DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern 2025 & Syllabus

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern 2025: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has started the CEPTAM 11 recruitment process for Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B) and Technician-A (Tech-A) posts. This recruitment is handled by CEPTAM (Centre for Personnel Talent Management), which is the official recruitment wing of DRDO.

Many students want to know the DRDO CEPTAM 11 Syllabus and exam pattern in clear and simple language so they can plan their study. This article explains:

• Exam pattern for STA-B and Technician-A

• Tier I and Tier II structure

• Subject-wise DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus 2025

• Important points like negative marking, time limit and selection process

You can use this as a base article for your website and later add your own examples or tips.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam 2025

Before going deep into the DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus 2025, it is good to see a simple overview.

• Organisation: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)

• Recruitment body: DRDO CEPTAM

• Posts covered: Senior Technical Assistant-B (STA-B), Technician-A (Tech-A)

• Mode of exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

• Type of questions: Objective type (MCQs)

• Total questions:

  • Technician-A – 120 questions

  • STA-B – 120 questions in Tier I + 100 questions in Tier II (total 220)

• Time duration: Usually 90–120 minutes per CBT paper (as per notification / detailed schedule)

• Selection process:

  • STA-B – CBT Tier I + CBT Tier II

  • Tech-A – CBT Tier I + Trade / Skill Test

Most sources and short notice updates also mention that there is no negative marking for CEPTAM 11 CBT as per the recent pattern.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern 2025 – STA-B (Senior Technical Assistant-B)

For Senior Technical Assistant-B, there are two CBT papers – Tier I and Tier II. Tier I is for screening and Tier II decides final merit.

1. Tier I – Common Screening Test

Tier I is same for all STA-B post codes. It checks your general level and basic science.

Main features:

• Mode: Computer-Based Test

• Question type: MCQ

• Total questions: 120

• Total marks: 120

• Time: 90–120 minutes (depends on final DRDO notice)

• Negative marking: Not applicable as per latest pattern updates

Sections covered in STA-B Tier I:

• Quantitative Ability / Aptitude

• General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability

• General Awareness

• English Language (Basic Knowledge)

• General Science.

You can see that Tier I is common and not subject-specific. It is more like a general competitive exam with science focus.

2. Tier II – Subject-Specific Test

Tier II is fully technical and depends on your discipline, for example Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer, Chemical, Civil, Instrumentation, etc.

Main features:

• Mode: Computer-Based Test

• Question type: MCQ

• Total questions: 100

• Total marks: 100

• Time: around 90–120 minutes

• Nature: Final selection test, marks used in merit list

Scope of Tier II:

• Questions asked from core subjects of the post code

• Level is as per Diploma / B.Sc. / Degree qualification mentioned for that post

So, if a student wants STA-B in Mechanical, they must be very strong in Mechanical engineering subjects mentioned in the DRDO CEPTAM 11 STA-B syllabus.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern 2025 – Technician-A (Tech-A)

For Technician-A, the selection has CBT Tier I plus a trade test / skill test.

1. Tier I – CBT for Provisional Selection

Tier I for Tech-A has two parts in the same paper – Section A and Section B.

Main features:

• Mode: Computer-Based Test

• Type: MCQ

• Total questions: 120

• Total marks: 120

• Time: 90–120 minutes

• Negative marking: Generally not there as per new pattern summary

Section and subject split (Technician-A):

Total: 120 questions, 120 marks, single paper.

2. Tier II – Trade / Skill Test

After Tier I, shortlisted candidates are called for a trade test.

• This test is practical in nature

• Checks real hands-on skills related to ITI trade (Fitter, Electrician, Electronics, Turner, etc.)

• Usually qualifying only – marks are not added to final score, but you must pass it.

Small Note on Admin & Allied (A&A) Cadre

In CEPTAM notifications, DRDO also recruits for Admin & Allied posts like Stenographer, Clerk, Store Assistant, etc. Their exam pattern is a bit different and has more weight on English, Hindi, reasoning and general awareness.

However, in this article we mainly focus on technical cadre – STA-B and Technician-A – because most students search specifically for “DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus and exam pattern” for these technical posts.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Syllabus 2025 – Tier I (Common Subjects)

Now let us see the DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus 2025 for Tier I in simple words. This part is common in some form for both STA-B and Tech-A.

