ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC Eligibility 2026: Age, Degree and Marks

ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC eligibility for the 2026 cycle depends on three things: the right engineering degree, a minimum score of 65% or a CGPA of 6.84 out of 10, and an age of not more than 28 years on 16 September 2026. The rules come from advertisement ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 and its FAQs, published by the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB).

Most rejections at this stage happen because of small technicalities, such as how a CGPA is shown on a certificate or whether a course was completed within the stipulated time. This page walks through each rule, the common disqualifiers and the points where candidates usually get confused. Check the exact text of the advertisement before you apply, because rules can differ between ISRO cycles.

Table of Contents

ISRO Eligibility

Who Can Apply: The Basic Conditions

Before looking at marks and age, make sure you meet these basic conditions:

• Indian nationality: only Indian nationals are eligible to apply.

• NCS registration: applicants must be registered on the National Career Services portal.

• One valid email ID: the hall ticket and call letters are sent to your registered email only.

• One application per post: submit a single application for a post. If you submit duplicates, only the one for which the fee was received by the deadline is considered.

• Online mode only: offline or paper applications are not accepted.

Educational Qualification

The essential qualification is a BE/B.Tech or equivalent degree in the discipline for which you apply. The FAQs list the courses that are treated as a degree or equivalent: B.E., B.Tech, B.Sc.(Engineering), lateral-entry routes such as a Diploma or B.Sc. followed by B.E./B.Tech, and AMIE, subject to conditions.

The course must be completed within the minimum period set by the university for that course. If your degree took longer than the stipulated duration, discuss it with the ICRB helpdesk before paying the fee, because completion within the stipulated time is an explicit condition.

Minimum Marks: 65 Percent or CGPA 6.84

The advertisement asks for a minimum of 65% marks in aggregate or a CGPA/CPI of 6.84 on a 10-point scale. The FAQs state that there is no relaxation in educational qualification or marks for any category, and that a CGPA of 6.5 is not enough.

How percentage and CGPA are treated

If you are in the last category, read the full wording in the advertisement and write to [email protected] before the application window closes. A conversion formula printed by your university does not change the position, because ISRO does not accept conversion either way.

Use the aggregate across all semesters, not the final-year figure alone. The aggregate must also be what your university certificate shows, so keep your final mark sheets or degree certificate ready.

Eligible Branches by Post Code

The advertisement names the disciplines as Electronics and Communication, Mechanical and Computer Science Engineering. The FAQs list the accepted specialisations and allied branches for each post code in detail. If your degree title is unusual, for example a dual specialisation, check that list instead of assuming.

Special Cases: Equivalent Degrees, Part-Time, Final-Year and Higher Degrees

M.E./M.Tech holders

A master's degree alone does not qualify. M.E./M.Tech candidates must also satisfy the BE/B.Tech requirement, including the 65% or 6.84 norm at the bachelor's level.

MCA and similar degrees

The FAQs say that MCA is not eligible for these posts.

Part-time and correspondence degrees

Correspondence degrees are not eligible. Part-time degrees are accepted, subject to all other conditions in the advertisement.

Candidates still pursuing the degree

The FAQs say that pursuing candidates are eligible subject to completing the BE/B.Tech in first class with the minimum aggregate of 65%. The advertisement text we reviewed does not state a result deadline, so confirm the deadline for submitting your final result in the official PDF.

AMIE candidates

For AMIE, the marks norm must be met in Section B alone. Candidates registered for AMIE after 31 May 2013 are not considered under this advertisement.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The maximum age is 28 years as on 16 September 2026. The age reference date is the same as the last date for applications.

The text of the advertisement that we reviewed does not list a year-wise relaxation for OBC, SC or ST candidates, so do not assume one. Another ISRO advertisement, the GATE-based recruitment, uses date-of-birth cut-offs for these categories. That does not automatically apply here. Read the age clause of the current advertisement to see exactly what it grants, and write to the ICRB helpdesk if the wording is unclear.

Your age is calculated from the date of birth on your matriculation or secondary school certificate. Make sure the date entered in the application matches it exactly.

Nationality and Other Conditions

• Medical and physical standards: the advertisement does not list separate physical standards for the written-test route. Appointment is subject to the usual medical requirements of the Department of Space.

• Posting: selected candidates can be posted to any ISRO or Department of Space centre or unit and are liable to be transferred.

• Canvassing: any form of canvassing leads to disqualification.

• Correct details: the registered email, category and test city are binding. Edits are not allowed after submission, and the category cannot be changed after 16 September 2026.

• Test city: the centre you choose cannot be changed later.

PwBD Candidates

Candidates with disabilities who claim reservation need at least 40% of the relevant disability. A self-attested disability certificate in the prescribed format, showing the percentage, must be submitted at the interview. It must be issued by a medical board of at least three members, one of whom is a specialist in the relevant field. If your certificate is a manual one, digitise it on the UDID portal in advance.

The vacancies are notified for specific disability categories, and many are backlog vacancies. If no suitable candidate is available in a notified category, the post may be filled by interchange among the disability categories and finally by a non-PwBD candidate. Read the vacancy table in the advertisement for the category that fits you.

Employed Candidates and the NOC

If you are employed under the Centre, a State, a PSU or an autonomous body, you must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer at the interview. Candidates who cannot produce the original NOC will not be allowed to attend the interview. Private and MNC employees do not need an NOC. If you have less than three years of continuous service, select "No" in the relevant question of the application, but still carry the NOC if you are shortlisted.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Below the marks norm: anyone under 65% or CGPA 6.84, including candidates at 6.5 CGPA.

• Master's-only candidates: M.E./M.Tech holders who do not meet the bachelor's norm.

• MCA holders: as stated in the FAQs.

• Correspondence degree holders: not eligible.

• Late AMIE registrants: registered after 31 May 2013.

• Over-age candidates: above 28 years on 16 September 2026 without a valid relaxation.

• Course not completed on time: degrees completed after the university's stipulated period.

• Non-Indian nationals.

Fee and Documents in Brief

Every candidate pays a processing fee of Rs. 750, of which Rs. 250 is the non-refundable application fee. Women, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates who appear in the written test receive the full processing fee back, and other candidates who appear receive Rs. 500. Upload a recent photograph and your signature in the prescribed format.

Once your eligibility is clear, the next step is knowing what you are preparing for. For the primary source, open the official ISRO ICRB notification page and read the advertisement and FAQs in full.