1. Important Dates & Application Fees
ISRO recruitment, managed by the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB), is highly anticipated by engineers and scientists. Recruitment typically happens for Electronics, Mechanical, and Computer Science disciplines.
| Milestone | Timeline (Tentative 2026) |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | January – February 2026 |
| Online Application Window | February – March 2026 |
| Written Examination | May – June 2026 |
| Interview Dates | August – September 2026 |
Application Fee: Usually ₹250 for General/OBC. Women, SC/ST, and PwD candidates are typically exempted from the fee.
2. Detailed Selection Roadmap
A high-difficulty technical paper designed to test core engineering concepts. It serves as a screening round to filter candidates for the interview.
This is the most crucial part. Unlike other exams, the final merit list is based 100% on interview performance, provided you meet the minimum qualifying marks in the written test.
3. Educational Eligibility & Age Limit
To apply for the Scientist/Engineer 'SC' position, candidates must meet the following strict criteria:
- Educational Qualification: B.E. / B.Tech or equivalent in the relevant field with a minimum of 65% marks or a CGPA of 6.84/10.
- Age Limit: Maximum 28 years as of the closing date of application (relaxations apply for SC/ST/OBC/PwD as per Govt. norms).
- Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in their final semester can apply, provided they can produce their degree by the time of joining.
4. Technical Exam Pattern
The written exam is objective-type and covers both core discipline subjects and general aptitude.
Part A: Core Discipline
80 MCQs focusing on core subjects (e.g., Thermodynamics for Mechanical, Algorithms for CS, EM Theory for Electronics).Part B: Aptitude
Focuses on Numerical Reasoning, Logical Ability, and English Proficiency. Usually accounts for 20-30% of the paper.5. Preparation & Interview Roadmap
Preparing for ISRO requires a deep conceptual understanding rather than rote learning. The interview board consists of senior scientists who test your "first principles" of engineering.
- GATE Alignment: The syllabus closely follows the GATE technical syllabus. Solving previous GATE papers is highly beneficial.
- Interview Focus: Be prepared to explain your final year project in extreme detail. Expect to derive formulas on a whiteboard during the interview.
- Accuracy over Speed: There is usually negative marking (1/3rd). Avoid guesswork in the written test.
Official Recruitment Portal: isro.gov.in/Careers
