The Department of Space (DoS) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have announced one of their largest recruitment drives in recent years, with 746 vacancies notified across regular and apprenticeship positions.The recruitment, spread across three notifications issued between July 27 and July 29, includes 336 regular posts and 410 apprenticeship positions, reflecting ISRO's efforts to strengthen both its current workforce and future talent pipeline.Read More: August 2026 Holidays ListThe latest hiring exercise comes as the Department of Space continues to address staffing shortages across several of its centres.Read More: August 2026 Festival Calendar336 regular posts to be filled across scientist and administrative rolesOf the 336 regular vacancies, the largest share comprises 244 administrative posts to be filled through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB).These include:AssistantsJunior Personal AssistantsUpper Division ClerksStenographersAdministrative staff for autonomous institutionsThe recruitment drive also includes 92 Scientist/Engineer 'SC' posts under Level-10 of the pay matrix.Vacancies are available across multiple engineering disciplines, including:ElectronicsMechanical EngineeringComputer ScienceCivil EngineeringElectrical EngineeringRefrigeration and Air ConditioningArchitectureWhere will the selected candidates be posted?The newly recruited scientists and engineers will be deployed across several key ISRO centres, including:U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), BengaluruHuman Space Flight Centre (HSFC), BengaluruVikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ThiruvananthapuramSatish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SriharikotaSpace Applications Centre (SAC), AhmedabadNational Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), HyderabadLiquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ValiamalaISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), MahendragiriISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru410 apprentice positions announced for 2026–27Alongside permanent recruitment, URSC Bengaluru has announced 410 apprenticeship positions for the 2026–27 training year.The vacancies include:220 Graduate Apprentices120 Technician Apprentices70 Diploma in Commercial Practice ApprenticesAmong graduate apprentices, the highest number of vacancies are in Electronics and Communication Engineering, followed by Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.Technician apprentice positions are also available across electronics, computer science, mechanical, electrical, civil, instrumentation and automobile engineering disciplines.Apprenticeships offer training but no guaranteed jobThe apprenticeship programme is conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, with the objective of providing practical industry training to fresh graduates and diploma holders.Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend during the training period and an apprenticeship certificate after completion. However, ISRO has clarified that successful completion of the apprenticeship does not guarantee permanent employment with the organisation.Recruitment follows concerns over staffing shortagesThe latest recruitment drive comes after reports highlighted significant vacancies within the Department of Space.Although 336 regular posts have now been advertised, the number represents only a small portion of the department's previously reported staffing gap. ISRO has also issued several recruitment notifications in recent months for research fellows, project associates, technical assistants and additional apprentice positions across various centres.The latest recruitment is expected to strengthen key scientific and administrative functions while creating new opportunities for engineering graduates and young professionals interested in India's space programme.Inputs from TOI