How to Join ISRO? What to study, which fields to choose and where to learn
The journey typically begins after Class 10, by choosing the science stream in Classes 11 and 12. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) are essential subjects, as they form the foundation for most technical and research roles at ISRO. A strong grasp of these subjects is necessary for further studies in engineering or science.
What did Shubhanshu Shukla study?
Undergraduate Degree
A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for most technical positions at ISRO. The most common degrees are:
Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in fields such as Mechanical, Electronics and Communication, Electrical, Computer Science, or Aerospace Engineering.
For research-focused roles, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physics, Mathematics, or Astronomy, followed by a Master's degree, is also a valid route.
A minimum of 65% marks or a CGPA of 6.84/10 is required in the qualifying degree. Degrees must be from a recognized university.
Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies
For advanced research or specialised positions, a Master's (MTech/ME/MSc) or a PhD in relevant fields such as space science, astrophysics, computer science, or satellite technology is beneficial. ISRO recruits postgraduates and PhD holders for research and development projects.
ISRO's work covers a range of scientific and engineering domains. Key fields include:
–Mechanical Engineering: Design and development of launch vehicles and spacecraft structures.
–Electronics and Communication Engineering: Satellite systems, instrumentation, and communication technologies.
–Computer Science: Software development, data analysis, and mission control systems.
–Aerospace Engineering: Propulsion, aerodynamics, and spacecraft systems.
–Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy: Research in space science, astrophysics, and planetary studies.
–Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Earth observation and satellite data analysis.
ISRO's main recruitment for technical roles is through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) exam. The process involves:
–A written test focused on core technical concepts relevant to the candidate's discipline.
–An interview round for shortlisted candidates, assessing practical and domain knowledge.
–Some research and fellowship positions may also consider Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores.
Eligibility criteria include Indian citizenship, the required educational qualifications, and an upper age limit (usually 28 years for general category, with relaxations for reserved categories).
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are known to offer programmes in engineering and science disciplines relevant to ISRO. Interested can go through specific requirements and subsequently choose a course being taught at one of the popular engineering colleges in the country.
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, is directly supported by ISRO and offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in space science and technology.
Moreover, ISRO recruits postgraduates and PhD holders from IISc for advanced research roles.
ISRO also offers academic programs and internships for students at various levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies.
The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) offers outreach and e-learning programs in remote sensing, GIS, and related applications. ISRO's training centers conduct specialized courses and workshops for students, professionals, and educators in space technology and applications.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Eyes in the Sky: NISAR to decode Earth's silent warnings
On July 8, a local in Upper Mustang, Nepal, noticed an ominous flood wave rushing down the Chhuhama stream above Chumjung and Lo Manthang, close to the iconic Muktinath temple. The source was a rapidly drained glacial lake high on the Kali Gandaki glacier, located above 5,900 meters altitude. Over preceding weeks, the lake had steadily grown before emptying itself subglacially over 500 meters. Within hours, the floodwaters had ripped apart four downstream bridges, deposited debris across 35 kilometers, and caused substantial damage. This was the third highest Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) ever recorded in High Mountain Asia, and a harsh reminder of how rapidly the cryosphere is changing under pressure from rising temperatures. At some places this year, temperatures soared 5°C above long-term seasonal averages. Experts say the frequency of GLOFs is increasing — with at least eight reported this year across Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan —triggered by rapid ice melt, permafrost thawing, and newly formed glacial lakes. Now, all eyes are on NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite launched on July 30, which is being hailed as a game-changer in forecasting such disasters and improving climate resilience. NISAR mission The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is the world's first dual-frequency radar imaging satellite. It combines L-band radar from NASA and S-band radar from ISRO to monitor Earth's surface changes with unmatched precision — day and night, in all weather conditions. The first 90 days post-launch are designated for In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), during which systems will be calibrated and tested before full science operations begin. Once operational, NISAR will image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and selected oceans every 12 days, which experts say is unprecedented. 'NISAR will allow us to detect subtle movements in Earth's surface — including saturated soils on unstable slopes, deformation from earthquakes, and the slow growth of glacial lakes that might not be visible from above,' said Dr Gerald W Bawden, program manager at NASA's Natural Hazards Research Earth Science Division and a key member of the NISAR launch team, told this newspaper.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"Phone Felt Heavy": Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla On Life After Space
