DRDO SAO Grade-II: Exam Pattern, Salary & Cut Off (UPSC)
Complete aspirant briefing on Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II in DRDO — Level-10 pay, UPSC RT scheme/syllabus used in 2024, verified cut-off anchors, and 2026 vacancy watchouts.
Quick Facts
- Post: Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II, DRDO, Ministry of Defence.
- Pay: Level-10 (basic ₹56,100) + Central allowances; NPS applicable for new recruits.
- 2024 RT model: 2-hour objective paper, 300 marks, 1/3 negative marking, 75:25 with interview.
- Cut-off anchor (20 posts, Advt. 14/2023): UR RT 167.50 /300 (UPSC cut-off notice).
- 2026 cycle: UPSC Advt. 04/2026 notified 29 SAO Grade-II posts (applications 09–29 May 2026).
- Not CEPTAM: Different recruitment channel and syllabus.
What is DRDO SAO Grade-II?
Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II is a Group A ministerial/administrative leadership post supporting Directors of DRDO establishments on personnel, establishment, accounts-facing administration and office systems. It is not a scientist post; the edge skill is administration + establishment law awareness + file quality under defence R&D settings.
Level-10
7th CPC basic from ₹56,100
UPSC
Recruitment by selection (ORA)
All-India
Service liability across DRDO units
Experience
Typically 3 years admin/establishment/accounts
Related CrackTarget hubs: APFC 2026 syllabus & exam pattern · Computer fundamentals · Current affairs.
Recent vacancy snapshots
| Cycle | Advt. / Vacancy | Posts (category sketch) | Status note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Advt. 14/2023 · Vacancy 23071403422 | 20 (UR10 OBC4 SC3 ST1 EWS2; PwBD within as notified) | Combined RT 09.03.2024; cut-off PDF on UPSC site (May 2026 upload listed in archives) |
| 2026 | Advt. 04/2026 · Vacancy 26050408409 | 29 (UR-11, EWS-03, OBC-08, SC-04, ST-03; PwBD-01 within) | Applications 09–29 May 2026 (18:00 hrs); RT only if UPSC decides shortlisting needs it |
Salary structure (Level-10)
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Matrix Level | Level-10 (7th CPC) |
| Starting basic | ₹56,100 |
| Indicative matrix range | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| DA | Central DA — 60% of basic w.e.f. 01.01.2026 |
| HRA | As per city class / accommodation rules |
| Transport Allowance | ₹7,200 + DA in the 19 higher-TA cities, ₹3,600 + DA elsewhere (DoE OM 07.07.2017) |
| Pension | NPS for new entrants (post 01.01.2004 framework) |
| Illustrative gross (X-city) | Basic + DA 60% + HRA 30% + TA with DA ≈ ₹56,100 + ₹33,660 + ₹16,830 + ₹11,520 = ₹1,18,110 before NPS and tax |
In-hand pay will sit lower after NPS and tax. Do not confuse SAO Grade-II (Level-10) with other DRDO admin titles that may sit on different levels under CEPTAM or departmental promotion ladders.
Eligibility essentials
| Criterion | UPSC SAO-II condition (Advt. 04/2026) |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University/Institution |
| Experience | Three (03) years’ experience of administration, establishment or accounts work |
| Age (Advt. 04/2026) | 35 years UR/EWS; 38 OBC; 40 SC/ST; further relaxable up to 10 years for PwBD |
| Desirable | None listed in Advt. 04/2026 |
| Service liability | Headquarters DRDO HQ, New Delhi; All India Service Liability |
Experience on casual / part-time / daily-wage bases is often not counted in UPSC admin recruitments—read the experience note and proforma carefully.
