DRDO DYSL-AI Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 04 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) Posts

DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory - Artificial Intelligence (DYSL-AI), Bengaluru has released a fresh Government Jobs notification dated 23rd July 2026, inviting applications for 04 Junior Research Fellow (JRF) vacancies in AI research. This recruitment is open to Indian nationals holding an engineering degree or a postgraduate science degree with NET or GATE qualification, and it's a strong opening for freshers who want to build a career in deep learning, NLP, computer vision or reinforcement learning within a defence research setup. Applications are accepted offline through post or email, and the last date to apply is 14th August 2026. Read on for the complete eligibility, stipend and application details.

About DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory - Artificial Intelligence (DYSL-AI)

DYSL-AI is one of five Young Scientist Laboratories set up by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, with a dedicated focus on artificial intelligence for defence applications. Based at the Dr. Raja Ramanna Complex in Bengaluru, the lab works closely with premier institutions such as the IITs, IISc Bangalore and various IIITs on deep learning, NLP, computer vision and reinforcement learning projects. For candidates chasing a career in applied AI research, this recruitment offers a rare chance to work on early-stage, mission-driven technology inside a government research environment.

DYSL-AI Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Important Dates

*Or 21 days from the date of publication in Employment News, whichever falls earlier. Applications reaching DYSL-AI after this window will not be entertained, so it's best to send yours well in advance.

Vacancy Details / Post Wise Break-up

All 04 openings this year fall under a single fellowship category — Junior Research Fellow — with candidates later evaluated for four specialisation tracks inside AI research.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates need any one of the following: a first-division B.E./B.Tech degree in a professional course along with a valid NET or GATE score, OR a first-division M.E./M.Tech degree where both the graduate and postgraduate levels were completed in the first division, OR a first-division postgraduate degree in Basic Science along with a valid NET qualification.

On top of the basic qualification, DYSL-AI is looking for candidates with solid fundamentals in problem solving and algorithm design, strong coding skills in Python, Java, C++ or a similar language, and working knowledge of classical AI, machine learning and deep learning concepts. Hands-on exposure to libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, TensorRT or PyTorchMobile will also count in your favour. Beyond this, applicants should have deep knowledge in at least one specialised area — speech and language technology (NLP/Machine Translation), 3D Vision and SLAM with ROS, Computer Vision including Generative Models, or Reinforcement Learning. Only candidates who already hold their final or provisional degree certificate can apply; those awaiting results are not eligible at this stage.

Age Limit (as on the date of interview)

• Maximum Age: 28 Years

Age Relaxation

Salary Details

Selected Junior Research Fellows will draw a monthly stipend of ₹37,000/- plus House Rent Allowance at the applicable rate (currently 30%), which brings the total monthly emolument to around ₹48,100/-. If DYSL-AI provides hostel or lab accommodation, the HRA component will be deducted accordingly. On satisfactory performance, JRFs are elevated to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) status for the remaining tenure, which usually carries a higher stipend slab as per DRDO norms.

Selection Process

There's no written exam for this recruitment — shortlisting and selection are based purely on academic merit and interview performance.

• Shortlisting based on GATE score or percentage of marks in the qualifying degree
• Personal Interview (in-person at DYSL-AI Bengaluru or via Video Conferencing)
• Document Verification of original certificates at the time of interview

Application Fee

The official notification does not prescribe any application fee for DYSL-AI JRF Recruitment 2026. Since applications are accepted only by post or email, there's no online payment step involved either.

Required Documents

Keep these documents ready in self-attested form before you fill and send the application:

• Duly filled Application Form (Annexure I) with a recent passport-size photograph pasted
• Updated CV/Resume
• Self-attested copies of all educational qualification certificates and mark sheets
• Self-attested proof of Date of Birth
• Self-attested caste certificate, wherever applicable
• Proof/formula for CGPA-to-percentage conversion from your University or Institution
• NOC (Annexure III) and CCA declaration (Annexure II), only for candidates already working in Government/PSU/Autonomous Bodies

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website: www.drdo.gov.in and go to What's New → Application for the post of JRF at DYSL-AI, Bangalore.
2. Download the Application Form (Annexure I) and, if applicable, Annexures II and III.
3. Fill the application form in block letters and paste a recent passport-size photograph.
4. Attach self-attested copies of your educational certificates, DOB proof and caste certificate (if applicable).
5. Government/PSU employees should also attach the signed CCA declaration and No Objection Certificate.
6. Send the completed application by post to the address below, or email the scanned set to accounts.dysl-ai@gov.in.
7. If sending by post, clearly write "Application for JRF Recruitment" in bold letters on top of the envelope.
8. Keep a copy of the submitted application for your own records.

Postal Address: The Director, DRDO Young Scientist Lab-Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Raja Ramanna Complex, Raj Bhavan Circle, High Grounds, Bengaluru-560001.

Important Instructions

• Read the official notification PDF completely before applying.
• Only candidates holding a final or provisional degree certificate are eligible to apply.
• Candidates who were already awarded a JRF position at any DRDO lab earlier cannot apply again.
• Serving Government/PSU/Autonomous Body employees must apply through proper channel with an NOC.
• Carry original certificates and two passport-size photographs at the time of interview.
• No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview or for joining, if selected.
• Apply well before the last date; applications received after the due date will not be entertained.

Why Should You Apply?

This role puts you inside a dedicated AI research lab under DRDO, working alongside scientists on real deep learning, NLP, computer vision and reinforcement learning problems with defence applications. The stipend is competitive for a fellowship role, the tenure structure lets you grow from JRF to SRF over time, and DYSL-AI even permits part-time PhD registration during your fellowship, subject to approval. For engineering or science graduates who want applied AI research experience on their resume, this is a genuinely useful stepping stone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Important Links

Final Words

DRDO DYSL-AI Recruitment 2026 is a solid opportunity for AI-focused engineering and science graduates to gain hands-on defence research experience while earning a respectable stipend. With only 04 seats on offer and a merit-based, no-written-exam selection process, a well-prepared application and a strong academic record will matter a lot. Send your application well before 14th August 2026, and feel free to share this post with friends who are preparing for GATE/NET-based research fellowships. Join our Telegram channel above for free alerts on the next Sarkari Naukri notification.