The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space (DoS) has officially released the centralized notification for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026. This recruitment drive invites online applications from dynamic, qualified graduates to fill 242 vacancies across non-technical and administrative cadres in autonomous research centers across India.
What You Will Find Here
Open positions include Assistant, Junior Personal Assistant (JPA), Upper Division Clerk (UDC), and Stenographer. Appointments will be made in Level-4 of the Pay Matrix with central government allowances.
Candidates seeking permanent, central government employment in the premier space agency can submit their applications through the online gateway. You can also visit the RK Job Alert 24 Home Page for immediate alerts on central government job drives, admit cards, and recruitment schedules.

ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026: Comprehensive Examination Overview
The administrative positions are distributed among various ISRO headquarters and specialized centers, including VSSC, URSC, SAC, SDSC SHAR, and NRSC.
The structural overview of the ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 drive is detailed in the table below:
| Recruitment Attribute | Official Specification |
| Recruiting Organization | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| Controlling Department | Department of Space (DoS), Government of India |
| Notification Reference | ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 Centralized Notification |
| Total Vacancies | 242 Regular Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted Posts |
| Designations Offered | Assistant, JPA, Upper Division Clerk (UDC), Stenographer |
| Employment Classification | Permanent Central Government Service |
| Pay Matrix Level | Pay Level-4 (Basic Pay: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100/-) |
| Minimum Academic Requirement | Graduation with at least 60% Marks or 6.32 CGPA |
| Selection Mode | Written Examination + Qualifying Skill / Literacy Test |
| Application Process | 100% Online Web Registration |
| Official Central Portal | isro.gov.in |
Critical Dates Schedule for ISRO Recruitment 2026
Candidates must keep track of all official milestones to submit their application profiles and fees on time:
- Official Advertisement Date: Released officially
- Online Registration Gateway: Active on the central careers portal
- Application Closing Deadline: Check official notice schedule
- Application Fee Payment Window: Same as registration closing
- Release of Written Examination Admit Cards: 10 to 14 days before the test
- Conduct of Computer-Based Written Test: Scheduled across national test centers
- Publication of Provisional Answer Keys: 3 to 5 days post-examination
- Declaration of Written Test Merit Results: Follows challenge evaluation
- Conduct of Skill / Stenography / Computer Literacy Test: 4 to 6 weeks post-results
- Document Verification & Final Appointment: Announced alongside final merit lists
Post-Wise Vacancy Breakup & Functional Roles
The 242 vacancies are allocated among administrative departments across India:
[242 Vacancies] ➔ [Assistant / UDC (Administrative)] + [JPA / Stenographer (Secretarial)]
1. Assistant & Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
- Functional Roles: Assistants and UDCs handle administrative tasks, budget maintenance, procurement records, personnel documentation, and ministerial coordination across ISRO establishments.
- Work Location: Deployed at ISRO HQ (Bengaluru) or associated centers nationwide.
2. Junior Personal Assistant (JPA) & Stenographer
- Functional Roles: These professionals assist senior scientists, directors, and administrative heads with correspondence, schedule coordination, and confidential administrative tasks.
- Work Location: Secretarial pools and executive offices of ISRO centers.
Post-Wise Eligibility Criteria & Academic Standards
Candidates must meet all educational and technical parameters as of the closing date:
1. Assistant and Upper Division Clerk (UDC)
- Undergraduate Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science, Management, or Engineering) awarded by a recognized university.
- Minimum Marks Requirement: Minimum 60% marks (aggregate across all semesters) or a 6.32 CGPA on a 10-point scale.
- Computer Proficiency: Practical knowledge of operating computer workstations, spreadsheet programs, and word processing applications is mandatory.
2. Junior Personal Assistant (JPA) and Stenographer
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60% marks (or 6.32 CGPA) from a recognized university, OR a 3-year State Board Diploma in Commercial/Secretarial Practice with First Class honors.
- Technical Skill Requirement: Minimum speed of 80 words per minute (80 wpm) in English shorthand/stenography.
- Computer Literacy: Familiarity with MS Office, spreadsheet data handling, and standard office software.
Age Restrictions & Category Concessions
The prescribed age limits for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 are determined as on the official application cutoff date:
- General / Unreserved / EWS: Minimum 18 years and maximum 28 years.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years upper age relaxation (up to 31 years).
- Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST): 5 years upper age relaxation (up to 33 years).
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 years relaxation (up to 38 years for UR-PwBD, 41 years for OBC-PwBD, and 43 years for SC/ST-PwBD).
- Ex-Servicemen (ESM): Concessions applied as per prevailing Central Government service rules.
- Departmental Candidates (ISRO/DoS Employees): Eligible for age relaxation up to 33 years (35 for OBC, 38 for SC/ST) subject to minimum qualifying continuous service.
- Candidates applying for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 must ensure they meet the minimum 60% graduation criteria before submitting the application.
Salary Scale, Allowances & In-Hand Compensation
Positions advertised under ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 carry central pay scales governed by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC):
- Pay Scale: Level-4 of the Pay Matrix (₹25,500 – ₹81,100/-).
- Initial Basic Pay: ₹25,500/- per month.
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Paid per central government rates.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): Paid based on city classification:
- Class ‘X’ Metropolitan Cities (e.g., Bengaluru, Ahmedabad): 27% to 30% of Basic Pay.
- Class ‘Y’ Cities (e.g., Thiruvananthapuram, Sriharikota): 18% to 20% of Basic Pay.
- Class ‘Z’ Locations: 9% to 10% of Basic Pay.
- Transport Allowance (TPTA): Standard allowances based on city tier.
- Estimated Gross Monthly Salary: Approximately ₹42,000/- to ₹46,000/- per month at entry level.
- Additional Benefits: Subsidized government quarters (or HRA), Contributory Health Service Scheme (CHSS) medical coverage, Children Education Allowance (CEA), Leave Travel Concession (LTC), canteen subsidies, and pension coverage under the National Pension System (NPS).
Comprehensive Selection Process Architecture
The selection process for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 includes two main evaluation stages:
[Stage 1: Written Examination (200 Marks)] ➔ [Stage 2: Skill / Stenography Test (Qualifying)] ➔ [Stage 3: Document Verification & Empanelment]
1. Written Examination Pattern (For Assistant & UDC)
The written exam consists of 200 objective multiple-choice questions administered over 120 minutes:
| Sectional Subject | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| General English | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | Integrated |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | 120 Minutes |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | (2 Hours) |
| General Awareness | 50 Questions | 50 Marks | Composite |
| Total Composite Examination | 200 Questions | 200 Marks | 120 Minutes |
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response.
- Qualifying Standard: General category candidates must score at least 50% in the written exam (relaxed to 40% for reserved categories).
2. Written Examination Pattern (For JPA & Stenographer)
- General English: 100 Questions (100 Marks).
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: 50 Questions (50 Marks).
- Quantitative Aptitude & General Knowledge: 50 Questions (50 Marks).
- Composite Duration: 120 Minutes for 200 questions.
- The written test structure for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 consists of 200 multiple-choice questions with sectional negative marking
3. Skill Test / Computer Literacy Test
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for the Skill Test in a 1:5 ratio based on written test merit.
- For Assistant / UDC: A Computer Literacy Test evaluating proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (Minimum qualifying threshold: 60%).
- For JPA / Stenographer: An 80 wpm English shorthand test followed by transcription on a computer terminal.
- Evaluation Nature: Skill tests are purely qualifying in nature; final merit selection is determined exclusively by scores obtained in the written exam.
Detailed Syllabus for Written Examination
Candidates preparing for the written examination should focus on these primary topics:
1. General English
- Comprehension passages, error detection, preposition usage, and active/passive voice transformations.
- Direct and indirect speech, sentence rearrangement, cloze tests, idioms, phrases, and vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms).
2. Quantitative Aptitude
- Number systems, percentages, ratios, proportions, averages, simple and compound interest.
- Profit, loss, discount, time and work, time-speed-distance, basic algebra, and data interpretation charts.
3. General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Analogies, classifications, series completion (number and alphabetical), coding-decoding, and direction tests.
- Blood relations, Venn diagrams, non-verbal patterns, syllogisms, seating arrangements, and ranking tests.
4. General Awareness
- Indian space program history, missions (Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, Aditya-L1), and scientific developments.
- Current events of national and international importance, Indian Constitution, polity, geography, history, and basic economics.
