ACEM DRDO Nasik Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — 41 Posts, Apply by 26 Jul (Maharashtra)

Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), Nasik, a specialised laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has released Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 (Advt. No. ACEM/HRD/APPRENTICESHIP/2026-27) for 41 Graduate and Technician Apprentice vacancies. ACEM is DRDO's dedicated centre for research and development of high-performance energetic materials used in India's defence and strategic programmes — making this one of the most unique and prestigious apprenticeship opportunities for engineering graduates and diploma holders seeking defence R&D exposure as part of their sarkari naukri career path. Selected apprentices will undergo one year of structured on-the-job training at ACEM's facility in Ojhar, Nasik, Maharashtra, across Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Commerce, and Library disciplines. The ACEM DRDO Apprentice 2026 selection is based on academic merit — candidates must first register on the NATS 2.0 portal (nats.education.gov.in), then submit their application via email to apprentice.acem@gov.in. Only candidates who passed their qualifying examination in 2024, 2025, or 2026 are eligible. No application fee is required. The last date to apply for ACEM DRDO Nasik Apprentice 2026 is 26 July 2026. Applications must be sent as a PDF by email to apprentice.acem@gov.in with the subject line "Application for Apprenticeship 2026-27, ACEM" — no hard copy by post will be accepted. Candidates must download the official notification from drdo.gov.in and complete NATS registration before applying.

• Graduate Apprentice (30 posts): BE/BTech in Chemical / Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics Engineering; or BSc in Chemistry / Physics / Computer Science; or BCom; or BLIS from a recognised university; passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 only; regular full-time course mandatory
• Technician/Diploma Apprentice (11 posts): Diploma in Mechanical / Chemical / Electrical / Electronics Engineering from a recognised polytechnic; passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 only; regular course only
• Candidates who have already completed apprenticeship or have 1 year or more post-qualification work experience are not eligible

As per Apprentices Act 1961 — minimum 14 years; no upper age limit specified. Refer to official notification at drdo.gov.in for complete age details.

• Graduate Apprentice (30 posts): BE/BTech in Chemical/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics Engineering; or BSc in Chemistry/Physics/Computer Science; or BCom; or BLIS from a recognised university; passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 only
• Technician/Diploma Apprentice (11 posts): Diploma in Mechanical/Chemical/Electrical/Electronics Engineering from a recognised polytechnic; passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 only
• Regular full-time courses only; distance/correspondence courses not eligible
• Candidates who have already completed apprenticeship or have 1 year or more post-qualification job experience are not eligible
• Must register on NATS 2.0 portal (nats.education.gov.in) before submitting email application
• Indian citizenship mandatory

Nil — No application fee for any category

Monthly stipend as per Apprentices Act 1961 rates (Ministry of Skill Development):

• Graduate Apprentice: ₹12,300 per month
• Technician/Diploma Apprentice: ₹10,900 per month

Apprenticeship duration: 1 year. No regular employment guaranteed on completion of training.

1. Visit drdo.gov.in and download the complete official notification PDF (Advt. No. ACEM/HRD/APPRENTICESHIP/2026-27 dated 01 Jul 2026)
2. Read the notification carefully and verify eligibility for the specific apprentice category and discipline
3. Register on the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in with your educational details — this is mandatory before sending the application email
4. Download the application form from the official notification PDF and fill it with accurate personal, educational, and NATS registration details
5. Prepare a single PDF containing the filled application form and all required self-attested documents: degree/diploma certificate, mark sheets, 10th certificate, category certificate (if applicable), and passport-size photograph
6. Send the PDF to apprentice.acem@gov.in with the subject line exactly as: "Application for Apprenticeship 2026-27, ACEM"
7. Ensure the email is sent on or before 26 July 2026 — late or incomplete applications will not be considered
8. No hard copy application by post will be accepted under any circumstances
9. No application fee is required — apply free of cost
10. If shortlisted based on merit, attend document verification at ACEM Nasik on the notified date with all original certificates