The latest ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) advertisement, ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026, invites applications for Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ posts in Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science. The advertisement is dated 27 August 2026 and the online application deadline is 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM. For this recruitment, ISRO specifies a maximum age of 28 years as on 16 September 2026. The exact cutoff date is therefore just as important as the age number itself.
This guide explains how to calculate the ISRO age limit correctly, the basic DOB boundary, applicable relaxation categories, engineering qualification, current vacancies, application dates, document checks and common mistakes. The official ISRO recruitment page and current advertisement should always be treated as the final authority if any later corrigendum changes a rule.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Age Limit 2026 at a Glance
| Point | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Post | Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ |
| Disciplines | Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science |
| Maximum age | 28 years |
| Age reference date | 16 September 2026 |
| Basic upper-age boundary | 16 September 1998 is the latest birthday at which a candidate reaches exactly 28 on the cutoff date; the advertisement does not state a separate minimum age |
| Academic requirement | Relevant BE/B.Tech or equivalent with minimum 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10 |
| Application period | 27 August 2026 to 16 September 2026 |
The important point is that ISRO gives an upper age rather than asking applicants to enter a generic age range. Your eligibility is determined on the stated reference date. A candidate who has completed 28 years on 16 September 2026 is within the stated maximum age, while a candidate who has already completed 29 years is outside the basic ceiling unless an applicable relaxation applies.
What Does “28 Years as on 16 September 2026” Mean?
Age limits in recruitment notices are reference-date calculations. You should not simply use the age displayed on your phone or calculate your age on the day you happen to read the notification. For this ISRO recruitment, the relevant question is: How old am I on 16 September 2026?
Candidate born on 16 September 1998
This candidate completes 28 years on 16 September 2026. The candidate is therefore within the stated 28-year maximum, assuming all other requirements are satisfied.
Candidate born on 17 September 1998
This candidate does not turn 28 until 17 September 2026. On the reference date, the candidate is still 27 years old and is within the basic age ceiling.
Candidate born on 15 September 1997
This candidate has already completed 29 years before the reference date and therefore exceeds the basic 28-year limit unless an applicable relaxation changes the result.
If your birthday is close to the cutoff, use the full date of birth rather than only the birth year. The Age Calculator can be used to calculate your calendar age against 16 September 2026 rather than today’s date.
What Is the ISRO Scientist/Engineer DOB Cutoff?
For a maximum age of 28 years on 16 September 2026, the key birthday boundary is 16 September 1998. Someone born on that date turns 28 on the cutoff date. Someone born earlier has already crossed 28 by the cutoff. Someone born later is younger than 28 on the cutoff.
| Date of birth | Age on 16 September 2026 | Basic result |
|---|---|---|
| 15 September 1997 | 29 years and 1 day | Over the basic limit |
| 16 September 1997 | 29 years | Over the basic limit |
| 16 September 1998 | 28 years | Within the basic limit |
| 17 September 1998 | 27 years 364 days | Within the basic limit |
| 16 September 2000 | 26 years | Within the basic limit |
| 16 September 2005 | 21 years | Within the basic limit |
There is no need to invent a minimum age from the upper-age clause. The current advertisement focuses on the maximum age and the engineering qualification. A candidate must satisfy the degree and other eligibility conditions even if their age is comfortably below 28.
Age Relaxation in ISRO Scientist/Engineer Recruitment
The current ICRB advertisement states that serving Central Government civilian employees, ex-servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are eligible for age relaxation according to applicable Government of India orders.
| Category mentioned by ISRO | What to check |
|---|---|
| General applicants | Basic maximum age of 28 years on 16 September 2026 |
| Serving Central Government civilian employees | Applicable Government age-relaxation instructions |
| Ex-servicemen | Applicable Government rules and service conditions |
| PwBD candidates | Applicable Government rules and valid disability documentation |
Do not copy a relaxation percentage or number from another ISRO recruitment and assume it automatically applies here. The current advertisement directs candidates to the relevant Government of India orders. Your service status and documents determine whether a relaxation is available.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Educational Qualification
Age eligibility is only one part of the current recruitment. The main post codes cover Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science, with a relevant BE/B.Tech or equivalent degree and a minimum aggregate of 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10.
Electronics
The Electronics Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ post requires BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Electronics & Communication Engineering with the prescribed minimum academic performance. The advertisement lists 99 vacancies for the main Electronics post code, subject to any subsequent corrigendum.
