Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DRDO DEAL)
DRDO Apprentice 2026: DEAL Posts, Stipend, NATS/NAPS Guide
Quick Information
| Post Name | Graduate, Diploma and ITI (Trade) Apprentice at DEAL, Dehradun (DRDO) |
| Total Vacancies | 77 |
| Salary | Apprenticeship stipend (not a salary), one-year training, no job at the end: Graduate Rs 12,300, Diploma Rs 10,900, ITI Rs 10,560 per month, paid 50% by DEAL and 50% by the government via direct benefit transfer. |
| Organization | Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DRDO DEAL) |
Application Fee
| General | Nil |
| OBC | Nil |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| Women | Nil |
| PH / Divyang | Nil |
Important Dates
| Start Date | 23 June 2026 |
| Last Date | 22 July 2026 |
Eligibility
| Age Limit | Minimum 18 years; upper age as per the Apprentices Act 1961 and apprenticeship rules. Indian nationals only. |
| Education | Regular (not distance) course, qualifying exam passed 2022 to 2026, no prior apprenticeship and not more than 1 year post-qualification experience. Graduate: BE/BTech ~60%; Diploma: engineering diploma ~60%; ITI: NCVT/SCVT trade certificate. |
Selection Process
- 1**Merit-based selection** on qualifying-exam marks
- 2followed by document verification. There is NO written exam for the apprenticeship. Register on the right portal: NATS (Graduate and Diploma) or NAPS (ITI/trade). This is a one-year training engagement under the Apprentices Act 1961
- 3with a stipend and no job offered afterwards.
How to Apply
Official Links
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DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026: current status
The DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026-27 recruitment offered 77 apprentice training seats at the Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) in Dehradun, a DRDO laboratory. The notification came out on 23 June 2026, and the application window closed around 22 July 2026. So the DEAL 2026 window is over, and if you missed it, this guide explains how DRDO apprenticeships work, which portal to register on in advance, the other DRDO labs that run apprentice drives, and how an apprenticeship differs from a permanent DRDO job.
One point is worth stating clearly up front, because it is the biggest misconception: a DRDO apprenticeship is a one-year training programme with a monthly stipend, not a permanent job. The DEAL notification itself says no employment, permanent, temporary, or contractual, is offered after the training. So an apprenticeship is a way to gain experience and a stipend at a DRDO lab for a year, and a stepping stone, not a government job in itself. The permanent DRDO jobs come through separate exams like DRDO CEPTAM and the RAC Scientist recruitment, covered below.
DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026 at a glance
The 77 seats split across three apprentice categories.
| Category | Seats | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | 19 | Engineering degree holders |
| Diploma Apprentice | 8 | Engineering diploma holders |
| ITI Apprentice (Trade) | 50 | ITI-certified trade holders |
| Total | 77 |
The Graduate and Diploma seats were in disciplines like Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering, plus Library Science. The ITI seats spanned around 21 trades, such as Electronics Mechanic, Fitter, Library Assistant, and Stenographer, which is why the ITI category carried the largest share of the 77 seats.
Stipend for DRDO DEAL apprentices
Apprentices receive a monthly stipend, not a salary, and it is shared between DEAL and the government and paid by direct benefit transfer.
| Category | Monthly stipend |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | Rs 12,300 |
| Diploma Apprentice | Rs 10,900 |
| ITI Apprentice | Rs 10,560 |
Half of the stipend is paid by DEAL and half by the government through the relevant board, credited to the apprentice's bank account by direct benefit transfer. There is no application fee for DRDO apprenticeships. The training runs for one year, and the stipend rates are fixed under the apprenticeship scheme rather than negotiated, so every apprentice in a category receives the same amount. Note that some sites list the diploma stipend as Rs 10,981; the correct figure for this drive is Rs 10,900.
What a DRDO apprenticeship actually is
This is the section that clears the most confusion. An apprenticeship is a structured training engagement under the Apprentices Act of 1961, in which a lab like DEAL trains a candidate for one year and pays a stipend. It is not employment. When the year ends, the apprentice receives a certificate of training, but the lab does not offer a job, and there is no bond or guarantee of one. The value of the apprenticeship is the hands-on experience at a DRDO lab, the certificate, and the stipend during the year, which many candidates use to strengthen their profile before sitting a permanent recruitment exam or applying elsewhere.
