DRDO DIBT Graduate Apprenticeship 2026

DRDO's Defence Institute of Biodefence Technologies (DIBT), Mysuru, has invited applications for Graduate Apprenticeship Training for 2026–27. The notification covers six places and a monthly stipend of ₹12,300. It is relevant to graduates in the specified biological science, food science and polymer science disciplines who want a structured training opportunity at a Ministry of Defence establishment.

The deadline is 15 September 2026. This is a postal application process: candidates must send the completed application form and self-attested copies of relevant documents to DIBT in Mysuru. Registration on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal is also required, but it does not replace submission of the hard-copy application. Read both the advertisement and the application form on the official DRDO vacancy page before applying.

DRDO DIBT Graduate Apprenticeship 2026: overview

Who can apply?

The advertisement specifies two qualification routes. Both require a full-time, regular degree with First Division from a recognised Indian university or institute. Applicants should check the subject printed on their degree and supporting academic records against the notification. A broadly related course title should not automatically be treated as equivalent to one of the listed subjects.

• B.Sc. route: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Food Science & Technology, or Life Sciences.
• B.E./B.Tech. route: Polymer Science.

Only candidates who completed their qualifying examination as regular students are eligible. The accepted passing years are 2022 through 2026, inclusive. The notice explicitly excludes candidates who passed before 2022. Someone who is still pursuing the required degree should not assume that a future result will satisfy the completed-qualification requirement.

The vacancy table shows six places across the advertised qualification subjects. It does not provide a separate allocation for each subject, so applicants should not interpret the number as six vacancies in every discipline. DIBT also reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of apprenticeship seats according to its requirements.

NATS registration requirement

Candidates must register their names on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal at nats.education.gov.in. The advertisement warns that applications from unregistered candidates are liable to rejection. Before completing the DIBT form, check that your registration is in place and that the academic and personal information you supply is accurate.

NATS registration and the DIBT application are two distinct requirements in this notice. Completing a profile on NATS should not be taken as confirmation that DIBT has received an application. The advertisement separately directs candidates to send a hard-copy application by post. Use the official form to determine where registration details and other information need to be entered.

Stipend, duration and practical arrangements

The advertised stipend is ₹12,300 per month. The training lasts for 12 months, commencing from execution of the Contract of Apprenticeship. The notice does not identify a single calendar joining date for every selected candidate. Applicants should follow the institute's subsequent correspondence for joining and contract instructions rather than assume that training begins immediately after the application deadline.

DIBT will not provide government quarters, hostel accommodation or transport during training. Candidates considering a move to Mysuru should therefore plan their accommodation and commuting arrangements. The advertised amount is an apprenticeship stipend; this opportunity should not be read as a permanent salaried appointment or as an offer of additional benefits that the notice does not specify.

How to apply for the DIBT apprenticeship

1. Open the official DRDO vacancy webpage linked below. Confirm that the advertisement number is DIBT/HRD/APPR/2026-27.
2. Download and read the advertisement, then download the separately listed application form. Use that prescribed form to prepare your submission.
3. Check your degree, subject, study mode, division and year of passing against the eligibility requirements.
4. Complete the required NATS registration and keep the relevant registration information available while filling in the form.
5. Fill in the application carefully and attach self-attested photocopies of all relevant supporting documents, following the form's instructions.
6. Send the hard-copy application by post to the address below so it reaches the institute on or before 15 September 2026.

Postal address:
Centre Head
Defence Institute of Biodefence Technologies (DIBT), DRDO
Siddarthanagar, Mysuru – 570011
Kind attention: HRD

Allow for postal transit time when planning the submission. The notice asks for the application to be submitted by the stated deadline; it does not say that merely dispatching it on the last day is sufficient. Keeping a copy of the completed application and postal receipt is a practical way to retain a record of what you submitted.

Documents and information to check

The advertisement requires self-attested photocopies of all relevant documents. Consult the official application form for its specific fields and any enclosure instructions. As a preparation checklist, ensure that your academic records support the subject, regular study mode, First Division and passing year you are claiming. This checklist is application guidance, not a substitute for the prescribed form.

Check that your name, contact details and educational information are consistent across the application and supporting records. Provide an email address you can access regularly. DIBT states that all correspondence, including an offer letter for selected candidates, will take place through email. Checking the inbox and spam folder after applying can help you avoid missing a communication.

Selection, verification and joining conditions

The advertisement sets out eligibility and verification conditions but does not publish a detailed examination, interview or merit-scoring procedure. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming a particular selection method. The institute will verify selected candidates' credentials before creating the apprenticeship contract. Any discrepancy or failure to meet the prescribed qualification can result in rejection.

Selected candidates must submit a Police Verification Certificate at joining and execute a contract covering the 12-month training period. The advertisement also warns that suppressing facts can lead to disqualification at any stage. Canvassing or personal follow-up intended to influence selection can result in cancellation of candidature, so use the listed contact only for legitimate clarification.

Does this lead to a permanent DRDO job?

No permanent appointment is promised. The notice expressly states that DIBT is not obliged to offer employment after apprenticeship training ends. Candidates should assess the opportunity as a defined period of graduate training with a stipend, rather than as a guaranteed route to a government job. Any later recruitment would need its own applicable process.

The institute may change the number of seats or withdraw the advertisement or selection process if circumstances warrant. Recheck the official vacancy page for updates before dispatching the application and follow any direct instructions received from DIBT. The notification lists 0821-2579321 as the telephone contact for candidate queries.

Official notification and application form

Use the official DRDO DIBT Graduate Apprentices vacancy webpage to access both the advertisement and application form. The page lists 21 August 2026 as its publication and start date and 15 September 2026 as its end date. The advertisement itself is dated 4 August 2026. The webpage remains the starting point for checking the published documents and any subsequent updates.

Before sending the application, confirm the essentials once more: an eligible regular degree with First Division, a passing year from 2022 to 2026, NATS registration, a completed prescribed form, self-attested supporting copies and timely postal delivery. These checks help applicants focus on the actual conditions in the notice and avoid mistaking the online registration requirement for the complete application process.