Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ is an Entry Grade Group A Gazetted post at the Indian Space Research Organisation — among the most sought-after engineering positions in India, and associated with Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, Gaganyaan and Aditya-L1.
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Most candidates prepare for the ICRB centralised exam, which recruits on a B.E./B.Tech qualification. That is the well-known route, and it is not a postgraduate one.
The postgraduate route is different, and it is systematically missed. ISRO’s individual centres — SAC, URSC, VSSC, LPSC and others — announce their own drives, and these frequently require a dual qualification: B.E./B.Tech plus M.E./M.Tech or M.Sc.
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The SAC 2026 notification is explicit: its 45 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts are “designed for ME/MTech and MSc holders.”
Both routes lead to the same designation. The SAC Computer Based Test is scheduled for 30 July 2026.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organisation | ISRO, Department of Space |
| Posts | Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ and ‘SD’ — Group A Gazetted |
| Two routes | ICRB centralised drives (B.E./B.Tech) · Individual centre drives (B.E./B.Tech + M.E./M.Tech or M.Sc) |
| SC pay | Level 10 — ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| SD pay | Level 11 |
| In-hand (SC) | Approximately ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 per month |
| Selection | Written Test (50%) + Interview (50%) |
| Nationality | Indian nationals only |
| Cycle | No fixed annual cycle |
| Portal | isro.gov.in/Careers.html |
1. The Two Routes
| Route | Conducted by | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| ICRB — ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board | Large, multi-discipline drives | B.E./B.Tech with 65% |
| Individual centres | SAC (Ahmedabad), URSC (Bengaluru), VSSC (Thiruvananthapuram), LPSC (Valiamala/Bengaluru), ISAC and others | B.E./B.Tech + M.E./M.Tech or M.Sc, discipline-specific |
Both routes lead to the same Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ designation and the same Level 10 pay.
The critical operational point: ISRO does not follow a fixed annual cycle. Multiple individual centre notifications often appear between ICRB centralised drives.
Do not miss centre-specific openings while waiting for the big ICRB exam. In 2026 alone: SAC notified in January, LPSC in April, URSC in March — while the next large ICRB drive remained awaited.
For a postgraduate, the centre drives are not the fallback. They are the route.
2. The Postgraduate Eligibility
Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ — The Dual Degree
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | B.E./B.Tech with 65% or CGPA 6.84/10 |
| Master’s | M.E./M.Tech with 60% or CGPA 6.5/10 — or M.Sc |
| Discipline | The exact specified discipline in the notification |
| AMIE / Grade IETE | 65% or CGPA 6.84 in Section B |
Both degrees are required, at both thresholds. A candidate with an outstanding M.Tech but 63% in B.Tech does not qualify. The bachelor’s percentage does not become irrelevant on obtaining a master’s.
The discipline pairing is exact. LPSC’s 2026 notification, for example, required B.E./B.Tech in ECE / Electronics & Instrumentation / Applied Electronics plus M.E./M.Tech in RF & Microwave Engineering for one post code. A near-match does not qualify.
Minimum marks are applied strictly — no rounding.
Qualifications must be completed within the stipulated course duration.
Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’ — The PhD Route
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| PhD | In the relevant field |
| Plus M.E./M.Tech | 60% or CGPA 6.5 |
| Plus B.E./B.Tech | 65% or CGPA 6.84 |
| Pay | Level 11 |
| Fee | No fee for Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’ posts |
SD is the highest-qualification entry ISRO offers at this level — a triple requirement of PhD, master’s and bachelor’s, each at its own threshold.
The Age Rule Postgraduates Should Read First
Age varies by qualification route — and the pattern is counter-intuitive.
| Post | Age |
|---|---|
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’ | 18 to 35 years |
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ (M.E./M.Tech based) | 18 to 30 years |
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ (M.Sc based) | 18 to 28 years |
The M.Sc route carries the narrowest band — 28. A candidate who completed an M.Sc at 24 has four years. The PhD route runs to 35 — the widest, because ISRO expects the qualification to take longer.
Relaxations as reported: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwBD up to a substantial relaxation per government rules. Verify the exact figures in the notification.
Age is calculated as on the closing date of applications — 12 May 2026 for the LPSC drive, for example.
Results Awaited — A Hard Exclusion
Candidates whose results are awaited on the cut-off date are NOT eligible.
This is stricter than UGC NET, CSIR NET and most examinations in this series, all of which permit provisional application by final-year candidates. ISRO does not. The degree must be complete before the closing date.
