DRDO DIHAR Recruitment 2026
DRDO DIHAR Recruitment 2026
DEFENCE INSTITUTE OF HIGH-ALTITUDE RESEARCH (DIHAR)
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)
WALK-IN INTERVIEW FOR JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWS (JRF) & RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (RA) POSITIONS
The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), a laboratory under the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), has invited applications from eligible candidates for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Research Associate (RA) positions for defence-related research projects.
DIHAR is described as a frontier institute of Defence Research & Development in the Leh-Ladakh region. It is a centre of Armaments & Research Development Establishment (ARDE), a premier establishment of DRDO working on the trial and testing of high-altitude technologies.
1. Posts and Vacancies
A total of 18 positions are advertised:
| Sl. No. | Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) | 16 |
| 2 | Research Associate (RA) | 2 |
| Total | 18 |
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)
Total Vacancies: 16
Required Subjects / Engineering Disciplines
The 16 JRF positions are distributed as follows:
Civil Engineering — 2 Posts
Candidates with:
B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. in Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering — 4 Posts
Candidates with:
B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering & Production
Mechanical Engineering/Production (as listed in the advertisement)
Electronics & Related Engineering Disciplines — 10 Posts
Candidates with B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. in any of the following disciplines:
Electronics & Communication Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Instrumentation Engineering
Electrical Engineering
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Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering
Electronics & Control Engineering
Electrical & Electronics Communication Engineering
Electronics & Communication Engineering
Note : The advertisement groups several closely related Electronics/Electrical/Communication/Instrumentation disciplines under the 10 available JRF positions.
Essential Qualification for JRF
Candidates must satisfy either of the following routes:
Route 1 — B.E./B.Tech.
B.E./B.Tech. in First Division
Candidate must have a valid GATE score
OR
Route 2 — M.Tech.
M.Tech. in First Division
First Division is required at both Graduate and Post-Graduate levels
In other words, candidates applying through the M.Tech. route are required to have obtained First Division at both their bachelor’s/graduate level and M.Tech./post-graduate level.
Research Associate (RA)
Total Vacancies : 2
Required Subjects
Computer Science / IT — 1 Post
M.Tech. in Computer Science Engineering / Computer Science
M.Tech. in Information Technology (IT) Engineering
Electronics & Electrical-related disciplines — 1 Post
M.Tech. in Electronics & Communication Engineering
M.Tech. in Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering
M.Tech. in Electrical Engineering
M.Tech. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
M.Tech. in Electronics & Control Engineering
M.Tech. in Electrical & Electronics Communication Engineering
Essential Qualification for RA
In addition to the required M.Tech. qualification, candidates must have:
3 years of research, teaching, design or development experience after M.Tech.
At least one research paper published in an SCI journal
Thus, an RA applicant needs both the relevant M.Tech. qualification and the specified post-M.Tech. experience/research publication requirement.
Age Limit
The upper age limits, as on the date of the walk-in interview, are:
| Post | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| JRF | 28 years |
| RA | 35 years |
Age Relaxation
Age relaxation is available to SC, ST and OBC candidates as per Government of India orders.
Fellowship / Stipend
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)
The JRF will receive:
₹37,000 + HRA per month
Initial fellowship period: 2 years
Extension/upgradation may be granted based on performance
Such extension/upgradation will be according to DRDO guidelines
The fellowship can continue for a maximum total period of 5 years
Therefore, the initial JRF tenure is two years, with the possibility of performance-based continuation/upgradation, subject to DRDO rules, up to a maximum of five years.
Research Associate (RA)
The RA will receive:
₹67,000 + HRA per month
Maximum fellowship period: 2 years
Walk-in Interview — Date, Time & Venue
Date : 01 September 2026 (Tuesday)
Reporting Time Candidates are required to report by : 08:45 AM
Venue :
DIHAR Base Station
Near 3 BRD
Industrial Area, Phase-II
Chandigarh – 160002
The advertisement specifically states that desirable candidates should report by 0845 hours for the walk-in interview.
