DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad has announced 195 apprentice seats for graduates, diploma holders and ITI candidates. If you have recently finished an engineering degree, diploma or ITI and want hands-on experience inside a defence research laboratory, this is the kind of opportunity that looks very good on a resume. It is not a regular government job, though, and that distinction matters. This guide explains what an apprenticeship at DRDO RCI gives you, who qualifies, how to apply on the right portal, and what to do while waiting for the selection result.
Last updated: 9 October 2026. Facts below are compiled from published reports and may change, so confirm on drdo.gov.in, nats.education.gov.in and apprenticeshipindia.gov.in before you act.
What exactly is being offered
The 195 seats are reported as 50 for graduate apprentices, 30 for technician (diploma) apprentices and 115 for trade (ITI) apprentices. The notice says the numbers may vary. The apprenticeship lasts one year and the intake is for the Research Centre Imarat, a DRDO lab in Hyderabad that works on missile systems and related technologies. The training is under the Apprentices Act, which means you are a trainee with a stipend and a certificate at the end, not an employee with a regular post. Completing it does not guarantee a job at DRDO, though the experience counts in many selections.
Who can apply
The qualification is BE or BTech for graduate apprentices, a diploma for technician apprentices and ITI for trade apprentices, with 70 percent marks or a CGPA of 7.5. One source adds that only regular candidates who passed in 2022 to 2026 are eligible. The graduate disciplines mentioned include electronics, computer science, mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering, and the ITI trades include fitter, welder, turner, machinist and electrician. If you passed earlier than 2022, or have already completed an apprenticeship in the same field, check the notification, because the rules usually prevent repeat apprenticeships.
Stipend
Stipend is paid as per government norms under the Apprentices Act, with the notice referring to a 2025 gazette. The report does not give rupee amounts, so we will not guess. For NATS apprentices, the government generally contributes a share of the stipend through direct benefit transfer, which means you need an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
How selection happens
Selection is merit based on academic performance. There is no written exam reported. In practice that means your marks in the qualifying degree, diploma or ITI decide your rank, so a higher percentage matters a lot. Candidates with similar marks may be ranked using the tie-breaking rule in the notice, such as age or the later examination marks.
Which portal for which candidate
| Candidate | Portal |
|---|---|
| Graduate and diploma | NATS 2.0 (nats.education.gov.in) |
| ITI | Apprenticeship India (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) |
This is the single most common point of confusion in apprenticeship drives. Registering on the wrong portal means your application will not be counted. Complete your profile to the required percentage, link your Aadhaar and make sure your qualifying marks are correctly entered.
Application steps
- Register on the right portal and verify your email and phone.
- Complete the profile with your education details and upload your documents.
- Search for DRDO RCI Hyderabad in the establishment list.
- Apply for the apprenticeship that matches your qualification.
- Save the acknowledgement and watch your email for further steps.
Why a DRDO apprenticeship is worth it
Working in a defence research lab teaches you things a classroom does not: how test setups work, how documentation is handled in strict environments and how teams coordinate on long projects. Even a one-year apprenticeship shows up well in interviews for PSU and private engineering jobs. If you are choosing between a basic private job and an apprenticeship at a research lab, think about where you want to be in three years.
Date caution
The notice was published on 1 October 2026 and applications opened the same day. Reports give a last date of 1 November 2026, but one aggregator says 31 October. Treat 31 October as your safe deadline and apply well before it. The last date is generally counted from the date the advertisement appeared in newspapers, so also check the official DRDO page for the exact closing time.
Preparing your documents
- Marksheets of all semesters or years, with the final consolidated marksheet if available.
- Degree, diploma or ITI certificate. If the final certificate is not issued, a provisional certificate may be accepted, but check the notice.
- Aadhaar card and bank passbook details for DBT.
- Caste certificate for reserved categories.
- Passport-size photograph and signature.
Related apprentice openings
Also see the DRDO DIPR ITI apprentice, DRDO PXE Chandipur and IOCL Western Region notices, and browse all apprenticeship jobs.
How to make your application stronger
Since selection is merit based on marks, you cannot change your percentage now, but you can avoid losing the seat on technicalities. Make sure your portal profile shows your marks exactly as on the marksheet, and that the discipline you choose matches your degree or diploma branch. Candidates sometimes pick the wrong branch code and are screened out automatically. If your degree is in a closely related field and you are unsure, check the list of eligible branches in the notice and, if still doubtful, write to the establishment contact listed in the notification.
What a typical apprenticeship day looks like
Apprentices in research and industrial labs usually work under a supervisor or mentor, assist in assembling and testing equipment, maintain logbooks and attend safety and orientation sessions. You will likely be asked to sign confidentiality conditions, since defence labs handle sensitive work, and you should expect strict entry procedures and police verification after joining. Treat the year as a serious training period: punctuality, record keeping and curiosity are what get supervisors to write you a good recommendation later.
After the apprenticeship
Many PSUs and central organisations give some weightage to completed apprenticeship in their own recruitment. Whether DRDO does for its permanent posts depends on the rules of that particular recruitment, so check each notification. Even if there is no formal weightage, the experience letter and the practical skills help in interviews and in competitive exams with a technical section.
Questions to ask yourself before applying
- Do I meet the 70 percent or 7.5 CGPA requirement in my final qualification?
- Did I pass out in the years the notice allows?
- Am I registered on the correct portal for my qualification?
- Can I work in Hyderabad for a full year, and can I manage living costs on the stipend?
If the answer to any of these is no, fix it before you apply. An honest answer now will save you a rejected application and a lost week later.
One last tip
Keep a printed copy of your application acknowledgement and a soft copy in your email. If the establishment calls you for verification, the acknowledgement number is the first thing they will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a permanent DRDO job?
No. It is a one-year apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act.
Is there any exam?
No written exam is reported. Selection is merit based on academic marks.
What marks are needed?
70 percent or a CGPA of 7.5, as reported.
Where do I apply?
On NATS for graduates and diploma holders, and on the Apprenticeship India portal for ITI candidates.
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