DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 52 Vacancies, Apply Offline Before 12 October

The DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is officially open, and it’s a great opportunity for engineering graduates and diploma holders looking to gain hands-on experience with a premier defence research establishment. The Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur — a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — has released Advertisement No. PXE/HRD/AT/01/2026-27 for 52 Apprentice posts across Graduate (B.Tech) and Technician (Diploma) categories. If you’re a fresher who has passed out between 2022 and 2026, this one-year training programme could be your entry point into serious defence engineering work. Applications must be sent offline, and the window closes soon — here’s everything you need to know before you post your form.

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DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview

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Important Dates

⚠️ Since this is an offline, postal application, don’t wait until the last week. Speed Post and Registered Post can take several days to reach Chandipur, and an application that arrives even one day late is liable to be rejected.

DRDO PXE Apprentice Vacancy Details 2026

A total of 52 posts are on offer, split between Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech) and Technician Apprentice (Diploma) categories, across ten engineering disciplines.

With 12 Technician Apprentice seats, Civil is the single largest bucket this year, followed by Mechanical Diploma with 08 posts — good news if your background is in either of these branches.

DRDO PXE Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

• Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech): A B.Tech degree in Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, Computer Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• Technician Apprentice (Diploma): A Diploma in Civil, Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Cinematography, or Automobile Engineering.

Only candidates who completed their qualification through regular mode are eligible — distance or correspondence courses won’t be considered.

Year of Passing and Other Conditions

✅ You must have passed your qualifying course in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026.

✅ Candidates holding a post-graduate degree are not eligible and need not apply.

✅ If you already have one year or more of training or job experience after your qualification, you won’t be considered.

✅ You must register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal (nats.education.gov.in) — applications without a valid NATS enrolment number will be rejected outright.

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There’s no separate age limit specified in this notification, but reservation benefits under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 apply as usual — SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/EWS candidates will need to produce their caste or category certificates at the time of document verification.

DRDO PXE Apprentice Application Fee 2026

Here’s some good news — there’s no cost barrier to apply.

DRDO PXE Apprentice Stipend and Training 2026

This is one of the details every applicant checks first, so here it is upfront: Graduate Apprentices will draw ₹12,300 per month, while Technician Apprentices (Diploma) will get ₹10,900 per month, for the full one-year training period at PXE, Chandipur. Keep in mind this apprenticeship does not come with accommodation or transport, and no TA/DA will be paid for joining or attending the interview — so factor that into your planning if you’re relocating to Odisha for the training.

DRDO PXE Apprentice Selection Process 2026

1. Shortlisting — Based on the percentage of marks secured in your essential qualification (B.Tech or Diploma).
2. Written Test / Interview — Shortlisted candidates will be called to PXE, Chandipur for a written test or interview.
3. Offer Letter — Selected candidates receive their joining letter by email only, which they’ll need to download and print themselves.

How to Apply for DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Unlike most recent DRDO apprentice drives, this one is offline only — there’s no online portal submission for the application form itself (though NATS registration is still mandatory).

1. Download the application form from www.drdo.gov.in.
2. Fill it up by typing only — handwritten forms will be rejected.
3. Affix a recent passport-size photograph and sign the form.
4. Attach self-attested mark sheets of your qualifying exam and category certificate, if applicable.
5. On the envelope, clearly write: “Application for Engagement of Apprentices, Apprentice Category (Degree/Diploma) and Discipline/Branch…….”
6. Send the completed form by Speed Post or Registered Post only to: The Director, Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Defence R&D Organisation, PO-Chandipur, Dist-Balasore, Odisha-756025 (Kind Attn. OIC, HRDC).
7. Make sure it reaches the office on or before 12 October 2026.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep a photocopy of your complete application — including the envelope with the postal tracking number — before you post it. It’ll save you a headache if there’s ever a dispute about delivery.

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DRDO PXE Apprentice Terms & Conditions 2026

A few conditions worth knowing before you commit:

• The apprenticeship does not guarantee employment at PXE or anywhere else in DRDO after completion.
• Suppression of facts at any stage can lead to disqualification, even after joining.
• PXE reserves the right to increase, decrease, or cancel the vacancies and the selection process at its discretion.
• Any attempt to influence the selection process through personal canvassing will lead to immediate cancellation of candidature.

Important Links

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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Word on DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026

If you’ve recently finished your B.Tech or Diploma and want real, hands-on exposure to armament testing and evaluation, the DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is a solid opportunity to build your resume with a name like DRDO attached to it. With 52 posts on offer and no application fee, there’s little reason to sit this one out if you meet the eligibility criteria. Just remember — this is a postal application, so get your form typed, signed, and in the mail well before 12 October 2026. Bookmark Govtserviceinfo.com for updates on the written test schedule, shortlist, and future DRDO apprentice notifications, and join our Sarkari Naukri alerts so you never miss a last date again.

Disclaimer: All information in this article has been sourced from the official recruitment notification published by the Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), DRDO. GovtServiceInfo.com is not a recruiting authority and does not accept job applications. We strongly recommend reading the full official notification before applying and verifying all details — especially dates, eligibility, and fees — directly from the official website. We are not responsible for any changes made by the recruiting authority after the date of publication.