DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026 — Apply Online for 42 Apprentice Posts at Visakhapatnam
DRDO Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam has released the DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026 notification for 42 apprentice posts under the Apprentice Act 1961. This is a great chance for fresh B.E./B.Tech, Diploma and ITI candidates to start their career in a premier defence research lab. Don’t worry if you are not from a top college — selection is purely on academic merit, and the stipend is paid as per Government of India norms via DBT to your Aadhaar-linked bank account.
The online application window is open from 04 May 2026 to 25 May 2026. If you are a 2023, 2024 or 2025 pass-out and looking for DRDO and other defence sector government jobs, this NSTL apprenticeship is one of the best entry-level openings in the defence research space this year. In this article on GovtJobsAlert.in, we cover the full vacancy breakdown, eligibility, stipend, important dates, and step-by-step application process so you can apply confidently.
Key Highlights — DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026
NSTL is a premier defence laboratory of DRDO under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, working on underwater weapons and naval systems. Every year NSTL engages apprentices for one-year on-the-job training under the Apprentice Act 1961. The 2026 cycle covers Graduate (B.E./B.Tech), Technician (Diploma) and Technician Vocational (ITI) categories. This is a pure training engagement — there is no obligation of employment after training, but the experience and DRDO certificate carry strong weight in future PSU and defence interviews.
- Recruiting Body: Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), DRDO, Ministry of Defence
- Post Names: Graduate Apprentice, Technician Apprentice, Technician (Vocational) Apprentice
- Total Vacancies: 42
- Stipend: As per Government of India norms (paid via DBT)
- Training Duration: 12 months (One Year)
- Job / Training Location: NSTL, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Last Date to Apply: 25 May 2026
DRDO NSTL Apprentice Vacancy 2026 — Category-Wise Breakdown
The 42 vacancies are split across three educational levels — Graduate (B.E./B.Tech), Diploma and ITI. The breakdown is given in the official notification PDF and is reproduced below for quick reading. Engineering graduate-level government jobs like this NSTL drive are extremely useful for fresh B.Tech students who want a real defence-sector exposure.
| Apprentice Category | Qualification | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | B.E. / B.Tech | 10 |
| Technician Apprentice | Diploma | 10 |
| Technician (Vocational) Apprentice | ITI | 22 |
| Total | — | 42 |
The vacancy split inside each category (across disciplines and trades) is at NSTL discretion based on applications received. The exact disciplines covered are listed below.
Graduate Apprentice — Eligible B.E. / B.Tech Branches
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
- Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE)
Technician Apprentice — Eligible Diploma Branches
- Computer Science Engineering
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electronics & Instrumentation
- DCCP (Diploma in Commercial & Computer Practice)
Technician (Vocational) Apprentice — Eligible ITI Trades
- Photographer / Digital Photographer
- Electrician
- Electronics
- Fitter
- Diesel / Motor Mechanic
- Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA)
- Stenographer and Secretarial Assistant
DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is decided on three main parameters — qualifying degree/diploma/ITI, year of passing and age. Carefully cross-check each point below before starting your application, because NSTL strictly verifies originals at joining.
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Apprentice: B.E. or B.Tech in Mechanical, Computer Science, ECE or EEE from a recognised Indian institution.
- Technician Apprentice: Diploma in Computer Science, EEE, Mechanical, Electronics & Instrumentation or DCCP from a recognised Indian institution. See more openings for diploma government jobs on GovtJobsAlert.in.
- Technician (Vocational) Apprentice: ITI in any of the listed trades from an institution recognised by the appropriate statutory authority. Browse full ITI government job notifications for more options.
- Year of Passing: Must have passed in 2023, 2024 or 2025 only. Older passouts and pending results are NOT eligible.
- Experience: Candidates with more than one year of work experience are NOT eligible.
- Other: Post Graduate (PG) qualified candidates and those who have already done OR are currently doing apprenticeship anywhere are NOT eligible.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 18 years (as on the closing date of application).
- Maximum Age: Not separately specified in the notification.
- Reservation: SC / ST / OBC reservation as per Apprentices Act 1961, Apprenticeship Rules 1992 & Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules 2019.
What is the Stipend for DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026?
