ISRO Assistant JPA UDC Stenographer 2026 Skill Test Updates

ISRO Assistant / UDC Eligibility

For Post Nos. 1, 3 and 5, the official advertisement requires Graduation with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.32 on a 10-point scale from a recognised University. The degree must have been completed within the stipulated duration prescribed by the University. Candidates must also be proficient in the use of computers.

ISRO JPA / Stenographer Eligibility

For Post Nos. 2, 4 and 6, candidates can use the Graduation route with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.32, or the prescribed Diploma in Commercial/Secretarial Practice route. The 11 August 2026 corrigendum clarifies that the diploma route must include one year of experience as a Steno-Typist/Stenographer. Candidates also need a minimum speed of 60 w.p.m. in English stenography and proficiency in computer use.

Important Eligibility Nuances

• ISRO does not permit converting CGPA into percentage merely because a University has a conversion formula when only CGPA is stated on the certificate; the published eligibility rules must be met in the form declared on the degree/consolidated mark sheet.
• The age limit remains 28 years as on 16 August 2026, with 31 years for OBC and 33 years for SC/ST wherever posts are reserved. Corrigendum 2 specifically refers to serving Central Government employees for age relaxation under Government of India rules.
• The application deadline was later extended to 20 August 2026, but the age cut-off date remains 16 August 2026.
• Government/PSU/autonomous-body employees must be ready to produce the required original NOC at the Skill Test when applicable.

Revised Vacancy Position - 267 Posts

The original advertisement listed 244 vacancies. The 11 August 2026 corrigendum revised vacancies in Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram and increased the UDC total. After applying those official changes, the recruitment carries 267 vacancies.

What Changed in the Corrigendum

• Assistant, Bengaluru: 26 to 28.
• Assistant, Thiruvananthapuram: 6 to 26.
• UDC, Bengaluru: 22 to 23.
• JPA Bengaluru total stayed at 19, but horizontal reservation / Ex-Servicemen allocation was revised.
• For Stenographer, one UR vacancy is identified for DOS Branch Secretariat, New Delhi.

Candidate impact: ISRO reopened the portal from 16 September 2026, 10:00 AM to 21 September 2026, 10:00 AM so existing applicants could modify Post and Zone Preference in view of revised vacancies. This does not reopen recruitment to new applicants.

Application Fee and Processing-Fee Rule

The application fee was Rs. 100 for all posts, but every applicant initially had to pay a processing fee of Rs. 500 per application. Candidates applying across both post groups could therefore have a higher total processing amount depending on the applications submitted.

• Women, SC/ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates who appeared in the CBT were eligible for full refund of the applicable processing fee under the notification rules.
• For other candidates who appeared in the CBT, the refund was processed after deducting the Rs. 100 application fee.
• Candidates who did not appear in the CBT were not eligible for the processing-fee refund under the published rules.

The 11 August corrigendum extended the last date for online applications and fee payment to 20 August 2026. The application stage is now closed.

Selection Process

The recruitment uses a written Computer Based Test followed by a qualifying Skill Test. Final selection is based on written-test marks from among candidates who qualify the Skill Test.

Assistant / UDC / Assistant in Autonomous Institutions - Post Nos. 1, 3 and 5

• CBT: single objective paper, 150 minutes.
• Qualifying standard after corrigendum: 50% in Parts A, B, C and D for UR/EWS; 40% for reserved categories against notified reserved vacancies.
• Skill Test: candidates are generally shortlisted up to 1:5 against category-wise vacancies, subject to the detailed notification rules.
• Computer Skill Test qualifying standard: 60% for UR/EWS and 50% for reserved categories against notified reserved vacancies.
• Tie-breaker: General Intelligence & Reasoning score first; if still tied, older candidate ranks higher.

JPA / Stenographer - Post Nos. 2, 4 and 6

• CBT: single objective paper, 150 minutes.
• Qualifying standard after corrigendum: 50% in Parts A, B and C for UR/EWS; 40% for reserved categories against notified reserved vacancies.
• Skill Test includes Computer Literacy Test and Stenography Test.
• Computer Literacy pass standard: 60% for UR/EWS and 50% for reserved categories.
• Stenography test: maximum 10% mistakes for UR/EWS and 12% for reserved categories against notified reserved vacancies.
• Tie-breaker: English Language & Comprehension score first; if still tied, older candidate ranks higher.

Post-Specific Selection Nuance

The Skill Test is qualifying, not the final merit-scoring stage. A candidate can only enter the final selection pool after clearing the relevant skill-test standard, but merit among qualified candidates is based on written-test marks. This is why CBT accuracy matters even for candidates who are already strong at office software or stenography.

Assistant / UDC CBT Pattern (CBT held 21 September 2026)

Total duration: 150 minutes. Marking: +1 for each correct answer and -0.25 for each wrong answer.

JPA / Stenographer CBT Pattern

Total duration: 150 minutes. Marking: +1 for each correct answer and -0.25 for each wrong answer.

Skill Test Preparation

The official computer skill syllabus covers MS Word (35 marks), MS Excel (35 marks) and MS PowerPoint (30 marks), with a 75-minute test. JPA/Stenographer candidates also face the prescribed stenography test.

Skill Test: What Existing Candidates Should Do

• Confirm that the advertisement reference (ISRO:ICRB:01(A-JPA):2026) matches your application. A similar post name in another ISRO recruitment does not identify the same selection process.
• Use the official recruitment entry for candidate services. Read the label shown by the portal before assuming that a link relates to the new stage.
• Keep your application records and supporting documents organized. Follow the document list and reporting requirements in your own official instructions.
• Do not assume every CBT participant has been shortlisted. A general schedule does not establish individual eligibility to attend.

Earlier Stages (closed)

The CBT was held on 21 September 2026. The Post and Zone Preference modification window (16 to 21 September 2026) and the response-sheet objection window (25 to 28 September 2026) have ended.