Because it is training rather than a job, the selection is usually merit-based on your qualifying-exam marks, with no written test, followed by document verification. This is very different from a permanent DRDO job, where a competitive exam decides selection.
Apprentice vs a permanent DRDO job
Candidates often confuse the apprenticeship with permanent DRDO recruitment. They are entirely different. This comparison sets out the difference.
| Factor | DRDO Apprentice | DRDO CEPTAM | RAC Scientist B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | One-year training | Permanent job | Permanent job |
| Pay | Stipend (Rs 10,560 to 12,300) | Regular pay scale | Regular pay scale |
| Selection | Merit on qualifying marks | Written exam (CBT) | GATE score plus interview |
| Job at the end | No | Yes | Yes |
| Who it suits | Freshers seeking experience | Technicians and support staff | Engineers and researchers |
If your goal is a permanent DRDO job, the routes are DRDO CEPTAM for technician and support posts, decided by a computer-based test, and the RAC Scientist B recruitment for scientist posts, based on the GATE score and an interview. The apprenticeship is best seen as experience-building, not as a back door into these jobs.
Eligibility for DRDO DEAL apprentice
The DEAL apprenticeship set these conditions, which are typical of DRDO apprentice drives.
- Indian nationals only.
- A regular, not distance or private, qualifying course.
- The qualifying exam passed between 2022 and 2026 only.
- No prior apprenticeship training and not more than one year of post-qualification work experience.
- You cannot apply with a qualification higher than the one prescribed for the category.
- Graduate: a BE or BTech with around 60 percent in the relevant discipline. Diploma: a relevant engineering diploma with around 60 percent. ITI: a National or State Council trade certificate.
- Age: a minimum of 18 years, with the upper age as per the Apprentices Act and the apprenticeship rules.
NATS versus NAPS: which portal you register on
DRDO apprenticeships run through two national portals, and which one you use depends on your qualification. This trips up many candidates.
Graduate and Diploma apprentices register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal, NATS, at the education ministry's apprenticeship site. ITI and trade apprentices register on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme portal, NAPS, at the apprenticeship India site. For a specific drive like DEAL, you also enter the lab's establishment code so your application reaches the right lab. There is no fee on either portal.
Registering on the right portal in advance, even before a notification you are interested in opens, is worth doing, because apprenticeship windows are often short. Having a complete NATS or NAPS profile ready means you can apply quickly when a lab you want opens a drive.
How to apply for a DRDO apprenticeship
- Identify your category, that is Graduate, Diploma, or ITI, based on your qualification.
- Register on the correct portal: NATS for Graduate and Diploma, NAPS for ITI and trade.
- Complete your profile with your qualification, marks, and bank details for the stipend transfer.
- Find the lab's advertisement and enter its establishment or DEAL identification code so your application reaches it.
- Submit before the last date. There is no application fee.
- Watch for the merit list and document verification call, since selection is usually on qualifying-exam marks.
Other DRDO labs that run apprentice drives
DEAL is one of many DRDO labs that take apprentices, and drives run through the year across labs, so if you missed DEAL, others open regularly. Recent examples include ACEM in Nashik, which advertised around 41 Graduate and Technician apprentice seats, INMAS in Delhi with around 38 seats, and GTRE in Bengaluru, which ran a large walk-in apprentice drive. The pattern is that DRDO labs across the country recruit apprentices year-round, each through its own short advertisement on NATS or NAPS. The practical way to catch them is to keep your portal profile ready and check the DRDO vacancies page and the apprenticeship portals regularly, rather than waiting for a single lab.
What to do now that the DEAL 2026 window has closed
If you missed the DEAL 2026 window, there are three useful steps. First, register on NATS or NAPS now and complete your profile, so you are ready the moment another lab opens a drive. Second, watch the DRDO vacancies page and the apprenticeship portals for the next lab advertisement, since drives run through the year. Third, if your real goal is a permanent DRDO job rather than an apprenticeship, shift focus to DRDO CEPTAM for technician posts or the RAC Scientist recruitment for scientist posts, both of which are competitive exams that lead to actual employment. The next DEAL apprentice cycle is likely around mid-2027, following the annual pattern, though the exact timing depends on the lab's requirement and will be announced on the portals when it opens, so keep checking rather than assuming a fixed month.