Documents Candidates Must Bring
Candidates are required to bring the following:
Educational Qualification Certificates
Certificates of DOB (Date of Birth)
Essential qualification certificates
Candidates must bring the original documents
They must also bring a self-attested copy of each document
Bio-data
Neatly typed Bio-data
Supporting Documents for RA Applicants
Documents supporting preferential/relevant experience with respect to the RA post, wherever applicable.
Selection Procedure
The selection process will take place in stages.
Stage 1 — Initial Screening
Candidates will initially be screened with respect to their qualifications and other relevant criteria.
Stage 2 — Interview
Candidates who are successfully screened-in will appear for the interview on the same day.
Therefore, merely attending the walk-in interview does not necessarily mean that every candidate will be interviewed; candidates are first subject to screening based on the advertised requirements.
General Conditions
The advertisement lays down the following conditions:
1. Rules governing Fellowship/Associateship
The Fellowship/Associateship will be governed by the policies and rules in force in:
DRDO
Ministry of Defence (MoD)
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Government of India
2. No Right of Absorption in DRDO
The offer of Fellowship/Associateship will not confer any right on the candidate for absorption in DRDO.
In other words, selection as a JRF or RA does not guarantee or create a claim for permanent employment in DRDO.
3. No TA/DA
No TA/DA will be paid for:
Attending the interview, or
Joining, if selected.
Candidates therefore have to bear their own travel and related expenses.
4. Contact for Queries
For any query or clarification, candidates may contact the following telephone numbers during office hours on working days:
0172-2639800
0172-2638900
5. Candidates Already Working in Government/Public Sector Organisations
Candidates working in:
Government organisations
Public sector undertakings
Autonomous bodies
must bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their present employer for attending the interview.
If selected, such candidates will be required to submit a relieving order from their present employer before joining.
6. Nature of the Posts / Work Environment
The advertised positions are for R&D project-related studies.
Only candidates who:
Are medically fit, and
Are willing to work in the environmental conditions of the high-altitude region may apply.
This is particularly important because the work is associated with high-altitude research and the Ladakh region.
7. Discretion of DIHAR
Grant of fellowship/associateship will be entirely at the discretion of DIHAR.
The Institute may refuse to admit any candidate without assigning any reason.
8. Number of Seats
The number of advertised seats may increase or decrease without prior notice.
Important Eligibility Summary
JRF — 16 Posts
Disciplines:
Civil — 2
Mechanical/Mechanical & Production — 4
Electronics/Electrical/Communication/Instrumentation-related disciplines — 10
Qualification:
Option A:
B.E./B.Tech. in First Division + valid GATE score
OR
Option B:
M.Tech. in First Division at both Graduate and Post-Graduate levels
Age: Up to 28 years
Stipend: ₹37,000 + HRA/month
Initial period: 2 years
Maximum total period: 5 years, subject to applicable DRDO rules and performance-based extension/upgradation.
RA — 2 Posts
Disciplines:
Computer Science/IT — 1
Electronics/Electrical/related disciplines — 1
Qualification:
Relevant M.Tech.
3 years’ research, teaching, design or development experience after M.Tech.
At least one research paper in an SCI journal
Age: Up to 35 years
Stipend: ₹67,000 + HRA/month
Maximum period: 2 years
13. Walk-in Interview Checklist
Candidates should ideally ensure they have the following before leaving for the interview:
Original Date of Birth certificate
Original degree/qualification certificates
Self-attested photocopies of all relevant certificates
Valid GATE score/document, where applying through the JRF B.E./B.Tech. route
M.Tech. documents, where applicable
Documents proving First Division requirements
Typed Bio-data/CV
RA candidates: documents proving 3 years’ post-M.Tech. experience
RA candidates: copy/details of at least one SCI-journal research paper
Experience/preferential documents wherever applicable
NOC from present employer, if currently working in Government/PSU/autonomous body
Appropriate copies of all documents for submission/verification
