ISRO Scientist Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age, Qualification

The ISRO Scientist eligibility criteria decide who can apply for Scientist/Engineer 'SC', the entry-level technical post at the Indian Space Research Organisation. For the 2026 computer-based test (CBT) under Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026, the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) asked for a BE/B.Tech in Electronics, Mechanical or Computer Science with at least 65% marks or a CGPA of 6.84, and an upper age limit of 28 years as on 16 September 2026.

The rules look short, but ISRO applies them strictly. This page explains each condition using the advertisement and ISRO's official FAQs: accepted allied branches, equivalent degrees, how the 65% rule works with CGPA, the course-duration rule, age relaxation and the most common reasons applications are rejected. It also compares the CBT route with ISRO's separate GATE-score route.

Table of Contents

• ISRO Scientist Eligibility at a Glance

• Educational Qualification

• Accepted Allied Branches

• Equivalent Degrees and Degrees Not Accepted

• The 65% or CGPA 6.84 Rule Explained

• Course Duration Rule

• Can Final-Year Students Apply?

• Age Limit and Age Relaxation

• Nationality and Other Conditions

• Who Is Not Eligible

• CBT Route vs GATE Route Eligibility

• Eligibility Checklist

ISRO Scientist Eligibility 2026 at a Glance

The application window for this cycle closed on 16 September 2026, and the CBT is on 29 October 2026. These rules are still the best guide for future ISRO advertisements, which have generally followed the same rules.

ISRO Scientist Educational Qualification

Each post code is tied to one engineering discipline. You can only apply for the post that matches your degree.

Post codes ending in "A" are single posts at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), an autonomous body under the Department of Space. The qualification is the same. The advertisement also requires the degree to be completed within the duration prescribed by the university, which is explained below.

Accepted Allied Branches

Your degree does not need to carry the exact branch name in the table above. ISRO's official FAQs list allied branches it accepts under each discipline. The main ones are:

The FAQs list more variants of these names. In practice, the drop-down menu on the application form is final: ISRO says only the qualifications shown there are eligible. If your exact branch name is missing, contact the ICRB cell before applying rather than choosing the nearest match.

Equivalent Degrees and Degrees Not Accepted

Equivalent Degrees ISRO Accepts

• B.E. and B.Tech: The standard four-year engineering degrees.

• B.Sc. (Engineering): Accepted as an equivalent qualification.

• Lateral entry: Diploma plus B.E./B.Tech and B.Sc. plus B.E./B.Tech through lateral entry are both listed as equivalent.

• AMIE and Grad IETE: Accepted, but the 65% or CGPA 6.84 requirement applies to Section B marks alone. AMIE candidates who registered after 31 May 2013 are not eligible.

• Part-time degrees: A B.E./B.Tech earned part-time is accepted, subject to all other conditions.

Degrees ISRO Does Not Accept

• MCA: Not eligible, even with marks above 65%.

• Distance or correspondence degrees: Not eligible.

• A higher degree to make up for a low B.Tech score: An M.E. or M.Tech does not help if your B.E./B.Tech aggregate is below 65%. ISRO checks only the graduation-level marks.

The 65% or CGPA 6.84 Rule Explained

The marks rule is where most doubtful applications fail. The advertisement and FAQs set out these points:

• Aggregate means the average of all semesters: It is calculated across all semesters for which results are available.

• No relaxation for any category: The 65% or 6.84 threshold is the same for every candidate.

• No conversion in either direction: You cannot convert CGPA into a percentage, or a percentage into CGPA, to meet the cut-off, even if your university prescribes a formula.

• If the certificate shows both: Where your marksheet shows both CGPA and percentage, meeting either one is enough.

• If the certificate shows only CGPA: Your CGPA itself must be 6.84 or more.

• Dual or integrated degrees: If graduation and post-graduation scores are shown separately, only the graduation-level score counts.

Course Duration Rule

The degree must be completed within the minimum period stipulated by the university. ISRO's FAQs give a direct example: a candidate who took five years to finish a four-year course because of backlogs is not eligible, even with an aggregate above 65%.

This rule catches many candidates who meet the marks requirement. If you had a year back or an extended semester, check this condition first before spending time on preparation.

Can Final-Year Students Apply?

The 2026 advertisement and FAQs do not contain a separate clause on final-year or results-awaited candidates. The marks rule refers to "all semesters for which results are available", but the advertisement does not state a cut-off date for completing the degree.

If you are in your final year when a future advertisement is released, read its qualification clause closely and confirm with the ICRB cell using the contact details at the end of the official FAQs. Do not rely on unofficial pages for this point.

ISRO Scientist Age Limit and Age Relaxation

Age Relaxation

The advertisement extends age relaxation only to three groups, as per Government of India orders. It does not list the number of years. The figures below are the commonly applied central government norms and are indicative only; confirm the limit for your case before applying.

No Category-Wise Relaxation in the 2026 CBT Advertisement

The 2026 CBT advertisement does not publish a UR, OBC, SC, ST or EWS split of posts, and it does not mention age relaxation for SC, ST or OBC candidates. This differs from ISRO's GATE-route advertisement of July 2026, which reserved posts by category and allowed OBC candidates born on or after 18 August 1995 and SC/ST candidates born on or after 18 August 1993. If a future CBT advertisement reserves posts, its relaxation clause will apply instead.

Nationality and Other Conditions

• Nationality: Only Indian nationals can apply.

• PwBD reservation: Reservation on identified posts is available only to candidates with at least 40% of the relevant disability. The advertisement identifies five categories: visual, hearing, locomotor, intellectual and related disabilities, and multiple disabilities.

• NOC for employed candidates: Candidates working in central or state government, PSUs or autonomous bodies must produce a No Objection Certificate from their employer at the interview. Without it, you are not allowed to appear, and travel allowance is not paid.

• One application per post: If duplicate applications are submitted, only the one with the application fee received by the last date is considered.

• Posting and service: Selected candidates can be posted to any ISRO or Department of Space centre in India. The posts are permanent but remain temporary until probation is completed.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Candidates with less than 65% aggregate and less than CGPA 6.84 at graduation level.

• Candidates who completed their degree beyond the prescribed course duration.

• MCA holders, and candidates with distance or correspondence degrees.

• Candidates from branches outside the discipline and its allied list.

• Candidates older than 28 years on 16 September 2026 who do not fall under a relaxation category.

• Non-Indian nationals.

ISRO Scientist CBT Route vs GATE Route Eligibility

Eligibility Checklist Before You Apply

1. Match your branch: Confirm your degree is in the discipline or its allied list, and appears in the form's drop-down menu.

2. Check your marks as printed: Use the percentage or CGPA shown on your marksheet, without any conversion.

3. Check your course duration: Make sure you finished within the minimum period set by your university.

4. Check your date of birth: Count your age as on the reference date and apply any relaxation only if you qualify for it.

5. Arrange your NOC early: If you are employed, request the NOC from your employer before the interview stage.

Always confirm the final rules in the Advertisement ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 and the official FAQs on isro.gov.in.