Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad — a premier laboratory of the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence — has opened applications for its 2027 apprenticeship engagement under Advertisement No. RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027. A total of 195 tentative apprenticeship opportunities are offered across Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice and Trade Apprentice (ITI) categories, for a one-year training period at Vignyana Kancha, Hyderabad. This is an apprenticeship training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961 — not a regular DRDO appointment — and completing it does not create an automatic right to regular employment with RCI or DRDO.
DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Organisation | Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Number | RCI/HRD/Apprenticeship/Advt/2027 |
| Apprenticeship Year | 2027 |
| Total Vacancies | 195 (tentative) |
| Categories | Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice, Trade Apprentice (ITI) |
| Training Duration | One year |
| Training Location | Vignyana Kancha, Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Minimum Marks | 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the qualifying examination |
| Minimum Age | 18 years as on 1 September 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online (NATS 2.0 for Graduate/Diploma; Apprenticeship India for ITI) |
| Official Website | drdo.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Published / Application Starts | 1 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1 November 2026 |
Date note — please read: the official DRDO vacancy listing records 1 October 2026 as the publication and start date and 1 November 2026 as the end date, and that is the date used here. A few tracker pages instead calculate a later closing date — 8 or 9 November 2026 — as 30 days from the Employment News publication dated 10 October 2026. Because the two readings differ, candidates should treat 1 November 2026 as the safe deadline and check the latest date shown on the official DRDO recruitment listing or any corrigendum before applying.
Vacancy Details
| Apprenticeship Category | Qualification | Vacancies (tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | B.E. / B.Tech in specified engineering disciplines | 50 |
| Technician Apprentice | Diploma in specified engineering disciplines | 30 |
| Trade Apprentice | ITI in specified trades | 115 |
| Total | 195 |
The vacancy figures are indicative and may vary as stated in the notification. Graduate Apprentice disciplines include Electronics and Communication, Instrumentation, Electrical and Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical, Safety, Aeronautical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. Diploma disciplines cover a similar engineering list. ITI trades include Fitter, Welder, Turner, Machinist, Mechanic-Diesel, Electronic-Mechanic, Electrician, COPA, Draughtsman (Mechanical) and Grinder. Candidates must match their exact discipline or trade with the notified list — a related qualification does not automatically make a candidate eligible.
Eligibility Criteria: The 70 Percent Rule
The academic requirement is the most important filter in this engagement. Candidates must have secured 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the relevant qualifying examination, and regular candidates who completed their qualifying examination in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 can apply. The qualification must have been obtained from an Indian institution recognised by the appropriate statutory authority, and it must correspond to the apprenticeship category applied for.
Further restrictions apply: candidates possessing a qualification higher than the prescribed qualification are not eligible for the relevant category; candidates who have already undergone, or are currently undergoing, apprenticeship training are not eligible; candidates with more than one year of work experience are not eligible; and Indian nationality is required. Because these conditions are strict, applicants should verify their individual eligibility against the official notification before registering on a portal.
Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 18 years old as on 1 September 2026. The recruitment information available does not specify an upper age limit, so candidates should rely on the official notification for any category-specific provision or subsequent clarification rather than assuming one.
Stipend and Training Conditions
The apprenticeship training period is one year. The stipend is payable as per Government norms, with the recruitment information referring candidates to the relevant Gazette notification dated 3 September 2025. A single fixed monthly amount is not stated in the recruitment details, so candidates should not assume a particular in-hand amount. For Graduate and Technician Apprentices, an Aadhaar-seeded or Aadhaar-linked bank account is important, because 50 percent of the stipend is paid by the Board of Apprenticeship Training through the Direct Benefit Transfer system. Before training begins, selected candidates must complete the apprenticeship contract through the applicable portal.
Selection Process
RCI apprenticeship selection is not presented as a conventional competitive recruitment examination. Selection is based on academic merit and interview, as required, followed by satisfactory verification of documents. The exact academic-merit calculation, interview marks and shortlisting ratio are not specified in the information currently available, so shortlisted candidates should keep their registered email address and mobile number active, since recruitment communication may be sent through the contact details provided during application.
How to Apply: Two Different Portals
Graduate and Diploma candidates and ITI candidates use different portals, and registering on the wrong platform can delay the application. Determine your category first, then use the correct portal.
For B.E. / B.Tech and Diploma candidates (NATS 2.0):
- Visit the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in and complete registration.
- Log in with the registered credentials.
- Search for Research Centre Imarat, DRDO, using the NATS enrolment ID STLRAC000010 given in the notification material.
- Select the appropriate apprenticeship opportunity for your discipline.
- Check the entered qualification and personal details, then submit within the prescribed period and keep the application details for future reference.
For ITI candidates (Apprenticeship India):
- Register on the Apprenticeship India portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
- Log in and open the apprenticeship opportunities section.
- Search for RESEARCH CENTRE IMARAT, using establishment ID E05203600040 given in the notification material.
- Select the trade corresponding to your ITI qualification, review the details, and submit before the closing date.
Documents shortlisted candidates may need at verification or joining: application or profile printout; Class 10 mark sheet and certificate; qualifying examination mark sheet; degree, diploma or ITI certificate; category, PwBD or EWS certificate where applicable; Government-issued photo ID; Aadhaar card; Aadhaar-linked bank account details; medical fitness certificate where required; and recent passport-size photographs. Follow the exact document requirements in the official notification at the verification stage.
What to Check Before Applying
- Your passing year — only the notified qualifying years (2022 to 2026) are eligible.
- Your marks — the 70 percent or CGPA 7.5 threshold applies.
- Your exact discipline or trade — it must match the notified list.
- Previous apprenticeship — candidates who have already undergone or are undergoing apprenticeship may be disqualified.
- Work experience — more than one year can affect eligibility.
- Correct portal — NATS 2.0 for Graduate and Diploma, Apprenticeship India for ITI.
- Deadline — do not wait until the final day to complete portal registration and application, and re-check the official DRDO listing for the closing date (see the date note above).
Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Official DRDO Recruitment Page | drdo.gov.in |
| NATS 2.0 Portal | nats.education.gov.in |
| Apprenticeship India Portal | apprenticeshipindia.gov.in |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many vacancies are there in DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
There are 195 tentative vacancies: 50 Graduate Apprentice, 30 Technician (Diploma) Apprentice and 115 Trade Apprentice (ITI) positions. The figures may vary.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for DRDO RCI Apprentice?
The official DRDO vacancy listing shows 1 November 2026 as the last date. Some trackers calculate 8 or 9 November 2026 from the Employment News date — treat 1 November as the safe deadline and re-check the official DRDO listing.
Q3. What percentage is required for RCI apprenticeship?
Eligible regular candidates generally need 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 and above in the relevant qualifying examination, with a pass-out year of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026.
Q4. Which portal should I use to apply?
B.E./B.Tech and Diploma candidates use NATS 2.0 (enrolment ID STLRAC000010 for Research Centre Imarat). ITI trade candidates use the Apprenticeship India portal (establishment ID E05203600040).
Q5. Is there a written examination for DRDO RCI Apprentice?
No conventional competitive examination is presented in the recruitment information. Selection is based on academic merit and interview, as required, followed by document verification.
Q6. Is DRDO RCI Apprentice a permanent DRDO job?
No. It is a one-year apprenticeship training engagement, and completing it does not create an automatic right to regular employment with RCI or DRDO.
Q7. What stipend is paid?
The stipend is payable as per Government norms under the Gazette notification dated 3 September 2025. No single fixed monthly amount is stated in the recruitment details, so do not assume a particular figure.