High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021, one of the premier Research and Development establishments under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has released Advertisement No. HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01 inviting applications from meritorious Indian Nationals for 50 Graduate Apprentice vacancies under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992, for one year of apprenticeship training at HEMRL Pune. The 50 seats span 12 disciplines covering Engineering streams (Chemical/Chemical Technology, Mechanical, Aerospace/Aeronautical, Computer/Information Science, Electrical/Electrical and Instrumentation, Electronics and Telecommunication, Civil), Science (B.Sc. Chemistry, B.Sc. Computer Science), and General streams (B.A., B.Com, BLIS Library Science, BBA). Applications are accepted by post only – this is an offline recruitment; online-only submissions are not considered. The two-step application process requires candidates to first register on the NATS 2.0 portal and then send the filled application form by post to HEMRL Pune on or before 28 August 2026. The monthly stipend is Rs. 15,000 per month for all disciplines. Selection is through shortlisting based on academic merit, written test, interview, walk-in interview, or a combination of these.
Important Note: Three things every DRDO HEMRL apprentice applicant must check before 28 August 2026. First, this is a POSTAL/OFFLINE application only – the completed, signed application form must physically reach HEMRL, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021 on or before 28 August 2026; online-only submissions will not be considered; allow sufficient postal transit time from your city. Second, NATS 2.0 registration is mandatory before applying – you must first complete your registration on the NATS 2.0 portal and a signed copy of your NATS 2.0 profile is one of the documents required at document verification; do not send the postal application without completing NATS 2.0 registration first. Third, several important ineligibility conditions apply – candidates whose qualifying examination results have not been declared as on the last date of application, candidates with higher qualifications than those specified for a post, candidates who have already undergone or are currently undergoing apprenticeship training under any organisation, and candidates who have one or more years of job experience after attaining the essential qualification are ALL ineligible; verify all these conditions carefully before applying.
DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
| Advertisement No. | HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01 |
| Post Name | Graduate Apprentice |
| Engagement Type | Apprenticeship Training under Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992 |
| Total Vacancies | 50 |
| Training Duration | One year |
| Training Location | HEMRL, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021, Maharashtra |
| Application Mode | Offline (postal) only – after NATS 2.0 registration |
| Application Last Date | 28 August 2026 (last date for RECEIPT of application at HEMRL) |
| Monthly Stipend | Rs. 15,000 per month (all disciplines) |
| No TA/DA | No TA, DA, accommodation, transport, or medical facilities at any stage |
| Official Website | drdo.gov.in |
| NATS 2.0 Portal | nats.education.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 10 August 2026 |
| Application Window Opens | 10 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Receipt of Application at HEMRL | 28 August 2026 |
| Shortlist/Interview Date | To be notified at drdo.gov.in and via registered email |
| Training Commencement | After execution of apprenticeship contract |
Vacancy Details – Discipline-wise
| S. No. | Essential Qualification | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B.E./B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering/Chemical Technology | 10 |
| 2 | B.E./B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 8 |
| 3 | B.E./B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering/Aeronautical Engineering | 2 |
| 4 | B.E./B.Tech. in Computer and Information Science/Computer Engineering OR B.Sc. in Computer Science | 5 |
| 5 | B.E./B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering/Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering | 2 |
| 6 | B.E./B.Tech. in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering | 3 |
| 7 | B.E./B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 2 |
| 8 | B.Sc. in Chemistry | 9 |
| 9 | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) | 3 |
| 10 | Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) | 3 |
| 11 | BLIS (Bachelor of Library and Information Science) | 2 |
| 12 | Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) | 1 |
| Total | 50 |
Category-wise (General/SC/ST/OBC) seat allocation will follow the prevalent rules under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992.
Eligibility Conditions
- Only Indian Nationals are eligible.
- Candidates must hold the prescribed educational qualification for the specific discipline they are applying for, from a recognised Board/University.
- Only candidates who passed the qualifying examination in the last five years (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026) are eligible.
- Candidates whose qualifying examination results have not been declared/available as on the last date of application (28 August 2026) are NOT eligible.
- Candidates who hold a higher qualification than that specified for the post are NOT eligible.
- Only candidates who completed the qualifying examination as regular candidates (full-time course) are eligible; distance/correspondence mode candidates should verify eligibility from the official notification.
