ISRO ICRB Scientist/Engineer 'SC' Recruitment 2026 — 175 Posts (Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science)

ISRO, through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB), has invited online applications for 175 posts of Scientist/Engineer 'SC' in Electronics, Mechanical, and Computer Science, at constituent ISRO Centres and the autonomous Physical Research Laboratory (PRL). BE/B.Tech graduates with at least 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10 in the relevant discipline, aged up to 28 years as on 16 September 2026, can apply. Online applications close on 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM.

Who Should Apply

• Scientist/Engineer 'SC' (Electronics) — 99 posts (98 at constituent ISRO Centres, 1 at PRL) for BE/B.Tech graduates in Electronics & Communication Engineering.
• Scientist/Engineer 'SC' (Mechanical) — 52 posts (51 at constituent ISRO Centres, 1 at PRL) for BE/B.Tech graduates in Mechanical Engineering.
• Scientist/Engineer 'SC' (Computer Science) — 21 posts (20 at constituent ISRO Centres, 1 at PRL) for BE/B.Tech graduates in Computer Science Engineering.

All three streams need the same 65% marks/CGPA 6.84 threshold and the same age limit; the difference is purely the engineering discipline.

Eligibility & Age Limit

You need a BE/B.Tech or equivalent degree in Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, or Computer Science Engineering, completed within the stipulated duration of your course, with a minimum aggregate of 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10. If your degree certificate shows both CGPA and percentage, at least one must meet this threshold; if it shows only CGPA, that CGPA itself must meet 6.84/10 — converting CGPA to percentage (or vice versa) to claim eligibility is not permitted. Only Indian nationals can apply.

Maximum age: 28 years as on 16 September 2026. Age relaxation applies to serving Central Government civilian employees, Ex-servicemen, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) as per Government of India orders, though this notification doesn't spell out the exact number of years for each — check the official notification's referenced GOI orders for your specific relaxation.

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Salary & Pay Scale

Selected candidates are placed as Scientist/Engineer 'SC' in Level 10 of the Pay Matrix, with a minimum basic pay of ₹56,100 per month. On top of this, Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and Transport Allowance are paid as per Central Government rules, along with medical facilities, subsidised canteen, limited housing in lieu of HRA, Leave Travel Concession, Group Insurance, and House Building Advance. The notification states only the minimum basic pay; your actual in-hand salary will be meaningfully higher once DA, HRA, and TA are added.

Important Dates

Application Fee

All candidates must initially pay a uniform processing fee of ₹750 online. Of this, ₹250 is a non-refundable application fee. The remaining amount is refunded only to candidates who appear for the Written Test/CBT: women, SC/ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen get the full ₹750 refunded, while all other candidates get ₹500 refunded (₹750 minus the ₹250 application fee). No refund is given if you don't appear for the Written Test/CBT. Payment is accepted only online via the Bharatkosh e-payment gateway (Internet Banking, UPI, or domestic Debit Cards) — cash, cheque, draft, money order, and IPO are not accepted.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official ISRO website, www.isro.gov.in, between 27 August 2026 and 16 September 2026, and complete online registration to receive your Registration Number.
2. Fill in the online application form, entering your e-mail ID correctly — hall tickets and call letters are sent only by e-mail.
3. Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph and your signature in the specified format.
4. Upload your SC/ST/Disability/Ex-Servicemen certificate, if applicable, to claim a full fee refund.
5. Pay the ₹750 processing fee online via the Bharatkosh e-payment gateway.
6. Verify every entered detail carefully before final submission — avoid submitting more than one application for the same post, since only the one with fee received by the deadline will be considered.

Resize your photo and signature to the exact spec before uploading — the notification requires a colour passport-size photo (not older than 3 months) in JPG/JPEG, 200×230 px, 100–200 KB, and a signature in JPG/JPEG, 140×60 px, 80–150 KB. You can also check your exact age as on the cut-off date since eligibility is judged as on 16 September 2026. Since eligibility here runs on CGPA (6.84/10) as well as percentage, you can also convert your CGPA to see where you stand — though remember ISRO does not accept a converted percentage in place of a stated CGPA, or vice versa, for determining eligibility itself.

How Are Candidates Selected

Written Test/CBT (100 marks): Part A is 80 MCQs on your specific engineering discipline (90 minutes, +1 for each correct answer, -1/3 for each wrong answer). Part B is up to 15 MCQs on numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract, and deductive reasoning (30 minutes, 20 marks, no negative marking). It's held at 37 centres across India. Unreserved candidates need 50% in both Part A and Part B to qualify; PwBD candidates (where posts are reserved) need 40% in each.

