DRDO CEPTAM 11 Tier-1 was held on 23 March 2026 for 764 posts (STA-B: 561 + Tech-A: 203). The same common paper tests all candidates — 150 MCQs, 150 marks, 2 hours, and 0.25 negative marking on every wrong answer. This guide gives you practice questions, section-wise strategy, Tier-2 guidance, and a 6-week plan.
DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern — Complete Overview
| Stage | Posts Applicable | Questions | Marks | Duration | Neg. Marking | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier-I (CBT) | STA-B + Tech-A (both) | 150 | 150 | 120 min | −0.25/wrong | Screening + Merit |
| Tier-II (STA-B) | STA-B only | Varies by discipline | Varies | 120 min | −0.25/wrong | Discipline written test |
| Tier-II (Tech-A) | Tech-A only | Practical | — | — | — | Trade test (hands-on) |
| Document Verification | Shortlisted | — | — | — | — | Final stage |
Tier-I Section-wise Distribution (150 Marks)
| Section | Approx. Questions | Marks | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35–40 | 35–40 | Analogy, Series, Coding, Blood Relation, Non-verbal |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Maths | 35–40 | 35–40 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, DI |
| General Science | 35–40 | 35–40 | Physics, Chemistry, Biology (NCERT 8–10 level) |
| General English | 30–35 | 30–35 | Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension, Para Jumbles |
| Total | ~150 | 150 | 120 minutes (no sectional time limits) |
DRDO & Defence Science Practice Questions (Tier-I GK/Science)
These concepts appear repeatedly in the General Science and reasoning sections — master them before the exam.
Q1. In which year was DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) established?
Answer: 1958
DRDO was formed on 1 January 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishment (TDE) and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation. HQ is at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.
Q2. Which DRDO laboratory developed the Arjun Main Battle Tank?
Answer: CVRDE, Chennai
Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) in Chennai designed the Arjun MBT. The tank uses a 120mm rifled gun and a Kanchan composite armour system — both DRDO innovations.
Q3. The Akash missile system is classified as which type of missile?
Answer: Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
Akash has a range of ~25–30 km and can engage targets at altitudes up to 18 km. It can simultaneously track and engage multiple targets — key for air-defence batteries.
Q4. BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is a joint venture between India and which country?
Answer: Russia
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The name combines Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia). Speed: Mach 2.8–3.0; range: ~450 km (extended version).
Q5. ATAGS, developed by DRDO, stands for what? What is its significance?
Answer: Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
ATAGS is a 155mm/52-calibre towed howitzer developed by ARDE (Armament Research & Development Establishment), Pune. It holds the record for the world's longest artillery range at 48 km (standard shell) — surpassing all existing comparable systems.
Q6. Which gas law states that the pressure of a fixed amount of gas at constant temperature is inversely proportional to its volume?
Answer: Boyle's Law
P₁V₁ = P₂V₂ (at constant T and n). This is a core Physics topic for DRDO CEPTAM General Science — remember all three gas laws: Boyle's (P-V), Charles's (V-T), Gay-Lussac's (P-T).
Q7. What is the pH range of a neutral solution at 25°C?
Answer: pH = 7
pH < 7 = acidic; pH > 7 = basic/alkaline; pH = 7 = neutral (pure water). Strong acids: HCl (pH ≈ 0–1), H₂SO₄; Strong bases: NaOH (pH ≈ 13–14). Important for Chemistry section.
Q8. Which organelle is called the "powerhouse of the cell"?
Answer: Mitochondria
Mitochondria produce ATP via cellular respiration (Krebs cycle + oxidative phosphorylation). Key Biology fact — also remember: Ribosome = protein synthesis, Chloroplast = photosynthesis, Nucleus = genetic control.
Q9. Rustom-2 (TAPAS-BH-201) is a DRDO project in which category?
Answer: Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)
TAPAS (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance) is developed by ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment), Bengaluru. It can fly at 28,000 ft for 18+ hours — designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol.
