The ISRO Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB), and it’s one of the most exciting central government opportunities this year — not just for the job security, but for the chance to work with one of India’s most respected organizations. With postings available across multiple zones, including Hyderabad and Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, this is a genuinely strong opportunity for graduates in South India as well as across the country.
This notification covers four Group C positions — Assistant, Junior Personal Assistant (JPA), Upper Division Clerk (UDC), and Stenographer — with over 200 combined vacancies. Unlike many recruitment drives with vague timelines, ISRO has already declared the exam date upfront, giving applicants a clear preparation window. Here’s a complete breakdown of eligibility, vacancy details, exam pattern, and exactly how to apply.
Table of Contents
About ISRO Recruitment 2026
This recruitment notification is issued by ISRO’s Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) under the Department of Space, Government of India. It covers permanent Group C cadre positions across ISRO’s various centres, including a separate set of vacancies for an autonomous institution functioning under the Department of Space.
A notable highlight of this notification is that ISRO has declared the written exam date well in advance — September 21, 2026 — giving candidates a defined timeline to prepare, rather than waiting indefinitely for exam scheduling after the application window closes.
Vacancy Details by Post and Zone
Assistant
Vacancies for the Assistant post are spread across the following zones:
| Zone | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 27 |
| Bengaluru | 26 |
| Hyderabad | 13 |
| Mahendragiri (Tamil Nadu) | 7 |
| New Delhi | 1 |
| Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) | 32 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 6 |
| Total | 113 |
Junior Personal Assistant (JPA)
| Zone | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 21 |
| Bengaluru | 19 |
| Hyderabad | 2 |
| Mahendragiri | 2 |
| Sriharikota | 14 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 21 |
| Total | ~81 |
Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
- Bengaluru only: 22 vacancies
Stenographer
- Bengaluru only: 10 vacancies
Additional Vacancies (Autonomous Institution Under Department of Space)
| Post | Zone | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant | Ahmedabad | 11 |
| Assistant | Sriharikota | 3 |
| Assistant | Thiruvananthapuram | 3 |
| Junior Personal Assistant | Ahmedabad | 1 |
Important update: Vacancies for Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram zones were later increased through an addendum notification. Always check the latest official notification for the most current vacancy figures before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Assistant and Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
- Qualification: Graduation in any discipline (B.A., B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, or any other stream) with a minimum of 60% marks
- Additional Requirement: Basic computer proficiency/computer knowledge
- Experience: No prior work experience required
Junior Personal Assistant (JPA) and Stenographer
- Qualification: Graduation in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks
- Additional Requirement: Typing speed and stenography skills are required for these specific posts
- Experience: No prior work experience required
Since the degree stream isn’t restricted for any of these four posts, candidates from BA, B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, or any other graduation background are all eligible to apply, as long as the minimum percentage requirement is met.
Age Limit
Candidates must be below 28 years of age as of the application closing date, with the following relaxations:
- OBC candidates: Up to 31 years
- SC/ST candidates: Up to 33 years
- Ex-servicemen: As per applicable government norms
Age will be calculated based on the closing date mentioned in the official notification, so candidates should confirm their eligibility against the extended deadline rather than the originally announced one.
Salary and Benefits
All four posts fall under Pay Level 4, with a minimum basic pay of ₹25,500. Including standard allowances, the total starting salary works out to above ₹40,000 per month.
As this is a pure central government service under the Department of Space, selected candidates are also entitled to additional benefits, including:
- Medical facilities for self and dependents
- Canteen facility at the workplace
- Standard central government service benefits and job security
Application Fee and Refund Policy
The application fee structure works as follows:
- All candidates, irrespective of category, must pay ₹500 at the time of application.
- After appearing for the written examination, a partial refund is processed — candidates who appear for the exam are refunded a portion of the fee, with a nominal amount retained for processing.
- The refund is applicable only to candidates who actually appear for the written exam; those who do not appear are not eligible for a refund.
Since the exact refund breakdown can vary and the transcript source for this detail was not entirely clear, candidates should verify the precise refund amount directly in the official notification before applying.
How to Apply Online
Applications must be submitted through the official ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) website. Here’s the general process:
- Visit the official ISRO recruitment notification page and locate this specific advertisement.
- Read the detailed notification carefully, noting the advertisement number for reference, since related updates (such as date extensions or vacancy revisions) are issued under the same reference number.
- Register on the online application portal using a valid, active email ID and mobile number — hall ticket and further communication will be sent only to these contact details.
- Fill in your personal, educational, and category details accurately.
- Upload the required photograph and signature in JPG format, following the exact size specifications mentioned in the notification.
- Select the specific post and zone you wish to apply for. Important: if applying for the Assistant post, you may only apply to one zone per application — you cannot apply to multiple zones for the same post in a single window.
- Pay the ₹500 application fee online.
- Review your application carefully before final submission, and save or print the confirmation for your records.
Candidates are permitted to apply for multiple different posts (for example, both Assistant and UDC) if eligible, but only one application per post per zone is allowed.