New Delhi: Weeks after returning from the Axiom-4 mission, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday shared experiences of readjusting to life on earth like how even a mobile phone felt heavy to hold and he dropped his laptop thinking it would float like in space. Addressing a virtual press conference, Shukla and his Axiom-4 mission colleagues shared the experiences of their 20-day space mission and the 18-day stay at the International Space Station. "After 41 years, a Bharatiya returned to space. But this time, it was not a solitary leap, it was the beginning of India's second orbit. And this time, we are ready, not just to fly but to lead," Shukla said. Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's sojourn as part of the Soviet Russian mission in 1984. Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 and returned to earth on July 15. The Lucknow-born astronaut said the moment that stood out in the entire space sojourn was when he spoke to the "Prime Minister of Bharat" on June 28 with the tricolour floating behind him. "That moment symbolised India's re-entry into the conversation, not as a spectator but as an equal participant," Shukla said. Sharing his experience of re-adjusting to the gravity on earth, Shukla recalled the moment he asked for a phone to click pictures and how heavy it felt in his hand. "The minute I held the phone, I felt this was heavy. The same phone that we hold all day long felt really heavy to me," Shukla said. Sharing another instance, he said, "I had some work to do on my laptop. I was sitting on my bed and I just closed my laptop and left it to the side of the bed. I dropped my laptop thinking that it would float right next to me. Thankfully, the floor was carpeted so there was no damage done." Shukla said the 20-day mission exceeded his expectations and he learnt a lot that would help India in its Gaganyaan mission. He described his role not just as a spacefarer but as a "messenger showing what's possible". "But the true spark - believing in what is possible in space among young Indians - is what this mission was all about." Shukla said he had done all the homework Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to do on the space station. "I was asked to document everything that we were doing. I can assure you that I have done that very well. I am excited to come back and share all that with our programme. I am confident that all that knowledge is going to prove extremely useful and crucial for our own Gaganyaan mission," he said. "The knowledge that I have gained spans the history of human space missions. I have been fortunate to receive all that," he said. Shubhanshu Shukla said the success of his mission has already started showing results as children back home have started asking how they can become astronauts. "That is also a big success for this mission because one of the primary reasons you do human spaceflight missions is to inspire the younger generation and get them to believe that they can be explorers as well. I think that is already partially achieved. I am extremely happy and pleased with the outcome of this mission," Shukla said. Shukla is expected to return to India mid-August.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Axiom Mission-4 a success for India and Gaganyaan, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills India's first astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shubhanshu Shukla , on Friday said the success of Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) marks India's return to orbit after 41 years, calling it 'India's second orbit.' 'And this time, we are ready not just to fly, but to lead,' he said during a post-mission press briefing, adding that his journey was not just as a spacefarer, but as a messenger of what's now possible for 39-year-old Indian Air Force Group Captain said he feels fit and ready for another space mission. Shukla added that he is confident the knowledge gathered aboard the ISS will prove invaluable to India's upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight his time aboard the ISS, Shukla noted that the sight of the Indian flag floating behind him symbolised the country's re-entry into global space conversations 'not as a spectator, but as an equal participant.'Responding to a question from ET, Shukla, who served as the mission's pilot, said the experiments designed by ISRO and Indian researchers were focussed on enabling India's human spaceflight ambitions. 'All these experiments we did on the station also have real-time benefits here on earth, whether it's for understanding degenerative diseases or ensuring food security,' he added that some experiments, such as stem cell research conducted in microgravity, could help decode why muscle atrophy happens and how it might be prevented or delayed, both in space and on earth. India's contribution to the mission included seven microgravity experiments across disciplines such as space medicine, agriculture, and biology, part of the larger set of 60 scientific investigations on four-member Ax-4 crew, comprising astronauts from India, Poland's Sławosz Uznański, Hungary's Tibor Kapu, and NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, will now enter a two-week debriefing phase, during which mission learnings will be reviewed and shared with respective space on the outreach efforts and the true success of the mission, Shukla said the most common question he heard from children was, 'How does one become an astronaut? 'If children across Bharat are already asking these questions, we are halfway there. The rest is just enabling them.'Ax-4 was launched on June 25 and concluded with the return of the crew on July 15.
