Introduction

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a major recruitment notification for 2026. The ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) is inviting online applications for 267 vacancies across the posts of Assistant, Junior Personal Assistant (JPA), Upper Division Clerk (UDC), and Stenographer. These positions are spread across multiple ISRO centres and autonomous bodies under the Department of Space.

This is a rare opportunity for graduates and diploma holders to join India’s premier space agency. All posts carry a Level 4 Pay Matrix with a starting basic pay of ₹25,500 per month, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other Central Government benefits. The online application process started on 27 July 2026 and the last date to apply has been extended to 20 August 2026.

In this article, you will find the complete details of the ISRO Recruitment 2026 notification, including post-wise vacancy breakup, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, skill test details, application fee, salary, and step-by-step instructions to apply online.

ISRO Recruitment 2026: Key Highlights

Here is a quick overview of the ISRO ICRB recruitment notification for 2026:

Post-wise Vacancy Breakdown

ISRO has announced a total of 267 vacancies spread across six post categories and multiple ISRO centres. The vacancies are distributed across zones including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hassan, Hyderabad, Mahendragiri, New Delhi, Sriharikota, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Here is the complete post-wise and category-wise vacancy breakup:

Assistant Posts at ISRO Centres (Post No. 1)

Junior Personal Assistant Posts at ISRO Centres (Post No. 2)

Upper Division Clerk Posts (Post No. 3)

Stenographer Posts (Post No. 4)

Assistant Posts at Autonomous Institutions under DOS (Post No. 5)

Junior Personal Assistant Posts at Autonomous Institutions under DOS (Post No. 6)

Consolidated Vacancy Summary

Note: Several vacancies are backlog vacancies for SC, ST, and PwBD categories. The number of vacancies is provisional and ISRO reserves the right to increase or decrease the count based on requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, candidates must carefully verify that they meet the educational qualification, age limit, and other eligibility conditions prescribed in the notification.

Educational Qualification

The educational requirements differ based on the post you are applying for:

For Assistant, UDC and Assistant at Autonomous Institutions (Post No. 1, 3 and 5):

• Graduation from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 6.32 on a 10-point scale.
• The graduation must have been completed within the stipulated duration of the course as prescribed by the university.
• Proficiency in the use of computers is mandatory.

For Junior Personal Assistant, Stenographer and JPA at Autonomous Institutions (Post No. 2, 4 and 6):

Candidates must satisfy one of the following two options:

Option A:

• Graduation from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 6.32 on a 10-point scale, completed within the stipulated course duration.

Option B:

• Diploma in Commercial/Secretarial Practice from a recognised Board or University with a minimum of 60% marks or CGPA of 6.32, completed within the stipulated duration.

Additional requirements for JPA/Stenographer posts (both options):

• One year of experience as a Steno-Typist or Stenographer.
• A minimum speed of 60 words per minute in English Stenography.
• Proficiency in the use of computers.

Note for Diploma holders: If you hold a Diploma in Commercial Practice (DCP) or Diploma in Commercial and Computer Practice (DCCP), the Apprenticeship Training Certificate issued by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme will be considered equivalent to the required one year of experience.

Important Rules on CGPA and Percentage

• If your university mentions both CGPA and percentage in the degree certificate, at least one of the two must meet ISRO’s eligibility criteria (60% or 6.32 CGPA).
• If your university mentions only CGPA, that CGPA must directly meet the eligibility criterion. Conversion of CGPA into percentage is not permitted to determine eligibility, even if the university provides a conversion formula.
• The same rules apply if your certificate mentions only percentage.

Age Limit (as on 20 August 2026)

Age relaxation is applicable for the following categories as per Government of India rules:

• Serving Government employees
• Ex-Servicemen
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
• Meritorious Sportspersons
• Widows, Divorced women, and women judicially separated from their husbands (who are not remarried)

Category Certificate Requirements

• OBC candidates must have a valid OBC certificate as on the last date of application (20 August 2026), issued by a Competent Authority in the prescribed format applicable for reservation under the Government of India.
• EWS candidates must have a valid Income and Asset Certificate for the financial year 2026-2027, issued by the Competent Authority.
• PwBD candidates must submit a self-attested copy of the Disability Certificate at the time of Skill Test, issued by a Medical Board of at least three members (including one specialist), constituted by the Central or State Government. The disability must be not less than 40% of the relevant disability as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Application Fee

The application fee structure for ISRO Recruitment 2026 is as follows:

Fee Refund Rules

The actual application fee is ₹100 per post. The remaining amount is refunded as processing fee only to those candidates who appear for the Written Test/CBT:

• Women, SC/ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen: Full refund of the ₹500 processing fee for each applied post (since they are exempted from the ₹100 application fee).
• All other candidates (UR/OBC/EWS): ₹400 refunded per applied post after deducting the ₹100 application fee.

Payment Mode

• The fee can be paid online only through Bharatkosh e-payment gateway.
• Accepted payment methods: Internet Banking, UPI, or Domestic Debit Cards.
• Cash remittance, cheque, draft, money order, or IPO are not accepted.
• All applicable service charges for fee payment must be borne by the applicant.
• The last date for fee payment is the same as the last date for application submission: 20 August 2026.