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
Selection for all four posts follows a two-stage process: a written examination followed by a skill test. The final merit list, however, is based entirely on the written exam score — the skill test is qualifying in nature.
Written Exam: Assistant and UDC
- Format: Single objective-type paper
- Duration: 150 minutes
- Total Questions: 200 questions for 200 marks
- Sections: General English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Knowledge
- Marking Scheme: 1 mark for each correct answer; 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
Written Exam: Junior Personal Assistant (JPA) and Stenographer
- Format: Single objective-type paper
- Duration: 150 minutes
- Sections:
- English Language Comprehension — 100 questions, 100 marks
- General Intelligence & Reasoning — 50 questions, 50 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude & General Knowledge — 50 questions, 50 marks
- Marking Scheme: 1 mark for each correct answer; 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
Qualifying Criteria
- Candidates need a combined 50% score across all sections to qualify (relaxed to 40% for reserved category candidates).
- Qualified candidates are called for the skill test in a 1:5 ratio based on merit (i.e., five candidates called for skill test per available vacancy).
Skill Test
- Assistant and UDC: A computer proficiency test covering MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
- JPA and Stenographer: The same computer proficiency test, plus an additional stenography test.
- The skill test is qualifying only — candidates need a minimum of 60% to pass, but skill test marks are not added to the final merit score.
Final Selection
Final selection and merit ranking are based solely on the written examination score. The skill test only determines whether a candidate passes or fails; it does not contribute to the ranking itself.
Exam Centres
The written exam will be conducted at 38 centres across India, including Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam for candidates from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — meaning applicants from these states won’t need to travel far to appear for the exam.
Important Dates (Including Extension)
- Original Last Date to Apply: August 16, 2026
- Extended Last Date to Apply: August 20, 2026 (fee payment also accepted until this date)
- Written Exam Date: September 21, 2026
Since the deadline has already been extended once, and vacancies in the Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram zones were increased through the same addendum, candidates should refer to the latest official notification under the same advertisement number for the most current details before applying.
| Details | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Detailed Notification | Click Here |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying to multiple zones for the same post. For posts like Assistant, only one zone can be selected per application — attempting to apply to more than one zone for the same post is not permitted.
- Using an inactive email ID or mobile number. Since hall tickets and all further communication are sent only to the registered contact details, an inactive or incorrect entry could mean missing your exam call letter entirely.
- Ignoring the extended deadline and vacancy updates. Since both the last date and vacancy numbers were revised after the original notification, relying on outdated information could lead to missing the correct deadline.
- Underestimating the skill test requirement for JPA/Stenographer posts. Candidates applying for these posts need genuine typing and stenography proficiency — this isn’t optional despite being separate from the final merit score.
- Uploading photos/signatures in the wrong format or size. The notification specifies exact JPG format and size requirements — deviating from these can result in application rejection.
- Not preparing early despite the exam date being known. Since ISRO has already announced the exam date (September 21, 2026), there’s no reason to delay preparation until closer to the deadline.
Expert Tips for Applicants
- Start preparing immediately since the exam date is already fixed. Unlike many notifications where the exam date is announced late, this gives you a clear runway to prepare systematically.
- Focus on accuracy given the negative marking. With 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer, avoid guessing on questions you’re genuinely unsure about.
- Practice typing and stenography early if applying for JPA/Stenographer posts, since skill test proficiency takes time to build and cannot be crammed close to the exam date.
- Double-check your zone selection before submitting, since you cannot apply to multiple zones for the same post, and this choice affects both your exam centre convenience and vacancy competition.
- Keep your registered email and phone accessible throughout the process, since missing a hall ticket notification due to an inactive contact detail is an entirely avoidable risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for ISRO Recruitment 2026?
The originally announced last date was August 16, 2026, but it has been extended to August 20, 2026, along with an increase in vacancies for the Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram zones.
2. When is the ISRO Recruitment 2026 written exam?
The written examination is scheduled for September 21, 2026, across all four posts covered under this notification.
3. Is prior work experience required for these posts?
No. None of the four posts — Assistant, JPA, UDC, or Stenographer — require any prior work experience.
4. Can candidates from any degree background apply?
Yes. There is no restriction on the specific degree stream; candidates with any graduation degree and a minimum of 60% marks are eligible, as long as they meet the additional skill requirements for their target post.
Conclusion
The ISRO Recruitment 2026 notification offers a rare and valuable opportunity to join one of India’s most respected government organizations, with over 200 vacancies across Assistant, JPA, UDC, and Stenographer posts, open to graduates from any degree stream. With the exam date already announced and postings available in Hyderabad and Sriharikota, candidates from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have a genuine home-state opportunity worth pursuing.
Since the application deadline has already been extended once, don’t wait until the last moment — apply well before August 20, 2026, and begin your preparation immediately given the confirmed exam date of September 21, 2026.
Looking for more government opportunities like this? Check out the latest government job notifications on FreshersDrives.com and stay updated on upcoming recruitment drives.
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