Good news for fresh engineers, diploma holders and commerce graduates! The Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has invited applications for 54 apprenticeship seats — 32 Graduate Apprentice and 22 Technician (Diploma) Apprentice. The training lasts one year under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and pays a monthly stipend of ₹12,300 for graduates and ₹10,900 for diploma holders. If you want real experience inside a DRDO lab before chasing defence sector jobs, this is a strong place to start.
This is an offline application. You first register on the NATS portal, then post a typed form so that it reaches ITR Chandipur by 2 November 2026. Only candidates who passed in 2022 or later as regular students can apply. Below we explain every seat, every condition that can get your form rejected, and the exact posting steps. Read it fully before you print anything — and keep following GovtJobsAlert.in for more apprentice openings.
ITR Chandipur, at Balasore in Odisha, is a premier laboratory of DRDO under the Ministry of Defence. Advertisement No. ITR/HRD/AT/11/2026 invites young and meritorious Indian nationals for one year of apprenticeship in engineering, library science, administration, accounts, cinematography and medical laboratory technology.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
| Advertisement No. | ITR/HRD/AT/11/2026 |
| Posts | Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice |
| Total Seats | 54 (32 Graduate + 22 Diploma) |
| Stipend | ₹12,300 (Graduate) / ₹10,900 (Diploma) per month |
| Training Period | 12 months |
| Training Location | ITR Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha |
| Mode | NATS registration + offline form by Speed Post / Registered Post |
| Last Date (receipt at ITR) | 2 November 2026 |
The notification gives seats discipline-wise, without a category-wise split. It also says the numbers are only indicative and may change later.
| Apprentice Type | Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | Computer Science / IT group (B.E. / B.Tech) | 8 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Electronics / Instrumentation group (B.E. / B.Tech) | 8 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Electrical Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Mechanical Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Aerospace Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Library Science (B.Lib.Sc) | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Safety Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Administration / HR (BBA) | 4 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Financial Accounting / Cost Accounting (B.Com) | 4 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Computer Science / IT group (Diploma) | 8 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Electronics / Instrumentation group (Diploma) | 8 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Electrical Engineering (Diploma) | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Cinematography (Diploma) | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Medical Laboratory Technology (Diploma) | 2 |
| Total | All disciplines | 54 |
Reservation will be applied as per the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprentice Rules, 1992. Several disciplines have only one or two seats.
Find the row that matches your own degree or diploma. Your envelope and your form both have to name the category and the discipline, so write them exactly as listed. Also remember that ITR can increase or decrease these seats later, so the count you see today is not final.
Graduate Apprentice seats need a B.E. / B.Tech, B.Lib.Sc, BBA or B.Com in the discipline shown above. Technician (Diploma) Apprentice seats need a Diploma in the listed discipline. If you hold an engineering degree or a polytechnic diploma, check that your exact branch name is in the table below.
| Branch Group | Branch Names Accepted (Degree or Diploma) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science / IT | Computer Science & Engineering, Computer Science, Communication & Computer Engineering, Computer Science & Information Technology, Computer Science & System Engineering, Computer Technology, Information Technology, Information & Communication Technology, Information Science & Engineering |
| Electronics / Instrumentation | Electronics Engineering, Electronics & Tele-Communication Engineering, Instrumentation Technology, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering, Applied Electronics & Instrumentation, Electronics & Instrumentations Control Engineering, Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering, Electronics & Computer Engineering, Instrumentation & Electronics Engineering, Electronics (Robotics), Embedded System |
These rules decide whether your form is even considered:
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Year of passing | Degree or diploma passed in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026. Passed earlier than 2022 = not eligible |
| Regular mode | Only candidates who completed the qualifying exam as REGULAR candidates are eligible |
| Higher qualification | Candidates with a higher qualification are NOT eligible |
| Past training or job | One year or more of training or job experience after the qualification = NOT eligible |
| NATS registration | Must be registered on the NATS portal. Non-registered candidates are likely to be rejected |
| Nationality | Indian nationals |
| PwBD candidates | Eligible only for the designated trades under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 |
Two of these rules catch many people. First, the experience bar: degree or diploma holders who had training or job experience of one year or more after attaining the essential qualifications shall not be eligible for engagement as an apprentice under the Act. If you have already worked for a year after passing, this opening is not for you. Second, the higher qualification bar. For example, if you hold a diploma and have since finished a B.Tech, read that rule carefully before you apply for a diploma seat.
| Requirement | Age |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 years |
| Maximum age and relaxation | As per Apprentices Act 1961, Apprentices Rules 1992 and NATS 2.0 / NAPS Guidelines |
Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
The notification gives no fixed upper age and no cut-off date. Confirm you are at least 18; NATS rules set the upper limit.
