BE/B.Tech graduates in Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science can apply for Group ‘A’ Gazetted posts in Level 10, starting at ₹56,100 basic. Selection is through ISRO’s own written test and interview — a GATE score is not required and plays no part in the merit panel.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ 2026 (Advt No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026, dated 27 August 2026) is a direct recruitment drive by the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board, Department of Space, for 175 posts in Level 10 of the Pay Matrix with a minimum basic pay of ₹56,100 per month. Vacancies are split as 100 Electronics, 53 Mechanical and 22 Computer Science (each figure including one post at the autonomous body PRL). Eligibility is a BE/B.Tech or equivalent in the relevant branch with at least 65% aggregate marks or CGPA 6.84 out of 10, and age up to 28 years as on 16 September 2026. Selection is a 100-mark written test or CBT followed by an interview, weighted 50:50 — no GATE score is involved. Online applications run from 27 August to 16 September 2026 (11:55 PM) on isro.gov.in.
No experience required, but the degree must be completed within the course duration prescribed by the university. Only Indian nationals may apply.
A discipline paper plus an aptitude paper decide who reaches the interview. The final panel gives 50% to written marks and 50% to the interview.
Appointees can be posted at any Centre or Unit of the Department of Space and are liable to transfer between them on a need basis.
Each post code is a separate competition. Electronics carries well over half the drive, while Computer Science is the narrowest gate of the three.
99 posts at ISRO centres plus one at PRL. Requires BE/B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering with 65% or CGPA 6.84.
52 posts at ISRO centres plus one at PRL. Requires BE/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with 65% or CGPA 6.84.
21 posts at ISRO centres plus one at PRL. Requires BE/B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering with 65% or CGPA 6.84. The narrowest list of the three — prepare with the ISRO CS & IT test series 2026.
Backlog and interchange: several PwBD slots are backlog vacancies. If no suitable candidate is available in a notified disability category, the post may be filled by interchange among the five categories, which is why ISRO encourages all PwBD candidates from categories A to E to apply. Vacancy counts are tentative and any change is notified by corrigendum on isro.gov.in.
The ISRO Scientist/Engineer Test Series 2026 for Computer Science & IT runs full-length papers in the exact 80 + 20 pattern, with the same −1/3 penalty, so exam day holds no surprises.
The fee deadline is the same as the application deadline. Age is reckoned as on 16 September 2026, so the closing date doubles as the eligibility cut-off.
Answer keys come fast. ISRO publishes the written test answer keys on its website within three working days of the exam. Objections must be raised within five days of publication, with valid justification, and only through the link provided after the test — email or any other route will not be considered.
Three conditions decide whether your application survives scrutiny: the degree and its marks, the way your university reports those marks, and your age on the closing date.
| Post code | Discipline | Required degree | Minimum marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| BE001 / BE001A | Electronics | BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Electronics & Communication Engineering | 65% or CGPA 6.84/10 |
| BE002 / BE002A | Mechanical | BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering | 65% or CGPA 6.84/10 |
| BE003 / BE003A | Computer Science | BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Computer Science Engineering | 65% or CGPA 6.84/10 |
At least one of the two must meet ISRO's norm — either CGPA 6.84 or 65%. Meeting one is enough.
The CGPA itself must be 6.84 or above. Conversion into a percentage is not permitted, even if your university prescribes a conversion formula. The same logic applies in reverse when only a percentage is shown.
Dual or integrated degrees: if the certificate lists graduation and post-graduation separately, the graduation figure is reckoned. If only one common figure covers the whole course, that final figure is used. If the certificate prescribes nothing, the cumulative figure from the final or consolidated marksheet applies. These rules hold whether or not your institution publishes a conversion formula.
28 years as on 16 September 2026. Serving Central Government civilian employees, ex-servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India orders. For PwBD reservation, the relevant disability must be at least 40%, and candidates holding manual certificates are advised to get them digitised on the UDID portal in good time.
Two hours, 100 marks, two separately-qualified parts. Part B is small but it carries its own cut-off, so a strong technical paper cannot carry a weak aptitude paper.
| Part | Content | Duration | Questions | Marks | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Area / discipline specific | 90 min | 80 MCQs | 80 | +1 correct · 0 unattempted · −1/3 wrong |
| Part B | Aptitude and ability — numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning | 30 min | Up to 15 MCQs | 20 | No negative marking |
Unreserved candidates: 50% in each of Part A and Part B. PwBD candidates, where posts are reserved: 40% in each part. The parts qualify independently.
At −1/3 per wrong answer in Part A, three wrong guesses wipe out one correct answer. Blind guessing costs you; informed elimination down to two options is usually still worth it.