- Candidates who have already completed or are currently undergoing apprenticeship training under any organisation are NOT eligible.
- Candidates who have one year or more of job experience after attaining the essential qualification are NOT eligible.
- PwBD candidates are eligible only for designated trades as per Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
Age Limit
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | Not less than 18 years |
| Maximum Age | As per the Apprentices Act, 1961, Apprentice Rules, 1992, and NATS 2.0 Guidelines (not specified as a fixed number in the notification) |
Stipend
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice – All disciplines (Engineering, Science, Arts, Commerce, Library Science, BBA) | Rs. 15,000 per month |
Stipend is disbursed as per the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961.
Application Fee
No application fee is specified in the notification. The application is free.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Scrutiny | Shortlisting based on application, declarations, and supporting documents |
| Merit-based Shortlisting | Academic merit/marks in the qualifying examination |
| Written Test/Interview/Walk-in | As applicable – HEMRL reserves the right to choose the shortlisting method |
| Document Verification | All original documents verified at the interview stage |
| Medical Examination | Required before joining; candidate must be medically fit as per Apprentices Act norms |
| Apprenticeship Contract | Selected candidates must execute a contract; final selection is valid only after online approval of the apprenticeship contract by the competent authority |
HEMRL is not obliged to shortlist all candidates meeting the minimum requirement. Satisfying the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a call for selection. The Director, HEMRL, reserves the right to increase or decrease vacancies or withdraw the advertisement without notice.
Documents Required at Document Verification
Bring originals and one set of self-attested photocopies of:
- Ink-signed printout of the application form
- Signed copy of NATS 2.0 profile
- Mark sheets and certificates (original or provisional) from 10th standard up to the qualifying degree (10th, 12th, graduation mark sheets, degree certificate)
- Aadhaar Card/Photo ID proof and address proof
- Two recent passport-size colour photographs (6×7 cm)
- SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), PwBD, and EWS certificates from competent authority (if applicable)
Documents Required at Joining (for Selected Candidates)
- Valid Police Verification Certificate from place of last residence and permanent address
- Medical Fitness Certificate in prescribed format from an authorised Medical Officer of a Government Hospital
- Undertaking for adherence to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923
- Undertaking to follow IT Rules and Regulations applicable to the Ministry of Defence
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account details for DBT stipend (passbook front page/cancelled cheque)
- Three recent passport-size colour photographs (6×7 cm)
- Any other documents communicated at the time of selection/joining
How to Apply for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27
Step 1 – Register on NATS 2.0:
Register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS 2.0) portal. Your NATS 2.0 profile and a signed printout of it will be required at document verification.
Step 2 – Download Application Form:
Download the application form from the official DRDO website – Click Here
Step 3 – Fill the Application Form:
- Mention marks in the qualifying examination as percentage. If your mark sheet shows CGPA/SGPA, convert it to percentage as per your university’s norms and mention the equivalent percentage (this will be verified at document verification).
- Fill all fields accurately with correct personal, academic, and contact details.
- Sign the application form before sending.
Step 4 – Send by Post:
Send the completed, signed application along with self-attested photocopies of relevant documents to:
The Director, HEMRL, Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021
(Kind Attention: HRD, HEMRL, Pune)
The application must reach HEMRL on or before 28 August 2026. Incomplete, erroneous, or late applications will be rejected without further communication. No hard copies of documents need to be sent at the application stage beyond what the notification specifies.
Important Instructions
- Offline/postal applications only – online-only submissions are NOT considered.
- NATS 2.0 registration is mandatory before applying – complete it before sending the postal application.
- CGPA must be converted to percentage as per university norms and mentioned in the form; this will be verified at document verification.
- Selected candidates will be informed via registered email with further joining instructions; no correspondence will be entertained with candidates not selected.
- If a selected candidate does not report by the scheduled joining date, it will be assumed they are not interested and their candidature will be forfeited without communication.
- No TA/DA, accommodation, transport, or medical facilities will be provided at any stage of the selection process or during the training period.
- There is no employment (permanent/temporary/contractual) offered at HEMRL/DRDO after the apprenticeship; no apprentice can claim employment after training.
- Canvassing or influencing in any form will lead to disqualification.
