Indian Space Research Organisation Scientist
ISRO Scientist is a recruitment exam conducted by Indian Space Research Organisation, relevant to engineering graduates targeting technical government and PSU roles.
ISRO Scientist recruitment 2026 is the Indian Space Research Organisation's drive to hire Scientist/Engineer 'SC', the entry-level technical post at the Department of Space. The ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) has notified 175 posts in Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science under Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026, and selection is through a computer-based test (CBT) followed by an interview.
The application window has closed, and the CBT has been rescheduled to 29 October 2026. This page brings together everything you need in one place: vacancies, dates, eligibility, fee, the CBT pattern, a syllabus summary, salary, previous cut-offs and a practical preparation plan. It also explains the separate GATE-score route ISRO used for its other 2026 Scientist/Engineer advertisement, which many pages mix up.
Table of Contents
ISRO Scientist 2026 at a Glance
Latest Updates
Two Recruitment Routes in 2026
ISRO Scientist Vacancy 2026
Important Dates
Admit Card
Application Fee and How to Apply
Eligibility Criteria
Exam Pattern
Syllabus Summary
Selection Process
Salary and Career Growth
Previous Cut-Off
How to Prepare
ISRO Scientist 2026
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
Organisation | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space |
Recruiting body | ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB), Bengaluru |
Post | Scientist/Engineer 'SC' |
Advertisement | ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026, dated 27 August 2026 |
Vacancies | 175 (Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science) |
Qualification | BE/B.Tech with at least 65% aggregate or CGPA 6.84/10 |
Age limit | 28 years as on 16 September 2026 |
Selection | Written test (CBT) and interview |
CBT date | 29 October 2026 (postponed from 19 October 2026) |
Pay | Level 10 of the Pay Matrix, minimum basic pay Rs. 56,100 per month |
Official website |
ISRO Scientist Latest Updates
CBT postponed: ISRO has moved the computer-based test for Advertisement 03(EMC):2026 from 19 October 2026 to 29 October 2026 (Thursday).
Previous papers released: The official recruitment page carries 2023 and 2025 question papers for Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science. These are the most reliable guide to the level of the test.
GATE-route interviews: For the separate GATE-based Advertisement ISRO:ICRB:02(EMC-CEPO):2026, ISRO published the GATE score cut-off and the lists of candidates called for interview in September 2026.
Some pages carry claims about the 2026 drive that the official recruitment page does not show. Always confirm status on the official ICRB recruitment page before acting on any update.
Two ISRO Scientist Recruitment Routes in 2026
ISRO ran two separate Scientist/Engineer 'SC' advertisements in 2026. They share the same post and pay, but the selection method is different.
Feature | CBT route | GATE route |
|---|---|---|
Advertisement | ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 | ISRO:ICRB:02(EMC-CEPO):2026 |
Disciplines | Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science | Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science, Civil, Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Architecture |
Vacancies | 175 | 92 |
Shortlisting | ISRO's own written test, 1:5 ratio | GATE 2025 or GATE 2026 score, 1:7 ratio |
Final merit | 50% written test, 50% interview | 50% GATE score, 50% interview |
Status (October 2026) | CBT on 29 October 2026 | Interview stage |
The rest of this page focuses on the CBT route, since that is the exam you can still prepare for this cycle. If you hold a strong GATE score, watch for future GATE-based advertisements as well.
ISRO Scientist Vacancy 2026
Post code | Discipline | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
BE001 | Electronics | 99 |
BE002 | Mechanical | 52 |
BE003 | Computer Science | 21 |
BE001A | Electronics (PRL, autonomous body) | 1 |
BE002A | Mechanical (PRL, autonomous body) | 1 |
BE003A | Computer Science (PRL, autonomous body) | 1 |
Total | 175 |
The advertisement marks posts identified for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) within each discipline but does not publish a UR, OBC, SC, ST and EWS split. Selected candidates can be posted to any ISRO or Department of Space centre in India.
ISRO Scientist Exam Date 2026 and Important Dates
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Advertisement released | 27 August 2026 |
Online application | 27 August to 16 September 2026 (11:55 PM) |
Age reference date | 16 September 2026 |
Original CBT date | 19 October 2026 |
Revised CBT date | 29 October 2026 |
Admit card | To be released before the CBT |
Written test result and interviews | To be notified |
Dates marked "to be notified" depend on ISRO's schedule and can change. Track the official recruitment page and your registered email.
ISRO Scientist Admit Card 2026
The CBT call letter is issued only to registered candidates through the online recruitment portal, using the registration number and password created while applying. Check that your name, photograph, exam city and reporting time are correct as soon as you download it, and carry a valid original photo ID to the centre. The CBT is held in 37 cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. The exam centre cannot be changed after the application is submitted.
ISRO Scientist Application Fee and How to Apply
Component | Amount | Refund on appearing in the written test |
|---|---|---|
Application fee | Rs. 250 | Non-refundable for all |
Processing fee (paid first) | Rs. 750 | Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen: full Rs. 750 refunded. Others: Rs. 500 refunded after deducting the Rs. 250 fee |
In effect, exempted candidates pay nothing if they sit the test, and others pay Rs. 250. No refund is made if you do not appear. Payment is online only, through internet banking, UPI or debit card.
Open the portal: Go to the Careers section of isro.gov.in and follow the link for the current advertisement.