Part B is where candidates get caught out. It is only 20 marks and 15 questions, but the 50% cut-off applies to it separately. Reasoning practice is not optional preparation — the IT Officer full course carries a dedicated aptitude and reasoning block alongside the core CS syllabus.
Candidates are shortlisted from the written test in a 1:5 ratio against vacancies, with an aggregate minimum of 10 candidates. For reserved vacancies, distinct additional candidates are shortlisted at the same 1:5 ratio, without regard to reserved-category candidates already in the UR list.
| Component | Condition | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Institute type | IIT, IISc, IIST, NIT, or an institute in the NIRF top 20 — otherwise nil | 3 |
| Academic performance | CGPA above 9 or percentage above 85% | 4 |
| Academic performance | CGPA 7.5 to 9 or percentage 71% to 85% — otherwise nil | 2 |
| Institute rank | Rank 1 to 3 awarded by the institute — otherwise nil | 3 |
| Category | Written test | Interview | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 50% | 50% | 60% |
| PwBD, where posts are reserved | 40% | 40% | 50% |
The final panel gives 50% weightage to written test marks and 50% to interview marks. Ties are broken in sequence: marks in the written test first, then marks in the essential qualification, then date of birth with the older candidate placed higher. ISRO reserves the right to change the qualifying criteria for administrative reasons.
40 of the 100 interview marks are technical knowledge and another 20 are general awareness in your area of specialisation — both drawn from the same core syllabus you revise for the written test. That overlap is why a structured subject course pays twice: the IT Officer course and test series covers DSA, DBMS, OS, Computer Networks and Software Engineering to the depth an interview panel probes.
ISRO front-loads a processing fee and returns it to candidates who actually turn up for the exam. The refund is the incentive to sit the test rather than register and skip it.
| Category | Paid upfront | Non-refundable fee | Refunded if you appear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women, SC, ST, PwBD, ex-servicemen | ₹750 | Nil | ₹750 (full) |
| All other candidates | ₹750 | ₹250 | ₹500 |
| Anyone who does not appear for the test | ₹750 | — | Nil |
Online only, through the Bharatkosh e-payment gateway. The payment link appears after you submit the online application. Accepted modes: internet banking, UPI and domestic debit cards. Cash, cheque, draft, money order and IPO are not accepted, and service charges are borne by the applicant.
The refund goes to the bank account entered in your application, so account holder name, account number and IFSC must be correct. ISRO is not responsible for refund failures caused by wrong bank details, or for pending and failed payment transactions.
Duplicate applications: if you submit more than one application for the same post, only the one against which the application fee was received within the last date will be considered.
Applications are accepted online only, on isro.gov.in, between 27 August and 16 September 2026. Candidates registered on the National Career Service (NCS) portal who meet the eligibility conditions may apply following the same procedure.
You receive an online Registration Number on registering. Preserve it — it is your reference for the rest of the process.
Hall tickets and call letters for the written test and the interview are sent by email only. All further communication goes to your registered email or the ISRO website, so check spam and junk folders regularly.
A rejected upload means a rejected application, so match the dimensions and file sizes exactly before you submit.
Review all entered fields before submitting, and avoid multiple applications for the same post. The fee deadline is the application deadline: 16 September 2026.
| Item | Format | Dimensions | File size | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | .jpg / .jpeg | 200 × 230 px preferred | 100–200 KB | Recent passport-style colour picture on a light, preferably white background. No caps, hats or dark glasses. If you wear spectacles, no reflections and eyes clearly visible. |
| Signature | .jpg / .jpeg | 140 × 60 px preferred | 80–150 KB | Signed on white paper with a black ink pen. Not in capital letters. Clearly visible and appropriately sized. |
Only three things are uploaded now: photograph, signature, and the certificate supporting a full fee refund where applicable (women, SC/ST/PwBD, ex-servicemen). Originals for qualification, age, category and the employer's NOC are produced later, when called for — at interview stage.
Across 37 venues nationwide. ICRB reserves the right to cancel or change a venue and reallot candidates to another centre, and no TA is paid for attending the written test.
Second-class train fare is reimbursed both ways by the shortest route from the city stated in your online application to the interview venue. A change of address or city for this purpose is not entertained.
Candidates working in Central or State Government, PSUs or autonomous bodies must produce an NOC at the interview. Failure to produce it in original means no interview and no travel allowance.
Level 10, minimum basic ₹56,100, plus DA, HRA and Transport Allowance. New Pension Scheme, medical cover for self and dependents, subsidised canteen, limited quarters in lieu of HRA, LTC, group insurance and House Building Advance.