3. The 2026 Notifications
SAC — Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Advertisement | SAC:01:2026 |
| Vacancies | 49 — including 45 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ |
| Post Codes | 01 to 16 |
| Disciplines | RF & Microwave, Electronics, Communication, Remote Sensing, Civil and other engineering domains |
| Application | 23 January (1000 hrs) to 12 February 2026 (1700 hrs) |
| Qualifying marks | 60% to 65%, depending on post code |
| CBT | 30 July 2026 |
| Exam cities | 18 |
| Fee | ₹750 — refundable after appearing in the written test. No fee for ‘SD’ |
| Payment | Bharatkosh portal |
| Posting | SAC Ahmedabad or any ISRO Centre/Unit anywhere in India |
Note the post-code variation: qualifying marks range 60% to 65% depending on the post code. Check the threshold for your specific post code, not the drive’s general statement.
LPSC — Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vacancies | Reported at 15 across Mechanical, Electronics and Metallurgy; another source reports 06 |
| Application | 28 April to 12 May 2026 |
| Pay | Level 10 — ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Selection | Written Exam + Interview |
| Location | Valiamala (Thiruvananthapuram) and Bengaluru |
| Age | 30 for most posts; 28 for metallurgy |
| Status | Posts initially temporary, confirmed on performance |
LPSC handles the design, development, testing and production of liquid propulsion systems for launch vehicles and satellites, contributing to GSLV, PSLV and future human spaceflight programmes.
Sources conflict on the vacancy count — 15 versus 06. Verify in the notification.
URSC — U R Rao Satellite Centre
Notified in March 2026 for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’, ‘SD’ and Medical Officer ‘SC’.
4. Salary
| Post | Pay Level | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ | Level 10 | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’ | Level 11 | Per government norms |
Plus DA, HRA and other allowances.
In-hand at entry for SC: approximately ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 per month.
Benefits: medical facilities, housing, and professional development opportunities, per ISRO/DoS norms.
Context across this series: an entry in-hand of ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 at Level 10 places ISRO Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ close to a Level 10 Assistant Professor (₹91,500–₹96,600), above IBPS PO (₹74,000–76,000) and SSC CGL Income Tax Inspector (₹75,000–80,000), and below RBI Grade B (₹1,54,936).
Level 10 at ISRO is the same pay level as an Assistant Professor — but reached through a dual engineering qualification rather than NET.
5. Selection — Where the Interview Decides
| Stage | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written Test | 50% |
| Interview | 50% |
The final merit is 50% Written Test plus 50% Interview.
This is an unusually heavy interview weighting. Compare: IBPS PO is 80:20 Mains-to-Interview; RBI Grade B is 300:75. ISRO is 50:50.
A candidate who clears the written test with a strong margin holds only half the marks. The interview is not a formality — it is the other half of the examination.
The written test format (ICRB pattern):
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 95 MCQs |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Composition | 80 technical + 15 aptitude |
| Part A weight | Core Engineering — 80% of the written test |
| Aptitude | Numerical, logical, abstract and diagrammatic reasoning |
| Standard | Undergraduate B.E./B.Tech level — questions “often more direct and conceptual than GATE” |
And a provision specific to the postgraduate posts: for M.E./M.Tech posts, technical descriptive questions are also included.
That is a material difference. The centre-specific PG drives are not simply the ICRB paper with a higher eligibility bar — they add a descriptive technical component. Preparation cannot be MCQ-only.
Note the standard carefully: the syllabus is undergraduate level even for postgraduate posts. An M.Tech holder preparing at postgraduate depth is preparing wrongly — the paper tests B.Tech fundamentals, directly and conceptually.
6. Application
Using the SAC process as the model:
- Visit the official ISRO website and complete registration to obtain a unique Registration Number.
- Log in to the centre’s recruitment portal.
- Enter personal information and academic records, and choose up to 18 exam cities.
- Upload clear scans of photograph, signature and educational certificates in the required formats — JPG or PDF.
- Pay the ₹750 application fee via the Bharatkosh portal. No fee for Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’.
- Review all data carefully — no changes are allowed after submission.
- Download the final form.
On the fee refund: candidates who appear for the written test may receive a refund. This is unusual and worth noting — the fee functions as an attendance deposit rather than a charge.
On exam cities: ISRO conducts the examination in 18 cities, but reserves the right to change or reallocate the exam city depending on the number of applications received.
