprenticeship training and receive a monthly stipend during the training period. The opportunity is particularly relevant for candidates who have recently completed a B.Tech degree or an engineering diploma in an eligible discipline.

The apprenticeship will be associated with DRDO's Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur in Balasore district, Odisha.

Candidates interested in applying should carefully check the educational requirements, discipline-wise vacancies and application procedure. The completed application must reach the specified address by October 12, 2026.

DRDO Apprentice Vacancy 2026: 50 Positions Available

The recruitment drive includes vacancies for both Graduate Apprentices and Technician Apprentices. Graduate-level positions are available for B.Tech candidates, while Technician Apprentice vacancies are open to eligible engineering diploma holders.

For Graduate Apprentices, the vacancies are distributed as follows:

The Technician Apprentice category has 35 vacancies across several disciplines:

Together, the two categories account for 50 apprenticeship positions.

How Much Stipend Will Selected Candidates Receive?

Candidates selected for the apprenticeship will receive a fixed monthly stipend during the training period.

Graduate Apprentices will be paid ₹12,300 per month, while Technician Apprentices will receive ₹10,900 per month.

The recruitment information does not separately mention any additional allowance beyond the stipulated monthly payment. Applicants should therefore refer to the official recruitment notification for complete terms governing the apprenticeship.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Educational eligibility depends on the apprenticeship category selected by the candidate.

Those applying for a Graduate Apprentice position should have a B.Tech degree in the relevant engineering discipline. Candidates interested in Technician Apprentice vacancies need an engineering diploma in the applicable discipline.

Another important condition concerns the year in which the qualification was completed. According to the recruitment details, candidates who obtained their eligible qualification in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 can apply, subject to the other conditions specified in the notification.

Applicants should ensure that their exact degree or diploma discipline corresponds with the vacancy for which they are submitting the application.

How Will DRDO Select Apprentices?

The selection process is expected to begin with shortlisting based on candidates' marks in their qualifying academic examination.

Candidates who make the shortlist may then be called to PXE, Chandipur for the next stage of the recruitment process.

Further selection may involve a written examination and/or interview, depending on the procedure adopted by the organisation.

After completion of the selection process, successful applicants are expected to receive information regarding joining and other formalities through email. Candidates should therefore provide an active and correctly entered email address and mobile number in their application.

DRDO Apprentice 2026 Application Process

Unlike many recruitment drives where candidates submit forms entirely online, applications for these apprentice vacancies have to be sent in the prescribed format along with the required documents.

Applicants will need to enter information such as their name, apprentice category, engineering branch, NATS enrolment number, Aadhaar number, father's name, date of birth, nationality, gender, category, mobile number, current address, permanent address and educational qualifications.

After completing the form, candidates should sign it and attach copies of the required educational certificates and other supporting documents specified in the recruitment notice.

Incomplete forms or applications without the required supporting documents may face rejection, so candidates should verify all details before dispatching their application.

Where Should the Application Be Sent?

Completed applications, along with the required documents, should be sent to:

The Director
Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE)
Defence Research & Development Organisation
PO-Chandipur, District-Balasore
Odisha – 756025

Candidates should write “Application for Apprentices” clearly on the envelope. The relevant engineering branch or discipline should also be mentioned.

DRDO Apprentice Application Deadline

The completed application for DRDO Apprentice Recruitment 2026 must reach the designated address on or before October 12, 2026.

Since the requirement is for the application to reach the office by the deadline, candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to dispatch their forms. Postal or courier delays could result in an application arriving after the closing date.

Before submitting the form, candidates should also read the official DRDO/PXE recruitment notification carefully to verify eligibility, documents, apprenticeship conditions and selection requirements. Applicants should rely on official DRDO recruitment information for any subsequent changes or updates to the process.

For eligible B.Tech graduates and engineering diploma holders, this recruitment offers an opportunity to undertake structured apprenticeship training within a DRDO establishment while receiving a monthly stipend.