Toc=#(Table of Content)
What is DRDO?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation, commonly known by its acronym DRDO, is India's premier agency responsible for the research, design and development of military technology for the country's armed forces. It functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and works closely with the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force to translate operational requirements into indigenous weapons and equipment.
DRDO's motto, "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" (Sanskrit for "Strength's origin is in science"), reflects its founding philosophy: that India's military strength should rest on indigenous scientific and technological capability rather than dependence on imported systems. Over the decades, this mandate has expanded from basic weapons and equipment design into an enormous and diverse technology base spanning missiles, aeronautics, naval systems, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, life sciences, materials science and, more recently, artificial intelligence, hypersonics and directed-energy weapons.
Today, DRDO operates through a network of more than 50 laboratories and establishments spread across India, employing roughly 30,000 people, including around 5,000 scientists and engineers drawn largely from the Defence Research and Development Service (DRDS), a specialised Group A central government service created specifically for DRDO's scientific cadre.
DRDO Established
DRDO was formed on 1 January 1958 through the amalgamation of three existing bodies:
- The Defence Science Organisation (DSO)
- The Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) of the Indian Army
- The Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP), which handled ordnance factory research
At the time of its creation, DRDO consisted of only ten laboratories. India's early defence research had been fragmented across different wings of the armed forces and the ordnance system, and the merger was intended to create a single, unified body dedicated to military science and technology. Growth was gradual through the 1960s and 1970s, but accelerated sharply from the 1980s onward with the launch of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which gave DRDO its first major national mission and put it at the centre of India's strategic weapons effort.
DRDO Headquarters
DRDO's headquarters is located at DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi. This is where the organisation's top leadership — the Chairman, Secretary, and the Headquarters directorates that coordinate the various technology clusters — is based. From here, DRDO's activity is directed outward to its wide network of laboratories, which are organised into clusters based on the type of technology they work on.
| Technology Cluster | Focus Area | Example Laboratories |
|---|---|---|
| Aeronautics | Fighter aircraft, UAVs, aero-engines | ADA, GTRE, ADRDE |
| Armaments & Combat Engineering | Guns, ammunition, engineering support | ARDE, HEMRL, VRDE |
| Missiles & Strategic Systems | Ballistic and cruise missiles, air defence | DRDL, RCI, ASL |
| Naval Systems & Materials | Sonar, torpedoes, submarine materials | NPOL, NSTL, NMRL |
| Electronics & Communication Systems | Radar, EW, communications | LRDE, DLRL, BEL-linked programmes |
| Life Sciences | Soldier health, high-altitude and NBC protection | DIPAS, DRDE, INMAS |
| Micro-Electronic Devices & Computational Systems | Semiconductors, computing, AI | SAG, DEAL, CAIR |
Organisational Structure
DRDO functions as part of the Department of Defence Research and Development, one of the five departments under the Ministry of Defence. Its administrative and scientific structure is layered as follows:
- Minister of Defence — the political head to whom the department reports.
- Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO — the top-most executive, who is also the government's Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) in some tenures.
- Director Generals (DGs) — each heading one of the technology clusters listed above, overseeing multiple laboratories.
- Directors — heading individual laboratories, responsible for specific programmes and projects.
- Scientists (Scientist B to Scientist H) — the technical workforce carrying out research, design, testing and project execution, forming the Defence Research and Development Service.
DRDO also runs several boards and offices to support its mission, including the Defence Research and Development Council (which allocates funds and sets research priorities), technology transfer offices for licensing DRDO-developed systems to production agencies, and dedicated academic wings such as DIAT (Defence Institute of Advanced Technology) and DIAT-linked doctoral programmes.
DRDO Chairman
The Chairman of DRDO also holds the post of Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, making the position both DRDO's top scientific executive and a senior civil-service appointment. The Chairman is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister, typically for an initial two-year term with the possibility of extensions.