1. Quantitative Ability / Aptitude

This section checks basic maths and number sense. Common topics based on latest patterns:

• Number system, simplification, divisibility

• Fractions, decimals, percentages

• Ratio and proportion, partnership

• Averages and mixture type questions

• Profit, loss, discount, simple interest, compound interest

• Time and work, pipes and cistern

• Time, speed and distance, trains, boats

• Mensuration – area and volume basics

• Simple data interpretation (tables, graphs, charts)

You do not need very high-level maths, but speed and accuracy are important.

2. General Intelligence & Reasoning Ability

This part checks your logical thinking and pattern recognition. Topics usually include:

• Analogy and classification (word, number, figure)

• Series – number series, alphabet series, mixed series

• Coding–decoding

• Blood relations

• Directions and distance

• Order and ranking

• Syllogism and basic statement-based questions

• Puzzles, arrangements, simple seating problems

• Non-verbal reasoning such as mirror image, paper folding, figures

Questions are of easy to moderate level, but can be time-consuming if you do not practice.

3. General Awareness

General Awareness in DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus and exam pattern is very important. It checks your knowledge beyond textbooks. Common areas:

• Current affairs – national and international events

• Indian polity and constitution (basic structure, rights, duties)

• Indian economy basics, budget terms

• Indian geography – states, rivers, climate, important locations

• General science developments and defence-related news

• Important days, awards, books and authors

• Organisations – UNO, ISRO, DRDO, etc.

Reading one good daily news summary and monthly current affairs PDF is normally enough.

4. English Language (Basic)

The English section is meant to test basic understanding, not advanced literature. Topics are usually:

• Simple vocabulary – synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions

• Basic grammar – tenses, articles, prepositions, conjunctions

• Spotting errors in short sentences

• Sentence improvement or correction

• Fill in the blanks (single or double)

• Jumbled sentences / rearrangement

• Small reading comprehension passages

Most questions are straightforward if your school-level English is clear.

5. General Science

This is a key part, especially because DRDO is a science and technology organisation. Syllabus is broadly 10th to 12th standard level.

Typical areas:

• Physics basics: motion, force, work, energy, heat, light, electricity, magnetism, sound

• Chemistry basics: atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, metals and non-metals, acids and bases, carbon compounds

• Biology basics: cell, human body systems, plants, food chains, basic genetics

• Everyday science: simple applications, common scientific instruments

For Tier I, questions are basic conceptual ones, not very deep numerical problems.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 STA-B Syllabus – Tier II (Technical Subjects)

Tier II for STA-B is fully discipline-wise. DRDO has many post codes such as Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer, Civil, Chemical, Instrumentation, Mathematics, Library Science, etc. The topics are drawn from core diploma or degree syllabus.

Below is a simple subject-wise idea (not full list, but good overview):

Mechanical Discipline – Sample Areas

• Engineering mechanics, statics and dynamics

• Strength of materials and theory of machines

• Thermodynamics and heat transfer

• Fluid mechanics and hydraulic machines

• Manufacturing processes – casting, welding, machining

• Machine design basics

• Industrial engineering topics like operations, inventory, production planning

Electrical Discipline – Sample Areas

• Circuit theory and network analysis

• Electromagnetic fields basics

• Electrical machines – transformers, motors, generators

• Power systems – generation, transmission, distribution basics

• Control systems basics

• Measurement and instrumentation

• Power electronics and basic drives

Electronics and Communication

• Electronic devices – diodes, transistors, amplifiers

• Analog and digital circuits

• Signals and systems basics

• Communication systems – analog and digital

• Microprocessors / microcontrollers basics

• Network theory and filters

• Electronic measurements and instrumentation

Computer / IT Discipline

• Programming fundamentals (C/C++ concepts, loops, arrays, functions)

• Data structures – stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, graphs

• Operating systems basics – processes, memory, file system

• Computer networks – OSI / TCP models, basic protocols

• DBMS basics – SQL, normalisation

• Software engineering basics – life cycle models, testing

Other Disciplines

For Chemical, Civil, Instrumentation, Library Science, Mathematics, etc., the DRDO CEPTAM 11 STA-B syllabus follows the main subjects of that branch, such as:

• Chemical: thermodynamics, reaction engineering, heat & mass transfer

• Civil: structures, geotechnical, fluid mechanics, environment and transportation basics

• Instrumentation: sensors, measurement systems, control systems, process control

• Library Science: classification, cataloguing, information sources, library management

• Mathematics: algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability, statistics

For each post code, DRDO will provide a more detailed list in the official syllabus PDF, which candidates should download from the DRDO website.