Important: If you submit duplicate or multiple applications, only the application against which the fee has been received within the last date will be considered. Enter your bank account details (Bank Name, Branch, Account Holder Name, Account Number, IFSC) correctly in the application, as the refund will be processed to this account.

Written Test Exam Pattern

The selection process begins with a Written Test conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) format. The exam pattern differs for Assistant/UDC posts and JPA/Stenographer posts.

Assistant/UDC Written Test (Post No. 1, 3 and 5)

Duration: 150 minutes (with compensation time for PwBD candidates as applicable)

Marking Scheme: Each question carries +1 mark for a correct answer. 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Qualifying Marks:

• UR Category: 50% in each of Parts A, B, C and D
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS against notified reserved vacancies): 40% in each part

JPA/Stenographer Written Test (Post No. 2, 4 and 6)

Duration: 150 minutes (with compensation time for PwBD candidates as applicable)

Marking Scheme: Each question carries +1 mark for a correct answer. 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Qualifying Marks:

• UR Category: 50% in each of Parts A, B and C
• Reserved Categories (against notified reserved vacancies): 40% in each part

Indicative Syllabus

General English: Questions to test understanding and knowledge of the language, ability to write correctly and effectively, correct use of words, idioms and phrases, and sentence formation.

Quantitative Aptitude: Topics include Number System, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Discount, Ratio and Proportion, Averages, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Pipes and Cisterns, Boats and Streams, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Algebra, Statistics and Data Interpretation.

General Intelligence and Reasoning Ability: Topics include Missing Number, Number Series, Analogy, Venn Diagram, Coding and Decoding, Sitting Arrangement, Ranking Arrangement, Dice, Cube and Cuboid, Calendar, Clock, Directions, Counting Figures, Mirror and Water Image, and Coded Equations.

General Knowledge: Questions on current affairs of national and international importance, Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Culture, and Environment.

English Language and Comprehension (for JPA/Stenographer): Questions on Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases, One Word Substitution, Sentence Improvement, Active and Passive Voice, Direct and Indirect Speech, Cloze Test, and Reading Comprehension.

Tip: The answer keys will be published on the ISRO website within three working days of the Written Test. You can raise objections with valid justifications within five days of the answer key publication through the link provided after the exam.

Skill Test

Candidates who qualify the Written Test will be shortlisted for the Skill Test. The shortlisting ratio is a maximum of 1:5 against the category-wise number of vacancies, with a minimum of 10 candidates per category. For reserved vacancies, additional candidates are shortlisted separately in the 1:5 ratio.

The Skill Test is qualifying in nature. Final selection is based solely on the marks scored in the Written Test.

Skill Test for Assistant/UDC (Post No. 1, 3 and 5): Computer Literacy Test

Duration: 75 minutes

Passing Criteria:

• UR Category: 60% marks
• Reserved Categories (against notified reserved vacancies): 50% marks

MS Word Topics: Opening and saving files, editing text, formatting documents (font styles, paragraph alignment, margins), creating tables, inserting images, spell checks, mail merge, templates, shortcut keys.

MS Excel Topics: Spreadsheet operations, entering and formatting data, using formulas, creating charts, sorting and filtering, cell formatting, working with multiple sheets.

MS PowerPoint Topics: Creating presentations, setting backgrounds and layouts, adding text and graphics, formatting slides, working with templates.

Skill Test for JPA/Stenographer (Post No. 2, 4 and 6): Computer Literacy Test + Stenography Test

These candidates must pass two components:

(i) Computer Literacy Test: Same syllabus, marks distribution, and passing criteria as described above for Assistant/UDC posts.

(ii) Stenography Test:

Passing Criteria for Stenography Test:

• UR Category: Maximum 10% mistakes allowed
• Reserved Categories (against notified reserved vacancies): Maximum 12% mistakes allowed

Types of Mistakes:

• Full Mistakes: Omission of words or figures, substitution of words, addition of extra words not in the passage.
• Half Mistakes: Wrong spelling (including transposition of letters), using singular instead of plural or vice versa, using small letter at the beginning of a sentence.

Important: If you write in longhand instead of Pittman’s shorthand strokes, the transcript will not be evaluated. Ensure you practice Pittman’s shorthand specifically for this test.

Selection Process

The ISRO Recruitment 2026 follows a two-stage selection process:

Stage 1: Written Test

• Conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) format at 38 centres across India.
• Centres include Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh/Mohali, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Ernakulam, Gorakhpur, Gurugram, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kavaratti, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Mysore, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Tiruchirapalli, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Vishakhapatnam.
• ISRO reserves the right to cancel or change the test venue and re-allot candidates to any other centre.
• No TA/DA will be paid for attending the Written Test.

Stage 2: Skill Test (Qualifying Nature)

• Candidates shortlisted from the Written Test will be called for the Skill Test.
• Computer Literacy Test is mandatory for all posts.
• Stenography Test is required additionally for JPA and Stenographer posts.
• The Skill Test is qualifying only. Its marks are not added to the final merit.
• Candidates attending the Skill Test will be reimbursed to and fro second-class train fare by the shortest route from the city indicated in the application to the Skill Test venue.

