Table of Contents
If you have applied for URSC Recruitment 2026 (Advt. No. URSC:04:2026), the next step is to prepare for the written test. The U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO conducts a Written Test / CBT and then a Skill Test for Technician-B, Heavy Vehicle Driver-A, Light Vehicle Driver-A and Staff Car Driver-A posts.
This guide covers the ISRO URSC syllabus 2026 and exam pattern for both groups, with section-wise marks, negative marking, qualifying marks and preparation tips.
Download ISRO URSC Syllabus 2026 PDF
The notification gives a detailed, topic-wise syllabus for driver posts. For Technician-B, it says only that the written test syllabus is “curriculum based” and does not list topics. So the Technician-B topic lists below are indicative, based on the standard NCVT ITI curriculum for each trade. URSC may publish more detail later, so keep checking www.isro.gov.in and www.ursc.gov.in.
ISRO URSC Exam Pattern 2026 for Technician-B & Driver Posts
1: Between the period of 1858-1947, how many Viceroys ruled over India?
| Feature | Technician-B | Driver Posts (HVD-A / LVD-A / Staff Car Driver-A) |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Written Test / CBT (online or offline) | Written Test / CBT (online or offline) |
| Questions | 80 MCQs | 100 MCQs |
| Duration | 1.5 hours (90 min) | 2 hours (120 min) |
| Marking | +1 correct | +1 correct |
| Negative marking | −0.33 per wrong answer | −0.25 per wrong answer |
| Syllabus | Curriculum based (ITI trade) | Detailed in notification (4 parts) |
| Second stage | Skill Test, 100 marks (qualifying) | Driving Test, 100 marks (qualifying) |
The test is held in Bengaluru or across different cities in India. The skill test is held only in Bengaluru.
ISRO URSC Technician-B Exam Pattern
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 80 MCQs |
| Total marks | 80 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Marks per correct answer | +1 |
| Negative marking | −0.33 per wrong answer |
| Average time per question | About 67 seconds |
Qualifying Marks
- Candidates are shortlisted for the Skill Test in a 1:5 ratio with a minimum of 10 candidates.
- Tie-breaker: a valid NAC score gets preference in case of ties.
| Stage | Unreserved | Reserved (only where the post is reserved) |
|---|---|---|
| Written Test | 32 / 80 | 24 / 80 |
| Skill Test | 50 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
ISRO URSC Driver Exam Pattern (HVD-A, LVD-A, Staff Car Driver-A)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Marks per correct answer | +1 |
| Negative marking | −0.25 per wrong answer (one-fourth) |
| Average time per question | About 72 seconds |
Section-Wise Distribution
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | 50 | 50 | As amended from time to time |
| B | Elementary English | 15 | 15 | 8th standard |
| C | Elementary Arithmetic | 15 | 15 | 10th standard |
| D | General Knowledge | 20 | 20 | General awareness |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Qualifying Rules
- You need 50% in Part A and 50% in Parts B, C and D combined.
- For reserved categories, passing marks are relaxed by 25%, wherever a post is reserved for that category.
- Total marks across all four parts are counted for shortlisting for the Skill Test.
- Shortlisting ratio for the Skill Test: 1:10.
- Tie-breaker: the academic scores of the notified qualification.
Working figures, based on the stated percentages: pass marks are about 25 out of 50 in Part A and 25 out of 50 in Parts B+C+D combined. With the 25% relaxation for reserved categories, that falls to roughly 18.75 out of 50 in each. I calculated these numbers myself, and the notification gives only the percentages.
Prepare for Kerala PSC Technical Exams with Entri
സർക്കാർ ജോലി എന്ന സ്വപ്നം ഇനി സ്വപ്നം മാത്രമല്ല! Join Kerala's Top-rated PSC Coaching Programs
Join NowISRO URSC Technician-B Syllabus 2026 (Curriculum Based)
The written test is based on the curriculum of your ITI/NTC/NAC trade. No official topic list or section weightage has been published. The notification does not say whether the 80 questions are all trade-specific or include general sections, so check for any update. A sensible preparation approach is to cover your trade’s core theory and the common ITI basics.
