The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence, offers one of the most prestigious administrative positions in the Government of India through the post of Senior Administrative Officer (SAO) Grade-II. The recruitment is generally conducted through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and attracts candidates aspiring for a high-responsibility Group 'A' Gazetted position in the defence administration ecosystem.

This article provides a complete overview of the DRDO Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II Examination, including notification details, eligibility, syllabus, previous recruitment trends, exam pattern, and a preparation roadmap for success.

About DRDO Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II

The Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II is a Group 'A' post in DRDO responsible for administration, establishment matters, personnel management, finance, procurement, vigilance coordination, and policy implementation within DRDO laboratories and headquarters.The post carries Level-10 pay in the 7th Central Pay Commission along with DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, NPS benefits and other Central Government facilities.

DRDO SAO Grade-II 2026 Notification Overview

The recent recruitment advertisement announced vacancies for the post of Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II in DRDO under the Ministry of Defence.

The recruitment process is administered through UPSC's Online Recruitment Application (ORA) system.

Important Particulars Details
Organization :  DRDO, Ministry of Defence
Recruiting Agency :  UPSC
Post :  Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II
Pay Level : Level-10 (7th CPC)
Job Category : Group 'A' Gazetted
Mode of Selection : Recruitment Test and/or Interview
Posting : DRDO establishments across India
Educational Qualification :  Candidates are generally required to possess Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university.
Relevant experience in administration, establishment, accounts, or personnel management as prescribed in the notification.

DRDO SAO Grade-II Syllabus

While UPSC may release a detailed syllabus separately before the examination, analysis of previous administrative officer examinations indicates the following broad areas:

Human Resource Management
Office Procedures
Record Management
Public Administration
Constitution & Governance
Parliamentary System
Administrative Reforms
Right to Information
General Studies
Current Affairs
Science & Technology
Defence Developments
National and International Events
Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning
Arithmetic & Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Analytical Ability
English Language
Comprehension
Vocabulary
Grammar

Written Examination.

Component Details
Type :  Objective
Questions :  120
Marks : 300
Negative Marking : Yes
Duration : 2 Hours

InterviewCandidates shortlisted after the written examination may be called for an interview depending on UPSC's recruitment methodology.

How to Prepare for DRDO SAO Grade-II

Phase 1: Build on core topics 

Public Administration

Constitution & Governance

Parliamentary System

Administrative Reforms
Right to Information

These topics form the core of the administrative framework and often dominate the examination.

Phase 2: Master Arithmetic, Reasoning and English
Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning

Arithmetic & Logical Reasoning

Data Interpretation

Analytical Ability

English Language

Comprehension

Vocabulary

Grammar

Phase 3: Strengthen General Studies
Cover: Current Affairs, Defence Sector, Developments, Science & Technology,  Governance Issues. Maintain a daily current affairs notebook.

Based on the issuance of syllabus

Human Resource Management

Office Procedure

Record Management

Phase 4: Practice MCQs

Attempt:Topic-wise tests
Previous year papers
Full-length mock tests
A minimum of 5,000 quality MCQs before the exam is recommended.

Phase 5: Revision Strategy

First Revision: Within 7 days
Second Revision: Within 30 days
Third Revision: Before mock tests

Consistent revision is crucial for retention.