Final Merit List

• Final selection is based solely on Written Test marks from among candidates who qualify the Skill Test.
• In case of a tie in Written Test marks, the following tie-breakers are applied:

For Assistant/UDC:

1. Higher marks in General Intelligence and Reasoning Ability
2. Older date of birth

For JPA/Stenographer:

1. Higher marks in English Language and Comprehension
2. Older date of birth

Document Verification

• Candidates must produce all original documents in proof of the details furnished in the online application at the time of the Skill Test.
• If any information is found to be false, the candidate will not be allowed to appear for the Skill Test and TA will not be paid.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required from the employer for candidates working under Central/State Government, Public Sector Undertakings, or Autonomous Bodies. The NOC must be submitted at the time of Skill Test.

Salary and Benefits

All selected candidates will be appointed in Level 4 of the Pay Matrix with a minimum basic pay of ₹25,500 per month.

Allowances and Benefits

In addition to the basic pay, the following allowances and benefits are admissible as per Central Government rules:

• Dearness Allowance (DA) as per extant rules
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) based on the city of posting
• Transport Allowance
• New Pension Scheme (NPS) coverage
• Medical facilities for self and dependents
• Subsidised canteen facility
• Limited quarters facility (in lieu of HRA)
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Group Insurance
• House Building Advance

Career Growth

Selected candidates can progress to higher administrative cadres as per ISRO/Department of Service rules. Assistants can progress up to Senior Assistant in Level 6, subject to availability of vacancy and satisfactory performance. Stenographers can progress up to Principal Staff Officer in Level 13, subject to vacancy and performance.

Note: The posts are temporary but likely to continue. Appointees are liable to be posted in any of the ISRO Centres/Units and can be transferred at any time on need basis.

How to Apply Online

Follow these steps to submit your application for ISRO Recruitment 2026:

Step 1: Visit the official ISRO website at www.isro.gov.in.

Step 2: Go to the Careers section and click on the recruitment link for Advertisement No. ISRO:ICRB:01(A-JPA):2026.

Step 3: Register yourself using a valid email ID and mobile number. These will be used for all future communications including hall tickets and call letters.

Step 4: Fill in the application form with your personal details, educational qualifications, and category information.

Step 5: Upload the required documents in the prescribed format:

• Photograph: Recent colour passport size photograph (not older than 6 months) in .jpg or .jpeg format, size between 20 KB and 50 KB, dimensions 200 x 230 pixels.
• Signature: In .jpg or .jpeg format, size between 10 KB and 20 KB, dimensions 140 x 60 pixels. Sign on white paper with black ink pen (not in capital letters).
• Category Certificate: SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen certificate as applicable (in .jpg format).

Step 6: Pay the application fee online through Bharatkosh e-payment gateway using Internet Banking, UPI, or Domestic Debit Cards.

Step 7: Submit the application and save/print the confirmation for future reference.

Important Rules for Application

• You can apply for multiple posts, but cannot apply for the same post in different zones. For example, you may apply for Assistant in Ahmedabad Zone and UDC in Bengaluru Zone, but you cannot apply for Assistant in both Ahmedabad and Bengaluru zones.
• If you apply for multiple posts, you must select the same written test centre for all applications.
• A common application is considered for all notified posts. Candidates applying for multiple posts will be considered only for the reservation of the particular post numbers, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
• Avoid submission of multiple applications for the same post. Check all fields before submitting.
• All further communications will be sent to your registered email ID and ISRO website only. Check your email regularly including spam and junk folders.

Documents to Keep Ready

• Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Graduation degree and mark sheets
• Diploma certificate (if applicable)
• Experience certificate (for JPA/Stenographer posts)
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• EWS Income and Asset Certificate (if applicable)
• PwBD Disability Certificate (if applicable)
• NOC from employer (if applicable)
• Bank account details for fee refund

Important Dates

Tip: Do not wait until the last day to apply. ISRO’s server often slows down when thousands of candidates try to submit at the same time. Apply at least 3 to 4 days before the deadline and keep a printed copy of your application form.

What to do next?

If you are eligible and interested in the ISRO Recruitment 2026, here is what you should do right now:

1. Download the official notification from the ISRO website and read it carefully. Verify your eligibility for the post(s) you want to apply for.
2. Apply online through the ISRO portal before the deadline of 20 August 2026. Do not wait until the last day.
3. Start preparing for the Written Test. The exam covers General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and General Knowledge. Focus on building a strong foundation in each subject. For current affairs preparation, you can use the Scoreclever Current Affairs Website for detailed daily coverage, and get crisp exam-oriented daily PDFs from Scoreclever’s Telegram channel.
4. Practice computer skills for the Skill Test. Get comfortable with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. If you are applying for JPA or Stenographer posts, start practising Pittman’s shorthand at 60 words per minute immediately.
5. Keep checking your registered email and the ISRO website regularly for updates on the Written Test date, admit card, and other announcements.