ISRO Scientist Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 93 Scientist/Engineer 'SC' Posts — Check Vacancy, Eligibility, GATE Criteria, Salary & Selection Process

ISRO's 2026 hiring cycle for entry-level Scientists/Engineers has triggered heavy search interest among engineering graduates, largely because it's one of the rare central government science postings that skips a written exam entirely and goes straight from GATE score to interview. With the window closing in days and only 93 seats up for grabs nationally, this has become one of the most-tracked government engineering job notifications this month.

ISRO Scientist Recruitment 2026: Key Highlights

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has thrown open online applications for 93 Scientist/Engineer 'SC' posts, offering engineering graduates a shot at a Group 'A' Gazetted career in India's space programme. Run through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) under Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:02(EMC-CEPO):2026, the drive spans seven engineering disciplines and is open to candidates holding a valid GATE 2025 or GATE 2026 score. The application window, live since July 28, 2026, closes on August 17, 2026, with fee payment accepted till August 19, 2026.

Vacancy Details — Discipline-wise Breakup

Of these, 92 are Group 'A' Gazetted posts at ISRO/Department of Space centres, while the single Civil vacancy is a Non-Gazetted post at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), an autonomous body. Selected candidates may be posted at ISRO centres including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Sriharikota, Mahendragiri, Hassan and Valiamala.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: BE/B.Tech (or a Bachelor's degree in Architecture for the Architecture post) in the relevant discipline, with a minimum of 65% aggregate marks (averaged across all semesters) or equivalent CGPA of 6.84 on a 10-point scale.

GATE Score: A valid GATE 2025 or GATE 2026 score in the paper code matching the applied discipline is mandatory — older GATE scores or a non-matching paper code are not accepted, even for an allied branch. ISRO independently verifies the score against official GATE records; any mismatch can invite disqualification.

Age Limit: Maximum 28 years as on August 17, 2026, for General/EWS candidates, with relaxation for reserved categories as per standard Government of India norms.

Selection Process: How ISRO Shortlists Scientist/Engineer 'SC' Candidates

This recruitment has no separate written examination. Selection runs on two stages:

1. GATE Score Shortlisting — ICRB shortlists candidates for interview strictly by GATE score (not GATE marks or All-India Rank), in a 1:7 ratio.

2. Interview (100 marks) — assessing technical/academic knowledge, subject-specific general awareness, presentation and communication skills, comprehension, and academic achievements including institute pedigree and CGPA/percentage.

For Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science posts, the final merit list carries 50% weightage to GATE score and 50% to the interview, with a minimum aggregate of 60% for unreserved candidates (relaxed for reserved categories). A similar weightage applies across the other disciplines. Candidates who clear the interview then undergo document verification and a medical examination.

Application Fee

General, OBC and EWS candidates pay a non-refundable ₹250 through the Bharatkosh online portal (net banking/UPI/debit/credit card). Payment stays open till August 19, 2026 — two days past the application deadline. Fee concessions typically apply for SC/ST, PwBD, Ex-servicemen and women candidates in central recruitment; confirm the exact exemption list in the official notification.

Salary and Pay Scale

Selected candidates join at Pay Level-10 of the 7th CPC matrix, starting basic pay ₹56,100/month, plus DA, HRA, Transport Allowance and other central government benefits. Depending on posting city and applicable allowances, in-hand pay is typically estimated in the ₹75,000–₹85,000/month range.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Visit isro.gov.in or the direct recruitment portal.

2. Read the full advertisement to confirm discipline-wise eligibility and correct GATE paper code.

3. Register with a valid, active email ID and mobile number.

4. Fill in personal, academic and GATE score details accurately.

5. Upload scanned photograph, signature, GATE 2025/2026 scorecard and other required documents.

6. Pay the ₹250 application fee via Bharatkosh (where applicable).

7. Submit, note the registration number, and save the confirmation printout.

Candidates already registered on the National Career Service (NCS) portal and meeting eligibility norms may also apply. Shortlisted interview candidates are reimbursed second-class sleeper train fare by the shortest route.

Documents Required

Recent passport-size photograph and signature, GATE 2025/2026 scorecard, mark sheets/degree certificate of the qualifying course, category certificate (if applicable), and a valid active email ID.

Important Dates

Also Read

• ISRO NESAC is separately holding walk-in interviews on August 10–12, 2026, for 16 Research Scientist, JRF and Project Associate-I posts.

• The GATE cutoff for Computer Science shortlisting hovered around 750–800 in the 2025 ISRO Scientist/Engineer cycle — a useful benchmark while the 2026 cutoff is awaited.