DRDO Admin and Allied Eligibility: Age Limit and Qualification
DRDO Admin and Allied eligibility depends on the post you choose. Qualification runs from the 10th pass for Fireman and Vehicle Operator posts to a Master's degree for Junior Translation Officer (JTO). The rules below come from the CEPTAM-10/A&A advertisement, the latest full A&A notification we could verify, and a new cycle may change them.
Eligibility is judged on the crucial date given in the notification, which was 7 December 2022 for CEPTAM-10/A&A. This page covers qualification, age limits, relaxations, nationality, medical and physical conditions, reservation certificates and common reasons for rejection. For the exam itself, see the DRDO Admin and Allied exam pattern page.
Table of Contents
Eligibility at a Glance
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
Qualification | 10th pass, 12th pass, Bachelor's or Master's degree, depending on the post |
Age limit | 18 to 27 years for most posts, not exceeding 30 years for JTO and Stenographer Grade-I |
Age counted on | Crucial date in the notification (7 December 2022 in the last cycle) |
Nationality | Indian citizen, or as per Government rules |
Attempt limit | Not specified in the notification |
Educational Qualification
The qualification must be held on the crucial date. Candidates who are still awaiting their final result are not eligible.
Post | Essential qualification | Other requirement |
|---|---|---|
Junior Translation Officer | Master's degree in English or Hindi with the other language as a subject; or Master's in any subject with Hindi as the medium and English compulsory; or Bachelor's with Hindi and English plus a translation diploma or certificate, or two years of translation experience in Government offices | Tier II descriptive test |
Stenographer Grade-I | Bachelor's degree | Skill test |
Stenographer Grade-II | 12th pass | Skill test |
Administrative Assistant 'A' | 12th pass or equivalent | Typing test |
Store Assistant 'A' | 12th pass | Typing test |
Security Assistant 'A' | 12th pass or equivalent (ex-servicemen may use an Armed Forces certificate) | Physical fitness test |
Vehicle Operator 'A' | 10th pass | Valid licence for two/three-wheelers and light and heavy vehicles, knowledge of minor motor repairs, three years of car driving experience |
Fire Engine Driver 'A' | 10th pass | Valid driving licence for two/three-wheelers and light and heavy vehicles, knowledge of traffic rules, physical fitness |
Fireman | 10th pass (10+2 system) | Physical fitness test |
The JTO route is the most conditional. If you have a Master's degree, check which of the three alternatives your degree and medium of study match before you apply, and keep the supporting certificate ready.
Age Limit and Relaxation
Post | Age limit |
|---|---|
Junior Translation Officer, Stenographer Grade-I | Not exceeding 30 years |
Stenographer Grade-II, Administrative Assistant 'A', Store Assistant 'A', Security Assistant 'A', Fire Engine Driver 'A', Fireman | 18 to 27 years |
Vehicle Operator 'A' | Not exceeding 27 years |
The upper age limit is relaxed as per Government of India rules for the following groups. The notification does not repeat the number of years in its summary, so confirm the exact relaxation in the latest advertisement.
Category | Upper age relaxation |
|---|---|
SC, ST | As per Government rules |
OBC (non-creamy layer) | As per Government rules |
PwBD | As per Government rules |
Ex-servicemen, disabled defence personnel, MSP | As per Government rules |
Widows, divorced and judicially separated women not remarried | As per Government rules |
Departmental candidates with three years of service | As per Government rules |
Certain J&K domiciles (1980 to 1989) | As per Government rules |
SC, ST and OBC-NCL candidates who apply against unreserved vacancies do not get age relaxation.
Nationality and Other Conditions
Nationality: you must be an Indian citizen, or eligible under Government of India rules.
Medical fitness: you must be medically fit before an offer of appointment is issued.
Physical standards: Security Assistant, Fire Engine Driver and Fireman candidates must pass the fitness test described on the DRDO Admin and Allied exam pattern page.
Posting: you may be posted anywhere in India, including remote areas, and appointment is on probation.
Applications: only one application per post code is allowed, and you can apply for several post codes with separate forms.
Reservation Certificate Rules
EWS: a valid Income and Asset Certificate is required, and gross family income must be below Rs. 8 lakh a year.
OBC: a caste certificate in the Central Government format and non-creamy layer status are required.
PwBD: a benchmark disability of 40% or more is required, and some posts are open only to specific disability categories.
ESM: special conditions apply to ex-servicemen who already hold a civil Central Government job.
Who Is Not Eligible
Candidates who do not hold the required qualification on the crucial date, including those awaiting results.
Candidates above or below the age limit for the post after allowed relaxation.
Candidates who cannot produce a valid licence or experience proof for driver posts.
Candidates whose name, date of birth or parents' names differ from their matriculation certificate.
Fee and Documents
The fee in the last cycle was Rs. 100, with exemption for women, SC, ST, PwBD and ESM candidates. Keep your 10th certificate for age proof, your qualification certificates, a recent colour photograph, a signature on plain white paper and a photo ID ready.
Once you confirm that you are eligible, you can begin practising with any tests listed for this exam on Testkart while you wait for the next notification. Check the official CEPTAM-10/A&A notification for the full text, and the main DRDO website for any new advertisement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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