Common ITI Basics (Applicable to All Trades, Indicative)
| Topic Area | What to Revise |
|---|---|
| Workshop Calculation & Science | Units and measurements, ratio and proportion, percentage, area, volume, mass, density, speed, work, power, energy, simple machines, heat basics |
| Engineering Drawing | Types of lines, projections, dimensioning, symbols, reading simple drawings |
| Safety and Basic Workshop Practice | Personal protective equipment, fire safety, first aid, workshop hygiene, tools and handling |
| Measuring Instruments | Steel rule, vernier caliper, micrometer, gauges, multimeter (as relevant to trade) |
| Basic Materials | Ferrous and non-ferrous metals, properties of materials, common alloys |
Trade-Wise Topics (Indicative)
| Post Code | Trade | Vacancies | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Electronics Mechanic (and equivalent trades) | 24 | Basic electricity, AC/DC circuits, resistors, capacitors, inductors; semiconductor diodes, transistors, rectifiers, amplifiers, oscillators; digital electronics, logic gates, counters; ICs, microcontroller basics; soldering and PCB work; power supplies; measuring instruments (multimeter, CRO); troubleshooting |
| 02 | Fitter | 8 | Marking and measuring, hand tools, filing, sawing, chipping, drilling, reaming, tapping and threading, fits and tolerances, sheet metal work, bearings, assembly of machine parts, basic welding and safety |
| 03 | Electrician | 4 | Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, AC/DC theory, wiring and cables, earthing, transformers, DC and AC motors, starters, protection devices, batteries, measuring instruments, domestic and industrial wiring, safety |
| 04 | R&A/C | 5 | Refrigeration cycle, refrigerants, compressors, condensers, evaporators, expansion devices, domestic refrigerators, window and split AC, electrical controls, tubing and brazing, gas charging, psychrometry basics, safety |
| 05 | Turner | 1 | Lathe parts and operations, cutting tools, turning, facing, taper turning, threading, speeds and feeds, work holding, measuring instruments, tolerances |
| 06 | Machinist | 2 | Milling, shaping, drilling and grinding machines, cutting tools and angles, jigs and fixtures, gear basics, surface finish, measuring and inspection |
| 07 | Motor Vehicle Mechanic | 1 | Engine parts and working, fuel system, ignition system, cooling and lubrication, transmission, clutch, brakes, suspension, steering, automotive electrical system, fault diagnosis |
| 08 | Electroplater | 1 | Basics of electrochemistry, surface cleaning and pickling, plating baths (nickel, chromium, copper, zinc), anodising, plating defects and remedies, thickness testing, chemical safety, effluent handling |
These lists are indicative, based on standard ITI trade curricula, and are not part of the official notification.
ISRO URSC Skill Test (Technician-B)
- 100 marks, qualifying in nature
- Pass marks: 50 (UR) / 40 (Reserved, where the post is reserved)
- Expect trade practical tasks: handling tools, reading drawings, performing basic jobs in your trade and following safety
- Held in Bengaluru only
ISRO URSC Driver Syllabus 2026: Topic-Wise
Part A: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (50 Questions)
The notification lists these topics, based on the Act as amended from time to time:
| No. | Topic | What to Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| i | Various sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | Definitions, key sections and recent amendments |
| ii | Licensing of drivers of motor vehicles | Types of licences, eligibility, age limits, learner’s licence, renewal, disqualification, suspension and revocation |
| iii | Registration of motor vehicles | Registration procedure, certificate of registration, transfer of ownership, fitness certificate, registration marks |
| iv | Control of transport vehicles | Permits, route and goods vehicle rules, speed and load limits, public service vehicle requirements |
| v | Control of traffic | Traffic rules, speed limits, right of way, signals, driving regulations, drunken driving, use of horns, parking |
| vi | Insurance of motor vehicles | Third-party insurance, compulsory insurance, liability |
| vii | Offences, penalties and procedure | Offences, fines and penalties, powers of officers, court procedure |
| viii | Mandatory signs | Mandatory (regulatory) road signs, cautionary signs and their meanings |
| ix | Accident claims | Compensation, no-fault liability, hit-and-run provisions |
| x | Accident Claims Tribunals | Constitution, jurisdiction and procedure |
Part A carries half the paper (50 marks) and has its own 50% cut-off, so it is the most important section.