Documents you will need
Keep these ready on your portal profile so you can apply quickly.
- Your qualifying certificate and mark sheets, that is your degree, diploma, or ITI certificate.
- Aadhaar and bank account details for the stipend direct benefit transfer.
- A recent photograph and signature in the specified format.
- A category certificate where reservation applies, as per the Apprentices Act.
- Proof of date of birth, usually your Class 10 certificate.
What DEAL is and what apprentices work on
The Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory, DEAL, is a DRDO laboratory based in Dehradun that works on communication and related electronics systems for defence. For an apprentice, this means the training is not abstract: you work in an environment focused on real defence electronics, communication systems, and supporting engineering and administrative functions, depending on your category and trade. A Graduate or Diploma apprentice in Electronics and Communication or Computer Science gains exposure to the kind of systems the lab develops, while ITI trade apprentices in fields like Electronics Mechanic, Fitter, or Stenographer support the technical and office functions. That environment, at a national defence research lab, is what makes a DRDO apprenticeship a stronger line on a resume than a generic training stint.
The Apprentices Act framework behind DRDO drives
DRDO apprenticeships sit within a national framework that is worth understanding, because it explains how the portals and stipends work. The Apprentices Act of 1961 governs apprenticeship training in India, and two schemes run under it. The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme, NATS, covers graduate and diploma apprentices and is run by the Ministry of Education through regional boards. The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, NAPS, covers trade and ITI apprentices. Under these schemes the government shares the stipend cost, which is why half your DEAL stipend comes from the lab and half from the government, credited by direct benefit transfer to your bank account. The NATS portal was modernised into a NATS 2.0 version to make registration and stipend payment smoother. Knowing this framework helps you see that a DRDO apprenticeship is part of a large, structured national programme, not a one-off arrangement, and that the same portals serve apprenticeships across thousands of establishments beyond DRDO.
Reservation and the three apprentice categories
Reservation applies to apprenticeship seats as per the Apprentices Act and the applicable rules, so a share of the seats is set aside for reserved categories. The three apprentice categories serve different candidates. The Graduate Apprentice category is for engineering degree holders and offers the highest stipend, reflecting the qualification. The Diploma Apprentice category is for engineering diploma holders. The ITI or Trade Apprentice category, which carried the most seats at DEAL with 50 of the 77, is for candidates with a trade certificate from an Industrial Training Institute, across trades from Electronics Mechanic and Fitter to Library Assistant and Stenographer. You apply in the single category that matches your qualification, and a rule worth noting is that you cannot apply with a qualification higher than the one prescribed, so a degree holder cannot take a diploma or ITI seat. This keeps each category open to the candidates it is meant for.
How an apprenticeship strengthens your career
Because the apprenticeship is not a job, its value lies in what it does for your career afterwards, and that value is real for the right candidate. A year of hands-on training at a DRDO lab gives you practical experience with the kind of equipment and processes that classroom study does not, a recognised training certificate under a national scheme, and a stipend that supports you through the year. Many candidates use the year to build their profile and prepare in parallel for a permanent recruitment exam, whether DRDO CEPTAM, the RAC Scientist route, a public-sector technician post, or a private-sector job. Employers value the discipline and exposure that an apprenticeship at a national research lab signals. The key is to enter with the right expectation: an apprenticeship is an investment in experience and preparation, and candidates who treat it that way get the most from it, while those who expect it to convert automatically into a DRDO job are disappointed.
Why do a DRDO apprenticeship at all
Given that it is not a job, it is fair to ask why an apprenticeship is worth doing. The answer is experience and profile. A year of hands-on training at a DRDO laboratory, working alongside engineers and technicians on real defence electronics or research work, is valuable experience that strengthens your resume for later jobs, whether in DRDO through CEPTAM or the Scientist route, in other public-sector organisations, or in the private sector. The stipend, though modest, supports you during the year, and the training certificate is a recognised credential. For a fresh graduate, diploma holder, or ITI candidate deciding what to do in the year after qualifying, a DRDO apprenticeship is a productive use of that time, provided you go in understanding clearly that it is training, not employment.