This is apprenticeship training, not a permanent job, so you get a fixed monthly stipend rather than a pay scale.
| Apprentice Type | Stipend per Month |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | ₹12,300 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | ₹10,900 |
The notice does not mention allowances. ITR will not provide Govt. quarters, hostel or transport — neither during the written test or interview nor during training. If you are not from the Balasore area, plan your own stay before joining.
This is a training stipend, so work out rent, food and travel in Chandipur before you accept an offer. The real gain is one year of hands-on work in a DRDO range.
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting | ITR uses its own method and is not obliged to call everyone who meets the minimum eligibility |
| Written Test / Personal Interview / Both | Only for shortlisted candidates |
| Verification of credentials | Done before the contract. Any mismatch with the required qualification = candidature summarily rejected |
| Medical Fitness Certificate | To be submitted at the time of joining |
Before the contract is signed, ITR checks your certificates. In case of any deviation or non-conformity with the desired qualification, the candidature shall be summarily rejected — so the branch name on your degree must match a branch in the list. Meeting the eligibility alone does not guarantee selection. Call letters are not posted in hard copy — they come only through the website or email. Downloading and printing them is your responsibility. You can revise basics with our syllabus and exam pattern guides while you wait.
There are two halves, and both are mandatory: an online NATS registration first, then a typed paper form by post.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Register on the NATS portal (link in Essential Links) and note your NATS Enrolment Number. The form asks for it, and unregistered candidates are likely to be rejected |
| 2 | Download the Annexure-A form (Word file in Essential Links, also on pages 6-7 of the notification) |
| 3 | Type the form — handwritten forms are not accepted, except the signature. Fill your NATS Enrolment No., apprentice type, discipline, Aadhaar No. and category |
| 4 | Write your marks in percentage. If you have CGPA, convert it as per your university’s norms |
| 5 | Attach self-attested photocopies of 10th and 12th certificates and marksheets, Diploma (if applicable), degree certificate and marksheets, caste certificate and identity proof |
| 6 | Seal it in an envelope superscribed “Application for Apprenticeship Training: Category ……… & Subject/Discipline …………” |
| 7 | Send by Speed Post / Registered Post only to The Director, Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha-756025, so that it reaches by 2 November 2026 |
| 8 | Keep a copy of your application and watch the website and your email for updates |
The date is a receipt date, not a posting date. A form posted on 1 November may well arrive after the date. Post at least a week early, keep the Speed Post receipt and track the article online until it is delivered. Courier and hand delivery are not mentioned as options — the notice says Speed Post or Registered Post only.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application start date | Not mentioned in the notification |
| Last date for receipt of application at ITR | 2 November 2026 |
| Written Test / Interview | To be informed through website / email |
No test date is given yet. Check the website and your email regularly, because the call letter will not come by post.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates | No application fee is mentioned in the notification |
The notification does not ask for any fee, demand draft or postal order. Your spending is mainly on photocopies and Speed Post charges.
These lines sit near the end of the notice. Several can end your candidature, so read them all before you seal the envelope.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Canvassing | Any canvassing or personal follow-up leads to immediate cancellation of candidature |
| Suppression of facts | Leads to disqualification at any stage of selection |
| False declaration | Any false declaration in the form will result in rejection of your application |
| Travel | No TA / DA is paid at any stage of the selection process |
| After training | ITR is not obliged to offer any employment after the apprenticeship ends |
| Seats and process | ITR may increase or decrease seats, or withdraw or cancel the advertisement without giving reasons |
| Disputes | Legal jurisdiction is the High Court of Odisha, Cuttack |
| E-mail only | All correspondence, including the offer letter, is sent by e-mail only, so give an e-mail ID you check daily |
A year of training inside a DRDO test range looks great on any CV, and the stipend helps you stay independent while you learn. If you passed in 2022 or later and your branch is on the list, register on NATS today, type your form carefully and post it early — it must reach ITR Chandipur by 2 November 2026. For more openings near you, check Odisha government jobs and keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in.
Source: Govt Jobs Alert — Read the original notification
Apply only through the official website or address named in the notification. Kaam Ki Khoj does not accept applications for government posts.
Defence Research and Development Organisation is a government organisation in India. The vacancy notifications listed under it on Kaam Ki Khoj are aggregated from public sources and reproduced for information. Every listing links to the original noti... Read More
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