DRDO ACEM Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Most government opportunities for freshers come with three hurdles: an application fee, a competitive written exam, and lakhs of applicants. The DRDO ACEM Apprentice Recruitment 2026 removes all three. The Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM) – a DRDO facility near Nasik, Maharashtra – has invited applications for 41 apprenticeship seats for the year 2026-27, and the selection is purely merit-based on your degree/diploma marks. No exam. No fee. Just a properly prepared email application.
If you completed your B.E/B.Tech, B.Sc, B.Com, BLIS or Engineering Diploma in 2024, 2025 or 2026, this could be the smartest first line on your resume. Here’s everything you need – seats, eligibility, the exact application process, and the email format that gets your application accepted.
Key Details at a Glance
- Organisation: Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), DRDO, Ministry of Defence
- Advertisement No.: ACEM/HRD/APPRENTICESHIP/2026-27 (released 1 July 2026)
- Total Seats: 41 (Graduate Apprentice – 30, Technician/Diploma Apprentice – 11)
- Training Duration: 1 year (under the Apprentices Act, 1961)
- Stipend: ₹12,300/month (Graduate) | ₹10,900/month (Technician)
- Location: Ambe Hill, Ojhar – about 20-25 km from Nasik city, Maharashtra
- Application Mode: Email only, after mandatory NATS 2.0 registration
- Last Date: 26 July 2026
- Application Fee: Nil
- Official Website: drdo.gov.in
Discipline-Wise Vacancy Breakup
Graduate Apprentice (30 seats, ₹12,300/month):
| Discipline | Seats |
|---|---|
| B.E/B.Tech – Chemical Engineering / Chemical Technology | 05 |
| B.E/B.Tech – Mechanical Engineering | 05 |
| B.E/B.Tech – Electrical / Electrical & Instrumentation | 03 |
| B.E/B.Tech – Electronics & Telecommunication | 03 |
| B.E/B.Tech – Aerospace / Aeronautical Engineering | 02 |
| B.E/B.Tech – Computer & Information Science / B.Sc Computer Science | 02 |
| B.Sc Chemistry | 03 |
| B.Sc Physics | 02 |
| B.Com | 04 |
| BLIS (Bachelor of Library & Information Science) | 01 |
Technician (Diploma) Apprentice (11 seats, ₹10,900/month): Mechanical (4), Chemical (2), Electrical (2), Electronics (2), Computer Science (1).
Reservation applies as per the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules – SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates must hold caste certificates in the prescribed format.
Who Should Apply? (Match Yourself)
- Final-year 2026 pass-out with no job offer yet? This gives you a paying, brand-name engagement instead of a gap year.
- 2024/2025 pass-out still preparing for government exams? You can earn a DRDO experience certificate while your preparation continues – it strengthens future applications to DRDO, ISRO, HAL, BEL and Ordnance Factories.
- B.Com or B.Sc graduate who thinks defence jobs are only for engineers? There are 10 non-engineering seats here (B.Com 4, B.Sc Chemistry 3, B.Sc Physics 2, BLIS 1).
Who cannot apply: Candidates who passed before 2024; anyone with 1 year or more of job/training experience after completing their qualification; and anyone who has already undergone apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act. Note that no age limit is mentioned in the official notification – eligibility is controlled by passing year, not age.
How to Apply – The Complete Process
Stage 1: NATS 2.0 Registration (Mandatory)
Before anything else, register as a student on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal – nats.education.gov.in. Complete your profile with Aadhaar, academic and bank details, and note down your Enrollment Number. Without NATS registration, your application will not be considered.
Stage 2: Prepare Your Application
- Download the official notification PDF from drdo.gov.in – the application form is attached to it.
- Fill the form by typing (handwritten forms are not accepted), affix a passport-size photograph and sign it.
- Gather these documents: all marksheets and degree/diploma certificate, NATS enrollment proof, caste certificate (if applicable), and – critically – your university’s official CGPA-to-Percentage conversion formula document. The notification makes this compulsory, and it is the single most commonly missed attachment.
- Scan the filled form and all documents into one single PDF file.
Stage 3: Send the Email
- To: apprentice.acem@gov.in
- Subject line (exactly): Application for Apprenticeship 2026-27, ACEM
- Attachment: your single PDF
- Body: a brief 3-4 line note is enough – your name, discipline applied for, passing year, and NATS enrollment number. Do not send multiple attachments or follow-up emails.
- Deadline: the email must reach on or before 26 July 2026. Do not send any hard copy.
After sending, check your Sent folder to confirm delivery. ACEM has clearly stated it won’t be responsible for emails lost to wrong IDs or spam folders – so send at least 3-4 days before the deadline.
Selection Process
There is no written test. The Apprentice Selection Committee shortlists candidates on the merit of qualifying degree/diploma marks, with an interview if required. Only selected candidates receive an offer letter by email – so keep checking your inbox and spam folder after the deadline. At joining, you’ll need a medical fitness certificate and police verification, and you’ll sign a one-year training contract.
Three Things to Know Before You Apply (The Honest Part)
- This is training, not a permanent job. ACEM is not obligated to offer employment after the apprenticeship. The real return is the DRDO certificate and one year of defence-sector experience.
- No hostel, quarters or transport is provided. Ojhar is 20-25 km from Nasik city – accommodation and commute are your responsibility, so factor that into your decision.
- Any canvassing or recommendation attempt leads to immediate cancellation of candidature – the notification states this explicitly. Your marks are your only lobby here.
FAQs
Is there a written exam for DRDO ACEM Apprentice 2026?
No. Selection is based on merit of academic marks, with an interview only if the selection committee requires it.
What is the stipend for DRDO ACEM apprentices?
Graduate Apprentices receive ₹12,300 per month and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices receive ₹10,900 per month during the one-year training.
What is the age limit?
The official notification specifies no age limit. Only the passing year matters – 2024, 2025 or 2026 pass-outs alone are eligible.
Can B.Com and B.Sc graduates apply?
Yes. This recruitment reserves 4 seats for B.Com, 3 for B.Sc Chemistry, 2 for B.Sc Physics and 1 for BLIS graduates.
Is NATS registration compulsory?
Yes. Registration on nats.education.gov.in is mandatory before emailing your application.
What is the last date to apply?
Your complete application must reach apprentice.acem@gov.in on or before 26 July 2026.
Final Word
Opportunities where a fresher can walk into a DRDO facility purely on academic merit – with zero fees and zero exams – don’t come often, and this one has only 41 seats nationwide. The candidates who make it are usually the ones who don’t procrastinate on two things: NATS registration (start today, verification can take a day or two) and the CGPA conversion document (arrange it before the last week rush). Get both done this week, send a clean single-PDF application, and let your marks do the talking.
For more verified apprenticeship and defence-sector recruitment updates, keep visiting our website.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Candidates must read the official advertisement (Advt. No. ACEM/HRD/APPRENTICESHIP/2026-27) available on drdo.gov.in before applying. Eligibility, seats and conditions as per the official notification alone shall be final.
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