DRDO Key Laboratories — Quick Reference
| Lab / Full Name | Location | Primary Domain |
|---|---|---|
| DRDL — Defence Research & Development Laboratory | Hyderabad | Missiles (Agni, Prithvi, Akash series) |
| CVRDE — Combat Vehicles R&D Establishment | Chennai | Armoured vehicles, Arjun MBT |
| ADE — Aeronautical Development Establishment | Bengaluru | UAVs, Tejas LCA support, Rustom |
| ARDE — Armament R&D Establishment | Pune | Artillery, ATAGS, Pinaka MBRL |
| NMRL — Naval Materials R&D Laboratory | Ambarnath | Naval materials, underwater systems |
| DFRL — Defence Food Research Laboratory | Mysuru | Rations, combat food technology |
| DEAL — Defence Electronics Applications Lab | Dehradun | Communication, radar electronics |
| TBRL — Terminal Ballistics Research Lab | Chandigarh | Ballistics, armour testing |
Reasoning Practice — Key Question Types
| Topic | Typical Questions in CEPTAM | Quick Trick |
|---|---|---|
| Coding-Decoding | DRDO → FSEL? (shift pattern) | Map position shift; check vowel/consonant treatment separately |
| Blood Relations | A is B's father's only son's daughter — relation? | Draw family tree; never guess gender from name |
| Direction & Distance | Net displacement from multi-step walk | Draw on paper; use Pythagoras for diagonal |
| Syllogism | All A are B; Some B are C — conclusion? | Draw Venn diagrams; "some" means ≥1 |
| Non-verbal (Mirror Image) | Figure reflected in vertical mirror | Right↔Left flip only; top-bottom stays same |
| Number Series | 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? | Differences: 4,6,8,10 → next diff=12 → answer 42 |
Quantitative Aptitude — High-Yield Shortcuts
| Topic | Shortcut / Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage change | %Δ = (New−Old)/Old × 100 | Price ₹80→₹100: (100−80)/80×100 = 25% rise |
| SI vs CI (2 years) | CI−SI = P(r/100)² | P=10000, r=10%: CI−SI = 10000×0.01 = ₹100 |
| Time & Work | Combined rate = 1/A + 1/B | A=10 days, B=15 days: rate=1/10+1/15=1/6 → 6 days |
| Time-Speed-Distance | Avg speed (equal dist) = 2S₁S₂/(S₁+S₂) | 40 & 60 km/h → avg = 2×40×60/100 = 48 km/h |
| Profit & Loss | %Profit = (SP−CP)/CP × 100 | CP=200, SP=250 → 25% profit |
| Mensuration | Cylinder V=πr²h; Sphere V=4πr³/3 | Sphere r=3: V=4π×27/3=36π ≈ 113 |
General Science — Must-Know Facts for DRDO Tier-1
| Domain | Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Newton's Laws | 1st: Inertia; 2nd: F=ma; 3rd: Action-Reaction |
| Physics | Sound | Speed in air ≈ 343 m/s at 20°C; Ultrasound >20,000 Hz |
| Physics | Electricity | Ohm's Law: V=IR; Power P=VI=I²R=V²/R |
| Chemistry | Periodic Table | Group 1 = Alkali metals; Group 17 = Halogens; Period 2: Li Be B C N O F Ne |
| Chemistry | Acids & Bases | Acids donate H⁺; Bases accept H⁺ (Brønsted-Lowry). HCl → strong acid; CH₃COOH → weak acid |
| Chemistry | Oxidation | Loss of electrons (OIL: Oxidation Is Loss); LEO says GER |
| Biology | Cell | Prokaryote = no nucleus (bacteria); Eukaryote = nucleus present (plants, animals) |
| Biology | Photosynthesis | 6CO₂+6H₂O+light → C₆H₁₂O₆+6O₂; Chlorophyll absorbs red & blue light |
| Biology | Human Body | RBCs carry O₂ via haemoglobin; WBCs = immunity; Platelets = clotting |
STA-B vs Tech-A — Tier-2 Preparation Guide
| Aspect | STA-B (561 posts) | Tech-A (203 posts) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Diploma (3-yr) in relevant engineering | 10th + ITI / Trade Certificate |
| Pay Level | Level-6 (₹35,400 basic) | Level-3 (₹21,700 basic) |
| Tier-2 Format | Written discipline paper (120 min, 0.25 neg) | Practical trade test (hands-on) |
| Tier-2 Topics | GATE-level diploma topics for your trade | Trade-specific practical skills + safety |
| Preparation approach | GATE diploma papers + university exam papers | Practice trade work; know standard procedures |
| Key trades (STA-B) | CS, Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Instrumentation | — |
| Key trades (Tech-A) | Fitter, Turner, Welder, Electrician, Electronics Mech, Draughtsman, Painter | — |
DRDO CEPTAM 10 Reference Cut-offs (Indicative)
| Category | STA-B (approx. out of 150) | Tech-A (approx. out of 150) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 103–108 | 88–95 |
| OBC | 99–103 | 83–90 |
| SC | 92–97 | 77–84 |
| ST | 86–91 | 72–80 |
| EWS | 100–105 | 86–93 |
6-Week Tier-1 Study Plan
| Week | Focus Area | Daily Target | Practice Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | General Science — Physics | Newton, Heat, Light, Electricity, Waves | 15 Physics Qs/day from NCERT class 9–10 |
| Week 2 | General Science — Chemistry & Biology | Periodic table, Reactions, Cell Biology | 15 Chem + 10 Bio Qs/day |
| Week 3 | Quantitative Aptitude — Arithmetic | %, Ratio, P&L, SI-CI, TSD, Work | 30 Quant Qs/day; time each question |
| Week 4 | Reasoning — Verbal & Non-verbal | All reasoning types; focus on non-verbal | 30 Reasoning Qs/day; prioritize speed |
| Week 5 | General English + DRDO GK | Grammar, Vocab, RC + lab/missile facts | 20 English Qs + 15 min DRDO current affairs |
| Week 6 | Full Mock Tests | 3 full mocks (150Q each, timed 120 min) | Target 110+ marks; apply neg marking discipline |
• DRDO CEPTAM 11 Complete Syllabus — Tier-1 & Tier-2 Topics
• DRDO CEPTAM 11 Salary — STA-B vs Tech-A In-Hand Pay & Promotion
DRDO & Defence Science Practice Questions
CEPTAM-11 includes both Technical (Tier-1 + Tier-2) and Admin & Allied (Tier-1 + Tier-2) streams. For Technical candidates, Science and Engineering questions are the differentiators. For Admin, General Science, English, and Reasoning dominate.