Application Fee & Exemption Policy
The application fee must be remitted through the integrated online payment system:
| Candidate Category Classification | Application Processing Fee | Net Payable Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | ₹100/- | ₹100/- |
| All Female Candidates (All Categories) | Fully Exempted | ₹0/- (Free) |
| SC / ST Candidates | Fully Exempted | ₹0/- (Free) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Fully Exempted | ₹0/- (Free) |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Fully Exempted | ₹0/- (Free) |
- Payment Methods: Internet Banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Debit Cards, or Credit Cards.
- Female and reserved category applicants are completely exempted from paying any registration fee under ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026
Documents Required for Online Application & Verification
Keep these documents ready for registration and verification:
- Academic Records: 10th standard certificate (proof of DOB), 12th standard marksheet, and consolidated graduation marksheets with degree certificates showing a minimum 60% score.
- Caste / Community Certificates: Valid SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), or EWS certificates issued by competent revenue authorities in central government format.
- Disability Documentation: Valid disability certificate issued by an authorized Medical Board for PwBD applicants.
- Valid Identity Proof: Government photo ID card (such as Voter Card, Passport, PAN Card, or Driving License).
- Scanned Uploads:
- Passport-size color photograph (JPG format, 10 KB to 40 KB).
- Clean digital signature on plain white paper with blue/black ink (JPG format, 10 KB to 20 KB).
- SC/ST/Disability certificates for candidates claiming fee exemptions.
How to Apply Online for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 Step by Step
Follow this official walkthrough to complete your submission on the portal:
- Open your web browser and go to the official portal:
isro.gov.in. - Navigate to the top navigation header and click on the “Careers” section.
- Locate the recruitment notification titled “Advt: Recruitment to the posts of Assistant, Junior Personal Assistant, Upper Division Clerk, and Stenographer (242 Posts) 2026”.
- Click on “Apply Online” to open the registration system.
- Select the post you wish to apply for (e.g., Assistant or JPA).
- Fill in your full name, primary email address, active mobile number, and personal details.
- Submit the initial registration form to receive your Registration Number and login credentials.
- Log in to complete the detailed application form.
- Enter your educational scores, university details, year of passing, and choice of written exam cities.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature in the specified file dimensions.
- Male candidates in UR, OBC, and EWS categories should complete the ₹100/- application fee payment through the payment gateway.
- Review your entries on the summary preview page.
- Click Submit Form and download duplicate printouts of the final confirmation receipt for your records.
- Visit the official portal to complete your online form for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 before the last date.
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🔗 Important Links & Quick Action
Check the direct application links and official notification PDF for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026 in the section below.
| कार्य / सेवा का नाम | सीधा लिंक (Direct Action) |
| 📝 Apply Online for ISRO Recruitment | Apply Link➔ |
| 📄 Download Official Notification PDF | Official Pdf Download ➔ |
| 🏛️ ISRO Official Website | Isro Official Wesbite Link ➔ |
| 💬 Join Official WhatsApp Channel | (Instant Alerts) ➔ |
| 🏠 Latest Govt Jobs & Updates | RK Job Alert 24 ➔ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the total number of vacancies announced in ISRO Recruitment 2026?
The Indian Space Research Organisation has advertised a total of 242 regular vacancies across Assistant, Junior Personal Assistant (JPA), Upper Division Clerk (UDC), and Stenographer cadres.
Q2: Can final semester students apply for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026?
No. Applicants must have completed their graduation with a minimum of 60% marks or a 6.32 CGPA on or before the closing date. Candidates awaiting final results are not eligible.
Q3: What is the initial monthly compensation for Assistant and JPA posts?
Selected recruits receive Level-4 pay (Basic Pay ₹25,500/-) with central allowances, yielding an estimated gross salary between ₹42,000/- and ₹46,000/- per month depending on posting location.
Q4: Is there an application fee for female or reserved category applicants?
No. All female candidates, as well as SC, ST, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen applicants, are fully exempt from paying the application fee.
Q5: Are skill test marks counted toward the final selection merit list?
No. The Skill Test and Computer Literacy Test are qualifying in nature. Final merit rankings are prepared based on scores in the 200-mark written examination.
Q6: What is the minimum educational qualification required for ISRO 242 Recruitment 2026?