How the apprentice year typically runs
Understanding the shape of the year helps you decide whether the apprenticeship fits your plans. After selection on merit and document verification, you join the lab and are engaged as an apprentice under the Apprentices Act for a training period of one year. During that year you are attached to a section or function matching your discipline or trade, where you learn on the job under supervision, and you receive the monthly stipend by direct benefit transfer. There is no examination during the apprenticeship in the way a course has exams; the focus is practical training. At the end of the year, on satisfactory completion, you receive a certificate of apprenticeship training, which is a nationally recognised credential. The lab does not extend the engagement into a job, so the year is bounded and clear from the start. Candidates who plan for this, using the year to gain experience and prepare for their next step, get the most out of it.
Apprenticeship versus a regular job, in plain terms
It helps to state the difference in plain terms, because so many candidates get it wrong. A regular job pays a salary, continues indefinitely, comes with service benefits and a career ladder, and is won through a competitive process like an exam. An apprenticeship pays a stipend, lasts a fixed one year, comes with a training certificate rather than service benefits, and is usually won on qualifying-exam merit without a separate test. Neither is better in the abstract; they serve different purposes. If you need income and security now, a job is what you want, and the route to a DRDO job is CEPTAM or the Scientist recruitment. If you are a fresh graduate, diploma holder, or ITI candidate who wants a year of quality experience and a credential while you prepare for those exams or other opportunities, the apprenticeship is a productive choice. Going in with this distinction clear is the single most important thing, because it sets the right expectation and prevents the disappointment that comes from treating training as though it were employment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026 still open? No. The DRDO DEAL Apprentice 2026-27 application window closed around 22 July 2026. If you missed it, register on the NATS or NAPS portal now so you are ready for the next lab drive, and watch the DRDO vacancies page, since apprentice drives run through the year.
Does a DRDO apprenticeship lead to a permanent DRDO job? No. A DRDO apprenticeship is a one-year training programme with a stipend, and the notification states that no employment is offered afterwards. Permanent DRDO jobs come through separate recruitments like DRDO CEPTAM for technician posts and the RAC Scientist recruitment for scientists.
What is the stipend for DRDO DEAL apprentices? The monthly stipend is Rs 12,300 for Graduate apprentices, Rs 10,900 for Diploma apprentices, and Rs 10,560 for ITI apprentices. Half is paid by DEAL and half by the government through direct benefit transfer, over a one-year training period.
Is there a written exam for DRDO apprentice selection? No. Selection for a DRDO apprenticeship is usually merit-based on your qualifying-exam marks, followed by document verification. There is no written test, which is a key difference from permanent DRDO recruitment through CEPTAM or the Scientist route.
What is the difference between a DRDO apprentice and DRDO CEPTAM? A DRDO apprentice is a one-year trainee paid a stipend, with no job at the end. DRDO CEPTAM is a permanent recruitment for technician and support posts, decided by a computer-based test, that leads to a regular government job with a pay scale.
Do I apply on NATS or NAPS for a DRDO apprenticeship? Graduate and Diploma apprentices register on the NATS portal, the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme. ITI and trade apprentices register on the NAPS portal, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. You then enter the lab's establishment code so your application reaches the right lab.
Who is eligible for the DRDO DEAL apprentice 2026? Indian nationals who passed a regular qualifying course between 2022 and 2026, with no prior apprenticeship and not more than one year of post-qualification experience, and who hold the prescribed qualification for the Graduate, Diploma, or ITI category, not a higher one.
Which other DRDO labs offer apprenticeships in 2026? Beyond DEAL, DRDO labs like ACEM in Nashik, INMAS in Delhi, and GTRE in Bengaluru have run apprentice drives in 2026. DRDO labs across the country recruit apprentices through the year, each on the NATS or NAPS portal, so keep your profile ready and check the portals regularly.