**Executive Summary**
This notification issued by the Ministry of Defence amends the recruitment rules for Group ‘C’ Fire Engine Driver posts ('A', 'B', and 'C') within the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Effective from April 13, 2026, the document updates "Essential" recruitment criteria, including revised physical measurements, medical standards, endurance tests, and the introduction of a mandatory driving test.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Physical Measurement Standards**
* **Male Candidates:** Minimum height of 165 cm, un-expanded chest of 81 cm with 5 cm expansion, and minimum weight of 50 kg.
* **Female Candidates:** Minimum height of 157 cm and minimum weight of 45 kg; chest measurements are not applicable.
* **General Health:** Candidates must be free from physical deformities, bow legs, knock knees, and flat feet.
* **Relaxations:** A maximum relaxation of 2.5 cm in height and/or chest is permitted for candidates from hilly areas.
**Medical and Vision Requirements**
* **Vision:** Distant vision must be 6x6 without aids; near vision must be normal (corrections allowed for those over 40 years old).
* **Field of Vision:** Each eye must have a full field of vision.
* **Exclusions:** Candidates must not have night blindness or color blindness.
**Physical Endurance Test (PET)**
* **Male Requirements:** 1600-meter run in 7 minutes, 3-meter vertical rope climbing, 20 sit-ups, and clearing a 2.7-meter wide ditch (long jump) within three attempts.
* **Female Requirements:** 800-meter run in 5 minutes, 2.5-meter vertical rope climbing, and either 15 sit-ups or a 2.0-meter long jump within three attempts.
* **Age-based Relaxation:** Candidates over 40 years of age receive a 10% relaxation in performance standards.
**Additional Mandatory Requirement**
* Candidates must successfully pass a driving test conducted specifically by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Aspiring Candidates for Fire Engine Driver Posts**
**Impact**
Applicants are now subject to updated, stringent physical and medical benchmarks and must demonstrate specific physical endurance capabilities to qualify for recruitment.
**Action Required**
Candidates must ensure they meet the minimum physical measurements and prepare to pass the PET and the newly mandated DRDO-conducted driving test.
**Stakeholder: Candidates from Hilly Areas**
**Impact**
These individuals are eligible for specific concessions regarding height and chest measurements.
**Action Required**
Candidates must provide necessary documentation to claim the 2.5 cm relaxation during the measurement process.
**Stakeholder: Candidates over 40 Years of Age**
**Impact**
This group is granted a 10% relaxation in physical endurance standards and is permitted vision corrections for near vision.
**Action Required**
Candidates must meet the adjusted performance standards specified for their age group.
**Stakeholder: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)**
**Impact**
The organization is now responsible for implementing these amended criteria and conducting specialized driving tests for recruitment.
**Action Required**
Administrative bodies must update recruitment protocols and establish the infrastructure to conduct the driving tests as per the new "Essential" requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Group ‘C’ (Fire Engine Driver ‘A’, Fire Engine Driver ‘B’ and Fire Engine Driver ‘C’) posts Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The primary notification amending the recruitment criteria, including physical measurements, medical standards, and endurance tests for Fire Engine Driver positions.
Ministry of Defence, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Group ‘C’ (Fire Engine Driver ‘A’, Fire Engine Driver ‘B’ and Fire Engine Driver ‘C’) posts Recruitment Rules, 2017: The original recruitment policy being amended to update the essential qualification standards for technical staff in DRDO.
Department of Defence Research and Development: The specialized department under the Ministry of Defence responsible for overseeing these recruitment rules and conducting mandatory driving tests for candidates.