Exam pattern & syllabus (Combined RT model used in 2024)
For Advt. 14/2023 SAO posts, UPSC’s addendum organised a Combined Recruitment Test on 09 March 2024 (14:00–16:00) with Administrative Officer (GSI) posts. Scheme:
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Type | Objective MCQ |
| Maximum marks | 300 |
| Negative marking | 1/3rd of marks for each wrong answer |
| Medium | Part A English only; Part B English & Hindi |
| Weightage with interview | 75 : 25 |
| Interview suitability | UR/EWS 50; OBC 45; SC/ST/PwBD 40 (out of 100) |
Syllabus heads (Part A + Part B)
| Part | Topics |
|---|---|
| A — English | Understanding of English language & workmanlike use of words |
| B — General Ability | (1) Principles of HRM (2) Principles of Marketing Management (3) Principles of Accounting & Financial Management (4) RTI Act (5) Numerical Ability & Logical Reasoning (6) Fundamentals of Computer Application (7) General Science (8) Public Administration & Developmental Issues (9) Freedom Movement & Indian Union (10) Current Events of National & International Importance |
Cut-off marks (20 SAO Grade-II posts — Advt. 14/2023)
UPSC cut-off PDF for 20 Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II posts (title referenced in Commission archives) reports category-wise suitability. Figures widely cited from that PDF:
| Category | RT cut-off ( /300 ) |
|---|---|
| UR | 167.50 |
| OBC | 160.83 |
| SC | 147.50 |
| ST | 130.00 |
| EWS | 130.83 |
Vacancies in that case: UR 10, OBC 4, SC 3, ST 1, EWS 2 (total 20*).
Job profile inside DRDO admin
- Support Director/lab administration on establishment cases, recruitment coordination, ACR/APAR workflows, and service matters.
- Oversee sections dealing with procurement-adjacent admin, estate, transport, hospitality and protocol as assigned.
- Ensure RTI replies, record management, and compliance with GoI conduct/ Vigilance frameworks.
- Coordinate with accounts wings on administrative sanctions (policy compliance, not replacing dedicated finance cadres).
- Implement e-office / MIS discipline — hence computer fundamentals in the syllabus.
Work culture is establishment-driven with defence-lab confidentiality norms. Mobility across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Delhi NCR, Chandipur, Balasore-region labs, etc., is realistic over a career.
8-week preparation blueprint
| Week | Focus | Drill |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Accounting + HRM principles + RTI Act | Daily 30 MCQs + short notes |
| 3–4 | Public administration + freedom movement + computer | Sectional tests |
| 5–6 | Quant/reasoning + science + marketing basics | Timed sets |
| 7 | Full 2-hour mocks (negative marking on) | 3 mocks |
| 8 | CA revision + weak topic surgery + interview DAF start | 2 mocks + oral notes |
Reuse CrackTarget assets: Constitution study notes, IO notes, computer notes.
DRDO SAO vs EPFO APFC vs CEPTAM
| Facet | DRDO SAO-II | EPFO APFC | CEPTAM admin/tech posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | UPSC ORA | UPSC Special Advt. | DRDO CEPTAM |
| Pay (entry) | Level-10 | Level-10 | Varies by post/level |
| Syllabus flavour | HR/Accounts/RTI heavy | Labour/social security heavy | Post-specific CBT tiers |
| Interview | UPSC board | UPSC board | As per CEPTAM rules |
If you already prepared EPFO, keep CA/polity/quant, but rebuild a dedicated HRM–Accounts–RTI block before attempting SAO mocks.
Weekly study timetable (working professionals)
Most SAO applicants already hold jobs, because the post needs about 3 years of experience. This timetable assumes 15–18 hours a week:
| Day | Slot (2–3 hrs) | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Evening | Accounting & financial management |
| Tue | Evening | HRM principles + case scenarios |
| Wed | Evening | Quant & reasoning (timed) |
| Thu | Evening | RTI Act + public administration |
| Fri | Evening | Computer fundamentals + general science |
| Sat | Morning | English (Part A) + freedom movement / Indian Union |
| Sun | Morning | Full or half mock + error log; CA weekly revision |
Two rules: (1) never skip the Sunday mock, and (2) put every wrong answer in an error log tagged by syllabus head. In the last 3 weeks, switch weekday evenings to sectional tests only.
