The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a major Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ recruitment notification for 175 vacancies through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB). Eligible engineering graduates can submit their applications online from 27 August 2026 to 16 September 2026 through the official ISRO Careers portal.
This is an important opportunity for candidates from Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science-related engineering disciplines who want to build a career in India’s space and research sector. The recruitment is being conducted under Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026. Candidates should read the detailed notification and verify their exact branch eligibility before applying.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Recruitment Organisation | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Board | ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) |
| Advertisement Number | ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 |
| Post Name | Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ |
| Total Vacancies | 175 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Online Application Start Date | 27 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 16 September 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Salary Level | Level 10 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix |
| Basic Pay | ₹56,100 per month |
| Official Website | ISRO Careers portal |
| Notification PDF | ISRO ICRB Scientist/Engineer Recruitment 2026 Notification |
ISRO’s official current-opportunities page confirms that the Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ application window is open from 27 August 2026 and closes on 16 September 2026.
Note: In the post title, “SC” is a designation—Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’—and does not mean that the vacancy is reserved only for Scheduled Caste candidates. Eligible applicants of all applicable categories may apply according to the notification conditions.
ISRO ICRB Vacancy Details 2026
A total of 175 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts are available in three principal engineering disciplines.
| Post / Discipline | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ – Electronics | 100 |
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ – Mechanical | 53 |
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ – Computer Science | 22 |
| Total | 175 |
The largest share of vacancies is in Electronics, followed by Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science. The recruitment may include multiple post codes or category-wise allocations within these disciplines, so candidates should refer to the official notification for the exact vacancy breakup before choosing their post.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must hold a relevant engineering degree with the prescribed aggregate marks. For the Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ category, ISRO generally requires a BE/BTech or equivalent degree with at least 65% aggregate marks or CGPA 6.84/10. The degree should be completed within the course duration prescribed by the university or institution.
Educational qualification
Candidates should have completed BE/BTech or an equivalent qualification in a discipline accepted by ISRO for the post they select.
| Discipline | Examples of Eligible Branches |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Communication, Electronics & Instrumentation, Electrical & Electronics, Telecommunication, Avionics, Power Electronics, Instrumentation & Control and similar notified branches |
| Mechanical | Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical, Production, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Metallurgical, Industrial Engineering, Material Science and other listed specialisations |
| Computer Science | Computer Science, CSE, Computer Engineering, IT, AI & ML, AI & Data Science, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, Computer Networking and other notified branches |
For example, an Electronics and Communication Engineering graduate may be eligible for the Electronics post if the qualification appears in ISRO’s approved list. Similarly, CSE candidates with specialisations such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Software Engineering or Data Science may be considered where their branch is listed in the notification.
Candidates must be cautious while selecting the branch in the online form. ISRO states that only qualifications appearing in the available drop-down list are eligible for consideration.
Minimum marks requirement
- Minimum aggregate: 65% marks in BE/BTech or equivalent.
- Minimum CGPA/CPI: 6.84 out of 10.
- Marks must be calculated as the aggregate or average across the relevant semesters.
- ISRO does not permit candidates to convert a lower CGPA into percentage or a lower percentage into CGPA merely using a university conversion formula.
- There is no relaxation in the prescribed educational marks for SC, ST, OBC or PwBD candidates under this recruitment.
Age limit
The usual upper age limit for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ recruitment is 28 years for unreserved candidates. Age relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates is applicable according to Government of India rules and the detailed advertisement. ISRO’s career information lists 28 years as the upper age limit for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ BE/BTech/MSc-based recruitment.
Salary and Career Growth
Selected candidates will be appointed as Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ in Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix, with a basic pay of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500. In addition to basic pay, selected employees may receive applicable allowances and benefits as per Central Government and Department of Space rules.
ISRO offers structured career progression through its Merit Promotion Scheme. A Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ can advance through higher scientific grades, potentially up to the level of Distinguished Scientist, subject to performance and applicable promotion norms.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Selection Process
The selection process for this recruitment is expected to involve:
- Online application and screening: ISRO will screen applications based on academic performance and other parameters entered in the online application.
