A First Class Diploma holder appointed as an ISRO Technical Assistant is placed at Pay Level 7 — basic ₹44,900, scale to ₹1,42,400.
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That is the same pay level, and the same basic pay, as an SSC CGL Income Tax Inspector, an IB Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, and an Assistant Section Officer in the Central Secretariat — all of which require a bachelor’s degree.
A three-year diploma reaches the pay level that three national graduate examinations gate behind a degree. It is the single most favourable ITI/Diploma-tier fact in this series.
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ISRO ISTRAC’s recruitment is live. Advertisement No. ISTRAC:02:2026, 26 vacancies across Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant, Library Assistant-A, Technician-B, Draughtsman-B and Cook-A — applications open from 27 June to 20 July 2026 (11:55 PM).
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organisation | ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru — Department of Space |
| Advertisement | ISTRAC:02:2026 |
| Vacancies | 26 across six posts |
| Technical Assistant | First Class Diploma — Pay Level 7, ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Technician-B | 10th + ITI / NTC / NAC — Pay Level 3, ₹21,700 – ₹69,100 |
| Age | 18 to 35 years as on 20.07.2026 |
| Selection | Screening → Written Test/CBT → Skill Test (qualifying) |
| Fee | Refunded to candidates who appear in the written test |
| Application | 27 June to 20 July 2026 |
| Portal | isro.gov.in · istrac.gov.in |
1. The Pay Level That Matters
| Post | Qualification | Pay Level | Basic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Assistant | First Class Diploma | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Scientific Assistant | First Class B.Sc. | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Library Assistant-A | Master’s in Library Science | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Technician-B | 10th + ITI/NTC/NAC | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Draughtsman-B | 10th + ITI/NTC/NAC | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Cook-A | — | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
Read the first and third rows together. A diploma holder and a Master’s in Library Science holder are placed at the same pay level — Level 7, ₹44,900.
And set Level 7 against the graduate tier covered elsewhere in this series:
| Post | Qualification | Basic |
|---|---|---|
| ISRO Technical Assistant | 3-year Diploma | ₹44,900 |
| SSC CGL Income Tax Inspector | Bachelor’s degree | ₹44,900 |
| IB ACIO | Bachelor’s degree | ₹44,900 |
| Central Secretariat ASO | Bachelor’s degree | ₹44,900 |
Identical basic pay. One requires a diploma; three require a degree.
Technician-B at Level 3, ₹21,700, meanwhile, matches the CAPF constable and RRB’s Commercial cum Ticket Clerk — and is above RRB Technician Grade III’s Level 2, ₹19,900.
Allowances: DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, medical facilities, Leave Travel Concession and retirement benefits, with growth through increments and promotions.
2. Eligibility
| Post | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Technical Assistant (Electronics / Mechanical) | First Class Diploma in the relevant discipline of Engineering, from a government-recognised State Board or Technical Institute |
| Scientific Assistant (Computer Science / Mathematics) | First Class B.Sc. with the respective domain as the primary main subject |
| Technician-B | SSLC / SSC / Matriculation (10th Standard) + an active ITI / NTC / NAC certificate in the matching trade |
| Draughtsman-B | 10th + ITI / NTC / NAC in the matching trade |
| Library Assistant-A | Master’s degree in Library Science |
Trades for Technician-B and Draughtsman-B include Electronics Mechanic, Carpenter, Civil and Mechanical, matching the post.
The NAC — Accepted Again
Note the wording: “ITI / NTC / NAC certificate in the matching trade.”
The National Apprenticeship Certificate is accepted alongside the ITI.
This is now the fourth employer in this series to treat the apprenticeship as a qualification:
| Employer | Position |
|---|---|
| RRB Technician Grade III | CCAA accepted in lieu of ITI |
| BHEL Artisan Grade IV | NAC required in addition to ITI |
| ISRO Technician-B | NAC accepted alongside ITI/NTC |
| IOCL / BHEL apprenticeships | Produce the certificate the above three accept |
An apprenticeship completed under the Apprentices Act is not merely experience. Across the PSU technical tier, it is a recognised qualification.
The Exclusion — Distance Learning
“Candidates who pursued a professional course through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) are not eligible for the Technical Assistant post.”
A diploma obtained through ODL does not qualify. The same principle appears at BHEL Bhopal, where “a degree/Diploma acquired from the Distance/Correspondence education system is not eligible for the apprenticeship.”
Across this tier, technical qualifications must be regular and full-time. Verify the mode of your course before applying.
Age — The Widest in This Series
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 35 years as on 20.07.2026 |
| SC / ST | +5 years — where the post is reserved for the category |
| OBC | +3 years — where the post is reserved for the category |
| Ex-servicemen, PwBD | Further relaxation |
Compare across the ITI/Diploma tier:
| Employer | Upper age |
|---|---|
| IOCL Apprentice | 24 |
| POWERGRID JTT | 27 |
| BHEL Artisan | 27 (General) |
| DRDO CEPTAM | 28 |
| RRB Technician Grade III | 30 |
| ISRO | 35 |
ISRO’s band is the widest by five years. For a candidate in their early thirties holding a diploma or an ITI, ISRO is the door that is still open when the others have closed.
