DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026 Notification: 41 Apprenticeship Seats at Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi
The Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), a DRDO laboratory under the Ministry of Defence, has released its 2026 apprenticeship notification for 41 apprenticeship seats across three categories — ITI Apprentice, Diploma Apprentice and Graduate Apprentice. Training at a frontline defence research laboratory in Delhi is a genuinely valuable first line on any résumé, especially for students from electronics, computer science and mechanical backgrounds. To be eligible you need a First Division in one of the listed trades or disciplines, passed as a regular candidate between 2022 and 2026, and you must already be registered on the NATS or Apprenticeship India portal — check your exact category row in the eligibility section below before you apply. Check more Delhi government jobs alongside this one.
One thing to note carefully before you begin: this is not an online application. The filled application form must reach SSPL by post in hard copy on or before 21 August 2026, and you must already be registered on the NATS or Apprenticeship India portal depending on your qualification. Read this full article carefully so you do not miss any condition — we have covered the seat position, qualifications, training period and the exact posting instructions below. As always, GovtJobsAlert.in has kept it simple for you.
Key Highlights — DRDO SSPL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) is a DRDO laboratory at Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, working on semiconductor materials and solid-state devices for defence applications. The apprenticeship runs under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for a period of 12 months from the date the Contract of Apprenticeship is executed. It is a strong opening for ITI pass candidates as well as diploma and degree holders who want hands-on exposure in a defence research environment.
- Post Names: ITI Apprentice, Diploma Apprentice, Graduate Apprentice
- Total Vacancies: 41 seats (combined across all three categories)
- Stipend: As per rules (no rupee figure is stated in the notification)
- Training Period: 12 months
- Job Location: SSPL, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi
- Last Date to Apply: 21 August 2026 (form must reach SSPL by post)
Vacancy Breakdown — DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026
| Apprenticeship Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| ITI Apprentice | Not separately stated |
| Diploma Apprentice | Not separately stated |
| Graduate Apprentice | Not separately stated |
| Total — All Categories | 41 |
The notification prints a single combined figure of 41 covering all three apprenticeship categories together — it does not publish a separate seat count for ITI, Diploma or Graduate Apprentice, so we are not splitting it here. The notification also states that the number of apprenticeships may vary depending on the laboratory’s requirement, and SSPL reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats. Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, PwD and EWS categories applies as per the provisions of the Apprentices Act 1961, the Apprentices Rules 1992 and the Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules 2015 — no category-wise numbers are printed.
Eligibility Criteria — DRDO SSPL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Educational Qualification
First Division is mandatory in every category. Read your own row carefully.
- ITI Apprentice: ITI in First Division in Fitter, Electronics Mechanic, Electrician, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA), Machinist or Carpenter — plus 10th with First Division.
- Diploma Apprentice: Diploma in First Division in Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics, Instrumentation or Computer Science — plus 10th and Diploma both in First Division. This is a good fit for diploma holder government jobs seekers.
- Graduate Apprentice: a regular graduation degree in First Division in Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Computer Science, or B.A./B.Com., or B.E./B.Tech in First Division in Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Communication Engineering, VLSI or Chemical Engineering from a recognised University or Institution. Plenty of scope here for graduate government job aspirants.
Year of Passing
Only candidates who passed their qualifying examination — B.Sc., B.E., B.Tech, Diploma, ITI, B.A. or B.Com. — in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 are eligible. Candidates who passed the qualifying examination earlier than 2022 are not eligible; the advertisement provides for no exception to this cut-off.
Mode of Study
Only those who completed the qualifying examination as regular candidates are eligible. Distance, correspondence and private-mode candidates are out.
Mandatory Portal Registration
- Diploma and Graduate candidates must have registered their names at the NATS portal.
- ITI candidates must have registered their names at the Apprenticeship India portal.
Non-registered candidates are likely to be rejected, so complete your registration before you post the form and attach proof of your NATS/NAPS enrolment number. Both portal links are given in the Essential Links section below.
