DRDO Syllabus provides complete details of the subjects, topics, and sub-topics that candidates need to prepare for the exam. The prescribed syllabus is structured to assess candidates’ general aptitude, reasoning ability, quantitative aptitude, general awareness, and technical/discipline-specific knowledge relevant to the post applied for. DRDO 2026 selection process consists of a Tier 1 Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by a Tier 2 Skill/Trade Test (where applicable). The Tier 1 exam will include objective-type MCQ questions and is primarily qualifying in nature, while the Tier 2 stage evaluates practical and technical skills. Candidates qualifying all stages will be considered for Document Verification and final selection as per DRDO norms.
DRDO STA-B and Technician-A Syllabus 2026
DRDO STA-B and Technician-A Syllabus 2026 will provide complete details regarding subjects, topics, and sub-topics essential for exam preparation. DRDO STA-B & Technician-A 2026 Tier 1 Exam will assess candidates’ general aptitude, reasoning ability, quantitative aptitude, general awareness, and basic technical knowledge relevant to the post. Candidates who qualify for the Tier 1 CBT will be eligible to appear for the Tier 2(Trade/Skill Test), which evaluates practical and domain-specific technical skills. DRDO STA-B and Technician-A 2026 exam will consist of MCQ-based questions and will be conducted in an online mode.
DRDO Tier 1 Syllabus 2026 in Detail
DRDO STA-B & Technician A Tier 1 Exam evaluates candidates on general aptitude and foundational subjects such as General Science, English Language, General Intelligence, and Mathematics.
| Section |
Key Areas Covered |
| General Science |
Matter and its nature, Force & Gravitation, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Work–Energy–Power, Scientific Measurements, Sound & Wave Motion, Atomic Structure, Heat & Temperature, Metals and Non-Metals, Carbon Compounds, Universe (Sun, Earth, Planets, Satellites), Electricity and its Applications |
| English Language |
Grammar concepts, Vocabulary usage, Synonyms & Antonyms, Tenses, Verbs, Subject-Verb Agreement, Articles, Adverbs, Idioms & Phrases, Sentence Rearrangement, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Reading Comprehension, Unseen Passages |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Number & Alphabet Series, Arithmetical Reasoning, Decision Making, Clocks & Calendars, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Cubes & Dice, Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Ranking Tests |
| Mathematics |
Number System, Simplification, HCF & LCM, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Averages, Mixtures & Allegations, Problems on Ages, Decimal & Fractions, Data Interpretation |
DRDO Tier 2 Syllabus 2026 (Discipline-wise)
The Tier 2 Exam of DRDO STA-B & Technician A 2026 is post-specific and technical, designed to test in-depth knowledge of the candidate’s respective discipline.
| Discipline |
Major Topics Included |
| Chemical Engineering |
Process Calculations, Chemical Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Mechanical Operations, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Chemical Technology, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer |
| Electrical Engineering |
Electric Circuits & Fields, Signals and Systems, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, Electrical & Electronic Measurements, Analog and Digital Electronics, Power Electronics & Drives, Electromagnetic Induction |
| Mechanical Engineering |
Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Machines, Vibrations, Machine Design, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, Engineering Materials, Metal Casting, Machining & Machine Tools, Inventory Control, Operations Research |
| Instrumentation Engineering |
Circuit Fundamentals, Measurement Systems, Mechanical Measurements, Industrial Instrumentation, Digital & Analog Electronics, Signals & Systems, Communication Systems, Electrical & Electronic Measurements, Control & Process Control Systems, Analytical, Optical & Biomedical Instrumentation |
DRDO STA-B Exam Pattern 2026
The selection process includes Tier 1and Tier 2 CBT exams. Tier 1 consists of 150 questions for 150 marks in General Science, English, Maths, and Reasoning, with a 2-hour duration. Tier 2 is a subject-specific CBT of 100 marks with a 90-minute duration, followed by a qualifying personality test.
DRDO Technician-A Exam Pattern 2026 (Tier 1)
DRDO CEPTAM 11 Tier 1exam for STA-B is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. This stage evaluates candidates on general science, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and English. The paper contains 150 objective questions, and the total exam duration is 2 hours (120 minutes).
| Section |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Time |
| General Science |
40 |
40 |
120 min |
| General English |
30 |
30 |
120 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude / General Maths |
40 |
40 |
120 min |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
40 |
40 |
120 min |
| Total |
150 |
150 |
120 min |
DRDO Technician-A Exam Pattern 2026
DRDO Tier 2 exam for Technician-A includes two parts: a Personality Test and a Subject-Specific CBT. The Personality Test is qualifying in nature, while the subject-specific paper determines the final score along with Tier 1 marks.
| Part |
Section |
Total Questions |
Total Marks |
Duration |
| Part 1 |
Personality Test |
— |
— |
20 mins |
| Part 2 |
Subject-specific test (based on postcode) |
120 |
120 |
|
Trade Test (Technician-A)
The Trade Test is conducted only for Technician-A posts to evaluate the practical skills of candidates in their respective trades. This test follows the ITI-level syllabus as specified for the trade discipline. The duration varies based on the trade, and the test is qualifying in nature, meaning candidates must pass it to move forward. The minimum passing marks are 50% for UR/OBC/EWS, and 45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
DRDO STA-B and Technician-A 2026 Exam Best Books
DRDO STA-B and Technician-A 2026 Exam Best Books are essential for effective preparation. Candidates should focus on high-quality resources that cover general aptitude, reasoning, quantitative ability, general awareness, and technical knowledge relevant to the STA-B and Technician-A roles.
General Knowledge & Current Affairs
- General Knowledge & Current Affairs – R.K. Publications (comprehensive coverage of static and current GK)
- General Studies – Eetharam (in-depth coverage of History, Geography, and Economy)
Quantitative Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive exams – R.S. Aggarwal
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Rajesh Verma
Reasoning Ability
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Logical and Analytical Reasoning – K.K. Agarwal
Technical Knowledge
- Refer to specialised textbooks and previous year papers relevant to the technical domain of STA-B and Technician-A roles.
Practice Papers & Mock Tests
- Utilise previous year papers and online mock tests to enhance time management and exam strategy.
These resources will help candidates build a solid foundation and excel in the DRDO STA-B and Technician-A 2026 exams.
DRDO STA-B & Technician-A Exam Pattern FAQs 2026
Ques: What is the mode of DRDO CEPTAM exam for STA-B & Technician-A?
Ans: DRDO CEPTAM exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 stages.
Ques: Is there negative marking in DRDO CEPTAM exams?
Ans: Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 CBT papers.
Ques: What subjects are included in DRDO CEPTAM Tier 1?
Ans: Tier 1 includes General Science, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and General English, depending on the post.
Ques: Is the Personality Test/Interview mandatory in DRDO CEPTAM?
Ans: Yes, the Personality Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature and does not carry marks for the final merit list.
Ques: How is the final merit list prepared in DRDO CEPTAM 2026?
Ans: The final merit list is prepared based on Tier 1and Tier 2 (Part-II subject-specific) marks only, provided the candidate qualifies the Personality Test.
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