Note the relaxation condition carefully: it applies “where the post is reserved for the category” — the same provision seen at AIIMS and RRB. Relaxation attaches to the reserved vacancy, not to the candidate.
3. Selection
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Initial Screening | Based on the particulars submitted in the online application |
| 2. Written Test / CBT | 80 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, 1 mark each, negative marking 0.33 |
| 3. Skill Test | Qualifying |
“Final selection is based on Written Test/CBT marks among candidates who clear the Skill Test.”
The pattern is now uniform across the entire ITI/Diploma tier:
| Employer | Structure |
|---|---|
| DRDO CEPTAM Technician-A | CBT decides · Trade Test qualifying |
| NTPC Artisan Trainee | Written test decides · trade/skill test “only qualifying in nature” |
| POWERGRID | CBT 100% of merit · Trade Test qualifying |
| ISRO | Written Test decides · Skill Test qualifying |
Four employers, one structure. The written test is the examination; the practical test must be cleared and adds nothing.
And in every case, the qualifying test still eliminates. Clearing it is mandatory.
The written test covers “both theoretical and practical knowledge”, drawn from the prescribed curriculum — for Technical Assistant, core subjects including mathematics, physics and electronics, spanning calculus, mechanics, electromagnetism, digital electronics and microprocessors.
For Technician-B, the written test and skill test are “both based on the prescribed curriculum” — that is, your ITI/NTC/NAC syllabus.
4. The Fee — Refunded for Appearing
ISRO’s fee structure is unusual, and favourable.
“The processing fee is refunded only to candidates who appear in the Written Test/CBT.”
“Women, SC/ST/PwBD, and Ex-servicemen candidates exempted from the application fee will get a full refund of the processing fee; all other candidates will get a refund after deducting the applicable application fee.”
In effect:
| Category | Outcome on appearing |
|---|---|
| Women, SC/ST/PwBD, Ex-servicemen | Full refund of the processing fee |
| All others | Refund after deducting the application fee |
| Anyone who does not appear | No refund |
The fee functions as an attendance deposit — the same structure as ISRO’s ₹750 Scientist/Engineer fee and RRB Technician’s refund to the Aadhaar-seeded account.
The practical point: appearing costs you almost nothing. Not appearing costs you the fee.
5. Two Provisions to Read Before Submitting
“The application, once submitted, cannot be edited later.”
There is no correction window. Compare: RRB Technician offers a modification window from 1 to 10 August at ₹250 per modification; IBPS PO offers a two-day edit window. ISRO offers nothing. Check every field before submitting.
“The posts are temporary in nature but likely to continue.”
This is stated in the notification and should be read as written. The posts are Central Government positions on the 7th CPC pay matrix with full allowances and retirement benefits — but the advertisement describes them as temporary in nature, with the expectation of continuance.
Posting: “Selected candidates will be posted at one or more technical facilities of ISTRAC/MCF, with liability to be posted anywhere in India under the Department of Space/ISRO.”
6. The Vacancy Structure
26 vacancies across six posts. Technical Assistant carries 7 vacancies under Post Codes 005 and 006.
A detail worth noting: for Post Code 001, of the total 8 posts, 5 are notified at ISTRAC and 3 at Master Control Facility (MCF), Hassan.
“The number of vacancies is provisional and may vary based on actual requirements.”
ISTRAC — the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network, headquartered in Bengaluru — handles tracking and command for ISRO’s missions. MCF Hassan operates the master control facility for satellites.
ISRO Recruits Centre by Centre
As with the Scientist/Engineer route covered in our PG series, ISRO’s technical recruitment is decentralised.
Recent Technician-B notifications:
| Centre | Detail |
|---|---|
| VSSC — Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre | Technician posts across trades |
| PRL — Physical Research Laboratory | Applications 16 October to 14 November 2025 |
| VSSC and PRL combined | 70 vacancies across Fitter, Turner, Machinist, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Plumber and others |
| LPSC — Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre | Answer key released |
| ISTRAC | ISTRAC:02:2026 — live |
All at Pay Level 3, ₹21,700 – ₹69,100, on 10th + ITI/NTC/NAC, selected by Written Test followed by Skill Test.
The instruction is the same as for the Scientist route: monitor isro.gov.in/Careers.html and the individual centre websites. There is no single national ISRO technician notification, and centre drives appear throughout the year.
7. Application
Applications are accepted online only, through www.isro.gov.in or www.istrac.gov.in.
- Open the recruitment page and locate Advertisement No. ISTRAC:02:2026.
- Read the notification and confirm the post code, eligibility and age reference date — 20 July 2026.
- Register and complete the online application.
- Pay the processing fee.
- Verify every field — the application cannot be edited after submission.
- Submit before 20 July 2026 (11:55 PM).