Part B: Elementary English (15 Questions, 8th Standard Level)
| Topic | What to Revise |
|---|---|
| Synonyms and antonyms | Common word pairs, word meanings |
| Use of correct verbs | Tenses, subject-verb agreement, auxiliary verbs |
| Fill in the blanks | Choosing appropriate words and phrases to complete sentences |
Part C: Elementary Arithmetic (15 Questions, 10th Standard Level)
| Topic | What to Revise |
|---|---|
| Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division | Basic operations, BODMAS, fractions and decimals |
| Percentage | Percentage calculations, profit and loss basics, discount |
| Ratio | Ratio and proportion, sharing |
| Average | Average of numbers, weighted average |
Part D: General Knowledge (20 Questions)
| Topic | What to Revise |
|---|---|
| General knowledge and current affairs | Recent national and international events, ISRO and space news, awards |
| Who’s Who | Important personalities, office-holders |
| States and capitals of India | All states, UTs and capitals |
| Geography of India | Rivers, mountains, climate, soils, agriculture, important places |
Skill Test (Driving Test, Driver Posts)
- 100 marks, purely qualifying
- Pass mark: 60, with no relaxation for any category
- Expect a practical driving test of the relevant vehicle type, which may include basic vehicle checks and traffic-rule awareness
- Held in Bengaluru only
Marking Scheme and Negative Marking Explained
| Post Group | Correct | Wrong | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technician-B | +1 | −0.33 | 0 |
| Driver posts | +1 | −0.25 | 0 |
ISRO URSC Preparation Strategy 2026
For Technician-B
- Download your ITI trade theory book or syllabus and cover every unit.
- Revise workshop calculation, drawing and safety, since these are common to all trades and easy to score.
- Practise MCQs on your trade, as the exam is multiple choice.
- Prepare for the skill test in parallel, with hands-on practice in your trade.
- If you hold a NAC, keep your marks handy because it is a tie-breaker.
For Driver Posts
- Read the Motor Vehicles Act topics above first, and focus on licensing, traffic control, penalties, insurance and signs.
- Learn road signs and their meanings.
- Practise percentages, ratios and averages daily.
- Brush up 8th-standard English grammar and vocabulary.
- Follow current affairs and ISRO news, plus states and capitals.
- Make sure you clear Part A and the combined B+C+D cut-offs separately. A high score in one area won’t rescue a fail in the other.
- Practise driving and vehicle checks for the skill test, where 60 marks are needed.
Common to Both
- Take timed mock tests weekly, then analyse your errors.
- Keep a short notes file of formulas, sections and signs for last-week revision.
- Check your e-mail (including spam) for hall tickets, and read the call letter instructions carefully.
Time Management Tips
| Group | Suggested Approach |
|---|---|
| Technician-B (90 min, 80 Q) | First pass: answer all questions you know (about 45–50 minutes). Second pass: attempt medium ones (about 25 minutes). Last 10–15 minutes: review and carefully attempt leftovers |
| Drivers (120 min, 100 Q) | Do Part A first (about 50 minutes), then arithmetic (about 20), English (about 15) and GK (about 20), leaving 15 minutes for review |
Prepare with Entri
Install the Entri App → Log in → Select your category → Choose the course → Start a 7-day free trial.