Article 309 of the Constitution of India: The legal authority under which the President of India frames rules governing the recruitment and conditions of service for public posts.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एxलx.x-GअID.H-1x3x0x 42026-271779
CG-DLxx-xEG-I1D3E0x4x2x0 26-271779
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 4
PART II—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 06] नई दिल्ली, सोमिार, अप्रैल 13, 2026/चत्रै 23, 1948
No. 06] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026/CHAITRA 23, 1948
रक्षा मत्रं ालय
(रक्षा अनसु धं ान और जिकास जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 13 अप्रलै , 2026
का.जन.आ. 6(अ).— राष्ट्रपजत, संजिधान के अनच्ु छेि 309 के परंतुक द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, रक्षा
मंत्रालय, रक्षा अनुसंधान और जिकास संगठन, समूह ‘ग’ (फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘क’, फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ख’ और फायर
इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ग’) पि, भती जनयम, 2017 में संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाते ह,ैं अर्ाात्:—
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम रक्षा मंत्रालय, रक्षा अनुसधं ान और जिकास संगठन, समूह ‘ग’ (फायर इंिन ड्राइिर
‘क’, फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ख’ और फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ग’) पि भती (संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) य ेरािपत्र में प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
2. रक्षा मंत्रालय, रक्षा अनुसंधान और जिकास संगठन, समूह ‘ग’ (फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘क’, फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ख’
और फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘ग’) पि, भती जनयम, 2017, की अनसु ूची म,ें फायर इंिन ड्राइिर ‘क’ पि के सामने, स्ट्तंभ (7) म,ें
“अजनिाय”ा िीर्ाक के अधीन—
2655 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC.4]
(क) पैरा (iv) के स्ट्र्ान पर जनम्नजलजखत परै ा रखा िाएगा, अर्ाात्:—
(iv) िारीररक रूप स ेस्ट्िस्ट्र् और श्रमसाध्य कताव्यों के पालन में सक्षम होना चाजहए और जनम्नजलजखत जिजनर्िाष्ट
परीक्षण उत्तीणा करना चाजहए।:-
(क) िारीररक मापिंड
पुरुर् मजहला
ऊंचाई जबना िूतों के न्यूनतम 165 सेंटीमीटर न्यूनतम 157 सेंटीमीटर
सीना (जबना फुलाए) न्यूनतम 81 सेंटीमीटर लाग ूनहीं होता
सीना फुलाि न्यूनतम 05 सेंटीमीटर लाग ूनहीं होता
भार न्यूनतम 50 दकलोग्राम न्यूनतम 45 दकलोग्राम
(i) कोई िारीररक जिकृजत तर्ा टेढ ेपैर, अंतिाक्र िान ु और सपाट परै नहीं हो; और
(ii) पहाडी क्षेत्रों से संबंजधत अभ्यर्र्ायों के जलए ऊंचाई और/या सीने की माप म ेंअजधकतम 2.5 सटें ीमीटर की छूट अनुज्ञात
की िा सकती ह।ै
(ख) जचदकत्सा मानिंड:
िजृ ष्ट
(i) जबना दकसी सहायक उपकरण के िरू की िजृ ष्ट 6×6
(ii) 40 िर्ा से अजधक आयु के व्यजियों के जलए सुधार सजहत जनकट िजृ ष्ट सामान्य
(iii) प्रत्येक आँख म ेंपणू ा िश्ृ य क्षेत्र
(iv) रतौंधी और िणाांधता न हो
(ग) िारीररक क्षमता परीक्षा
परुु र् अभ्यर्ी
(i) 07 जमनट म ें1600 मीटर की िौड।
(ii) ऊध्िााधर रस्ट्सी पर 3 मीटर ऊँची चढाई (िमीन से 3 मीटर ऊपर); और
(iii) 20 जसट-अप्स।
(iv) 2.7 मीटर चौडी खाई को कूि कर पार करना और िोनों परै ों पर खड े होना (लंबी कूि) (दिए गए 3 अिसरों म ें
से दकसी एक में सफल हो)।
मजहला अभ्यर्ी
(i) 05 जमनट म ें800 मीटर की िौड।
(ii) ऊध्िााधर रस्ट्सी पर 2.5 मीटर ऊँची चढाई (िमीन स े 2.5 मीटर ऊपर)।
(iii) 15 जसट-अप्स; या
2.0 मीटर लंबी कूि — (दिए गए 3 अिसरों म ेंसे दकसी एक में सफल हो)
(घ) 40 िर्ा से अजधक आयु के अभ्यर्र्ायों के जलए प्रििान मानिंडों में 10% की छूट होगी,[भाग II—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
(ख) परै ा (iv) के पश्चात, जनम्नजलजखत परै ा (v) अतं ःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकया िाएगा, अर्ाात:—
