ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026 – Written Test/CBT Pattern, Pass Marks, Skill Test, Tie-Breaker Rules & Details

The ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) has prescribed a transparent and merit-based selection process for the recruitment of Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant, Technician-B, Draughtsman-B, Library Assistant-A, and Cook-A under Advertisement No. ISTRAC:02:2026. Candidates applying for any of these posts must qualify each stage of the recruitment process to be considered for final appointment.

The ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026 primarily consists of application screening, Written Test/Computer-Based Test (CBT), Skill Test, Document Verification, and Medical Examination. While the Skill Test is qualifying in nature for most posts, the final merit list is prepared based on the marks secured in the Written Test/CBT, subject to qualifying the Skill Test.

This article explains every stage of the selection process in detail.

Download ISRO ISTRAC 2026 Notification PDF

The official ISRO ISTRAC Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF contains complete details regarding the selection process, examination pattern, qualifying marks, skill test procedure, merit list preparation, and other recruitment instructions. Candidates should carefully read the notification before applying and preparing for the examination.

ISRO 2026 Technical Assistant Previous Year Question Paper PDF Download

ISRO 2026 Technician-B Previous Year Question Papers PDF Download

ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026 Overview

ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026  Is a Three-Stage Process

For all posts under this recruitment, selection happens through:

1. Initial Screening (based on academic performance and other parameters)
2. Written Test / Computer Based Test (CBT)
3. Skill Test

Final merit is prepared only from the Written Test/CBT marks of those candidates who qualify the Skill Test.

Possessing the minimum prescribed qualification does NOT automatically make a candidate eligible to be called for the Written Test/CBT. ISTRAC conducts an initial screening based on the academic performance and other parameters submitted in the online application. Only candidates who clear this screening will be called for the Written Test/CBT.

Stage 1: Initial Screening – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

Based on the educational performance and other parameters provided by candidates in their online applications, ISTRAC will shortlist candidates for the Written Test/CBT. This is essentially a filtering stage — with a large number of applicants expected, not everyone who meets the minimum qualification will be called for the exam.

Stage 2: Written Test / Computer Based Test (CBT) – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

Candidates shortlisted after application screening will be invited to appear for the Written Test or Computer-Based Test.

Exam Pattern for Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant & Library Assistant-A – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

• Format: 80 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Marking scheme: +1 mark for every correct answer, -0.33 mark for every wrong answer (negative marking applies)
• Syllabus: Curriculum-based

Exam Pattern for Technician-B and Draughtsman-B – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

• Format: 80 MCQs
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Marking scheme: +1 mark for correct answer, -0.33 for wrong answer
• Syllabus: Curriculum-based

Exam Pattern for Cook-A – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

• Format: 60 MCQs
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Marking scheme: +1 mark for correct answer, -0.33 for wrong answer
• Syllabus: Curriculum-based

Medium of Exam: Candidates have the option to take the Written Test/CBT in Hindi or English medium.

Mode & Venue of Exam: ISTRAC reserves the right to conduct the Written Test/CBT either online or offline. The exam will be conducted in Bengaluru or in different cities across India (exact centres will be communicated via hall ticket/call letter sent only through registered e-mail/SMS).

Clash of Exam Timing: If a candidate has applied for multiple posts and there is a timing clash for the exam in the same session, the candidate is advised to choose only one post to appear for.

Pass Criteria for Written Test/CBT- ISRO ISTRAC 2026

For Technician-B, Draughtsman-B, Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant, and Library Assistant-A:

For Cook-A:
The written test follows the same curriculum-based structure, with the tie-breaker and shortlisting rules described below applying equally.

Stage 3: Shortlisting for Skill Test – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

Based on performance in the Written Test/CBT, and taking into account the number of notified vacancies, qualified candidates will be called for the Skill Test in a ratio of 1:5, with a minimum of 10 candidates shortlisted per post — regardless of how few vacancies exist for that post.

This means even for a post with just 1 vacancy, at least 10 candidates will be shortlisted for the Skill Test based on their Written Test/CBT ranking.

Tie-Breaker Rules in ISRO ISTRAC 2026 Written Test/CBT

1. General Rule (applicable to all posts): In case of a tie in Written Test/CBT scores, the academic scores of the essential qualification notified for the post will be used as the tie-breaker.
2. Special Rule for Technician-B and Draughtsman-B: If there is a tie in both the Written Test/CBT scores AND the academic scores of the notified qualification (NAC/NTC/ITI), preference will be given to candidates who possess a valid NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) score over those who do not possess an NAC score.

Stage 4: Skill Test – ISRO ISTRAC 2026

For Technician-B, Draughtsman-B, Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant, and Library Assistant-A:

• Nature: Qualifying (does not count toward final merit, but must be cleared)
• Conducted for: 100 marks
• Pass marks:
  • Unreserved candidates: 50 out of 100 marks
  • Reserved candidates (only if the post is reserved): 40 out of 100 marks
• For Library Assistant-A specifically, the Skill Test is a Computer Literacy test

For Cook-A:

• Nature: Purely qualifying (go/no-go basis in practical terms, but with a numeric threshold)
• Conducted for: 100 marks
• Pass marks: 60 out of 100 marks
• Important: No relaxation of marks is applicable in the Skill Test for ANY category of candidates for Cook-A — meaning even reserved category candidates must score the full 60/100 to qualify.

