| Conducting body | Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Official website ↗ |
|---|---|
| Posts | Trainee Scientific Officer (OCES), posted as Scientific Officer in DAE after training, DGFS fellow (M.Tech at IIT Bombay or IIT Madras while employed in DAE) |
| Qualification | For engineering disciplines: B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc (Engineering) or 5-year integrated M.Tech with at least 60% aggregate (or CGPA 6.0 on 10) in Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Instrumentation or Civil engineering. For science disciplines: M.Sc with at least 60% in Physics, Chemistry, Biosciences, Geology or Geophysics, with extra conditions for each subject listed in Tables 1a and 1b of the brochure. |
| Age limit | 18–26 years on 1 August 2026 (OCES/DGFS-2026) (general category) |
| Domicile | Not required |
| Selection stages | Screening through either the BARC online exam (CBT) or a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the matching GATE paper; you may opt for both channels → Selection interview for shortlisted candidates (probable period May to June 2026) → Medical fitness test before joining → One-year orientation course; at least 50% aggregate needed to pass and be posted as Scientific Officer |
| Latest notification | BARC Information Brochure, OCES/DGFS-2026 |
Last checked . Sources
About BARC OCES
The Orientation Course for Engineering Graduates and Science Postgraduates (OCES) is a one-year training programme at the BARC Training Schools in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Trainees who pass with at least 50% aggregate are posted as Scientific Officers in units of the Department of Atomic Energy. During training the stipend is Rs 74,000 a month plus a one-time book allowance of Rs 30,000. Engineering selectees who do well in the interview and have won M.Tech admission at IIT Bombay or IIT Madras on their own may be offered the DAE Graduate Fellowship Scheme (DGFS), which pays for that M.Tech while they keep their DAE job, and both groups sign a bond to serve DAE for at least three years.
Eligibility
Age limit
General category: 18–26 years, counted on 1 August 2026 (OCES/DGFS-2026).
Age relaxation
- OBC: 3 years
- SC: 5 years
- ST: 5 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- PwBD upper limits: 36 for General, 39 for OBC (NCL) and 41 for SC/ST.
- Candidates with domicile of Kashmir and dependants of 1984 riot victims: up to 31 years.
- DODPKIA candidates: 26 years, with the fee waived.
Qualification
For engineering disciplines: B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc (Engineering) or 5-year integrated M.Tech with at least 60% aggregate (or CGPA 6.0 on 10) in Mechanical, Chemical, Metallurgical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Instrumentation or Civil engineering. For science disciplines: M.Sc with at least 60% in Physics, Chemistry, Biosciences, Geology or Geophysics, with extra conditions for each subject listed in Tables 1a and 1b of the brochure.
Other conditions
- The fee is Rs 500 plus bank charges for General and OBC candidates. SC/ST, PwBD and DODPKIA candidates, and female and transgender candidates of all categories, are exempt.
- Some degrees are not accepted; for example, Electrochemical engineering is eligible only for the Chemical Engineering discipline.
- Final-year students can apply but must submit final marksheets before the stipend is released.
Selection process
- Screening through either the BARC online exam (CBT) or a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the matching GATE paper; you may opt for both channels
- Selection interview for shortlisted candidates (probable period May to June 2026)
- Medical fitness test before joining
- One-year orientation course; at least 50% aggregate needed to pass and be posted as Scientific Officer
Exam pattern
BARC online exam (CBT)
Mode: Computer-based, objective, one correct option, English only · Duration: 120 minutes · Negative marking: 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer; 3 marks for each correct answer
| SUBJECT | QUESTIONS | MARKS |
|---|---|---|
| Questions from your chosen engineering or science discipline | 100 | 300 |
BARC OCES syllabus
Engineering disciplines (B.E./B.Tech level)
- Mechanical
- Chemical
- Metallurgical
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Computer Science
- Instrumentation
- Civil Engineering
Science disciplines (M.Sc level)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biosciences
- Geology
- Geophysics
Not tested
- General English, general knowledge and aptitude are not part of the online exam
What they ask
The online exam has 100 objective questions from the discipline you pick, to be answered in 120 minutes. Each correct answer earns 3 marks and each wrong answer loses 1. The brochure says the questions test basic understanding and problem solving in the subject rather than memory, at B.E./B.Tech level for engineers and M.Sc level for science candidates. There is no English, general knowledge or aptitude section, and only an on-screen calculator is allowed.
How to prepare
- Spend all your time on your own discipline. The online exam has no English, GK or aptitude questions.
- Mind the +3/-1 marking. A random guess on four options roughly breaks even, so guess only when you can rule out at least one option.
- If you have a valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the matching paper, opt for both screening channels. The brochure notes that GATE cut-offs are fixed only later.
- Practise numericals with an on-screen calculator. Physical calculators and log tables are not allowed at the centre.
- Check Tables 1a and 1b of the brochure before applying. Some degree names are not eligible for a discipline even if the subject looks close.
Practise BARC OCES syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.
How to apply
- Apply on barcocesexam.in. OCES/DGFS and the DDFS doctoral programme are separate applications that share one CBT.
- If you apply for both, choose the same exam city preferences in both forms.
- Enter your SSC, HSC and degree marks; forms without them are not accepted.
- Pay the fee online unless you are exempt, then book an interview slot if you are shortlisted.
BARC OCES FAQs
Yes. A valid GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 score in the matching paper is one of the two screening routes to the interview; the other is BARC's own online exam.
Sources
- BARC Information Brochure, OCES/DGFS-2026 ↗ (official, checked )
- BARC OCES/DGFS and DDFS application portal ↗ (official, checked )
- BARC careers page ↗ (official, checked )
Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.
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