Mechanical
The Mechanical post requires BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering with the same 65% or 6.84/10 CGPA threshold. The main Mechanical post code lists 52 vacancies.
Computer Science
The Computer Science post requires BE/B.Tech or equivalent in Computer Science Engineering with the prescribed academic threshold. The main Computer Science post code lists 21 vacancies.
The advertisement also includes separate post codes associated with the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL). Candidates should therefore read the exact post code and discipline rather than assuming that any engineering degree is acceptable for every vacancy.
Important CGPA and Percentage Rule
The current notification contains an important academic-document rule. If the university degree certificate or consolidated marksheet shows both CGPA and percentage, at least one of the stated measures must meet the DOS/ISRO eligibility norm.
If the university reports only CGPA, the CGPA itself must meet the prescribed standard. The notification does not permit applicants to independently convert CGPA into percentage merely to create an eligible percentage when the relevant document reports only CGPA. This is an easy detail to miss and can matter during verification.
Degree Completion Requirement
ISRO also states that graduation should have been completed within the stipulated duration of the course prescribed by the university. Therefore, applicants should not look only at whether they eventually obtained a degree. The timing and prescribed course duration can also matter.
This is especially useful for candidates with delayed completion, dual-degree arrangements or unusual academic records. The advertisement includes additional notes for dual/integrated degrees and explains which CGPA or percentage is considered in different document situations.
Current ISRO Scientist/Engineer Vacancies
The current advertisement includes the following main post-code vacancy counts:
| Post code | Discipline | Main vacancies listed |
|---|---|---|
| BE001 | Electronics | 99 |
| BE002 | Mechanical | 52 |
| BE003 | Computer Science | 21 |
There are also PRL-associated post codes and PwBD/backlog vacancies. ISRO explicitly describes the notified vacancy numbers as tentative and says that additions or reductions can be communicated through a corrigendum. For that reason, a vacancy number quoted today should not be treated as permanently fixed.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Application Dates 2026
The current recruitment advertisement was issued on 27 August 2026. ISRO states that online registration is available from 27 August 2026 to 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM. The current recruitment page marks the advertisement as open.
Applicants should submit well before the deadline instead of treating the final hour as a safe submission window. The application involves registration, document uploads and payment steps, so technical or payment issues close to the deadline can create unnecessary risk.
Application Fee and Processing Fee
The current notice states a non-refundable application fee of ₹250 for all posts. It also requires an initial processing fee of ₹750 from candidates. The processing fee can be refunded under the conditions specified in the advertisement after the candidate appears in the written test/CBT.
The notice provides full refund of the processing fee for candidates exempted from the application fee, including women, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates, subject to the stated rules. For other candidates who appear in the written test/CBT, ₹500 is refunded after deduction of the ₹250 application fee.
This is why candidates should read the fee section of the current notice instead of assuming that the amount shown at payment is entirely non-refundable.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer Selection Process
Meeting the age limit does not guarantee selection. The recruitment uses a written test/CBT and interview-based selection procedure, and candidates must satisfy the relevant screening and document requirements before progressing.
The practical lesson is important: age eligibility is a gate, not the entire selection process. A candidate can be under 28 and still be ineligible because of an incorrect engineering discipline, insufficient marks, incomplete degree requirements, incorrect documents or another condition in the advertisement.
Date of Birth and Document Verification
Your date of birth should be entered exactly as supported by your official records. For government recruitment, inconsistencies between the application and supporting certificates can create problems during verification.
Our separate guide on Date of Birth Proof for Government Jobs in India explains why DOB documents matter and how mismatches can affect recruitment applications.
Before submitting the ISRO form, check your DOB, name, engineering qualification, marks/CGPA, category information and uploaded documents together. Do not wait until document verification to discover a basic inconsistency.
How to Check Your ISRO Age Eligibility Step by Step
- Open the exact ISRO advertisement. The current recruitment is ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026.
- Note the reference date. It is 16 September 2026.
- Calculate completed age on that date. Do not use today’s age if today is different from the cutoff.
- Compare the result with 28 years. If you have already completed 29, you are outside the basic limit.
- Check relaxation. Serving Central Government civilian employees, ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates may have relaxation under applicable rules.
- Verify the engineering discipline. Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science have different post codes.
- Check academic performance. The specified posts require at least 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10.
- Check degree completion. Graduation must have been completed within the stipulated course duration.