- Selected candidates must execute an apprenticeship contract for one year; the training period commences from the date of contract execution.
- All updates, shortlists, and results will be communicated via email and published on drdo.gov.in; monitor the official DRDO website regularly.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF (Advt. No. HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01) | Click Here |
| Application Form and Vacancies – DRDO Official Website | Click Here |
| NATS 2.0 Portal – Register for Apprenticeship | Click Here |
| DRDO Official Website | Click Here |
Postal Address for Application:
The Director, HEMRL, Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021
(Kind Attention: HRD, HEMRL, Pune)
DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 – FAQs
Q1. What is DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27?
✅ It is an apprenticeship engagement drive by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), DRDO, Ministry of Defence under Advertisement No. HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01 for 50 Graduate Apprentices across 12 disciplines including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Civil Engineering, B.Sc. Chemistry, B.A., B.Com, BLIS, and BBA, for one year of training at HEMRL, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27?
✅ The last date for receipt of application at HEMRL is 28 August 2026. Since it is a postal/offline application, the application must physically reach HEMRL by 28 August 2026 – allow adequate postal transit time from your location.
Q3. Is this an online or offline application?
✅ This is an OFFLINE application only – the completed, signed application form must be sent by post to HEMRL Pune. Online-only submissions are not considered. Candidates must first register on the NATS 2.0 portal and then send the physical application by post.
Q4. What qualifications are required for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice 2026-27?
✅ Qualifications vary by discipline: B.E./B.Tech in Chemical (10 seats), Mechanical (8), Aerospace (2), Computer/CS (5), Electrical (2), Electronics and Telecom (3), Civil (2); B.Sc. in Chemistry (9); B.A. (3); B.Com (3); BLIS (2); BBA (1). All qualifications must be from a recognised university and obtained in the last 5 years (2022-2026). Candidates with higher qualifications than the prescribed one are NOT eligible.
Q5. What is the stipend for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentices?
✅ Rs. 15,000 per month for all Graduate Apprentices across all 12 disciplines. No TA, DA, accommodation, transport, or medical facilities are provided at any stage.
Q6. Who is NOT eligible for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice 2026-27?
✅ The following are NOT eligible: candidates whose results of the qualifying examination are not yet declared as on 28 August 2026; candidates holding higher qualifications than prescribed; candidates who have already completed or are currently undergoing apprenticeship under any organisation; candidates who have 1 year or more of job experience after obtaining the essential qualification; candidates who did not complete the qualifying course as regular candidates.
Q7. What is the selection process for DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice?
✅ Selection is through shortlisting based on academic merit, followed by a written test, interview, or walk-in interview (or a combination), subject to satisfactory document verification. HEMRL reserves the right to choose the shortlisting method and is not obliged to call all eligible candidates. Medical fitness examination is also required before joining.
Q8. Why must I register on NATS 2.0 before applying?
✅ NATS 2.0 (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) is the Government’s centralised portal for Graduate Apprentices. Registration on NATS 2.0 is mandatory as per the Apprentices Act framework. A signed copy of your NATS 2.0 profile is a required document at document verification, and the apprenticeship contract is executed/approved through the NATS 2.0 portal after final selection.
Q9. Will DRDO HEMRL offer employment after apprenticeship training?
✅ No. The notification explicitly states that no employment (permanent, temporary, or contractual) is offered at HEMRL or DRDO to any apprentice after completion of the training period, and no apprentice can claim employment. This is purely a training engagement under the Apprentices Act.
Q10. How will I be informed about shortlisting and interview?
✅ Shortlisted candidates will be informed via their registered email with details of the interview date, time, and venue. The shortlist will also be published on drdo.gov.in. No correspondence will be entertained with candidates who are not selected.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from the official DRDO HEMRL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 notification (Advertisement No. HEMRL/HRD/APPRENTICE/2026-27/01), issued by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune – 411021, as available on the official DRDO website drdo.gov.in. The total vacancy count of 50 is provisional and subject to change at HEMRL’s discretion. This is an apprenticeship training engagement – no employment is guaranteed after training. Applications must reach HEMRL by post on or before 28 August 2026; postal transit time must be accounted for. All links above lead only to the official DRDO website drdo.gov.in and the official NATS 2.0 portal.