As of September 2026, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, holds additional charge as DRDO Chairman. He took over the additional responsibility from 31 May 2026, after the retirement of the previous Chairman, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, whose tenure — which began in August 2022 and was extended twice — ended on 31 May 2026. Reports through mid-2026 indicated that a Search-cum-Selection Committee had shortlisted senior DRDO scientists for consideration by the ACC for a full-time, regular appointment, but as of the most recent available reports no permanent successor had been confirmed. Readers should check DRDO's official website for the latest confirmed appointment, since this position can change.
| Chairman | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy | August 2018 – August 2022 |
| Dr. Samir V. Kamat | August 2022 – May 2026 |
| Rajesh Kumar Singh (additional charge) | May 2026 – present |
DRDO Major Programmes and Achievements
Since the 1980s, DRDO has been responsible for a wide range of indigenous defence systems that now equip the Indian armed forces. Some of its most notable programmes include:
- Missiles: The Prithvi and Agni series of ballistic missiles, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (developed jointly with Russia), the Akash and Akash-NG air defence systems, the Nag and Helina anti-tank guided missiles, and the Pralay tactical ballistic missile.
- Aircraft: The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, developed through the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), along with its naval variant and the Tejas Mk1A/Mk2 upgrades; DRDO is also a lead partner in the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
- Armoured vehicles: The Arjun main battle tank and the Zorawar light tank being developed for high-altitude terrain.
- Artillery: The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, both of which have also become export products.
- Anti-drone and directed-energy systems: The D4 anti-drone shield (produced with BEL), the Bhargavastra counter-swarm system, and laser-based directed-energy weapons under development for point and area defence.
- Strategic systems: Nuclear-capable delivery systems, hypersonic technology demonstrators, and India's ballistic missile defence (BMD) shield.
How To Join DRDO
DRDO recruits people across a wide spectrum of qualifications, from Class X/ITI pass-outs to postgraduate scientists, and job seekers commonly enter through one of the following broad routes:
- Scientist entry (Group A, Gazetted): For B.E./B.Tech, M.Sc, M.Tech and equivalent degree holders who wish to join the Defence Research and Development Service as Scientist 'B', DRDO's entry-level scientific grade.
- Technical and administrative staff entry: For diploma holders, ITI pass-outs and graduates seeking roles such as Senior Technical Assistant, Technician and administrative/allied cadre posts.
- Apprenticeship: Graduate, diploma and ITI apprentices are taken on for fixed-term training at individual DRDO laboratories, often through the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).
- Research fellowships: Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Senior Research Fellow (SRF) positions are offered to postgraduate and doctoral candidates working on specific DRDO-funded research projects, usually for a fixed tenure.
- Lateral/direct recruitment: Experienced professionals and senior scientists from academia, industry or other government departments are occasionally recruited directly into mid or senior scientific grades based on specific project needs.
DRDO Recruitment Process
DRDO does not run a single centralised exam for all posts. Instead, recruitment is handled by different bodies depending on the level and nature of the post:
| Recruiting Body | Posts Covered | Eligibility (typical) | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC) | Scientist 'B' (Group A, Gazetted) | First-class B.E./B.Tech or equivalent degree; age limit around 28 years, with relaxations for reserved categories | Valid GATE score or RAC's own Centralised Online Test, followed by a personal interview; postgraduate specialists in some disciplines may be shortlisted directly for interview |
| Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM) | Senior Technical Assistant (STA-B), Technician 'A', and other technical/administrative cadre posts | Diploma, ITI or graduate qualification depending on the post | Tier-I online screening test, Tier-II skill/descriptive test, and document verification |
| Individual DRDO laboratories | Graduate, diploma and ITI apprentices | Recently completed relevant degree/diploma/ITI course | Merit-based shortlisting via NATS/NAPS portals, sometimes with an interview |
| DRDO project offices | JRF/SRF research fellows | Postgraduate degree (M.Sc/M.Tech) with a minimum aggregate, often supported by a valid national fellowship-linked exam score | Written test and/or interview conducted by the individual laboratory |
The most sought-after and widely tracked route is Scientist 'B' recruitment through RAC, since it offers a permanent, pensionable Group A government scientific career. The typical process runs as follows:
- Notification: RAC releases a notification specifying the number of vacancies by engineering/science discipline and the participating organisations, which can include DRDO, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Department of Space and Technology (DST)-linked bodies.