“(v) रक्षा अनुसंधान और जिकास जिभाग द्वारा संचाजलत चालन परीक्षा उत्तीणा की हो।’’
[फा. सं. डीएचआरडी/87661/भतीजनयम/सी/पी/02/ डी1278 तारीख, 13 अप्रलै , 2026]
डाँ. इजिता गांगलु ी जत्रपाठी, सयं ुक् त सजचि
रटप्पण:- मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, भाग II, खडं 4 म ें का.जन.आ. 2, तारीख 28 दिसंबर 2017 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए
गए र्े।
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(Department of Defence Research and Development)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th April, 2026
S.R.O. 6(E)— In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution, the
President hereby makes the following rules to amend the Ministry of Defence, Defence Research and Development
Organisation, Group ‘C’ (Fire Engine Driver ‘A’, Fire Engine Driver ‘B’ and Fire Engine Driver ‘C’) posts Recruitment
Rules, 2017, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Ministry of Defence, Defence Research and Development Organisation,
Group ‘C’ (Fire Engine Driver ‘A’, Fire Engine Driver ‘B’ and Fire Engine Driver ‘C’) posts Recruitment (Amendment)
Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Ministry of Defence, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Group ‘C’ (Fire Engine Driver
‘A’, Fire Engine Driver ‘B’ and Fire Engine Driver ‘C’) posts, Recruitment Rules, 2017, in the Schedule, against the
post of Fire Engine Driver ‘A’, in column (7), under heading “Essential”,-
(a) for paragraph (iv), the following paragraph shall be substituted, namely:-
“(iv) Must be physically fit and capable of performing strenuous duties and passed the tests specified as
under:-
(A) Physical Measurement :
Male Female
Height without shoes 165 centimeter minimum 157 centimeter minimum
Chest(un-expanded) 81 centimeter minimum Not Applicable
Chest expansion 05 centimeter minimum Not Applicable
Weight 50 Kilogram minimum 45 Kilogram minimum
(i) no physical deformity and bow legs, knock knee and flat foot; and
(ii) a maximum relaxation of 2.5 centimeter in height and/or in chest may be allowed for candidates
belonging to hilly areas.
(B) Medical Standards:
Vision
(i) distant 6x6 without aids;
(ii) near vision normal but with corrections for person above 40 years of age;
(iii) each eye must have full field of vision; and
(iv) no night and colour blindness.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC.4]
(C) Physical Endurance Test:
Male candidates
(i) running a distance of 1600 meter in 07 minutes time;
(ii) 03 meter vertical rope climbing (03 meter foot above ground);
(iii) 20 sit ups; and
(iv) clearing 2.7 meter wide ditch and landing on both feet (long jump) (to achieve in any one of
the 03 chance given).
Female Candidates
(i) running a distance of 800 meter in 05 minutes time;
(ii) 2.5 meter vertical rope climbing (2.5 meter foot above ground); and
(iii) 15 sit ups; and
or
long jump of 2.0 meter (to achieve in any one of the 03 chance given).
(D) There shall be 10% relaxation in performance standards for candidates having age more than
40 years.”;
(b) after paragraph (iv), the following paragraph (v) shall be inserted, namely:-
“(v) Pass the driving test conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation.”.
[F. No. DHRD/87661/RRs/C/P/02 /D1278 dated, 13 April, 2026]
Dr. ISHITA GANGULI TRIPATHY, Jt. Secy.
Note:-The Principal rules were published in Gazette of India, Part II, Section 4, vide S.R.O. 2, dated the
28th December 2017.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.