DRDO PXE Chandipur Apprenticeship 2026: 50 B.Tech & Diploma Seats With Monthly Stipend
Good news for fresh engineers! The Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has announced 50 apprentice seats for a one-year Apprenticeship Training programme. There are 15 Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech) seats and 35 Technician Apprentice (Diploma) seats across 12 branches. The stipend is ₹12,300 per month for graduates and ₹10,900 per month for diploma holders. PXE is a defence establishment engaged in dynamic test and evaluation of armament systems.
This is not a one-click online form. You must register on the NATS portal first, then send a typed paper application by Speed Post or Registered Post. It must reach PXE by 12 October 2026. It suits B.Tech and diploma holders who passed between 2022 and 2026. Below we cover seats, eligibility, the conditions that can get you rejected and each application step. Read carefully, and trust GovtJobsAlert.in for timely updates.
What are the Key Highlights of DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
PXE Chandipur, in Balasore district of Odisha, works under the Ministry of Defence. This advertisement (Advt. No. PXE/HRD/AT/01/2026-27) engages apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), DRDO |
| Advertisement No. | PXE/HRD/AT/01/2026-27 |
| Categories | Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech), Technician Apprentice (Diploma) |
| Total Seats | 50 (Graduate 15 + Technician 35) |
| Stipend | ₹12,300 (Graduate) / ₹10,900 (Technician) per month |
| Training Period | One year |
| Location | PXE, Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha |
| Application Mode | NATS registration, then typed form by Speed Post / Regd. Post |
| Last Date (receipt at PXE) | 12 October 2026 |
How Many Vacancies are in DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026? Branch-wise Seats
Seats are fixed branch by branch, so find your own branch in this table before you apply. Diploma Civil has the most seats (10), while Diploma Chemical has just one.
| Apprentice Category | Discipline / Branch | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate (B.Tech) | Electronics & Communication | 4 |
| Graduate (B.Tech) | Mechanical | 4 |
| Graduate (B.Tech) | Computer Science & Engg. | 5 |
| Graduate (B.Tech) | Chemical | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Civil | 10 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Computer Science | 5 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Electronics & Communication | 5 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Mechanical | 8 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Chemical | 1 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Electrical | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Cinematography | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Automobile | 2 |
| Total | All branches | 50 |
The advertisement gives no category-wise split of these seats. Reservation will be applied as per the Apprenticeship Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules 1992. PXE also reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats, so treat these figures as the current position.
What is the Eligibility for DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | B.Tech in the same engineering branch as the seat |
| Technician Apprentice | Diploma in the same engineering branch as the seat |
| Year of passing | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 only |
| Mode of study | Regular mode only |
| NATS registration | Mandatory, with a valid Enrollment No. |
Your degree or diploma branch must match the branch you apply for. A Civil diploma holder, for example, can only take a Civil seat.
Conditions That Can Cost You the Seat
Many candidates skip these lines. Each one can end your application, so read them slowly.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| NATS registration | Applications from non-registered candidates or with an invalid Enrollment No. will be rejected |
| Post-graduates | Candidates with post-graduation degrees will not be considered for selection and need not apply |
| Experience | Training or job experience of one year or more after your qualification means you will not be considered |
| Passing year | Only 2022 to 2026 pass-outs are eligible |
| Handwritten form | Handwritten or incomplete application forms will be rejected |
| Suppression of facts | Leads to disqualification at any stage, even after selection |
| False information | Training shall be liable to be terminated or cancelled, before or after joining |
| Canvassing | Any canvassing or personal follow-up leads to immediate cancellation of candidature |
| Reserved category | SC, ST, OBC, PWD and EWS candidates must produce caste certificates from the competent authority at document verification |
The advertisement does not print an age limit. Your date of birth still goes on the form, so fill it exactly as it appears on your certificates.
What is the Stipend (Salary) for DRDO PXE Apprentice 2026?
This is a training seat, so you receive a fixed monthly stipend, not a pay scale.
| Apprentice Category | Stipend per Month |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech) | ₹12,300 |
| Technician Apprentice (Diploma) | ₹10,900 |
Please plan your budget honestly. PXE will not provide accommodation or transport during the training period. There is no TA/DA for joining or for attending the interview. If you live far from Chandipur, work out rent and daily travel before you accept. Also remember that the offer of training does not give any right to employment in PXE or DRDO.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO PXE Apprentice 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting | Selection Board shortlists by percentage of marks in the essential qualification |
| Written test / Interview | Shortlisted candidates are called to PXE, Chandipur |
| Joining letter | Selected candidates get the joining letter by e-mail only |
| Document verification | Caste certificates checked for reserved categories |
| Contract | Selected candidates sign a contract for one-year training |
Shortlisting is purely on your marks, so your percentage is what matters first. If your marksheet shows only CGPA without a conversion formula, calculate it as CGPA × 9.5, as the notification instructs. PXE also reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the advertisement or selection process. For practice material, browse our previous year question papers.
How to Apply for DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
This is a two-part process: online registration first, then an offline typed form by post. Both parts are compulsory.
- Register first on the NATS portal (link in Essential Links below) and note your NATS Enrollment No. — the paper form is rejected without a valid one.
- Download the application form from the DRDO official website (link in Essential Links below).
- Type the form. Enter your NATS Enrollment No., Aadhar No., branch, category, e-mail ID and marks exactly. Handwritten forms will be rejected.
- Paste a recent passport-size photograph, then sign and date the declaration.
- Attach your mark sheets of the essential qualification and your reservation certificate (if any).
- On the envelope, write “Application for Engagement of Apprentices, Apprentice Category (Degree/Diploma) and Discipline/Branch” with your own category and branch.
- Send it 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).
- Make sure it reaches PXE by 12 October 2026 and keep your postal receipt.
Before sealing the envelope, keep a photocopy of the whole form and every enclosure for your own record. Use an e-mail ID you check daily. All correspondence, including the offer letter, comes by e-mail only. PXE is not responsible for e-mails lost through a wrong ID or delivered to your spam folder.
What are the Important Dates for DRDO PXE Apprentice 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application start date | Not mentioned in the notification |
| Last date for receipt of application at PXE | 12 October 2026 |
| Written test / Interview | To be informed to shortlisted candidates |
The deadline is for receipt, not posting.
Is There Any Application Fee for DRDO PXE Apprentice 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates | Not mentioned in the notification |
The advertisement does not mention any application fee or payment mode.
DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Register Online for DRDO PXE Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Visit DRDO Official Website (Download Application Form)
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you passed B.Tech or a diploma between 2022 and 2026 in a branch listed for your course, this DRDO apprenticeship is well worth applying for. Register on NATS today, type your form carefully, and post it early so it reaches Chandipur before 12 October 2026. Keep checking GovtJobsAlert.in for updates and more government jobs in Odisha.