DRDO HEMRL Pune Apprentice Training 2026-27: Vacancies, Stipend, Eligibility and Offline Application Guide
Here is a wonderful chance to start your career inside one of India’s top defence research labs. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune — a premier laboratory of DRDO under the Ministry of Defence — has released Advertisement No. HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01 for 50 Graduate Apprentice vacancies. This DRDO Apprentice Recruitment 2026 drive is open to freshers from engineering, science, arts, commerce, library science and management streams. Every selected apprentice gets a stipend of ₹15,000 per month for a one-year training programme. If you are hunting for defence sector government jobs, read on carefully.
Applications must reach HEMRL, Pune by 28 August 2026, so there is very little time — do not keep it for the last day. One important point to note: this is an offline application. You first register on the NATS 2.0 portal, then post your filled form to the laboratory. In this article we have explained the vacancy breakdown, qualification, age rule, stipend, selection process and the complete step-by-step application method in very simple language. Keep GovtJobsAlert.in open while you fill your form so you do not miss a single detail.
What are the Key Highlights of DRDO HEMRL Pune Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) is one of the premier R&D establishments set up under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, located at Sutarwadi, Pune. The laboratory engages apprentices every year under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992. This one-year training gives you real exposure to defence research work — something you simply cannot learn from books. It is a strong opening for anyone searching for government jobs after graduation.
- Post Name: Graduate Apprentice (BE/B.Tech and General Stream)
- Total Vacancies: 50 posts
- Stipend: ₹15,000 per month
- Training Duration: One year from the date of signing the apprenticeship contract
- Job Location: Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra
- Application Mode: Offline (by post) after NATS 2.0 registration
- Last Date to Apply: 28 August 2026
How Many Vacancies are There in DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026? Discipline-Wise 50 Posts
All 50 vacancies fall under a single apprentice category — Graduate Apprentice — spread across 12 disciplines. Choose the row that matches your degree, because you can apply only against your own subject or branch.
| Discipline / Stream | Qualification | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering / Chemical Technology | B.E. / B.Tech. | 10 |
| Mechanical Engineering | B.E. / B.Tech. | 8 |
| Aerospace / Aeronautical Engineering | B.E. / B.Tech. | 2 |
| Computer & Information Science | B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Sc. | 5 |
| Electrical / Electrical & Instrumentation Engineering | B.E. / B.Tech. | 2 |
| Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering | B.E. / B.Tech. | 3 |
| Civil Engineering | B.E. / B.Tech. | 2 |
| Chemistry | B.Sc. | 9 |
| Arts | B.A. | 3 |
| Commerce | B.Com. | 3 |
| Library Science | BLIS | 2 |
| Business Administration | BBA | 1 |
| Total Vacancies | — | 50 |
Category-wise seat allocation for General, SC, ST and OBC candidates will be done as per the prevailing rules. The notification does not print a category-wise seat table, so do not go by any number you see elsewhere.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
What is the Educational Qualification for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
You must hold the degree shown against your discipline in the vacancy table above, from a recognised Board or University. The accepted degrees are:
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering or Chemical Technology
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Computer & Information Science or Computer Engineering, or B.Sc. in Computer Science
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Electrical, or Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
- B.E. / B.Tech. in Civil Engineering
- B.Sc. in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)
- BLIS (Library Science)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Only the branches listed above are eligible — browse more engineering government job notifications if your branch is not covered.
What is the Age Limit for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
| Age Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | As per Apprentices Act, 1961 and NATS 2.0 guidelines |
| Age Relaxation | As per Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992 |
🎂 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 instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
HEMRL has not printed any fixed maximum age — it simply follows the Apprentices Act and NATS 2.0 rules, so do not assume a number on your own.
Who Cannot Apply for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Read these conditions carefully — most rejections happen here:
- Only candidates who passed the qualifying examination in the last five years (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026) are eligible
- If you appeared in the exam but your result is not declared by the last date, you are not eligible
- Candidates holding a higher qualification than the one asked for are not eligible
- Only those who completed the qualifying exam as regular candidates can apply
- Anyone who has already done apprenticeship training, is currently doing one, or has one year or more of job experience after getting the essential qualification is not eligible
- PwBD candidates are eligible only for the designated trades as per Apprenticeship Rules, 1992
- Only Indian nationals can apply
What is the Salary and Stipend for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
The notification fixes a single stipend figure for every discipline — there is no separate rate for engineering, science or commerce candidates.