The stipend at NSTL is paid strictly as per Government of India norms for apprentices and is credited every month directly into the candidate’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Apprentices are paid different rates based on their qualification level — Graduate, Technician (Diploma) or Technician Vocational (ITI). The exact monthly figure is decided by the latest NATS / NAPS notification of the Government and may be revised from time to time.
- Graduate Apprentice — as per Govt. norms (NATS rate for Graduate Apprentices)
- Technician Apprentice (Diploma) — as per Govt. norms (NATS rate for Technician Apprentices)
- Technician (Vocational) Apprentice (ITI) — as per Govt. norms (NAPS rate for Trade Apprentices)
Stipend is not a salary. It is a training allowance under the Apprentice Act and continues for the 12-month training period only. NSTL does NOT provide hostel, transport or TA/DA during training or selection.
Beyond the stipend, the real value here is the DRDO NSTL training certificate plus hands-on exposure on actual underwater systems and naval research projects. That experience is gold during PSU and defence interviews later.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026?
NSTL follows a transparent merit-based selection. There is no all-India common test — short-listing happens at the lab level based on academic marks, and a written test or interview is conducted only if NSTL feels it is required for a category. You can also brush up basics from free syllabus and exam preparation pages for general trade and engineering subjects.
- Short-listing on the basis of Academic Merit (qualifying-exam percentage / CGPA converted to %).
- Written Test — only if required, decided category-wise by NSTL.
- Interview — only if required, decided category-wise by NSTL.
- Document Verification — originals + self-attested copies.
- Medical Fitness Verification — fitness certificate issued by a Civil Assistant Surgeon or equivalent.
- Police Verification — selected candidates must produce a valid Police Verification Certificate at joining.
No TA/DA is paid by NSTL for any stage of the selection process. Shortlisted candidates are intimated only via the email ID provided in the application form.
How to Apply Online for DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026?
Application is a two-step process — first register on the Government apprenticeship portal, then email the signed Annexure-A application to NSTL. Both steps must be completed before the closing date.
- Confirm your eligibility — qualification, year of passing (2023 / 2024 / 2025), age 18+, no prior apprenticeship, work experience under one year.
- Register on the right portal — NATS 2.0 for B.E./B.Tech and Diploma, Apprenticeship India (NAPS) for ITI.
- Apply against the NSTL Visakhapatnam advertisement on the registered portal.
- Fill the prescribed application proforma (Annexure-A) of the notification with all correct details and convert CGPA to percentage as per university norms.
- Email the scanned signed Annexure-A application along with all mandatory document copies to admin2.dept.nstl@gov.in before the closing date.
- Carry a signed printout of Annexure-A plus originals of all certificates at the time of joining at NSTL, Visakhapatnam.
Documents typically required at joining: 10th marksheet, B.E./B.Tech / Diploma / ITI marksheets and certificate, caste / EWS / PwBD certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar, bank passbook, photo ID, medical fitness certificate and two passport-size photographs.
Important Dates — DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026
Mark these dates on your calendar and apply early to avoid last-minute portal load. The closing date is strict, so do not wait till the last 24 hours.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 04 May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 04 May 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 25 May 2026 |
| Training Duration | 12 Months from joining |
Application Fee — DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026
The DRDO NSTL apprenticeship 2026 notification does NOT charge any application fee. Candidates from all categories — General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD and Female — can apply free of cost.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories (Gen / OBC / SC / ST / EWS / PwBD / Female) | NIL |
There is no fee at the portal registration stage either. Be careful of any third-party site asking you to pay a fee for “DRDO apprentice form filling” — those are not affiliated with NSTL.
Essential Links — DRDO NSTL Apprenticeship 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online — NATS 2.0 Portal (Graduate / Diploma)
- Apply Online — Apprenticeship India (ITI Trades)
- DRDO NSTL Official Advertisement Page
- Visit DRDO Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Andhra Pradesh Telegram Channel
If you missed this one, keep checking Andhra Pradesh government jobs and the latest defence sector recruitment notifications on GovtJobsAlert.in. The DRDO NSTL apprenticeship is one of the cleanest, fee-free entry routes into a premier defence lab — apply before 25 May 2026 with all your documents ready, and start your career on a strong note.