Interview (100 marks): Candidates are shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio based on Written Test/CBT performance (minimum 10 candidates). The interview assesses Technical/Academic Knowledge (40), General Awareness in your specialisation (20), Presentation/Communication Skill (20), Comprehension (10), and Academic Achievements like institute type and rank (10).

Final Panel: The final merit list weighs Written Test/CBT and Interview marks equally at 50:50. Unreserved candidates need a 60% aggregate; PwBD candidates (where reserved) need 50%. Ties are broken first by Written Test/CBT marks, then by marks in the essential qualification, then by date of birth (older candidates ranked higher).

Why This Job Matters

ISRO is India's national space agency, responsible for the country's satellite, launch vehicle, and space science programmes, and the Scientist/Engineer 'SC' post is its standard entry grade for engineering graduates into Group 'A' scientific roles. With 175 posts across three core engineering disciplines and a clearly laid-out written test plus interview process (rather than a purely subjective selection), this is one of the more structured and closely watched engineering recruitment drives in Indian government service each year.

The FreshersLike Take

Best fit: This suits a fresh BE/B.Tech graduate in Electronics, Mechanical, or Computer Science with strong academics (65%+ or CGPA 6.84+) who wants a genuine Group 'A' Central Government scientific career and doesn't mind being posted to any ISRO Centre in the country.

Who should think twice: You're liable to be transferred to any ISRO Centre or Unit at any time based on need — if you need to stay in one city long-term, that's a real constraint here. The written test also carries negative marking on the discipline-specific section, so weak preparation costs you more than it does in a no-negative-marking exam.

Practical tip: Your Academic Achievements score in the interview (worth 10 of 100 marks) explicitly rewards CGPA above 9 or percentage above 85%, and separately rewards graduating from an IIT, IISc, IIST, NIT, or an NIRF top-20 institute — if you're eligible on paper but your academic record is average, put your prep energy into the Written Test/CBT and the technical/general-awareness parts of the interview, since that's where you can still close the gap.

Documents Required

• Recent colour passport-size photograph (not older than 3 months, per the notification's English version)
• Signature signed in black ink on white paper
• SC/ST/Disability/Ex-Servicemen certificate, if applicable, for fee refund
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from current employer, at the time of interview, if you work under Central/State Government, PSUs, or Autonomous Bodies
• PwBD Disability Certificate (self-attested, prescribed format, showing percentage of disability), at the time of interview, for PwBD-reserved posts
• Original documents proving every detail furnished online, to be produced at the time of interview

What Happens After Selection

Candidates called for interview must bring all original documents supporting their online application, plus the NOC from their employer if applicable — failing to produce these means you won't be permitted to appear for the interview. Interview candidates are reimbursed second-class train fare by the shortest route from their stated city to the interview venue (no travel allowance is paid for the Written Test/CBT). Appointees are liable to be posted at any ISRO Centre or Unit and may be transferred at any time based on need. The posts are temporary but are described as likely to continue.

Important Links

Common Questions

What is the last date to apply for ISRO ICRB Scientist/Engineer 2026?

Online registration and fee payment close on 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM.

Can a diploma holder apply for this recruitment?

No. The notification requires a BE/B.Tech or equivalent engineering degree in Electronics, Mechanical, or Computer Science — a diploma alone does not meet the essential qualification.

Will I get a refund of the fee if I don't clear the Written Test?

You'll only get a refund if you actually appear for the Written Test/CBT. If you don't appear, no refund is considered, regardless of category.

Is the exam computer-based?

The notification refers to it as a "Written Test/CBT," but the exact date hasn't been announced — it will be intimated by e-mail to registered candidates.

My university only shows CGPA, not percentage — can I convert it to check eligibility?

No. If your degree certificate shows only CGPA, that CGPA itself must meet 6.84/10 — ISRO does not permit converting CGPA to a percentage (or percentage to CGPA) to determine eligibility.

Is there a correction window if I make a mistake in my application?

[VERIFY] — the notification doesn't mention a correction window; it only advises candidates to check all entered fields carefully before final submission, since no correction process is described.

Do I need my employer's permission to apply if I'm already working?

If you're employed under Central/State Government, PSUs, or Autonomous Bodies, you must apply only with your employer's prior knowledge and permission, and submit a No Objection Certificate at the time of interview.

Where will I be posted if selected?

Anywhere at ISRO's constituent Centres or Units under the Department of Space, or at the autonomous body PRL — and you can be transferred to any Centre or Unit at any time based on need.

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