Career Growth Of DRDO Scientists And Technical Staff
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), established by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, is responsible for the production of weapon systems and technologies used by our armed forces. The defence sector of our country is dominated by government participation. In this article, we will briefly discuss the career trajectory of scientists working at DRDO.
DRDO plays a crucial role in designing and developing advanced defence technologies, from missiles to cutting-edge electronics. It contributes significantly to strengthening India's defence capabilities focusing on innovation and security
DRDO offers job opportunities in three roles.
Scientist
The defence sector of our country is moving towards being more self-sufficient. To achieve this motto the sector needs to be technologically and scientifically up to date. DRDO appoints capable scientists across nine grades, where Scientist 'B' junior scientist and Scientist 'H' are senior scientist, then there is Distinguished Scientist (DS) and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D (Research and Development).
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Qualification And Appointment Procedure
To become ‘Scientist 'B’ at DRDO you have to either qualify for the ‘Scientist Entry Test’ (SET) or can even be directly appointed through the Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC). RAC is the primary body set-up for appointments and testing of scientists at different levels of DRDO.
To be eligible for the SET exam, candidates must possess a first-class bachelor's degree with a minimum of 60 per cent marks in fields like engineering, technology, electronics, communication, mechanical engineering, or computer science.
In case of a direct entry for the position of ‘Scientist B’ the candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their GATE score, followed by an interview. The scientist appointed at this also moves up in the hierarchy through the merit-based assessment process.
Some scientists are also appointed by lateral entry for middle and senior positions (from Scientist 'C' to Scientist 'H') based on their qualifications and experience in specialised fields related to DRDO.
Promotion Through Assessment
The assessment process for scientists in DRDO, particularly for promotion from grades ‘B/C/D/E’ to the next higher grade, is a rigorous and thorough evaluation. Each assessment board is led by the Chairman of RAC or a co-chairperson, alongside a panel of esteemed scientists and technologists. This diverse panel assesses both academic foundations and applied research and development.
The interview process involves a presentation made by the scientist. During the presentation, the scientist focuses on personal achievements and future plans. Subsequently, board members interact with the scientist, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation. The scientists are further promoted on the basis of their calibre.
For higher grades ('F' to 'G' and 'G' to 'H'), promotions are based on the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) evaluation, peer committee assessment, and residency requirements. Scientists with consistent exceptional performance may receive special pay.
The ‘peer committee’ considers attributes like research quality, task completion, leadership, and managerial skills for promotions to higher grades. This same committee also assesses 'G' grade scientists for 'H' and recommends the title of Distinguished Scientist.
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Training
After recruiting personnel for the position of “Scientist B”, DRDO provides training programmes for personnel development through the Institute of Technology Management (ITM), DIAT Pune and also goes in collaboration with institutions like IITs and IISc. Annually, ITM conducts around 35 training programs, benefitting 1000 professionals. Opportunities for foreign training and presentations are also available.
A career trajectory as a scientist in DRDO offers not only a chance to contribute to India's defence capabilities but also personal growth and professional development. Scientists at DRDO are at the forefront of innovation and research, driving advancements in defence technology and national security. If someone is looking for a career that's dynamic and offers a clear trajectory for growth, DRDO could be a perfect option.
Along with scientists, there are three more positions that DRDO hires including:
Technical Staff at DRDO
The selection of candidates for direct recruitment of Technicians and Senior Technical Assistants in DRDO is through the Centre for Personnel Talent Management (CEPTAM).
The laboratories of DRDO inform CEPTAM about the respective vacancies in the organisation. CEPTAM accordingly advertises the vacancies in the newspaper. After advertising it is also involved in screening and shortlisting candidates. They are also accountable for preparing questions if any. CEPTAM finally recommends the candidates list to DRDO authorities who further carry on the final appointment procedure.
All DRDO laboratories and establishments report their job vacancies to CEPTAM, providing details including reservation quotas. CEPTAM then handles various tasks, such as obtaining clearance from the relevant Division for Retraining and Redeployment within the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pension. They advertise these positions in Employment News, national and regional newspapers, and liaise with local employment exchanges when necessary.
Admin Allied Posts
The admin and allied posts of the DRDO are conducted by the DRDO. However, there are few positions available that are filled by the deputation and absorption method. Deputation here means someone from another department appointed for the post who will return to his department after completion of work and absorption means a person who doesn't typically belong to a certain role or group is regularly given that role.
DRDO has a programme to give research opportunities to smart and young individuals. They can use these opportunities to do research and get higher qualifications or more experience in research. These opportunities are only for a short time, and they don't guarantee a permanent job at DRDO.
The selection of these research fellows is done by the directors of DRDO laboratories and establishments.
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Questions related to
On Question asked by student community
Since you have completed your graduation in Science, you already have a good foundation. To move forward, you can start by learning the core skills required in data science like Python or R programming, statistics, data analysis, and machine learning. You can join online certification courses from platforms like Coursera, edX, or even university diploma programs in data science. After building basics, try to work on small projects and datasets to gain practical experience. Later, you can also consider doing a Master’s in Data Science or related fields if you want to go deeper.
To become a data scientist, you need a mix of technical, analytical, and communication skills. These help you work with data, find useful insights, and explain them clearly to others.
Here are the main skills required:
You need to know programming languages like Python or R. These are used to clean data, analyze it, and build models.
You should be good at math and statistics. This helps you understand trends, patterns, and how to make predictions from data.
You should understand how databases work and be able to write SQL queries to get data from them.
You should know how to use tools to clean and organize messy data before analysis.
You should be able to use machine learning to build models that make predictions or find patterns.
You must be able to use graphs, charts, and dashboards to clearly present your findings.
You should understand the business problem and know how to use data to solve it.
You must be a good problem-solver and think clearly while working with complex data.
Good communication helps you explain your insights in simple words to people who don’t know data science.
You can learn and improve these skills through online courses and projects.
Hello,
Since you are from the biology stream and want to become a data scientist , first focus on learning basic maths, especially statistics. After that, start learning programming languages like Python.
You can also do an undergraduate course like BSc in Data Science, BSc Computer Science, or even BCA.
Along with your degree, take online courses on data science, machine learning, and data analysis from platforms like Coursera or Udemy. Work on small projects to build your skills. Slowly, you will gain experience and knowledge. With time and practice, you can become a data scientist.
Hope it helps !
hi,
Yes, if you have an M.Sc in Physics, you can definitely apply for scientist jobs, but it depends on the specific job and how they define “equivalent qualification.” Many research institutes and government labs like ISRO, DRDO, or BARC accept M.Sc Physics graduates for scientist or scientific officer roles.
Just make sure to read the job notification carefully. Sometimes they want a degree in engineering or technology, but often they accept M.Sc in Physics as enough qualification. If you’re unsure, you can always contact the recruitment office to confirm.
Hello ,
As per your mentioned query , you will be glad to know that yes Msc physics student is eligible for scientist position in organizations like ISRO , DRDO . But before applying for it you have to check the eligibility criteria and also there may be some special requirements for some specific roles.
I hope this helps you!
Revert for further query!