How SAO differs from EPFO preparation
EPFO rewards labour-law and social-security depth. DRDO SAO rewards organisational-management literacy: HRM, marketing principles, financial management and RTI. Both share English, quant, current events and governance. If you are preparing for both, build a shared core of polity, CA, quant and English, then keep two separate specialist notebooks.
Probation, career growth and transfers
UPSC Advt. 04/2026 describes the post as permanent, General Central Service Group “A” Gazetted (Ministerial), with a probation of one year and NPS applicable. Promotion timelines beyond Grade-II are governed by DRDO’s recruitment rules for the administrative cadre.
Transfers between DRDO establishments are normal. Plan for 2–3 city moves over a career. That can be a plus if you want exposure to different technology clusters such as missiles, electronics, aeronautics and life sciences.
Practice the SAO syllabus the UPSC way
HRM, Accounts, RTI, Quant and CA sectional drills inside CrackTarget test series.
Start DRDO/UPSC admin mocks →Interview focus areas for DRDO SAO
UPSC interview boards for administrative posts probe integrity, organisational awareness and situational judgement more than lab science. Build a dossier covering:
- Your exact experience matched to establishment/accounts keywords in the advertisement.
- RTI timelines, exemptions under Sections 8/9 (conceptual), and proactive disclosure culture.
- HR basics: reservation roster concepts, MACP vs promotion, conduct rules high points, sexual harassment ICC awareness.
- DRDO mission literacy: major lab clusters, Atmanirbhar defence themes, without claiming classified knowledge.
- Ethics scenarios: vendor pressure, medical reimbursement conflicts, social media and official secrecy.
Interview floors remain UR/EWS 50, OBC 45, SC/ST/PwBD 40 unless a future advertisement revises them.
Mistakes that sink SAO applications
- Counting internship/part-time months as “3 years experience”.
- Uploading experience certificates without employer letterhead / prescribed proforma.
- Preparing only EPFO labour law notes and skipping HRM/Marketing.
- Ignoring Part A English practice because “I’m from English medium”.
- Missing the short ORA window (often ~20 days).
Resource stack
| Block | Resource idea | CrackTarget link |
|---|---|---|
| HRM | Standard BBA/HRM primer + previous UPSC admin RT themes | Test series HR drills |
| Accounts | Class 11–12 accountancy + ratio basics | Sectional quizzes |
| RTI | Bare Act short notes | CA hub for landmark CIC/SC items |
| Computer | MS Office, networks, cyber hygiene | Computer notes |
| Polity/PA | Laxmikanth selective + personnel administration | Articles hub |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pay level of DRDO SAO Grade-II?
UPSC notifications for Senior Administrative Officer Grade-II in DRDO place the post in Level-10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (basic starting ₹56,100), with Central allowances such as DA, HRA and Transport Allowance as applicable.
What was the last published UPSC cut-off for DRDO SAO Grade-II?
For the 20-post case under Advt. No. 14/2023 (Vacancy 23071403422), UPSC’s cut-off PDF reports Recruitment Test cut-offs including UR 167.50 (out of 300), with interview and final composite rows in the same document.
Is CEPTAM the exam for DRDO SAO?
No. CEPTAM recruits various technical/admin support cadres through its own advertisements. SAO Grade-II covered on this page is a UPSC recruitment-by-selection post.
What is the selection process?
UPSC may shortlist on records and/or conduct a Recruitment Test followed by interview. For the 2023–24 combined RT, the scheme was a 2-hour objective test (300 marks) with 75:25 weightage versus a 100-mark interview.
Where will I be posted?
Headquarters references point to DRDO under the Ministry of Defence with All India Service liability — posting can be at DRDO HQ or laboratories/establishments across India.
Last updated October 2026. Scheme/syllabus from UPSC addendum for Combined RT (09.03.2024); pay, eligibility and service conditions from UPSC Advt. 04/2026; RT cut-offs from UPSC’s cut-off notice for 20 SAO Grade-II posts; Transport Allowance from DoE OM dated 07.07.2017.