DRDO CEPTAM 11 Technician-A Syllabus – Tier I

The Technician-A Tier I syllabus also has similar common subjects, plus trade-specific questions in Section B.

Section A – Common Subjects

Same as Tier I STA-B:

• Quantitative Ability / Aptitude

• General Intelligence & Reasoning

• General Awareness

• English Language (Basic)

Section B – Trade / Discipline Questions

This part checks knowledge of the ITI trade chosen. Some examples:

• Fitter – fitting tools, measurement, basic machines, safety

• Electrician – wiring, motors, transformers, basic electrical safety, instruments

• Electronics – soldering, basic components, testing, PCB work

• Turner / Machinist – lathe operations, cutting tools, tolerances, machine safety

Because this part has 80 questions out of 120, trade knowledge is very important.

Marking Scheme and Difficulty Level

Based on the recent DRDO CEPTAM 11 exam pattern 2025 summaries:

• Every question usually carries 1 mark

• Total marks = total number of questions

• Latest updates suggest no negative marking in CEPTAM 11, but students must still check the final detailed notification once DRDO uploads it

Difficulty level:

• Tier I – Easy to moderate

• Tier II (STA-B) – Moderate to slightly high, because it is technical and branch-specific

How to Use DRDO CEPTAM 11 Syllabus and Exam Pattern for Preparation

Here are some simple, practical tips for students:

1. Download official syllabus PDF

   • Visit drdo.gov.in → Careers / CEPTAM section

   • Check link for DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus and exam pattern and save the PDF

2. Mark important topics

   • On a notebook, write all subjects and sub-topics

   • Mark them as high, medium and low priority based on weightage

3. Match with your existing books

   • Use your ITI / diploma / degree books as base

   • Avoid collecting too many new guides

4. Start from common subjects

   • Quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English, general awareness and science are common for both posts

   • Daily practice of a few questions from each part will help a lot

5. Keep time-bound practice

   • For every 50–60 questions, use a timer

   • Try to complete them within a fixed time to build speed

6. Use previous year DRDO CEPTAM papers

   • They show real question style and level

   • Many portals host DRDO CEPTAM previous year question papers that you can download and practice

Short FAQs on DRDO CEPTAM 11 Syllabus and Exam Pattern

Q1. Is the DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus same for STA-B and Technician-A?
No. The Tier I common subjects are similar, but STA-B Tier II has a full technical paper based on degree / diploma level, while Tech-A has trade-based questions and a trade test.

Q2. Is there negative marking in DRDO CEPTAM 11 exam pattern 2025?
Recent summaries and short notices mention no negative marking, but you should always confirm from the final detailed DRDO notification.

Q3. What is the total time for DRDO CEPTAM 11 CBT?
Most patterns show 90–120 minutes for Tier I and Tier II papers, with 120 questions for 120 marks in Tier I and 100 questions for 100 marks in STA-B Tier II. Exact details will be in the official advertisement.

Q4. Where can I get official DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus PDF?
You should visit the official DRDO website (drdo.gov.in), go to the CEPTAM / Careers section and download the syllabus from the DRDO CEPTAM 11 recruitment page once uploaded.

Final Words : DRDO CEPTAM 11 Exam Pattern 2025

The DRDO CEPTAM 11 syllabus and exam pattern is not confusing if you break it into parts:

• Tier I – common subjects for both posts

• Tier II – technical or trade part

• Clear structure for STA-B and Technician-A

When you follow the official syllabus, practise regularly and keep your preparation simple and focused, you stand a strong chance of clearing the exam and starting a stable career with DRDO.