Q6. What is DRDO and list five key research laboratories under it?
Answer: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) is under the Ministry of Defence. Established 1958. Headquarters: New Delhi. Its network includes 50+ labs across India covering domains from missiles to electronics to aeronautics.
Five key DRDO labs:
• DRDL (Defence Research & Development Laboratory), Hyderabad — Agni and Prithvi missile systems.
• DMRL (Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory), Hyderabad — advanced materials for defence applications.
• SAC (Space Applications Centre) — satellite communication and remote sensing for defence.
• ARDE (Armament Research & Development Establishment), Pune — weapons and ammunition.
• GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment), Bangalore — jet engine development (Kaveri engine for Tejas).
CEPTAM candidates working in these labs act as the technical support backbone for these programmes.
Q7. What is the selection process for CEPTAM-11 Tier-2 (Technical STA-B) and how does it differ from Admin?
Answer:
STA-B (Technical) path: Tier-1 (Screening — General Science, Maths, English, Reasoning, GK) → Tier-2 (Specialist — domain engineering/science paper specific to trade).
Admin & Allied path: Tier-1 (Screening) → Tier-2 (General Aptitude — English, Reasoning, Quantitative, GK) — no domain engineering paper.
Key difference: Tier-2 for Technical posts requires deep knowledge of your specific trade (Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science, Chemistry, etc.). Admin Tier-2 is a general aptitude-based paper — wider audience, lower average technical depth.
Both streams: Tier-1 is a qualifying filter, Tier-2 determines merit ranking. No interview for CEPTAM posts.
Q8. What are the major missile systems developed by DRDO and tested in India?
Answer — Key Indian missile systems (high-frequency GK topic):
• Agni-V: ICBM, range >5,000 km — India's longest-range missile; makes India a true nuclear-armed intercontinental power.
• BrahMos: Supersonic cruise missile (joint DRDO + Russia's NPOM) — Mach 2.8, range ~290–450 km (land/sea/air variants).
• Akash: Surface-to-air missile (SAM) — air defence system; Akash-NG is the next-generation variant.
• Astra: Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) — for IAF fighter jets.
• Pralay: Quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile — range 150–500 km, manoeuvrable.
These feature in GK sections of both Tier-1 and Tier-2 papers.
CEPTAM-11 8-Week Preparation Strategy
| Week | Focus | Daily Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | General Science (Physics + Chemistry + Biology) — Tier-1 weightage ~35% | 40 Tier-1 MCQ daily |
| 3 | Mathematics (Arithmetic, Algebra, Statistics) + Reasoning (Verbal + Non-verbal) | 30 Maths + 20 Reasoning |
| 4 | English (Grammar, Comprehension, Vocabulary) + General Knowledge (Defence-themed) | 25 English + GK notes |
| 5–6 | Tier-2 specialist domain (if Technical): Electronics / Mechanical / CS fundamentals | 60 domain-specific MCQ |
| 7 | DRDO GK: labs, missile systems, current defence acquisitions, DRDO achievements | Full mock Tier-1 test |
| 8 | Full mock Tier-1 + Tier-2; analyse mistakes; revise weak spots | Maintain 75%+ accuracy |
Additional FAQs
Q: Is CEPTAM-11 for freshers or experienced candidates?
CEPTAM-11 primarily targets freshers — the STA-B post requires a Diploma or B.Sc. in relevant field. No prior work experience is required. The age limit is 18–28 years (with standard relaxations for reserved categories). DRDO provides in-service training after joining.
Q: What is the DRDO CEPTAM-11 job location?
Selected candidates are posted to DRDO labs across India — Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Dehradun, and other cities. Posting location depends on the specific lab that has vacancies in your trade. Candidates cannot choose their lab at the time of application.