- Application and shortlisting: Candidates apply online through the RAC portal. Shortlisting is generally based on a valid GATE score (usually from the current and preceding two years) in the relevant discipline; candidates from IITs/NITs with a sufficiently high aggregate may in some cycles be shortlisted without a GATE score.
- Written test (where applicable): For disciplines without a GATE paper, or where RAC chooses to run its own screening, candidates sit a descriptive written examination covering core engineering/science subjects.
- Personal interview: Shortlisted candidates — often called in a ratio of roughly one interview slot for every 20–25 vacancies — appear before a selection board, usually at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Pune.
- Final merit list and allocation: Selected candidates are ranked on a combined score of the written/GATE component and the interview, and allocated to specific DRDO laboratories based on preference and vacancy.
- Document verification and joining: Successful candidates undergo medical examination and document verification before being issued a formal offer of appointment as Scientist 'B'.
DRDO Salary Structure
DRDO pay follows the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) matrix, with scientists progressing through a defined grade structure from entry level up to the organisation's most senior scientific posts.
| Grade | Pay Level (7th CPC) | Approx. Starting Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist 'B' (entry level) | Level 10 | ₹56,100 per month |
| Scientist 'C' | Level 11 | ₹67,700 per month |
| Scientist 'D' | Level 12 | ₹78,800 per month |
| Scientist 'E' / 'F' | Level 13 / 13A | ₹1,18,500 – ₹1,31,100 per month |
| Scientist 'G' (Outstanding Scientist) | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 per month |
| Scientist 'H' (Distinguished Scientist / DG) | Level 15–16 | ₹1,82,200 and above |
| Senior Technical Assistant 'B' (CEPTAM cadre) | Level 7 | ₹44,900 per month |
| Technician 'A' (CEPTAM cadre) | Level 2 | ₹19,900 per month |
On top of basic pay, DRDO employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA, which varies by city classification), Transport Allowance, and other central-government perks such as medical benefits, leave travel concession and pension/NPS coverage. Including these allowances, a newly joined Scientist 'B' posted in a metro city typically draws a gross in-hand salary in the range of roughly ₹80,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month.
Defence Research and Development Organisation FAQs
What is the work of DRDO?
DRDO researches, designs and develops military technology for the Indian armed forces, covering missiles, aircraft, tanks, artillery, naval systems, radar and electronic warfare equipment, soldier support systems, and emerging areas such as counter-drone systems, hypersonics and artificial intelligence. It also advises the Ministry of Defence on the scientific aspects of military equipment and transfers its technologies to defence public sector undertakings and private industry for large-scale production.
Who is eligible for a DRDO job?
Eligibility depends on the post: Scientist 'B' positions require a first-class B.E./B.Tech, M.Sc or M.Tech degree in a relevant discipline along with a valid GATE score (or clearing RAC's own written test), usually within an upper age limit of around 28 years, with relaxations for reserved categories; technical cadre posts through CEPTAM typically require a diploma, ITI certificate or graduate degree depending on the role; and apprenticeship and fellowship positions have their own qualification and age criteria set by the recruiting laboratory.
Who is DRDO's chairman now?
As of September 2026, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh holds additional charge as DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, following the retirement of Dr. Samir V. Kamat on 31 May 2026. A regular, full-time Chairman had not been confirmed as of the latest available reports, so this should be verified against DRDO's official website for the most current status.
What is the DRDO salary?
An entry-level Scientist 'B' starts at a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month under Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC, which, together with DA, HRA and other allowances, typically translates to a gross in-hand salary of around ₹80,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month in metro postings. Pay rises through the scientific grades up to Scientist 'H' (Distinguished Scientist), which is placed at Pay Level 15–16. Technical cadre staff recruited through CEPTAM are paid on a separate, lower scale starting from Pay Level 2 for Technician-grade posts up to Pay Level 7 for Senior Technical Assistants.
