ISRO Recruitment 2026 – Scientist/Engineer SC | Space Agency Job | Salary ,80,000+ CTC

About ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's national space agency, operating under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. ISRO is globally celebrated for achieving extraordinary space milestones at a fraction of the cost of Western space agencies - the Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), Chandrayaan-3 (first successful lunar south pole landing), Aditya-L1 (India's first solar mission), and a record 104 satellites launched in a single PSLV mission are testament to ISRO's engineering excellence. With an annual budget of approximately ,14,000 crore and ambitious projects including Gaganyaan (India's first human spaceflight), the Shukrayaan-1 (Venus mission), and NISAR (joint satellite with NASA), ISRO represents India's most prestigious and intellectually stimulating scientific workplace. Getting a job at ISRO is the dream of hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates - and the Scientist/Engineer SC exam is the gateway.

Posts Available

ISRO recruits in the following engineering disciplines: Electronics (ECE), Mechanical, Computer Science, Civil, Chemical, and Physics/Mathematics (for research roles). The primary entry-level position is Scientist/Engineer SC - equivalent to a Group A gazetted officer. There are also positions for Technical Assistants (Diploma holders) and Scientific Assistants (BSc/BE level), though the flagship position coveted by engineering graduates is the Scientist/Engineer SC level.

Eligibility

Educational Qualification: BE/BTech or equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of 65% aggregate marks (or CGPA of 6.84 on 10-point scale). For Computer Science posts, MCA or M.Sc. Computer Science is also accepted. For Scientific Assistants (Technician B): Diploma in Engineering from a recognized polytechnic with 65% aggregate.

Age Limit: Maximum 35 years for Scientist/Engineer SC (relaxed to 40 years for SC/ST, 38 years for OBC). The relatively higher age limit makes ISRO accessible to experienced candidates who may have spent years in industry or doing higher studies before applying.

Salary and Benefits

ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC is placed in Level 10 of the Central Government Pay Matrix (Basic Pay: ,56,100 per month). With DA (~46%), HRA (8–27% based on ISRO center location), Transport Allowance, and a unique Variable Technical Allowance (VTA) of 25–30% of basic pay that ISRO scientists receive for technical output, the gross monthly salary is approximately ,80,000–,1,00,000. Annual CTC including all benefits is approximately ,10–14 lakhs. ISRO also provides government housing at all its major centers (VSSC Thiruvananthapuram, SAC Ahmedabad, URSC Bengaluru, SDSC Sriharikota), a choice of NPS or OPS (Old Pension Scheme - a rare and extremely valuable benefit still available at ISRO/DOS), and exceptional medical facilities. ISRO scientists also get sabbatical opportunities to work with NASA, ESA, JAXA, and other space agencies - putting them in elite international scientific circles.

Selection Process

Stage 1 – Written Examination: ISRO conducts its own centralized online written exam (not GATE-based). The exam has two parts: Part A - General Aptitude (Logical Reasoning, Quantitative, English) worth 40 marks; Part B - Domain-Specific Engineering/Science questions worth 80 marks. The engineering questions are of post-graduation level (similar to GATE Paper 2) - very rigorous and requiring thorough understanding of core engineering concepts. Past year ISRO papers are the best preparation material, and you should solve at least 5 years of previous papers before attempting the exam.

Stage 2 – Interview: Technical experts from the relevant ISRO center interview shortlisted candidates. Questions delve deeply into your final year project, research experience, and advanced engineering topics. Demonstrating knowledge of ongoing ISRO missions (Gaganyaan mission status, NISAR satellite purpose, Chandrayaan-4 plans, XPoSat X-ray observatory) will significantly impress the interview panel. Self-study of ISRO's Annual Report and mission updates on isro.gov.in is essential.

Life at ISRO

ISRO centers are unique workplaces - highly collaborative, mission-driven, and intellectually charged. Scientists and engineers at VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) Thiruvananthapuram work on launch vehicle propulsion; those at SAC (Space Applications Centre) Ahmedabad build satellite payloads for Earth observation and communication; engineers at URSC (U R Rao Satellite Centre) Bengaluru design and integrate the spacecraft. The work culture is flat, where a fresh Scientist/Engineer SC regularly presents ideas to senior directors. Your contributions directly advance India's space capabilities. If you dream of writing the software that guides a rocket, designing the sensors that photograph Earth from orbit, or analyzing data from a Mars mission - ISRO is the only place in India where you can do it. Prepare seriously, and your name may one day be among the scientists who take India to the stars.