7. Documents Checklist
- ☐ B.E./B.Tech — certificate and mark sheets, 65% or CGPA 6.84
- ☐ M.E./M.Tech — certificate and mark sheets, 60% or CGPA 6.5
- ☐ M.Sc, where applying on that route
- ☐ PhD, for Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’
- ☐ AMIE / Grade IETE Section B documents, where applicable
- ☐ Proof of course duration — qualifications must be completed within the stipulated duration
- ☐ Age proof
- ☐ Caste / category certificate
- ☐ Valid ID — Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID or Passport
- ☐ Registration Number and printed application
8. Assessment
In favour:
- Group A Gazetted at entry — a distinction most posts in this series reach only after years
- Level 10, ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500, in-hand approximately ₹75,000 – ₹85,000
- Level 11 for the PhD-based ‘SD’ route
- The fee is refundable on appearing for the written test
- Multiple notifications per year across centres — not one annual cycle
- PG-specific drives where the field is narrower than ICRB’s national pool
- Work on India’s flagship missions
- Both male and female candidates eligible
Against:
- The dual-degree requirement is strict — 65% in B.Tech and 60% in M.Tech, in the exact specified discipline, no rounding
- Results awaited candidates are not eligible — unlike almost every other examination in this series
- The M.Sc route closes at 28
- 50% interview weighting — the written test is only half the marks
- Vacancy counts are small — 49 at SAC, 15 or fewer at LPSC
- Posting anywhere in India
- Posts initially temporary, confirmed on performance
Recommendations:
Monitor the centre pages, not just ICRB. SAC, URSC, VSSC, LPSC and ISAC notify independently, and for a postgraduate these are the drives that ask for your qualification. Waiting for the centralised exam means missing them.
Check your exact discipline pairing against the post code. ISRO’s screening is strict, and a near-match on discipline or a shortfall on percentage is a rejection, not a discussion.
Prepare the written test at B.Tech level, not M.Tech level — the paper tests undergraduate fundamentals directly. But prepare for descriptive technical questions if applying to an M.E./M.Tech post.
And prepare for the interview from the beginning. At 50% of the final merit, it carries the same weight as the entire written test. A strong academic and project profile is what the interview assesses — and for a postgraduate, the thesis is the obvious asset to be able to defend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is ISRO Scientist recruitment open to postgraduates? Yes — through the individual centre drives. The ICRB centralised exam recruits on B.E./B.Tech, but centres such as SAC, LPSC and URSC require B.E./B.Tech plus M.E./M.Tech or M.Sc. SAC’s 2026 notification describes its 45 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts as “designed for ME/MTech and MSc holders.”
Q2. What are the qualification requirements? For ‘SC’: a Master’s (M.E./M.Tech/M.Sc) with 60% and a Bachelor’s with 65%. For ‘SD’: a PhD plus M.E./M.Tech with 60% plus B.E./B.Tech with 65%. Both — or all three — are required, in the exact specified discipline, with no rounding.
Q3. What is the age limit? Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’: 18 to 35. Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ (M.E./M.Tech based): 18 to 30. Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ (M.Sc based): 18 to 28. Relaxation applies per government rules.
Q4. What is the ISRO Scientist salary? Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’: Level 10, ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500, with an in-hand of approximately ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 per month. Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’: Level 11. DA, HRA and other allowances apply, alongside medical facilities and housing.
Q5. Can final-year candidates apply? No. Candidates whose results are awaited on the cut-off date are not eligible. The degree must be completed before the closing date, within the stipulated course duration.
Q6. How is selection decided? 50% Written Test plus 50% Interview. The written test is 95 MCQs in 120 minutes — 80 technical and 15 aptitude — at undergraduate B.E./B.Tech level. For M.E./M.Tech posts, technical descriptive questions are also included.
Q7. Is the application fee refundable? Yes — candidates who appear for the written test may receive a refund. The fee is ₹750, paid via the Bharatkosh portal. There is no fee for Scientist/Engineer ‘SD’ posts.
Q8. Does ISRO recruit annually? No. ISRO does not follow a fixed annual cycle. Individual centre notifications — SAC, URSC, VSSC, LPSC, ISAC — often appear between ICRB centralised drives. Monitor isro.gov.in/Careers.html regularly.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Vacancy numbers, eligibility, discipline pairings, qualifying percentages by post code, age limits, selection weightage, fees and dates are set by each ISRO centre’s official notification and vary between drives. Secondary sources conflict on the LPSC vacancy count. Candidates must read the official notification for the specific advertisement on isro.gov.in or the concerned centre’s portal before applying and treat it as the final authority.