DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 77 Vacancies for Graduate, Diploma & ITI | Apply Now

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has been officially announced by Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun for 77 vacancies across Graduate, Diploma, and ITI categories. Eligible candidates with B.E./B.Tech, Diploma, or ITI qualifications with 60% marks can apply online via NATS 2.0 or NAPS Portal. Monthly stipend ranges from ₹10,560 to ₹12,300. Last date is 30 days from notification. Apply before the deadline!

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026

If you have been eyeing a chance to train inside one of India’s premier defence research labs, DRDO has just handed you the opportunity. The Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun has officially launched its Apprentice Recruitment 2026–27, opening doors for 77 candidates across Graduate, Diploma, and ITI trades. The advertisement number is DEAL/HRD/Apprenticeship/2026-27, published on 23 June 2026.

Whatsapp Channel में जुड़े Join Now

Telegram Channel में जुड़े Join Now

This is not your average apprenticeship. DEAL is a lab under DRDO — the organisation that powers India’s defence technology backbone. Working here, even as an apprentice for one year, gives you exposure that most engineering graduates can only read about in textbooks. The disciplines span electronics, computers, mechanical, electrical engineering, library science, and a wide range of ITI trades. Applications are accepted through two separate portals depending on your category — NATS 2.0 for Degree and Diploma holders, and NAPS for ITI candidates.

Let’s break down everything you need to know.

Releted Post

ERD Punjab Lecturer Vacancy 2026 — Apply for 829 Vacancies at erd.punjab.gov.in Indian Navy SSC Officer June 2027 Online Form for 275 Post Indian Navy SSC Officer Recruitment 2026 – 275 Vacancies, Apply Online by 27 July APSPDCL AEE Recruitment 2026 – 135 Vacancies, Apply Online from June 30 | Salary ₹75,000/Month RVUNL Recruitment 2026: 2005 Vacancies for JEN, Junior Accountant & Junior Assistant | Apply Online BRO Recruitment 2026 Notification Released for 899 Posts, Check Eligibility, Salary & Apply Process

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — Overview

Important Highlights

• 77 vacancies announced across Graduate (19), Diploma (08), and ITI (50) categories
• Training is conducted under the Apprentices Act-1961 and Apprentice Rules-1992
• Graduate and Diploma candidates apply via NATS 2.0 Portal (nats.education.gov.in); ITI candidates apply via NAPS Portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in)
• Minimum 60% marks required in qualifying degree for Graduate and Diploma applicants
• Monthly stipend funded 50% by DEAL and 50% by BOAT through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme
• No employment guarantee — this is a training engagement, not a permanent/contractual job offer
• Selection based on academic merit, written test, interview, or walk-in interview depending on the post

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Vacancy 2026 — Post-Wise Breakup

DEAL has released vacancies across three apprenticeship levels. Here is the complete breakup:

Your Trusted Source of Truth

Available As Preferred Source On

Note: Exact trade-wise individual vacancy counts for each ITI trade have not been separately listed in the notification. Candidates should refer to the official PDF for granular details.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

The minimum academic requirement differs by category. Here is a clean summary:

The 60% marks requirement applies to Degree and Diploma categories. ITI candidates need a valid national or state council trade certificate — no percentage threshold is separately stated for ITI applicants.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Age Limit

The notification does not specify a hard upper age cap, as the applicable rules flow directly from the Apprentices Act and portal guidelines.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Stipend

This is often the first question anyone asks — and fair enough. The monthly stipend structure is:

Releted Post

ERD Punjab Lecturer Vacancy 2026 — Apply for 829 Vacancies at erd.punjab.gov.in Indian Navy SSC Officer June 2027 Online Form for 275 Post Indian Navy SSC Officer Recruitment 2026 – 275 Vacancies, Apply Online by 27 July APSPDCL AEE Recruitment 2026 – 135 Vacancies, Apply Online from June 30 | Salary ₹75,000/Month RVUNL Recruitment 2026: 2005 Vacancies for JEN, Junior Accountant & Junior Assistant | Apply Online BRO Recruitment 2026 Notification Released for 899 Posts, Check Eligibility, Salary & Apply Process

These are the rates prescribed by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The stipend is split 50-50 between DEAL and the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) under the DBT scheme, meaning the amount lands directly in your bank account — no delays, no middlemen.

Honestly, for a one-year training stint inside a DRDO lab in Dehradun, ₹12,300 for a fresh B.Tech graduate is modest. But the experience and the DRDO name on your CV? That’s worth considerably more in the long run.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

The notification does not mention any application fee. Since applications are routed through central government portals (NATS 2.0 / NAPS), no registration or processing charges apply to candidates.

Selection Process

DEAL’s selection process is flexible and depends on the category and number of applicants. Here’s how it works:

There is no physical/fitness test involved since these are technical training apprenticeships, not uniformed service roles.

Important Dates

Important: The exact calendar last date works out to approximately 23 July 2026, counting 30 days from 23 June 2026. However, candidates must verify the official closing date on drdo.gov.in or the respective portal before submitting their application.

Required Documents

Keep these documents ready before you begin the application process:

• 10th class marksheet and certificate (for age proof)
• 12th class marksheet (for relevant qualifications)
• B.E./B.Tech. / Diploma / ITI degree certificate and final marksheet
• NCVT/SCVT certificate (ITI candidates)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC) if applicable
• PwD certificate if applicable
• Passport-size photograph (recent)
• Valid identity proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, or Passport)
• Bank account details (for DBT stipend credit)
• Valid email ID and mobile number (for portal registration)

How To Apply for DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026

The application process is portal-specific. Follow the correct path based on your category.

