DRDO CEPTAM Exam 2026

The DRDO CEPTAM 2026 examination is a prestigious national-level recruitment drive conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It aims to induct talented individuals into various technical and non-technical cadres across its labs in India.

• Exam Name: DRDO CEPTAM (Centre for Personnel Talent Management)
• Conducting Body: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Exam Level: National
• Frequency: Periodic (Expected in 2026)
• Mode of Exam: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Language: English and Hindi

While the official notification is expected to be released in early 2026, students should keep track of the following tentative schedule:

• Notification Release: January 2026
• Online Application Start Date: February 2026
• Last Date to Apply: March 2026
• Admit Card Release: April 2026
• DRDO CEPTAM 2026 Tier-I Exam: May 2026
• Tier-I Result Declaration: June 2026
• Tier-II Exam (Skill/Trade Test): August 2026

DRDO CEPTAM is a specialized recruitment process for the Centre for Personnel Talent Management. It serves as the primary gateway for candidates seeking careers as Senior Technical Assistants (STA-B), Technicians (Tech-A), and various Administrative and Allied (A&A) cadre roles within the DRDO ecosystem. The exam ensures that the premier defense research agency of India hires the most competent personnel to support its mission of technological self-reliance.

The full form of CEPTAM is Centre for Personnel Talent Management. It is a corporate body of DRDO responsible for the recruitment of Technical, Administrative, and Allied category staff. It functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

Over the years, the DRDO CEPTAM recruitment has evolved from a paper-based format to a highly secure Computer Based Test (CBT). The competition has intensified, with millions of applicants vying for a few thousand vacancies. The focus has shifted towards testing both technical proficiency and general aptitude, reflecting the modernization of India's defense research infrastructure.

Eligibility criteria for the 2026 exam generally include the following:

• Nationality: Candidate must be a citizen of India.
• Age Limit: Generally between 18 to 28 years. Age relaxations apply for SC/ST/OBC/ESM/PWD candidates as per government rules.
• Educational Qualification: For Technical posts, a Diploma in Engineering or B.Sc. in relevant subjects is required. For Technician posts, Class 10th with ITI certification is mandatory. For A&A posts, Class 10th or 12th pass is required depending on the specific role.

The application process for DRDO CEPTAM 2026 is entirely online. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official DRDO website and navigate to the CEPTAM notice board.
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in the personal, educational, and contact details.
4. Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, and required certificates.
5. Pay the application fee (Exempted for SC/ST/PWD/Women candidates).
6. Submit the form and take a printout for future reference.

The subjects for the DRDO CEPTAM exam vary based on the post, but generally include:

• Quantitative Aptitude: Basic mathematics, arithmetic, and data interpretation.
• General Intelligence & Reasoning: Logical reasoning, analogies, and patterns.
• General Awareness: Current affairs, history, geography, and general science.
• English Language: Basic grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Subject-Specific Knowledge: Engineering subjects, Science subjects, or Trade-related theory.

The syllabus is divided into two main categories:

• Tier-I (Common for most): Includes topics from Quantitative Ability, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness, and General Science.
• Tier-II (Post Specific): For STA-B, it covers the specific engineering or science discipline. For Tech-A, it focuses on the specific trade (e.g., Fitter, Electrician).

Candidates are advised to refer to the NCERT books for general sections and standard diploma/ITI textbooks for technical sections.

The 2026 exam pattern is expected to be as follows:

• Mode: CBT (Objective Type MCQs).
• Number of Questions: 120 questions.
• Duration: 90 to 120 minutes depending on the post.
• Marking Scheme: 1 mark for each correct answer.
• Negative Marking: Usually, there is no negative marking in CEPTAM exams, but candidates should verify this in the 2026 official notification.

The recruitment (admission) process consists of multiple stages:

• Stage 1: Tier-I Computer Based Test (Screening or Selection).
• Stage 2: Tier-II (Trade Test/Skill Test or Descriptive Test depending on the post).
• Stage 3: Document Verification.
• Stage 4: Medical Examination.

Final selection is based on the merit obtained in the CBT and qualifying the skill tests.

As DRDO is a research organization, it does not have "participating universities" in the academic sense. Instead, successful candidates are posted to various DRDO Laboratories and Establishments across India, such as:

• DRL (Tezpur)
• DMRL (Hyderabad)
• ADE (Bengaluru)
• PXE (Chandipur)
• GTRE (Bengaluru)
• ARDE (Pune)

The DRDO CEPTAM 2026 Results will be published on the official DRDO website. Results are usually released in the form of a merit list and a scorecard. Candidates can check their results by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The result will indicate the qualifying status for the next tier of the examination.

Once the results are declared, shortlisted candidates must prepare for the Tier-II Skill/Trade Test. This test is qualifying in nature but mandatory. Following this, candidates will be called for document verification where their original certificates (educational, caste, identity) will be scrutinized before the final offer of appointment is issued.

In the context of DRDO CEPTAM, the "counselling" process refers to the Lab Allocation Process. Candidates are asked for their preferences of posting locations among the available DRDO labs across India. The final allocation is done based on the candidate's rank in the merit list and the availability of vacancies in the preferred lab.

The Cut Off for DRDO CEPTAM 2026 will depend on factors like the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the paper, and the total number of applicants. Generally, the qualifying marks are:

• UR/OBC/EWS: 40%
• SC/ST: 35%

However, the actual selection cut-off is usually much higher due to intense competition.

For queries related to the DRDO CEPTAM 2026 exam, candidates can contact the CEPTAM helpdesk (Note: DRDO typically manages its own exams, but contact remains centralized):

• Address: Director, CEPTAM, DRDO, Metcalfe House, Delhi - 110054.
• Helpline Number: 011-23882323, 23819217
• Email: helpdesk@ceptam11.com (Tentative for 2026)
• Official Website: www.drdo.gov.in