ADA Project Assistant-1 Recruitment 2026

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has released the ADA Project Assistant-1 Recruitment 2026 notification on 2026-08-03. This recruitment is for the engagement of 111 Project Assistant-1 posts on a tenure basis. Candidates who meet the discipline-wise educational and age eligibility conditions can apply online within the notified dates.

The recruitment is announced for seven engineering disciplines and includes both “Interview Only” and “Written Test followed by Interview” selection routes depending on the qualification criteria. Online registration begins on 2026-08-03 and closes on 2026-08-13 at 1700 hours. The selection process involves a written test (as applicable) based on the GATE syllabus with negative marking, and/or an interview, with the written test tentatively scheduled on 2026-08-16, 2026-08-23, or 2026-08-30. The exam/interview venue is Bangalore.

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess the required educational qualification in First Class as prescribed by ADA. The qualification requirements vary by the selection route and the engineering discipline applied for.

Interview Only route (Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Electrical & Electronics Engineering): Candidates must have one of the following: (1) B.E/B.Tech with a valid GATE score, or (2) M.E/M.Tech from IIT/NIT, or (3) B.Sc + M.Sc with a valid GATE/NET score. For the Interview Only route (Aeronautical, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Civil Engineering): candidates must have either (1) B.E/B.Tech with a valid GATE score or (2) M.E/M.Tech from IIT/NIT.

Shortlisting by Written Test followed by Interview route (Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Electrical & Electronics Engineering): candidates can qualify through any of the following combinations: (1) B.E/B.Tech with M.E/M.Tech, or (2) B.E/B.Tech with 2 years of relevant experience, or (3) B.Sc + M.Sc with 2 years of relevant experience, or (4) B.E/B.Tech. For Shortlisting by Written Test followed by Interview (Aeronautical, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Civil Engineering): candidates can apply with (1) B.E/B.Tech with M.E/M.Tech, or (2) B.E/B.Tech with 2 years of relevant experience, or (3) B.E/B.Tech.

Important note on experience calculation: All qualifications must be in First Class. Part-time experience, apprenticeship training, teaching experience, or experience as a trainee will not be considered for calculating the years of experience.

Age Limit

The age limit for ADA Project Assistant-1 Recruitment 2026 is 28 years. Age relaxation is available for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) categories as per the applicable rules. The date for determining qualification and age is the closing date of registration, which is 2026-08-13.

Application Fee

Application fee details are not provided in the supplied notification text. Candidates should refer to the official ADA advertisement/notification PDF for the exact fee amount, payment method, and any fee exemptions.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official ADA website and open the Project Assistant-1 Recruitment 2026 application link/registration page.
2. Complete the online registration form starting from 2026-08-03.
3. Fill in all required details carefully, including the engineering discipline and the selection route eligibility based on your qualification.
4. Upload/submit the required information as per the online application instructions and keep the filled application details for reference.
5. Submit the application before 2026-08-13 (up to 1700 hours).
6. After submission, prepare to report for the written test and/or interview (as applicable). Carry a duly filled application form and original documents along with self-attested copies, as mentioned in the notification guidance.

Salary & Pay Scale

Selection Process

The ADA Project Assistant-1 selection process depends on the qualification held by the candidate. For candidates eligible under the Interview Only route, selection is done directly through an interview. For candidates eligible under the Shortlisting by Written Test followed by Interview route, the process begins with a written test followed by an interview.

The written examination follows the same syllabus as GATE for the respective discipline and includes negative marking for wrong answers. Candidates are advised to bring a scientific calculator for the written test. The notification also indicates that written test dates are tentative and may be scheduled on 2026-08-16, 2026-08-23, or 2026-08-30, with the venue at Bangalore.

Eligible candidates should complete their online registration well before the closing date of 2026-08-13 (up to 1700 hours) to avoid last-minute issues and to ensure timely preparation for the written test and/or interview.