For Graduate & Diploma Candidates (NATS 2.0 Portal):

• Step 1: Visit the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in
• Step 2: Register as a new candidate if you don’t have an existing account
• Step 3: Log in using your registered credentials
• Step 4: Search for DEAL using the DEAL ID: NUKDDC000015
• Step 5: Select the appropriate vacancy matching your discipline
• Step 6: Fill in all required details and upload necessary documents
• Step 7: Submit your application and save/print the confirmation

For ITI Candidates (NAPS Portal):

• Step 1: Visit the NAPS portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in
• Step 2: Register/log in to your candidate account
• Step 3: Go to My Opportunities → All Opportunities → Filter
• Step 4: Search using the establishment name: “Defence Electronics Application Laboratory” or Establishment Code: E01160500005
• Step 5: Locate the relevant trade vacancy and click Apply
• Step 6: Complete the application form and upload all required documents
• Step 7: Submit and download your application acknowledgement

Why This Recruitment Matters — An Honest Take

Let me be upfront about something: DEAL does not offer a job at the end of this apprenticeship. The notification says it clearly — no permanent, temporary, or contractual employment at DEAL or DRDO after the training ends.

So why should you bother? Because real-world exposure inside a DRDO lab is genuinely rare. DEAL specifically works on defence electronics systems — radar, communication equipment, and electronic warfare systems. Even one year of hands-on training in that environment sharpens your technical skills in ways that coursework simply cannot.

For recent engineering graduates or ITI pass-outs sitting at home after results, this is a productive way to spend a year, earn a stipend, and add a government-sector research lab to your resume. Private sector recruiters notice it. PSU interviews notice it. And if DRDO ever opens regular positions in your field, having completed an apprenticeship here is a legitimate advantage.

The stipend is not a fortune — but it’s not nothing either. ₹12,300 per month in Dehradun covers essentials comfortably, especially if you’re living with family or sharing accommodation.

Preparation Tips

This is an apprenticeship, not a competitive examination — but shortlisting is merit-based, and some posts involve a written test or interview. Here’s how to prepare sensibly:

• Brush up your core subject fundamentals. For electronics candidates, focus on circuits, communication systems, and signal processing. For mechanical and electrical, revisit machine design and power systems basics.
• Your CGPA matters here. Since academic merit is a shortlisting criterion for many posts, there’s no additional exam to crack — your marks speak for themselves. Make sure your certificates are accurate and updated.
• For written test posts: Review the basics of your engineering discipline — there’s no official syllabus released, but standard B.Tech semester paper patterns are a reliable starting point.
• For walk-in interview posts: Dress professionally, carry all original documents, and be ready to speak clearly about your project work, final year subjects, and why you want to work at DEAL.
• ITI candidates: Ensure your NCVT/SCVT certificate is in order and that your trade matches the advertised vacancy code exactly — a mismatch in trade name can result in rejection.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 FAQ

Q1. Has the DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026 notification been officially released? Yes. The notification was published on 23 June 2026 under Advertisement No. DEAL/HRD/Apprenticeship/2026-27 on the official DRDO website.

Q2. What is the total number of vacancies? There are approximately 77 vacancies — 19 for Graduate Apprentices, 08 for Diploma Apprentices, and 50 for ITI Apprentices.

Q3. What is the minimum qualification needed to apply? For Graduate posts: B.E./B.Tech. with 60% marks. For Diploma posts: Diploma in Engineering with 60% marks. For ITI posts: ITI pass with NCVT/SCVT certificate in the relevant trade.

Q4. What is the last date to apply for DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026? The last date is within 30 days of the official notification being published on drdo.gov.in. That works out to approximately 23 July 2026. Verify the exact date on the official website.

Q5. Is there any application fee? No. The notification does not mention any application fee, and applications are submitted through government portals (NATS 2.0 / NAPS) free of charge.

Q6. What is the monthly stipend for DEAL Apprentices? Graduate Apprentices receive ₹12,300/month, Diploma Apprentices ₹10,900/month, and ITI Apprentices ₹10,560/month as stipend.

Q7. Will I get a permanent job at DRDO after completing the training? No. The notification explicitly states that no employment — permanent, temporary, or contractual — will be offered at DEAL or DRDO after the apprenticeship ends.

Q8. Which portal should I use to apply? Graduate and Diploma candidates must apply through the NATS 2.0 Portal (nats.education.gov.in). ITI candidates must apply through the NAPS Portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in).

Q9. What is the duration of training? The apprenticeship training is for one year, starting from the date of execution of the apprenticeship contract.

Q10. Is there an upper age limit? The minimum age is 18 years. The upper age limit and relaxations are as per the Apprentices Act-1961, Apprentice Rules-1992, and the respective portal guidelines.

DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Final Words

The DRDO DEAL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is one of those golden windows that doesn’t stay open long — 30 days is not a lot of time. If your qualifications match and you have been looking for a structured way to build your professional foundation in the defence electronics space, this is worth every minute of effort to apply.

Check the official notification PDF, confirm your eligibility once more, and complete your application on the correct portal before the deadline. Missing out on this because of a missed deadline or a wrong portal would be genuinely unfortunate.

Applications are online, free of cost, and relatively straightforward. There’s no reason to delay.

Useful Important Links