Register: Create an account and note the registration number shown on screen and sent by email.
Fill the form: Enter academic details, choose the post code and your preferred exam city.
Pay and submit: Pay the processing fee online and keep a copy of the submitted form.
Candidates working in central or state government, PSUs or autonomous bodies must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the interview stage.
ISRO Scientist Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Degree: BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, or Computer Science Engineering, as per the post code.
Minimum marks: An aggregate of 65% or CGPA 6.84 on a 10-point scale, counted as the average of all semesters for which results are available. There is no relaxation in marks for any category.
No conversion: ISRO does not allow CGPA to be converted into a percentage to meet the cut-off, even if your university prescribes a formula.
Completion on time: The degree must be completed within the minimum duration of the course. Taking five years for a four-year degree makes a candidate ineligible.
Allied branches: The official FAQs list accepted allied branches, such as Avionics or Instrumentation for Electronics, Aerospace or Production for Mechanical, and AI and ML or Data Science tracks for Computer Science.
Age Limit
The upper age limit is 28 years as on 16 September 2026. The CBT advertisement extends age relaxation to serving central government civilian employees, Ex-Servicemen and PwBD candidates as per Government of India orders.
Nationality
Only Indian nationals can apply.
ISRO Scientist Exam Pattern 2026
Part | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Part A: Discipline specific | 80 | 80 | 90 minutes | 1/3 mark per wrong answer |
Part B: Aptitude and ability | Up to 15 | 20 | 30 minutes | None |
Total | Up to 95 | 100 | 120 minutes |
Part B covers numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning.
What this means for you:
Accuracy beats attempts in Part A: Three wrong answers cancel one right answer, so guessing blindly costs marks.
Attempt all of Part B: There is no penalty, and each question is worth more than one mark on average.
Watch the clock: Part A gives you about 67 seconds per question, which is tight for numerical problems.
Older pages may show Part B as 20 questions. The current advertisement says a maximum of 15 questions for 20 marks.
ISRO Scientist Syllabus Summary
ISRO does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. The advertisement only says Part A tests your own discipline and Part B tests aptitude. The summary below is built from the core engineering curriculum of each branch and the subjects asked in ISRO's previous papers. Use it as a working checklist, not an official list.
Discipline | Core subjects |
|---|---|
Electronics | Networks, electronic devices, analog and digital circuits, signals and systems, control systems, communication, electromagnetics, microprocessors |
Mechanical | Engineering mechanics, strength of materials, theory of machines, machine design, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, manufacturing, industrial engineering |
Computer Science | Data structures, algorithms, operating systems, DBMS, computer networks, computer organisation, theory of computation, compiler design, digital logic, discrete mathematics |
Aptitude (all) | Numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning |
The topic lists closely match the GATE syllabus for each branch.
ISRO Scientist Selection Process 2026
Written test (CBT): 100 marks, as per the pattern above.
Interview shortlisting: Candidates are called in a 1:5 ratio to vacancies, with at least 10 candidates per post.
Interview: 100 marks, assessed on the parameters below.
Final panel: Written test and interview marks carry 50% weightage each.
Interview parameter | Marks |
|---|---|
Technical knowledge | 40 |
General awareness | 20 |
Presentation and communication | 20 |
Comprehension | 10 |
Academic achievements | 10 |
Category | Minimum in written test | Minimum in interview | Minimum aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|
Unreserved | 50% | 50% | 60% |
PwBD (on identified posts) | 40% | 40% | 50% |
ISRO Scientist Salary and Career Growth
Element | Details |
|---|---|
Pay level | Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix |
Starting basic pay | Rs. 56,100 per month |
Allowances | Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance as per rules |
Other benefits | Medical facilities, Leave Travel Concession and group insurance as per rules |
The in-hand amount depends on the current DA rate and the city of posting, so it differs between, for example, Bengaluru and Sriharikota. Treat any in-hand figure you see online as indicative.
Scientists move up through grades SC, SD, SE, SF, SG and beyond. Promotions are based on merit reviews of work rather than seniority alone, which is why the career path appeals to engineers interested in research and missions.
ISRO Scientist Previous Cut-Off
ISRO published the written test cut-off for the 2023 advertisement (test held on 7 January 2024). Maximum marks differ by discipline because some questions were dropped.
Discipline | Cut-off, other than PwBD | Maximum marks (as per notice) |
|---|---|---|
Electronics (BE001) | 49.00 | 97 |
Mechanical (BE002) | 55.04 | 99 |
Computer Science (BE003) | 51.37 | 94 |
For the 2026 GATE route, the GATE score cut-off for interview (unreserved) was 690 for Electronics, 719 for Mechanical and 827 for Computer Science. Cut-offs change with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat these figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them.
How to Prepare for ISRO Scientist 2026
Start from previous papers: Solve the 2023 and 2025 official papers first. They show which subjects ISRO favours and the depth it expects.
Revise core subjects with GATE material: Standard GATE books and notes cover almost all of Part A. Focus on concepts that turn into quick one-mark questions.
Practise aptitude separately: Diagrammatic and abstract reasoning are not part of GATE, so give them 20 minutes a day.
Train for negative marking: In every mock, track how many marks you lose to wrong answers and set a rule for when to skip.
Prepare for the interview early: Revise your final-year project, core subjects and recent ISRO missions, since technical knowledge carries 40 of the 100 interview marks.