DRDO VRDE Junior Research Fellow Recruitment 2026 is meant for engineering candidates who want to work on defence-related vehicle research at Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. The official notice shows 3 JRF positions in Mechanical and Electrical streams, with selection through document verification, written test, and interview.
This recruitment is important because the process is slightly different from a normal application portal. Candidates are not filling a standard online form. Instead, they need to download the application form, email their willingness before the deadline, and then report physically at VRDE for the scheduled written test and interview. That makes the timeline and reporting instructions especially important.
If you are checking this recruitment, the key things to confirm first are your discipline, whether you meet the first-division and GATE or M.E./M.Tech requirements, whether your age is within the limit, and whether you can reach VRDE on the exact discipline-wise reporting date. This page puts the official details in a direct and usable format.
Recruitment Overview
VRDE, a DRDO laboratory working in defence vehicle research and development, has invited applications for Junior Research Fellowship positions at Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. The fellowship is meant for Indian nationals who want to pursue defence-related research in relevant engineering disciplines.
The official notice clearly states that there are 3 JRF posts in total. Candidates must first send their willingness by email and then appear for the written test and interview on the dates notified for their discipline.
Vacancy Details and Disciplines
| Discipline | No. of Posts | Accepted Branches |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 2 | Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical & Automation Engineering, Mechanical & Production Engineering |
| Electrical Engineering | 1 | Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power System Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Power Electronics Engineering |
The official notice also mentions that the number of fellowships may increase or decrease depending on organisational or laboratory requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, the candidate must belong to one of the notified engineering disciplines and meet one of the following academic conditions as on the interview date:
- First-division B.E./B.Tech in the relevant discipline with a valid cut-off GATE score.
- Or first-division M.E./M.Tech in the relevant discipline, with first division at both graduate and post-graduate levels.
Only GATE scores from 2024, 2025, and 2026 are acceptable for candidates applying through the B.E./B.Tech route. Only Indian nationals are eligible to apply.
Age Limit, Stipend and Tenure
The upper age limit is 28 years as on the date of interview. Relaxation of 5 years is available for SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC non-creamy layer candidates, subject to valid supporting documents.
The fellowship carries monthly emoluments of Rs. 37,000 plus admissible House Rent Allowance. The initial tenure is 2 years, and it may be extended up to 2 more years, one year at a time, based on satisfactory performance and review.
Important Dates and Discipline-wise Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification published | 01 April 2026 |
| Last date to send willingness by email | 30 April 2026 |
| Discipline | Document Verification | Written Test | Interview Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 04 May 2026, 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM | 04 May 2026 from 12:00 PM onwards | 04 May 2026 and 05 May 2026 |
| Electrical Engineering | 06 May 2026, 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM | 06 May 2026 from 12:00 PM onwards | 06 May 2026 and 07 May 2026 |
Applications on the reporting day are accepted from 09:00 hrs to 10:30 hrs. Candidates arriving late are not allowed to take part in the walk-in process.
Selection Process
The selection process is stage-based and starts with scrutiny of the application and supporting documents. Only candidates found eligible at the verification stage proceed further.
- Reporting and submission of the application form.
- Document verification.
- Written test for eligible candidates.
- Interview of screened candidates based on written test result.
The written test duration is 2 hours. The official notice also says that if the number of candidates is large, interviews may continue on the next day.
Documents Required at the Time of Interview
Candidates should carry the duly filled application form in the prescribed format along with attested copies of relevant certificates and testimonials. A recent passport-size photograph must be affixed on the top right corner of the first page of the application form.
- Educational qualification certificates and mark sheets
- Valid GATE score card, where applicable
- Caste certificate, if claiming reservation-based age relaxation
- Experience documents, if any
- Government-issued photo ID in original such as Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport
- Original certificates for verification
- No Objection Certificate for candidates already employed in Government departments, PSUs, or autonomous bodies
If any certificate is in a language other than English, a self-attested English transcript should also be attached.
How to Apply
This recruitment does not use a standard online portal submission. Candidates need to download the application form from the DRDO website, fill it carefully, and send their willingness by email before the deadline.
- Download the official advertisement and application form.
- Fill in the prescribed application form.
- Prepare scanned copies of relevant supporting documents.
- Send willingness by email to the address mentioned in the notification on or before 30 April 2026.
- Use the subject line exactly as instructed in the notice for the Junior Research Fellowship application.
- Report physically at VRDE, Ahilyanagar on the scheduled date for your discipline.
The official email mentioned in the notice is kapilpuraswani.vrde@gov.in.
Interview Venue and Reporting Instructions
The place of research fellowship and reporting venue is VRDE, Vahannagar PO, Ahilyanagar - 414006, Maharashtra. Earlier references may also show Ahmednagar, but the notice identifies the current location as Ahilyanagar.
Candidates should reach within the reporting window because late entry is not accepted. The notice also warns that electronic items such as mobile phones, pen drives, laptops, and smart watches are not allowed inside the VRDE campus.
Important Conditions Candidates Should Know
- No TA or DA is admissible for attending the interview or for joining.
- Incomplete applications can be rejected during eligibility screening.
- Selection is based on merit and suitability, and VRDE may choose not to fill a post if suitable candidates are not available.
- A panel may be drawn for current and anticipated vacancies, and the panel may remain valid for 1 year.
- The fellowship does not confer any right of absorption in DRDO.
- Any misrepresentation or false information can lead to cancellation of candidature.
Before appearing, candidates should recheck their discipline match, age eligibility, original documents, and reporting date because these are the most common points that affect participation.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 Junior Research Fellow posts in total.
The notified disciplines are Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, including certain equivalent branches mentioned in the official notice.
Candidates need first-division B.E./B.Tech with a valid GATE score in the relevant discipline, or first-division M.E./M.Tech with first division at both graduate and post-graduate levels.
GATE is required for candidates applying through the B.E./B.Tech route. Candidates applying with M.E./M.Tech are eligible under the post-graduate route subject to the first-division conditions.
The last date to send willingness by email is 30 April 2026.
Selected candidates will receive Rs. 37,000 per month plus admissible HRA.
The written test and interview will be held at VRDE, Vahannagar PO, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
No. The official notice states that the fellowship does not give any right of absorption in DRDO.