Is defence research your call?

DRDO, a Government of India organisation, is hiring scientists. Here is what you need to know to get started.

About DRDO

The DRDO is one of the nation's leading research and development institute that recruits brilliant, competent and skilled scientists in Group 'A' (gazetted) technical service, known as Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS). The DRDO offers exhilarating and demanding career prospects in a very wide range of R&D at its more than 50 laboratories throughout the nation. The organisation is dedicatedly working towards enhancing self-reliance in defence systems and undertakes design and development leading to the production of world-class weapon systems and equipment in accordance to the expressed needs and the qualitative requirements laid down by the three services — Army, Navy, and Air Force. This includes areas such as aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation, and life sciences.

Recruitment process

The Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) undertakes various recruitment programmes to induct scientists each year in a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines relevant to the DRDO laboratories. Every year, the centre recruits scientists mostly at entry-level (Scientist 'B'). However, depending on the requirements in specialised areas of research and development, a limited number of scientists are also recruited in higher grades (Scientist 'C' to Scientist 'H'). The RAC has released a notification for GATE qualifiers for recruitment of Scientist 'B' in DRDO. The recruitment will be completely based on GATE Result.

Qualification:

• Engineering disciplines (ECE, Mechanical, Computer Science, Chemical, Electrical, Aeronautical, Civil, Instrumentation, Textile, Production / Industrial Production), 1st class Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (BE) or Technology (B.Tech) in the discipline concerned.
• Science disciplines (Food Science, Geology, Material Science, Metallurgy, Maths, Physics, Chemistry), at least 1st class Master's Degree in discipline concerned.

Recruitment through GATE:

The online application form of the DRDO recruitment through GATE 2019 was available from August 10. The last date to apply for DRDO recruitment through GATE was August 31. Interested and eligible candidates had to first fill their application form through GATE 2019 and pay application fee of Rs 100 (SC/ST/PwD/ female candidates are exempted) on or before August 31. The DRDO is recruiting scientists 'B', through GATE scores. Shortlisted candidates for Scientist 'B' posts will also have to appear for a written descriptive test followed by a personal interview after which their recruitment will be finalised.

Examination 2020

It is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of the Ministry of Defence for posting of junior research fellows. The DRDO exam is of three hours, consisting of two sections -- Section 'A' of 100 questions to test the candidate's knowledge in the subject of their BE/ BTech (for Engg discipline) or MSc (for Science discipline) and Section 'B' of 50 questions to adjudge the candidate's ability in analytical and qualitative skills, current affairs and general awareness to test the aptitude and scientific knowledge required for applied research and development. Based on the organisation's requirements, a DRDO SET is conducted in engineering subjects such as Aero, Civil, Electrical, Chemical, Computer, Electronics/Electronics & Communication, Instrumentation, Mechanical, Metallurgy etc and Science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Maths/ Operations Research/ Statistics etc.

Selection Criteria

The final selection of the candidates is based on GATE 2020 scores and personal interview. As much as 80% weightage is given to the GATE score and 20% weightage to personal interview. A candidate must secure a minimum of 70% (for general candidates) and 60% (for OBC/SC/ST/PWD) in personal interview to get selected.

The offer of appointment to the selected candidates is limited to the number of vacancies in order of merit. In the case of Group 'A' technical posts with field service liability, the appointment is based on satisfying conditions, like qualifying the medical examination and verification of required documents.

— (Inputs from Geetu Vaid)

Eligibility

•  A candidate must be an Indian national.
• He/she must have scored a minimum of 60% marks in the qualifying exam. In cases where the conversion formula is not obtainable, CGPA/CPI of 6.75 (for a 10 point scale) will be taken as equivalent to 60%, as per AICTE guidelines.
• A candidate having knowledge of German, French, Russian, Japanese or Chinese language is desirable. But it is not compulsory.
• The maximum age of the candidate must be 28 years as on closing date April 10, 2020. Age relaxation will be as per government directions.
• Final-year students are eligible to apply, only if they submit their final marks sheet by August 10, 2020.

ABOUT GATE

• The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a computer-based standardised test held at the national level to examine the understanding of various engineering and science undergraduate subjects. In the last couple of years, GATE has been opened to students from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and the UAE.
• Having a GATE score of more than 890 provides the maximum chance of an interview call for DRDO scientist/ engineer. If there is a vacancy of more than 25, you can even get a call up to score 840.

Important dates for examination procedure

• Application forms available from March 20, 2020 (tentative)
• Online application closing date April 10, 2020 (tentative)
• Personal Interviews may start in May.

GATE Sample Paper

1. The sum and product of two integers are 26 and 165, respectively. The difference between these two integers is _______.

A. 2 B. 4

C. 6 D. 3

2. John Thomas, a __________ writer, passed away in 2018.

A. prominent

B. imminent

C. eminent

D. dominant

3. The minister avoided any mention of the issue of women's reservation in the private sector. He was accused of _________ the issue.

A. skirting B. tying

C. belting D. collaring

4. A worker noticed that the hour hand on the factory clock had moved by 225 degrees during her stay at the factory. For how long did she stay in the factory?

A. 7.5 hours

B. 4 hours and 15 mins

C. 3.75 hours

D. 8.5 hours

5. _________ I permitted him to leave, I wouldn't have had any problem with him being absent, _______I?

A. Have, wouldn't

B. Had, wouldn't

C. Have, would

D. Had, would