Watch for fraud: ISRO explicitly warns candidates not to take cognisance of fake offers of appointment for jobs at ISRO. Every genuine communication comes through your registered email or the official website. Canvassing in any form is a disqualification, and legal matters fall under Bengaluru, Karnataka jurisdiction.
No. ISRO's Centralised Recruitment Board runs its own written test and interview. A GATE score plays no part in eligibility or in the final merit panel. What you need is a BE/B.Tech or equivalent in the relevant discipline with at least 65% aggregate marks or CGPA 6.84 out of 10.
175 posts under advertisement ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 — 99 Electronics, 52 Mechanical and 21 Computer Science at ISRO centres, plus one post each in the same three disciplines at the autonomous body PRL. The count is tentative and can be revised by corrigendum.
100 marks in two parts. Part A is discipline-specific: 80 MCQs in 90 minutes, +1 for correct, 0 for unattempted, −1/3 for wrong. Part B is aptitude and ability: up to 15 MCQs in 30 minutes for 20 marks, covering numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning, with no negative marking.
Unreserved candidates need at least 50% in each of Part A and Part B separately. PwBD candidates, where posts are reserved, need 40% in each part. A high score in one part does not compensate for falling short in the other.
28 years as on 16 September 2026. Serving Central Government civilian employees, ex-servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India orders.
Level 10 of the Pay Matrix with a minimum basic pay of ₹56,100 per month, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance. Employees come under the New Pension Scheme and receive medical facilities for self and dependents, subsidised canteen, limited quarters in lieu of HRA, Leave Travel Concession, group insurance and House Building Advance.
Everyone pays ₹750 upfront as a processing fee; only ₹250 is the non-refundable application fee. Candidates who appear for the written test get money back — the full ₹750 for women, SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates, and ₹500 for everyone else. Skip the test and nothing is refunded.
No. If your certificate shows only CGPA, that CGPA must itself be 6.84 or above — conversion is not permitted even when the university prescribes a formula. If both CGPA and percentage appear, at least one of them must meet ISRO's norm.
On written test performance, in a 1:5 ratio against vacancies with an aggregate minimum of 10 candidates. For reserved vacancies, distinct additional candidates are shortlisted at the same 1:5 ratio, without regard to reserved-category candidates already shortlisted under the UR list.
Out of 100: technical or academic knowledge 40, general awareness in the area of specialisation 20, presentation and communication skill 20, comprehension 10, and academic achievements 10. The last block rewards institute type, your CGPA or percentage band, and an institute rank between 1 and 3.
Written test and interview carry 50% weightage each. Unreserved candidates need 50% in the written test, 50% in the interview and 60% aggregate; PwBD candidates against reserved posts need 40, 40 and 50%. Ties break on written test marks, then essential qualification marks, then date of birth with the older candidate higher.
Build depth in the core discipline syllabus first, because Part A carries 80 of the 100 marks and its −1/3 penalty rewards accuracy over volume. Then treat Part B as a separate exam — its own 50% cut-off has ended otherwise strong candidacies. Finish with timed full-length mocks in the 80+20 pattern so the two-hour split becomes automatic. For Computer Science candidates that means the ISRO Scientist/Engineer Test Series 2026 (CS & IT) for the mocks, and the IT Officer full course if you still need the subject teaching underneath them.
To a large extent, yes, for Computer Science and IT candidates. Data Structures, Algorithms, DBMS, Operating Systems, Computer Networks and Software Engineering form the technical core of ISRO's CS paper and of the IT Officer papers for SBI SO, IBPS SO and SEBI alike. The IT Officer course and test series is built on that shared core, so one round of preparation can be pointed at several notifications in the same year.
At any Centre or Unit of the Department of Space or ISRO, with liability to transfer to any such Centre or Unit at any time on a need basis. Only Indian nationals may apply, and the posts are described as temporary but likely to continue.
Check the FAQs published on the ISRO website against this advertisement first. If a doubt remains, email rmticrb@isro.gov.in. Queries about information already available in the advertisement or FAQs, and frivolous queries, are not answered.
Everything after the CBT is an interview you cannot reach without clearing both parts. That makes the written test the only stage worth optimising hard — and it is entirely learnable, because the pattern is fixed and published.
Subject-wise coverage of the discipline syllabus with MCQ drills tuned to the −1/3 penalty, so you learn when to attempt and when to leave.
Numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning sets for the 20-mark section that carries its own cut-off.
80 plus 20 questions in a 90 plus 30 minute split, so exam day is a repeat of something you have already done.
Built specifically for this notification. Full-length papers in the official structure so the clock, the split and the penalty are all familiar before you sit the real one.
The teaching layer beneath the mocks. If your CS fundamentals need rebuilding rather than just testing, start here — and reuse the same preparation across every IT Officer notification this year.