DRDO RCI Apprentice 2026 – 195 Posts, 115 ITI Apprentice

DRDO RCI Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has invited applications for 195 Apprentice training seats for the 2026-27/2027 apprenticeship engagement.

Out of the total 195 seats, 115 seats are for ITI Trade Apprentices, 30 are for Technician (Diploma) Apprentices and 50 are for Graduate Apprentices. ITI candidates with eligible NCVT/SCVT trade qualifications can apply through the Apprenticeship India portal.

DRDO RCI Apprentice 2026 – Overview

*Vacancies are tentative and may vary according to the official advertisement and applicable rules.

DRDO RCI Apprentice Vacancy 2026

ITI Trade Apprentice – 115 Seats

The ITI Trade Apprentice category has 115 tentative seats. The notification includes the following eligible trades:

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification for ITI Candidates

• Candidate must have passed the relevant ITI trade.
• The ITI qualification must be from an appropriate NCVT/SCVT affiliated institution.
• The candidate must possess the prescribed qualification for the trade applied for.
• Candidates must have secured at least 70% marks or CGPA 7.5 or above in the qualifying examination.
• Eligible qualifying examinations are from the specified passing years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026.

Graduate Apprentice

Graduate Apprentice candidates require a relevant B.E./B.Tech qualification. The listed engineering disciplines include Electronics and Communication, Instrumentation, Electrical and Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical, Safety, Aeronautical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, subject to the official notification.

Technician Apprentice

Technician Apprentice candidates require a relevant Engineering Diploma in the disciplines specified in the official advertisement.

Age Limit

Passing Year and Marks Requirement

One of the important conditions of the RCI apprenticeship is the qualifying examination marks requirement.

• Minimum 70% aggregate marks or CGPA 7.5 and above.
• Qualification should have been obtained in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026, as applicable.
• The qualification must be from a recognized institution/board.
• Only candidates meeting the prescribed qualification for the particular apprenticeship category should apply.

Apprenticeship Duration

The apprenticeship engagement is for a period of one year.

The purpose of the engagement is to provide practical training to eligible Graduate, Diploma and ITI candidates under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 and applicable amendments/rules.

Stipend

The stipend will be paid according to the applicable Government apprenticeship norms and the provisions referred to in the official notification.

Selection Process

The selection for the RCI apprenticeship will be made according to the procedure prescribed in the official advertisement.

• Academic qualification and marks will be considered.
• Eligibility and document verification will be carried out.
• Shortlisting/selection will be conducted according to the applicable apprenticeship rules and RCI procedure.
• There is no regular government-job written examination associated with this apprenticeship engagement.

Application Fee

Important Dates

How to Apply for DRDO RCI ITI Apprentice 2026

For ITI Candidates

1. Visit the Apprenticeship India portal.
2. Register as an apprentice candidate if you do not already have an account.
3. Complete your profile and qualification details.
4. Search for Research Centre Imarat, DRDO.
5. Check the available ITI Trade Apprentice opportunity.
6. Select the eligible trade.
7. Submit the application through the apprenticeship portal.
8. Save or download the application details for future reference.

For B.E./B.Tech and Diploma Candidates

Graduate and Diploma candidates should register/apply through the NATS 2.0 portal as prescribed in the RCI advertisement.

Documents Required

• Recent passport-size photograph
• ITI certificate / National Trade Certificate
• 10th marksheet and certificate
• All relevant educational qualification certificates
• Marksheets showing required percentage/CGPA
• Aadhaar card or other valid identity document
• Apprenticeship portal registration details
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• PwBD certificate, if applicable
• Other documents required by RCI/DRDO during verification

DRDO RCI Apprentice 2026 – Important Points for ITI Candidates

• 115 ITI Trade Apprentice seats are included in the 195 total apprentice seats.
• This is an apprenticeship training opportunity, not a permanent DRDO recruitment.
• Minimum age is 18 years as on 1 September 2026.
• Minimum academic requirement is 70% marks or CGPA 7.5.
• Eligible ITI passing years include 2022 to 2026, subject to the notification conditions.
• Relevant NCVT/SCVT ITI trades include Fitter, Welder, Turner, Machinist, Diesel Mechanic, Electronic Mechanic, Electrician, COPA, Draughtsman Mechanical and Grinder.
• The training duration is one year.
• There is no application fee.
• ITI candidates apply through the Apprenticeship India portal.
• There is no guarantee of regular employment after completion of apprenticeship.

Is DRDO RCI Apprentice a Permanent Government Job?

No. DRDO RCI Apprentice is an apprenticeship training engagement under the Apprentices Act. It should not be considered equivalent to a permanent DRDO Technician, Assistant or other regular government post.

Successful completion of apprenticeship may provide valuable practical experience and an apprenticeship certificate, but there is no obligation on DRDO/RCI to provide regular employment after completion of the apprenticeship.

DRDO RCI Apprentice 2026 – Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions