PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026: Eligibility, Stipend and Registration Guide for Mt. Abu Observatory
If you have always dreamt of working with a real telescope instead of only reading about one, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) has opened something special for you. PRL, a premier institute under the Department of Space, Government of India, has released Advt. No. 11/2026 for its One-Year Traineeship Programme at the Mt. Abu Observatory in Rajasthan. Eight candidates will be taken in as Telescope Operator Trainees on a consolidated stipend of ₹28,000 per month. For anyone searching government jobs in Rajasthan in space science, this is a rare hands-on chance.
Registration is fully online and refreshingly simple — you fill one form, and the window closes at 17:30 hrs on 30 September 2026. Registered candidates then report at Mount Abu on 15 October 2026 for verification and the Skill Test. If you hold an M.Tech., B.Tech. or M.Sc. in a physics, astronomy, electronics or allied stream with 60% marks, read this article carefully so you miss no condition. Your friends at GovtJobsAlert.in have pulled every detail — eligibility, stipend, dates and steps — from the official notification.
What Are the Key Highlights of PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
PRL runs the Mount Abu Infrared Observatory, where some of India’s finest astronomical instruments work through the night. This programme places you inside that observatory for one year, giving hands-on training while you help with the regular servicing and upgradation of the equipment. It is a traineeship, not a regular appointment — but the exposure is hard to match.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Department of Space |
| Advertisement Number | Advt. No. 11/2026 dated 14/09/2026 |
| Name of Traineeship | Telescope Operator Trainee |
| Number of Trainees | 08 |
| Stipend | ₹28,000 per month (consolidated) |
| Duration | One year |
| Training Location | Mt. Abu Observatory, Mount Abu, Sirohi, Rajasthan |
| Last Date to Register | 30 September 2026 (17:30 hrs) |
| Mode of Registration | Online form, to be opened in Google Chrome |
How Many Vacancies Are There in PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
| Name of Traineeship | Stipend | Number of Trainees |
|---|---|---|
| Telescope Operator Trainee | ₹28,000 per month | 08 |
| Grand Total | — | 08 |
The advertisement prints no category-wise (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS or PwBD) split of these eight seats, so do not assume a reserved quota for yourself. If you clear the qualification and age bar below, simply register.
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee 2026
You need any one of the three routes below, and in each you must have 60% or more marks:
- M.Tech. in Physical Sciences, Astronomy, Applied Physics or any other allied stream — ideal for post graduate job seekers.
- B.Tech. in Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Production, Computer Science, Instrumentation or any other allied branch — the widest door for engineering graduates.
- M.Sc. in Physical Sciences, Applied Physics, Electronics, Astronomy, Instrumentation or any other allied stream.
The words “any other allied” appear in all three routes, so candidates from nearby disciplines should read the PDF once and judge honestly whether their stream fits.
Age Limit and Relaxation for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee 2026
| Age Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | 28 years |
| Age Reckoned As On | 15 October 2026 |
| Age Relaxation | As per Government of India rules |
The notification only says relaxation will apply “as per GOI rules”; it prints no category-wise number of years, so work out your own position from the rule for your category.
🎂 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 any age relaxation you qualify for. →
What is the Stipend and Salary Support for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee 2026?
Let us be completely clear, because this decides whether the opportunity suits you. This is a traineeship, not a regular appointment. The advertisement prints no pay scale, no pay level and no pay band — there is no 7th CPC salary structure here. What it does state, in the vacancy table itself, is a fixed consolidated stipend.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Consolidated Stipend | ₹28,000 per month |
| Duration of Traineeship | One year |
It is one consolidated amount, with no separate DA, HRA or transport allowance listed above it.
Outstation candidates from outside Mount Abu who are shortlisted for the Skill Test get to-and-fro travelling allowance equal to Railway Sleeper Class or ordinary bus fare by the shortest route.
That fare is paid only against copies of your railway or bus tickets, so keep them safely.
What is the Selection Process for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee 2026?
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Online registration | Register through the official registration form by 17:30 hrs on 30 September 2026. |
| 2. Prima-facie scrutiny | PRL screens registered candidates through prima-facie scrutiny. The notification promises no call letter or advance intimation before 15 October, so do not wait for one. |
| 3. Verification of certificates | All registered candidates who wish to appear must report at Mount Abu on 15 October 2026 between 09:30 AM and 11:30 AM with originals and self-attested copies. |
| 4. Skill Test | Held on 15 October 2026 for candidates screened in through prima-facie scrutiny. The notification prints no test venue other than the Mount Abu reporting address. |
The notification prescribes these stages and nothing beyond them. It does not describe the Skill Test pattern, subjects, marks or qualifying criteria, so prepare on your own subject strength. If the Skill Test is not completed on 15 October 2026 for an unforeseen reason, you may have to appear again on 16 October 2026, so plan your stay accordingly. PRL keeps the right to cancel the Skill Test process as announced.
How to Apply Online for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
Keep your date-of-birth proof, mark sheets, degree certificates and exact percentage of marks in front of you — the form asks for all of it in one sitting.
- Open the registration form using the link in Essential Links below; the notification says it opens in Google Chrome, so use Chrome.
- Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your certificates.
- Enter your educational qualification with the percentage of marks, and experience details if you have any.
- Fill in travel details if the form asks for them — the Skill Test travelling allowance is paid as indicated in the online application form.
- Re-read every entry, because incomplete online applications are liable to be rejected and no interim correspondence will be entertained.
- Submit before 17:30 hrs on 30 September 2026; there is no payment step, so submission completes your registration.
- On 15 October 2026, reach the Main Gate, Physical Research Laboratory, Hill View Bungalow, Gora Chhapara, Mount Abu, Sirohi-307501, Rajasthan between 09:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
Carry two photographs for the offline verification form, plus all original certificates and self-attested photocopies of date of birth, education qualification, experience (if any), caste and anything else you entered online.
What Are the Important Dates for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date (Advt. No. 11/2026) | 14 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Register Online | 30 September 2026 (17:30 hrs) |
| Reporting for Verification | 15 October 2026 (09:30 AM to 11:30 AM) |
| Skill Test | 15 October 2026 |
| Skill Test (if not completed the same day) | 16 October 2026 |
| Age Reckoned As On | 15 October 2026 |
Is There Any Application Fee for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026?
Here is a genuine relief. Advt. No. 11/2026 prints no application fee at all — no fee amount, no payment mode and no category-wise fee line appears anywhere in it, and registration happens only through the online form. All you need is an internet connection, the Chrome browser and your certificate details typed in correctly.
What Are the Terms and Conditions for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee 2026?
| Condition | What It Means For You |
|---|---|
| Purely temporary positions | The traineeship does not lead to permanent absorption in the Laboratory or its observatories. |
| Not on par with regular staff | Trainees will not be treated on par with regular employees of Mount Abu Infrared Observatory and shall have no right to claim absorption or regularization. |
| Reporting time is strict | Candidates reporting after 11:30 AM on 15 October 2026 will not be allowed to participate in the Skill Test. |
| Earlier PRL trainees | Candidates who have already availed, or are availing, a similar traineeship at PRL or its observatories will not be allowed to participate in the Skill Test. |
| Incomplete applications | Incomplete online applications are liable to be rejected, and no interim correspondence will be entertained. |
| Gadgets barred | Do not bring mobile phone, laptop, CDs, pen drive, camera or smart watch while appearing for the Skill Test. |
| Travelling allowance | Fare is paid only on production of railway or bus ticket copies. |
| PRL’s own right | Mount Abu Infrared Observatory, PRL reserves the right to cancel the Skill Test process as announced. |
Essential Links for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for PRL Telescope Operator Trainee Recruitment 2026
- Visit PRL Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
Eight seats, one full year, and a real telescope under your hands — a chance like this does not come every season. If your degree and age fit, do not wait for the last evening. Registration shuts at 17:30 hrs on 30 September 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more central government job updates.