“To avoid disqualification during the initial screening round, candidates must ensure they fully meet the educational benchmarks and age rules defined for their specific positions as of the reference date.”
8. Documents Checklist
- ☐ First Class Diploma in the relevant engineering discipline — regular, not ODL — for Technical Assistant
- ☐ First Class B.Sc. with the domain as primary main subject — for Scientific Assistant
- ☐ SSLC / SSC / Matriculation certificate — for Technician-B and Draughtsman-B
- ☐ Active ITI / NTC / NAC certificate in the matching trade
- ☐ Master’s in Library Science — for Library Assistant-A
- ☐ Age proof — reference date 20.07.2026
- ☐ Caste / category certificate — relaxation applies only where the post is reserved
- ☐ PwBD or Ex-servicemen documentation, where applicable
- ☐ Photograph and signature to specification
9. Assessment
In favour:
- Technical Assistant at Pay Level 7, ₹44,900 — on a diploma. The same basic as Income Tax Inspector, IB ACIO and Central Secretariat ASO, all of which require a degree
- Technician-B at Level 3, ₹21,700 — above RRB Technician Grade III’s Level 2
- Age to 35 — the widest band in this tier by five years
- NAC accepted alongside ITI/NTC
- The fee is refunded to candidates who appear in the written test — in full for women, SC/ST/PwBD and Ex-servicemen
- Written test decides; skill test is qualifying only
- Central Government 7th CPC pay, with DA, HRA, TA, medical, LTC and retirement benefits
- Work at the Department of Space
Against:
- 26 vacancies — a small drive; 7 for Technical Assistant
- First Class Diploma required — a pass-class diploma does not qualify
- ODL and distance-mode professional courses are excluded
- The application cannot be edited after submission — no correction window
- The posts are “temporary in nature but likely to continue”
- Posting liability anywhere in India under the Department of Space
- 0.33 negative marking on 80 questions
- Age relaxation applies only where the post is reserved for the category
Recommendations:
If you hold a First Class Diploma, this is the highest-value diploma post in this series. Pay Level 7 at ₹44,900 is what three national graduate examinations pay a degree holder. Apply.
If you are over 30 and hold an ITI or diploma, ISRO is likely the only door still open. 35 against IOCL’s 24, POWERGRID’s 27 and DRDO’s 28.
Check the mode of your diploma. ODL and distance-mode courses are not eligible for Technical Assistant.
Check every field before submitting. There is no correction window — unlike RRB, IBPS and most recruiters in this series.
And appear for the test. The fee is refunded to candidates who appear, in full for women and reserved categories. Not appearing is the only way to lose it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the qualification for ISRO Technical Assistant? A First Class Diploma in the relevant discipline of Engineering from a government-recognised State Board or Technical Institute. Candidates who pursued a professional course through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) are not eligible.
Q2. What is the ISRO Technical Assistant salary? Pay Level 7 of the Pay Matrix — ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400 per month, plus HRA, DA, Transport Allowance, medical facilities, LTC and retirement benefits. This is the same pay level and basic as SSC CGL Income Tax Inspector, IB ACIO and Central Secretariat ASO — all of which require a bachelor’s degree.
Q3. What qualification does Technician-B require? SSLC / SSC / Matriculation (10th Standard) plus an active ITI / NTC / NAC certificate in the matching trade — Electronics Mechanic, Carpenter, Civil, Mechanical and others. Pay Level 3 — ₹21,700 to ₹69,100.
Q4. Is a National Apprenticeship Certificate accepted? Yes. The eligibility is stated as “ITI / NTC / NAC certificate in the matching trade” — the NAC, issued on completing an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, is accepted alongside the ITI.
Q5. What is the age limit? 18 to 35 years as on 20.07.2026 — with 5 years relaxation for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC, where the post is reserved for the category, and further relaxation for Ex-servicemen and PwBD. This is the widest age band in the ITI/Diploma tier.
Q6. What is the selection process? Initial screening, then a Written Test/CBT of 80 multiple-choice questions over 90 minutes with 0.33 negative marking, followed by a qualifying Skill Test. Final selection is based on Written Test/CBT marks among candidates who clear the Skill Test.
Q7. Is the application fee refundable? Yes, on appearing. “The processing fee is refunded only to candidates who appear in the Written Test/CBT.” Women, SC/ST/PwBD and Ex-servicemen receive a full refund; other candidates receive a refund after deduction of the applicable application fee.
Q8. Can I edit my application after submitting? No. “The application, once submitted, cannot be edited later.” There is no correction window.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. ISRO recruits technical staff centre by centre — ISTRAC, VSSC, PRL, LPSC and others — each with its own advertisement, vacancy count, post codes and dates; figures cited are from Advertisement No. ISTRAC:02:2026 and other specific notifications and are not applicable across all centres. Vacancy numbers are provisional and may vary. The posts are described in the notification as temporary in nature but likely to continue. Candidates must read the official notification on isro.gov.in or istrac.gov.in before applying and treat it as the final authority.