Age Limit
The notification does not prescribe any minimum or maximum age limit for these apprenticeship seats. The application form asks for your date of birth and present age, but no age criteria are laid down in the advertisement.
What is the Stipend and Salary for DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026?
Here is exactly what the notification says about money — and we are not going to guess beyond it.
- Stipend: printed as “As per rules” against each of the three apprenticeship categories
- No rupee figure of any kind appears in the advertisement
- Training period: 12 months from execution of the Contract of Apprenticeship
The advertisement states the stipend only as “As per rules” against each of the three categories and prints no amount. Please confirm the applicable rate from SSPL at the time of joining.
Two practical points you should factor in before applying. First, SSPL does not provide any government quarters, hostel accommodation or transport during the training period, so you will need to arrange your own stay in Delhi. Second, it is not obligatory for SSPL to offer employment to any apprentice after the training ends — treat this as a valuable learning and experience opportunity rather than a guaranteed job.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026?
The advertisement prescribes no written test, interview, merit list or shortlisting criteria of any kind. The only steps it describes are the ones below.
Stage 1: Verification of Credentials
Verification of credentials is carried out for selected candidates before the contract is created. If there is any deviation or non-conformity with the desired qualification, the candidature is summarily rejected. Suppression of facts leads to disqualification at any stage.
Stage 2: Contract and Police Verification
Selected candidates must execute a Contract of Apprenticeship for 12 months as per the Apprentices Act, 1961. After joining, you must submit a Police Verification Certificate.
All correspondence, including the offer letter if you are selected, is done through email only — so give an email address you check daily and keep it active. Any canvassing or personal follow-up intended to influence the selection leads to immediate cancellation of candidature. SSPL also reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the advertisement or the selection process if circumstances so warrant, without assigning any reason. In case of any dispute, the legal jurisdiction is the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.
How to Apply for DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026?
This is an offline, by-post application. There is no online submission link for the form itself.
- Register on the NATS portal if you are a Diploma or Graduate candidate, or on the Apprenticeship India portal if you are an ITI candidate (both links in Essential Links below).
- Download the notification PDF — the application form is printed inside it, on the page after the advertisement.
- Print the form and fill it completely in block letters: name, father’s or husband’s name, date of birth and present age, address for correspondence, permanent address with proof attached, mobile number, email, category, NATS/NAPS enrolment number with proof attached, full education details and any experience details, then sign the certification at the end.
- Affix a recent passport size photograph in the space provided.
- Attach self-attested photocopies of all relevant documents, including proof of your NATS/NAPS enrolment.
- Put everything in an envelope addressed to: Director SSPL, Kind Attention: HRD, SSPL, DRDO, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi 110054.
- Post it so that it reaches SSPL on or before 21 August 2026 — this is a receipt-by-post deadline, not a postmark deadline, so send it at least a week early.
- Before posting, re-check that you satisfy every eligibility condition, because incomplete or ineligible forms are rejected without notice.
DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 29 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Receipt of Application by Post | 21 August 2026 |
| Training Duration | 12 months from contract execution |
DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026 Application Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories | No fee prescribed |
The notification does not prescribe any application fee or payment mode for this apprenticeship drive. If any person or website asks you to pay money for a DRDO SSPL apprenticeship seat, treat it as a fraud — selection is made only through the process described in the official advertisement.
Essential Links — DRDO SSPL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF with Application Form
- Register on NATS Portal for Diploma & Graduate Apprentices
- Register on Apprenticeship India Portal for ITI Apprentices
- Visit DRDO Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
A year of apprenticeship inside a DRDO laboratory teaches you things no classroom can, and 41 seats across ITI, Diploma and Graduate levels means there is room for many of you. Complete your NATS or Apprenticeship India registration today, print the form from the notification PDF, and post it early enough to reach Delhi before 21 August 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Delhi government job notifications and apprenticeship updates.