BARC Scientific Officer (OCES/DGFS) Examination — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) recruits Scientific Officers for its training schemes (OCES/DGFS), which is one of the most prestigious avenues for engineers and scientists to join India's nuclear program. The selection process is highly competitive and designed to identify candidates with exceptional technical knowledge and research aptitude. It involves a two-stage process: a Screening Test (either BARC's own online exam or GATE scores) followed by a final Selection Interview.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit
A candidate must be a minimum of 26 years old for the General category. The age limit is relaxed to 29 years for OBC and 31 years for SC/ST candidates.
Educational Qualification
A candidate must have a First Class (minimum 60%) B.E. / B.Tech / B.Sc. (Engineering) / 5-year Integrated M.Tech in a relevant engineering discipline, OR a First Class M.Sc. in a relevant science discipline. Common eligible disciplines include:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics & Communication Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
- Physics, Chemistry, Geology
✍️ Selection Process & Syllabus
1. Screening Test (Shortlisting)
Candidates are shortlisted for the final interview through one of two channels:
Channel 1: BARC Online Examination
This is the primary method for shortlisting. It is a single objective-type paper.
- Number of Questions: 100
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Marking Scheme: +3 for a correct answer, -1 for an incorrect answer.
Channel 2: GATE Score
Candidates with a very high and valid GATE score in their respective discipline can also be shortlisted directly for the interview.
Syllabus for the Online Exam
There is no rigidly defined syllabus provided by BARC. The questions are based on the standard curriculum of the qualifying degree (B.E./B.Tech/M.Sc.) in the respective discipline and are generally aligned with the GATE syllabus for that subject.
2. Selection Interview
This is the final and most crucial stage. Shortlisted candidates are called for a selection interview in Mumbai. The panel of senior scientists and experts assesses a deep understanding of core subjects and the practical application of concepts.
👉 Note
- The final selection is made solely based on the candidate's performance in the Selection Interview.
- The marks from the online exam or the GATE score are only used for screening and have no weightage in the final merit list.
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to BARC official website .
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.