**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Defence has notified the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Vehicle Operator ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Effective from April 13, 2026, the notification amends the principal recruitment rules of 2017 by introducing a new mandatory qualification for certain personnel. The primary action item is the implementation of a specialized driving test for recruitment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Administrative Details**
* **Rule Title:** Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
* **Effective Date:** The rules came into force on April 13, 2026, the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
* **Legal Authority:** The rules are made by the President in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution.
**Amendments to Recruitment Criteria**
* The document amends the principal recruitment rules originally published on October 27, 2017 (S.R.O. 95).
* For the post of **Vehicle Operator ‘A’**, a new mandatory requirement has been inserted into the "Essential" qualifications column of the recruitment schedule.
* **New Requirement:** Candidates must pass the driving test conducted specifically by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Candidates for the post of Vehicle Operator ‘A’**
**Impact**
Prospective applicants for the Vehicle Operator ‘A’ position face a more stringent selection process. Passing a general driving test or possessing a license is no longer sufficient; they are now subject to a specific organizational assessment.
**Action Required**
Candidates must appear for and successfully pass the driving test administered by the DRDO to be eligible for the post.
**Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)**
**Impact**
The organisation is now formally mandated to conduct internal driving tests for the recruitment of Vehicle Operator ‘A’ personnel to ensure candidates meet specific organizational standards.
**Action Required**
The DRDO must establish and conduct the necessary driving test protocols as part of the recruitment process for the specified post.
Key Entities Referenced
Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The current policy document introduced to amend recruitment criteria for vehicle operator roles by mandating a specific driving test.
Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment Rules, 2017: The principal rules governing the recruitment process that this notification serves to amend.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): The primary organization under the Ministry of Defence responsible for implementing these rules and conducting the required driving tests.
Article 309 of the Constitution of India: The legal authority under which the President of India frames rules for the recruitment and service conditions of personnel.
Department of Defence Research and Development: The specific department within the Ministry of Defence that manages the recruitment and administrative oversight of the DRDO.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एxलx.x-GअID.H-1x3x0x 42026-271783
CG-DLxx-xEG-I1D3E0x4x2x0 26-271783
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 4
PART II—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 05] नई दिल्ली, सोमिार, अप्रैल 13, 2026/चत्रै 23, 1948
No. 05] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026/CHAITRA 23, 1948
रक्षा मत्रं ालय
(रक्षा अनसु धं ान और जिकास जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 13 अप्रैल, 2026
का.जन.आ. 5(अ).—राष्ट्रपजत, संजिधान के अनुच्छेि 309 के परंतुक द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, रक्षा मंत्रालय,
रक्षा अनुसंधान और जिकास संगठन, यान प्रचालक ‘क’, यान प्रचालक ‘ख’ और यान प्रचालक ‘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 अनुसंधान और जिकास संगठन, समूह ‘ग’ यान प्रचालक ‘क’, यान प्रचालक ‘ख’
और यान प्रचालक ‘ग’, पि भती (संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 है।
(2) ये रािपत्र में प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रिृत्त होंगे।
2. रक्षा मंत्रालय, रक्षा अनुसंधान और जिकास संगठन, यान प्रचालक ‘क’, यान प्रचालक ‘ख’ और यान प्रचालक ‘ग, पि भती
जनयम, 2017 की अनुसूची में, यान प्रचालक ‘क’ पि के सामने, स्ट्तंभ (7) में, “अजनिाया” िीर्ाक के अधीन पैरा (iv) के पश्चात, जनम्नजलजखत
पैरा (v) अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत 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 अप्रैल 2026]
डााँ. इजिता गांगुली जत्रपाठी, संयुक् त सजचि
टिप्पण:- मूल जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, भाग II, खंड 4 म ेंका.जन.आ. संख्या 95, तारीख 28 अिूबर 2017 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए र्े।
2654 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC.4]
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(Department of Defence Research and Development)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th April, 2026
S.R.O. 5(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 Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry
of Defence, Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment Rules, 2017, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence,
Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Vehicle Operator ‘A’, Vehicle
Operator ‘B’ and Vehicle Operator ‘C’ Recruitment Rules, 2017, in the Schedule, against the post of Vehicle Operator
‘A’, in column (7) under heading “Essential” 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.95, dated the
27th October, 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.