Last updated: October 2026
Source: Facts on this page for the Scientist/Engineer 'SC' route come from the official ISRO ICRB advertisement (Advt. No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 dated 27-08-2026). Vacancy numbers, dates and criteria change every cycle, so always confirm on isro.gov.in before applying.
ICRB stands for the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board. If you are searching "what is ICRB", it is the body that runs the common written test and interview for Scientist/Engineer 'SC' posts across ISRO and the Department of Space. Its notifications, like the 2026 one, are where B.E./B.Tech Scientist/Engineer vacancies at the participating ISRO centres are announced.
In this guide
What does ICRB mean?
ICRB is the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board under the Department of Space, Government of India. It publishes an advertisement with an advertisement number, such as Advt. No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 dated 27-08-2026, conducts the online application, the written test (CBT) and the interview, and prepares the final panel. Hall tickets and call letters go only to the e-mail ID you register with, and queries go to the address given in the advertisement (rmt-icrb@isro.gov.in).
What ICRB recruits for
- Scientist/Engineer 'SC' posts in Level 10 of the pay matrix (Group 'A' gazetted at ISRO centres; Group 'A' non-gazetted at the autonomous body PRL).
- Assistant, UDC and related administrative posts in separate ICRB notifications (for example Advt. No. ISRO:ICRB:01(A-JPA):2026). See the UDC and Assistant guide.
ICRB EMC and CEPO: what is the difference?
ICRB groups its Scientist/Engineer notifications by branch family. The two groups you will see are:
| Notification group | Branches | Example from the 2026 cycle |
|---|---|---|
| EMC | Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Science | Advt. No. ISRO:ICRB:03(EMC):2026 dated 27-08-2026: 175 vacancies (Electronics 100, Mechanical 53, Computer Science 22) |
| CEPO | Civil, Electrical and other disciplines such as RAC and Architecture | Notified separately. Check isro.gov.in for the current status of the CEPO notice. |
On CMB HUB you will find previous year papers grouped the same way: ISRO ICRB EMC (Mechanical, ECE, CSE), ISRO ICRB CEPO and ISRO TA.
ICRB exam pattern at a glance
| Part A: discipline-specific | Part B: aptitude / ability | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 80 MCQs | Up to 15 MCQs |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Marks | 80 | 20 |
| Negative marking | -1/3 for each wrong answer | None |
| Content | Core subjects of your engineering branch | Numerical, logical, diagrammatic, abstract and deductive reasoning |
To be considered for the interview, unreserved candidates need at least 50% in each of Part A and Part B (40% each for PwBD candidates where posts are reserved). Syllabus details by branch are covered in the ISRO ICRB exam pattern, syllabus and cutoffs guide.
Marking scheme and how the final panel is built
- Shortlisting: candidates are shortlisted for the interview in the ratio 1:5 (aggregate minimum of 10 candidates).
- Interview: 100 marks, covering technical knowledge (40), related general awareness (20), presentation/communication (20), comprehension (10) and academic achievements (10).
- Final panel: 50% weightage to the written test and 50% to the interview. Unreserved candidates need 50% in the written test, 50% in the interview and 60% in the aggregate.
- Ties: broken by written test marks, then marks in the essential qualification, then date of birth (older first).
How to prepare
- Understand the pattern and eligibility (see How to join ISRO).
- Revise core subjects of your branch; Part A is 80 questions with no calculator-heavy shortcuts.
- Solve ISRO previous year papers with a timer. CMB HUB has them branch-wise, year-wise and subject-wise with solutions.
- Take mock tests to practise the negative-marking trade-off (-1/3 in Part A).
Practise ISRO ICRB previous year papers online, free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of ICRB?
ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board.
Is ICRB the same as GATE-based recruitment?
No. ICRB runs its own written test and interview. ISRO separately recruits Scientist/Engineer 'SC' candidates based on GATE scores.
Does ICRB conduct the Technical Assistant exam?
Technical Assistant recruitment is generally conducted centre-wise by the individual ISRO centres, not through the ICRB Scientist/Engineer notification.
Where are ICRB notices published?
On the official ISRO website, isro.gov.in. Call letters are sent only to your registered e-mail ID.