Skill Test — General Rule Across All Posts:

The Skill Test will be conducted purely on a go-no-go / qualifying basis. It does NOT contribute to the final merit ranking — it only decides whether a candidate is eligible to be considered further.

Where is the Skill Test Held?

The Skill Test is conducted ONLY in Bengaluru, regardless of where the candidate took the Written Test/CBT.

ISRO ISTRAC 2026 Document Verification During Skill Test

All documents uploaded during the online application will be verified at the time of the Skill Test. Important: merely being admitted to appear in the Written Test/CBT/Skill Test does NOT by itself confer eligibility for selection — final eligibility is confirmed only after successful document verification.

Documents to be produced at Skill Test/verification stage (originals):

• Proof of educational qualification prescribed for the post
• Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC) — latest copy
• Income and Asset Certificate for EWS candidates (valid for FY 2026-27)
• Discharge Certificate for Ex-servicemen (indicating Ex-servicemen status)
• Disability Certificate for PwBD candidates (original, in prescribed Annexure-B/C format, indicating percentage of disability, issued by a Medical Board of at least 3 members with one specialist in the relevant field)

Travelling Allowance (TA) for Skill Test

Outstation candidates shortlisted for the Skill Test after qualifying the Written Test/CBT are entitled to Travelling Allowance, calculated as:

• To-and-fro Second Class Sleeper Railway fare by the shortest distance from the address given in the online application to the Skill Test venue, OR
• Non-A/C bus fare, OR
• Actual fare — whichever is lowest

This applies irrespective of whether the candidate actually travelled by rail, bus, or air — if a higher class of travel is used, only the Second Class train fare (excluding reservation/sleeper charges) by the shortest distance will be reimbursed.

Important condition: TA is paid ONLY to candidates who are allowed to appear for the Skill Test after successful document verification. If document verification fails, TA will not be paid, and the candidate cannot appear in the Skill Test.

No TA without NOC: Candidates currently employed with Government/PSU/Autonomous bodies who fail to submit the original No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of Skill Test will NOT be permitted to appear for the Skill Test, and consequently no TA will be paid to them either.

ISRO ISTRAC 2026 Final Selection / Merit Criteria

Final selection is based purely on the marks obtained in the Written Test/CBT, computed only from among those candidates who have qualified the Skill Test.

In simple terms:

• Skill Test = qualifying filter (pass/fail)
• Written Test/CBT score = actual ranking criterion for final merit
• A candidate who scores very high in the Written Test/CBT but fails the Skill Test will NOT be selected
• Among all candidates who clear the Skill Test, the final merit list is prepared strictly by Written Test/CBT marks, highest to lowest, against the notified vacancies

Candidature Cancellation During ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026

If at any point — before the Written Test/CBT, during the Written Test/CBT/Skill Test, or after — it is found that a candidate does not fulfill the eligibility criteria as on the last date of application, their candidature will be cancelled summarily, regardless of which stage of selection they have reached.

PwBD-Specific Provisions During ISRO ISTRAC Selection 2026

• PwBD candidates opting for a scribe or compensatory time during the Written Test/CBT must produce the original Disability Certificate at that time
• If using their own scribe, they must submit a Letter of Undertaking (format in Annexure-C) confirming the scribe’s qualification. If the scribe’s qualification later turns out to be different from what was declared (i.e., higher than allowed), the candidate forfeits their right to the post and any related claims
• The Disability Certificate must clearly indicate the percentage of disability and be issued by a Medical Board of at least 3 members, including one specialist in the specific disability area (e.g., ophthalmologist for visual impairment, orthopaedic specialist/PMR for locomotor disability)

Final Guidelines for the ISRO ISTRAC Selection Process 2026

• Selection is purely based on merit.
• Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
• Negative marking applies to the Written Test.
• Skill Test is qualifying in nature for all posts.
• Final merit is prepared using Written Test marks only.
• Candidates must qualify every stage of the recruitment process.
• Document Verification and Medical Examination are mandatory before appointment.
• Suppression of facts or submission of false documents will result in cancellation of candidature at any stage.

Preparation Tips for ISRO ISTRAC 2026 Candidates

To improve your chances of selection:

• Study the syllabus based on your prescribed educational qualification.
• Focus on subject-specific technical concepts and trade knowledge.
• Practice objective-type MCQs regularly.
• Revise fundamental concepts thoroughly.
• Prepare practical skills for the Skill Test.
• Keep all original documents ready before the recruitment process begins.
• Monitor the official ISRO website regularly for updates regarding exam dates, admit cards, and results.

This selection process breakdown is based on the official ISRO ISTRAC Advertisement No. ISTRAC:02:2026 dated 27.06.2026. Candidates are strongly advised to refer to the complete official notification and the official websites www.isro.gov.in and www.istrac.gov.in for the most accurate and updated information regarding exam pattern, dates, and venues. ISTRAC reserves the right to modify the mode (online/offline) or venue of the Written Test/CBT, and any such changes will be notified only through the official websites.