DRDO ARDE Pune Technical & Administrative Consultant Jobs 2026: Posts, Eligibility, Pay & How to Apply
DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune wants to engage 11 Consultants on a short-term contract, and the posts are meant only for retired officials. Ten posts are Technical Consultant roles and one (post code 353) is listed as an Administrative Consultant role. Each post has just 1 vacancy, and the pay level of the retired official ranges from Level-10 to Level-12.
Applications open on 26 October 2026 and close on 15 November 2026. You apply offline, by post or by email, using the form printed in the notification. The notification describes no exam. Read this guide fully, because one wrong post code or a missing document can reject your application. For more jobs like this, keep following GovtJobsAlert.in.
What Are the Key Highlights of DRDO ARDE Pune Recruitment 2026?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | ARDE (DRDO), Ministry of Defence |
| Advertisement No. | ARDE/CONSULTANT/2026/344-354 |
| Posts | Technical Consultant (10) and Administrative Consultant (1) |
| Total Vacancies | 11 |
| Type of Engagement | Contract, for retired officials only |
| Experience Sought | Considerable experience of functioning of Central Government Ministries/Departments |
| PSU Retiree Equivalent of Level-12 | Pay scale Rs 80,000 – Rs 2,20,000 |
| PSU Retiree Equivalent of Level-11 | Pay scale Rs 70,000 – Rs 2,00,000 |
| PSU Retiree Equivalent of Level-10 | Pay scale Rs 60,000 – Rs 1,80,000 |
| Job Location | ARDE, Armament Post, Pune – 411021 |
| Opening Date | 26 October 2026 |
| Last Date | 15 November 2026 |
This is a contract engagement, not a regular government job. A retired official who is engaged continues to draw pension and dearness relief on pension, if eligible. The notification says this engagement is not re-employment.
How Many Vacancies Are There in DRDO ARDE Consultant Recruitment 2026?
Every post code has 1 vacancy. The notification gives no category-wise seat split, so none is shown here. The level below is the pay level at which you retired, and it is an eligibility condition, not the pay you will get.
| Post Code | Category | Level at Retirement |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/ARDE/344 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/345 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/346 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/347 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/348 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/349 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/350 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/351 | Technical | Level-12 |
| 2026/ARDE/352 | Technical | Level-11 |
| 2026/ARDE/353 | Administrative | Level-11 |
| 2026/ARDE/354 | Technical | Level-10 |
Total: 11 posts. Choose the post code that matches the work you really did, because each one has its own Terms of Reference (TOR) in the annexures.
What Work Does Each Consultant Post Involve?
| Post Code | Work Area | Estimated Period |
|---|---|---|
| 344 | Nozzle hardware and thermal protection system for Pinaka rockets | 2 years |
| 345 | Flow-formed rocket motor tube and its lining; Pinaka Mk-I (ADM-I) production support | 2 years |
| 346 | Fin assembly, stabilizer and inert warhead for long-range Pinaka | 2 years |
| 347 | Family of 155 mm Bourrelet Projectiles | 1 year, extendable |
| 348 | Mechanical Engineering with knowledge of CSS developed by ARDE | 1 year, extendable by one more year |
| 349 | Armament discipline, specifically Air Armaments | 1 year, extendable by one more year |
| 350 | Warhead design, QA and inspection planning, ToT documents | 1 year, extendable |
| 351 | Naval Armaments and Anti-Submarine Rockets | 1 year, extendable by one more year |
| 352 | Pod assembly and flight hardware for long-range Pinaka | 2 years |
| 353 | Project management and documents for tank and artillery gun systems | 1 year, extendable |
| 354 | Electronics and Telecommunication with Armament; Telemetry and RF | 2 years |
What Is the Eligibility for DRDO ARDE Consultant Recruitment 2026?
Who Can Apply and What Experience Is Needed
The notification does not prescribe any educational qualification. Eligibility rests on service and experience. Here is what counts.
- You must be a retired official of the Central Government, a State Government, a PSU, an Autonomous Body, a University or a Government R&D organisation.
- You must have practical knowledge and experience in the field of the post you choose, as listed in that post’s TOR.
- You must have retired at the pay level shown for that post code.
- Experience of working in DRDO gets preference during selection.
- You need good oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- For post 348, the TOR asks for a minimum of 25 years of experience in DRDO.
- For post 350, knowledge of the warhead development cycle (design, prototype testing and qualification) is only preferable, not compulsory.
- There must be a gap of 15 days between your retirement and your appointment as consultant. Without it, you are not eligible.
If you want engineering-related roles, also see engineering government jobs and other defence jobs on our site.