- Monthly Stipend: ₹15,000 per month
- Payment Mode: DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) into your Aadhaar-seeded bank account
- Training Period: One year from the date the apprenticeship contract is executed
Whether you join with a B.E./B.Tech., B.Sc., B.A., B.Com., BLIS or BBA degree, you will receive the same ₹15,000 per month stipend throughout the one-year training.
Two honest warnings. No TA/DA, accommodation, transport or medical facility is given at any stage of selection or during training. And no employment — permanent, temporary or contractual — is offered at HEMRL or DRDO after the apprenticeship ends. Treat this as high-quality defence-lab training and experience, not as a back door to a permanent job.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
There is no fixed all-India exam here. HEMRL shortlists candidates depending on the vacancies available in each discipline.
Stage 1: Shortlisting on Academic Merit, Written Test or Interview
Depending on the vacancies in various categories and disciplines, candidates are shortlisted on the basis of academic merit, a written test, an interview, a walk-in interview, or a combination of these. HEMRL has kept the right to adopt its own short-listing method and is not obliged to shortlist every eligible candidate — so your marks percentage really matters. If a written test is called, general preparation tips on our exam preparation strategy page will help you get ready quickly.
Stage 2: Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates must carry originals plus one set of self-attested photocopies: the ink-signed application printout, signed NATS 2.0 profile copy, mark sheets and certificates from 10th standard up to your qualifying degree, photo ID with address proof, two passport-size colour photographs, and SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), PwBD or EWS certificates if applicable.
Stage 3: Final Selection and Joining
Selected candidates are informed by email with joining instructions; candidates who are not selected should not write in, as no correspondence is entertained. Selection becomes final only after the competent authority approves the apprenticeship contract online. Canvassing in any form leads to disqualification.
How to Apply for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Offline?
Read this part slowly — it is a two-step process: online registration first, then an offline postal application. Only the NATS 2.0 registration happens online; there is no apply online link for the form itself, as only offline applications are accepted. Keep your NATS enrolment number, mark sheets, certificates and passport-size photographs ready before you begin.
- Register yourself on the NATS 2.0 portal and note down your NATS Enrolment Number (registration link is given in the Essential Links section below).
- Download the application form and the official notification PDF from the DRDO vacancies page — the direct link is available in the Essential Links section below.
- Fill the form in capital letters with your name, apprenticeship category (Graduate), subject or branch, NATS enrolment number, category, date of birth and complete address.
- Enter your qualifying exam marks in percentage. If your university gives CGPA and no conversion formula is printed on the mark sheet, calculate it as percentage = CGPA × 9.5.
- Affix a recent passport-size colour photograph on the form and sign it in ink.
- Attach self-attested copies of your certificates and mark sheets from 10th standard up to your qualifying degree, along with ID proof and category certificate if applicable.
- Send the completed application by post so that it reaches The Director, HEMRL, Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021 (Kind Attention: HRD, HEMRL, Pune) on or before 28 August 2026.
- Keep a photocopy of the signed application with you — you will need to carry the ink-signed printout to document verification.
Incomplete or wrong applications, and those received after the last date, are rejected outright with no further communication. Postal delays are your own risk, so post the envelope at least a week in advance.
What are the Important Dates for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Receipt of Application at HEMRL, Pune | 28 August 2026 (28/08/2026) |
| NATS 2.0 Registration | Must be completed before posting the form |
| Apprenticeship Training Period | One year from the date of contract |
The notification does not announce any separate date for a written test, interview or result. HEMRL will contact shortlisted candidates directly by email, so keep the email address you write on the form active.
What is the Application Fee for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026?
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC / EWS | Not mentioned in the notification |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Not mentioned in the notification |
| Female Candidates | Not mentioned in the notification |
HEMRL has not mentioned any application fee anywhere in this notification. As applications are accepted only by post, there is no online payment step in the process. Never pay money to any agent or website promising you a seat in this apprenticeship.
Essential Links for DRDO HEMRL Pune Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Notification PDF
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Register on NATS 2.0 Portal for DRDO HEMRL Apprentice 2026
- Download DRDO Apprentice Application Form (Vacancies Page)
- Visit DRDO Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
Fifty seats, twelve different degrees, a ₹15,000 monthly stipend and a full year inside a DRDO laboratory — for a fresh graduate, that is a very strong start. If you passed between 2022 and 2026 and your branch is on the list, fill the form today and post it well before 28 August 2026; a late envelope means a lost chance. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more sarkari naukri alerts, government jobs in Pune and fresh Maharashtra government job updates every day.