- Read the FAQ. Allied disciplines and detailed interpretations may be clarified there.
- Submit before the deadline. The current deadline is 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM.
Why Exact Age Calculation Matters
When your birthday is close to a recruitment cutoff, one day can change the completed-age result. That is why an exact age calculation is much safer than saying “I am around 28.”
The main Age Calculator can calculate your age in years, months and days. For a deeper explanation of reference-date calculations, see How to Calculate Your Exact Age on Any Date.
This same method is useful for other government recruitment notices too. For example, our SSC CGL Age Limit 2026 guide shows how post-specific cutoff dates and age bands can differ.
Common ISRO Age-Limit Mistakes
Using today’s age instead of the cutoff-date age
If your birthday falls before the reference date, your completed age may increase before eligibility is assessed. Always use the notification date.
Using only the birth year
Two candidates born in the same year can have different completed ages on the cutoff date. Use day, month and year.
Assuming every ISRO recruitment uses the same age rule
Different ISRO advertisements can cover different posts, qualifications and reference dates. The latest advertisement for your specific post should control your calculation.
Converting CGPA yourself
The current advertisement has specific rules about CGPA and percentage. Do not rely on an unofficial conversion if the university document itself does not provide the required percentage.
Checking age but ignoring the engineering branch
Being below 28 does not compensate for an incorrect degree discipline or insufficient academic performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISRO Scientist/Engineer age limit in 2026?
The current ICRB:03(EMC):2026 recruitment sets the maximum age at 28 years as on 16 September 2026.
What is the DOB cutoff for ISRO Scientist/Engineer 2026?
The basic upper-age boundary is a 28th birthday on or after the reference date. A candidate born on 16 September 1998 is exactly 28 on 16 September 2026 and is within the stated maximum age. Earlier DOBs need to be checked for whether the candidate has already exceeded 28. Applicable relaxation can change the result.
Can a 28-year-old apply for ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC?
Yes, a candidate who is 28 years old on 16 September 2026 is within the stated basic maximum age, subject to the remaining eligibility conditions.
Is there a minimum age for ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC?
The current advertisement specifies the maximum age of 28 years rather than presenting a separate minimum-age number. The engineering degree and other eligibility requirements still have to be satisfied.
Is age relaxation available?
Yes. The advertisement states that serving Central Government civilian employees, ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates are eligible for age relaxation according to applicable Government of India orders.
What qualification is required?
The current recruitment covers Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science and requires the relevant BE/B.Tech or equivalent qualification with at least 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10 for the specified posts.
When is the last date to apply?
The current online application deadline is 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM. Check ISRO’s official recruitment page for any later corrigendum.
Can I use today’s date to calculate my eligibility?
You can calculate your current age, but for recruitment eligibility you should calculate your completed age on the official reference date, which is 16 September 2026 for this advertisement.
Official Sources to Check Before Applying
For the latest information, use the first-party ISRO sources:
- ISRO ICRB:03(EMC):2026 recruitment page
- Official ISRO ICRB:03(EMC):2026 advertisement PDF
- ISRO Careers
These sources should take priority over older articles, coaching summaries or social-media posts if any eligibility condition changes.
ISRO Scientist/Engineer 2026 Eligibility Checklist
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Age | Not over 28 years on 16 September 2026 under the basic rule |
| DOB | Matches official records |
| Relaxation | Applicable if you are in an eligible category |
| Degree | Relevant BE/B.Tech or equivalent |
| Marks | At least 65% or CGPA 6.84/10 as prescribed |
| Course duration | Degree completed within the stipulated duration |
| Documents | Clear, accurate and internally consistent |
| Deadline | 16 September 2026 at 11:55 PM |
Conclusion
The ISRO Scientist/Engineer Age Limit 2026 for the current ICRB:03(EMC):2026 recruitment is 28 years as on 16 September 2026. The safest way to check your eligibility is to calculate your exact completed age on that date, not simply use your current age or birth year. A candidate who has completed 28 years on the cutoff date is within the basic maximum age, while someone who has already reached 29 is outside it unless an applicable relaxation changes the position.
Age is only one part of the application. The relevant BE/B.Tech or equivalent qualification, minimum 65% marks or CGPA 6.84/10, correct engineering discipline, degree-completion requirement and documentation also matter. Before applying, read the latest official ISRO advertisement and FAQ, check your DOB against your documents, calculate your age on the exact cutoff date and verify any applicable relaxation.