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| All categories of retired employees | 63 years as on the closing date (15 November 2026) |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and check whether you are within the age limit. →
The notification names no relaxation for any category, so 63 is a hard ceiling. Count your age on 15 November 2026, not on the day you post the form.
What Is the Salary for DRDO ARDE Consultant Posts 2026?
There is no pay scale here. Your monthly amount depends on how you retired. The pay level in the table below is the level of the position.
| Type of Retiree | Monthly Remuneration |
|---|---|
| Pensioner | Pay drawn at retirement minus basic pension, fixed for the contract |
| Retired under NPS | Last basic pay minus 30% of last basic pay, fixed |
| Non-pensioner | Up to the amount in the table below |
For pensioners and NPS retirees, the amount stays unchanged for the whole term. There is no annual increment or percentage increase.
| Pay Level of Position | Consolidated Remuneration | Conveyance Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Level-12 | Rs 60,000 per month | Rs 5,000 |
| Level-11 | Rs 50,000 per month | Rs 3,000 |
| Level-10 | Rs 40,000 per month | Rs 3,000 |
For pensioners and NPS retirees, conveyance is Rs 3,000 up to Pay Level-11 and Rs 5,000 for Pay Level-12 to 14 and above. The non-pensioner figures are the maximum consolidated amounts. Remuneration plus pension must not be more than your last pay drawn at the current DA rate, and mandatory deductions apply. Payment for a month’s work comes in the next month.
You get no Dearness Allowance, transport facility, residential accommodation, personal staff, CGHS or medical reimbursement. For official travel inside India, you get TA/DA at the rate of the level from which you retired. Paid leave of 1.5 days per completed month may be allowed; carry-over past the calendar year may not.
DRDO ARDE Consultant Selection Process 2026
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Selection method | Not described in the notification |
| Preference | Persons who worked in DRDO get preference |
The notification does not describe any written test, interview or shortlisting method, and it does not say how candidates will be chosen. Do not assume a stage that the notification does not name. Check the official page before and after the last date for any later notice.
How to Apply for DRDO ARDE Consultant Posts 2026 (Offline)
You can send your application by post or by email. Both ways are accepted by the notification.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the notification (link in Essential Links below) and print Appendix-A, the application form |
| 2 | Fill the form in full: name, retirement details, pay level, service record, qualifications and area of research or specialisation |
| 3 | Sign the Terms and Conditions declaration given as Appendix-B and attach it with the form |
| 4 | Attach copies of Identity Proof, Proof of Address, P.P.O., Proofs of Educational Qualification and Service Verification certificate |
| 5 | By post: send it to The Director, ARDE, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Armament Post, Pune – 411021 |
| 6 | By email: send the scanned form and documents to techcoord.arde@gov.in with the subject line “Application for Consultant & Pay Level” |
If you want more than one post, send a separate application for each post code. Applications that are incomplete, ineligible, sent to any other address, or received after the closing date are rejected automatically without any intimation. If any detail is found false or incomplete, even after selection, your candidature can be rejected.
What Are the Important Dates for DRDO ARDE Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | 26 October 2026 |
| Last date of application | 15 November 2026 |
| Age counted as on | 15 November 2026 |
The first page of the notification prints 15 November 2026 as the closing date. Another paragraph says the last date is 21 days from publishing of the advertisement. Treat 15 November as your deadline and send it early, so a one-day difference never hurts you. Post it so that it reaches ARDE by then.
DRDO ARDE Consultant Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All applicants | Not mentioned in the notification |
Terms of the Consultant Contract
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Initial term | One year from the date of contract agreement |
| Review | Secretary DD (R&D) can examine, review or end the consultancy at any time |
| Working hours | Same as the lab; you may be called on holidays or after hours without extra benefits or leave |
| Other work | No private business or professional activity that conflicts with Government interest |
| Rules | You must follow the Contract Agreement, Non-Disclosure Agreement, General Conduct Rules and Information Security Act |
| Safety | The Department is not responsible for loss, accident or injury, including during travel |
Essential Links for DRDO ARDE Consultant Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF for DRDO ARDE Pune Consultant Recruitment 2026 (Advt ARDE/CONSULTANT/2026/344-354)
- Official Notification Page for DRDO ARDE Pune Recruitment 2026 – 11 Consultant Posts for Retired Government Officials (Advt ARDE/CONSULTANT/2026/344-354)
- Visit DRDO ARDE Pune Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you are a retired officer with the right experience and aged 63 or below on the closing date, this contract role is worth your time. Pick your post code with care, keep your PPO and service verification certificate ready, and send your application by 15 November 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more updates, and see more Maharashtra government jobs too.