DRDO CEPTAM Civil 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cut Off & Free Mock Tests
DRDO CEPTAM — Senior Technical Assistant-B (Civil)
DRDO recruits diploma civil engineers as Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B) through CEPTAM — the Centre for Personnel Talent Management. STA-B is a stable central-government technical career inside India's defence R&D establishment.
Selection runs through two computer-based tiers: Tier-1 covers general subjects (quantitative aptitude, reasoning, general awareness, English, general science) and Tier-2 tests your civil engineering discipline.
DRDO CEPTAM Civil 2026 — Overview
| Conducting body | DRDO — CEPTAM |
| Post | Senior Technical Assistant-B (Civil) |
| Mode | Two-tier CBT (bilingual) |
| Eligibility | 3-year Diploma in Civil Engineering |
| Age limit | 18–28 years (relaxations apply) |
| Latest advert | CEPTAM-11 (STA-B & Technician-A) |
DRDO CEPTAM Civil Exam Pattern
Tier-1 CBT (screening + shortlisting)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, General Awareness, English, General Science | 150 | 150 |
Duration: 120 minutes
Negative marking: As per the current CEPTAM advertisement (recent adverts: verify — schemes have varied between 0.25 and none)
Tier-2 CBT (discipline)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (diploma standard) | As notified | As notified |
Duration: Per official notification
Negative marking: As per the current CEPTAM advertisement
ℹ️ Tier structure and marking have changed between CEPTAM cycles — always read the current official advertisement on drdo.gov.in before finalising strategy.
DRDO CEPTAM Civil Syllabus — Key Subjects
See the detailed chapter-wise syllabus (built from real previous-year papers) on the DRDO CEPTAM Civil test series page →
Eligibility
- ✓3-year Diploma in Civil Engineering from a recognised institution for STA-B (Civil).
- ✓Age 18–28 years with standard category relaxations.
- ✓All-India posting liability across DRDO labs and establishments.
Salary & Career
STA-B is paid at Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) with central-government allowances — in-hand typically ₹48,000–₹55,000 per month depending on the posting city.
DRDO CEPTAM Civil Cut Off
CEPTAM publishes tier-wise, category-wise cutoffs per cycle on the DRDO website — they vary strongly with vacancy distribution across labs.
Vacancy Trends
| CEPTAM-11 | STA-B & Technician-A posts across disciplines and DRDO labs (see current advert for civil share) |
How to Prepare for DRDO CEPTAM Civil
- 1Tier-1 is entirely non-technical — engineers who only revise civil subjects get filtered before their strength is ever tested. Daily aptitude + GA practice is mandatory.
- 2Tier-2 is diploma-standard: direct formulas, IS-code basics and standard numericals dominate.
- 3DRDO reuses question styles across CEPTAM cycles — previous CEPTAM papers are the highest-yield practice material.
- 4Keep documents ready early: CEPTAM's post-exam process (trade test, DV) is document-heavy.
Start Practising DRDO CEPTAM Civil — Free
Exam-pattern mocks, previous-year papers, detailed solutions and chapter-wise analytics — built only for civil engineers, by a civil engineer who cleared these exams.
DRDO CEPTAM Civil — Frequently Asked Questions
Can degree holders apply for DRDO STA-B?▾
STA-B requires a 3-year diploma in the relevant discipline. Degree holders should check the current CEPTAM advertisement's qualification clause — eligibility interpretations have varied between cycles.
What is the DRDO CEPTAM selection process for STA-B?▾
Tier-1 CBT (general subjects) → Tier-2 CBT (your discipline) → trade/skill test where applicable → document verification and medical.
Where can I practise for DRDO CEPTAM civil?▾
CIVILGYAN TEST SERIES offers diploma-standard civil mocks and chapter tests matching the Tier-2 discipline paper, with detailed solutions — free tests available.
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Disclaimer: Exam patterns, cutoffs, vacancies and eligibility rules change between recruitment cycles. The figures above are compiled for guidance from past cycles — always verify details from the official notification of the conducting body before applying.