- Written test: Shortlisted applicants will be called for a written examination. ISRO will announce the examination date later on its website.
- Interview: Candidates shortlisted based on written-test performance will be called for interview, as per ISRO’s recruitment procedure.
- Document verification and final selection: Candidates must produce original certificates and other required documents when called by ISRO.
ISRO has stated that the written-test date will be notified on its website after norm-based screening of applications. Its general career guidelines also state that Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ appointments based on BE/BTech/MSc recruitment follow a written test plus interview process.
Application Fee
All applicants must initially pay a ₹750 processing fee per application through the online payment facility.
The refund rules are important:
| Candidate Category | Amount Initially Paid | Refund After Appearing in Written Test |
|---|---|---|
| Male General / OBC candidates | ₹750 | ₹500 refunded; ₹250 remains as non-refundable application fee |
| Women candidates | ₹750 | Full ₹750 refunded |
| SC / ST / PwBD candidates | ₹750 | Full ₹750 refunded |
Candidates should note that the refund is linked to appearing in the written test. Payments can be made only online through the Bharatkosh payment facility using options such as Internet Banking, UPI or domestic debit cards. Offline payment is not available.
How to Apply Online
Candidates should use the official ISRO website rather than relying on unofficial application links.
- Visit the ISRO official website.
- Open the Careers or Current Opportunities section.
- Locate Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026.
- Click the View option and then select Click here to apply online.
- Choose the appropriate Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ discipline and post code.
- Enter personal, educational, category and communication details carefully.
- Upload the prescribed documents or photographs if requested by the portal.
- Submit the online application and note the registration number shown on the screen.
- Complete the online fee payment before 16 September 2026.
- Save the completed application and fee-payment details for future use.
ISRO advises applicants to preserve their registration number immediately after successful submission. Although an email may also be sent, candidates should not depend solely on email confirmation.
Important Instructions for Applicants
- Submit the application before 16 September 2026; do not wait until the last day because server delays or payment issues can occur.
- Verify your name, date of birth, marks, category, address, post code and examination-centre choice before final submission.
- ISRO does not provide an edit option after submission. If a correction is required, candidates may submit a fresh application before the deadline; the latest eligible application is generally treated as final.
- No hard copy of the application or documents needs to be sent to ISRO Headquarters after online submission.
- Government, PSU and autonomous-body employees should apply with prior permission from their employer and must produce a No Objection Certificate when required, particularly at the interview stage.
- Candidates must attend the written test to receive the applicable fee refund.
- Keep checking the official ISRO website for written-test dates, admit-card updates, interview information and other announcements.
FAQs
Is GATE required for ISRO Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ Recruitment 2026?
This 175-post recruitment is listed as a Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ recruitment under Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 and follows the BE/BTech-based written-test and interview route. ISRO’s general career page distinguishes this from GATE-score-based Scientist/Engineer recruitment, which involves interview shortlisting through GATE.
Can final-year engineering students apply?
Candidates should check the detailed notification for the cut-off date and degree-completion conditions. In general, applicants should ensure that they possess the required qualification and marks within the conditions specified by ISRO before applying.
Can MCA candidates apply for the Computer Science post?
No. ISRO’s official FAQ specifically says that an MCA qualification alone is not eligible for this Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ recruitment. Eligible candidates need the prescribed BE/BTech or accepted equivalent degree in a notified relevant discipline.
Are part-time BE/BTech candidates eligible?
ISRO’s FAQ says part-time BE/BTech candidates may apply, provided they meet all other notified terms and conditions. However, candidates with engineering degrees obtained through correspondence mode are not eligible.
Which email and phone numbers can candidates use for recruitment queries?
For issues not already covered by the FAQ, candidates can contact ISRO ICRB at rmt-icrb@isro.gov.in or call 080-22172264 / 080-22172260 / 080-22172259 during the notification period and official working hours specified by ISRO.
Eligible engineering graduates should apply only after matching their exact degree branch, aggregate marks, age and category details with the official ISRO notification. This recruitment offers 175 opportunities to join one of India’s most prestigious scientific organisations at the Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ level.