Last december I had appeared for DRDO interview for scientist B post. I believe that this information will be helpful to all the DRDO aspirants.
How to get there?
The interview was held in Pashan, Pune at one of DRDO guest houses. Pashan is about Rs 60 to 70 by auto rickshaw from Shivaji nagar Bus stop. It would be better if you have your own vehicle as you would have to reach by 9 in the morning.
Verification of documents and NOC
Initially all your documents are verified. If you are employed in a private sector company there is no need to worry about any NOC (No objection certificate) You just have to declare that you are willing to quit the other job for DRDO.
The Interview
The interview is held in a conference hall with around 5 to 6 board members all in the age range of 45 to 55. Initially two favourite topics or subjects are asked. This is the most important part of the interview. Make sure that you know your subject thoroughly well and dont expect to get away with just blabbering or beating around the bush. Choose your topic of interest with great care and let be one of your areas of interest and an area where you of thought of doing something innovative. The first few questions would be very much basic questions and these would get tougher as you proceed.
Technical
My favourite topics were Heat transfer and Strength of materials.
1. What are the modes of Heat transfer?
2. Which is the most predominant mode of Heat transfer?
3. What is convection? What are the parameters associated with convection?
4. If you hang a rod at a particular temperature in a room with lower ambient temperature and hold a similar rod in horizontal position, which one of the two will cool faster?
5. What do you know about boiling heat transfer?
6. What is film condensation?
7. Is drop let condensation advantageous?
8. Commonly used insulation materials? Critical radius of insulation?
9. Are there chances that critical radius is of insulation could be less than radius of heat source? What should be done if such is the case?
10. What is hoope's stress?
11. Draw an element and of a thin cylinder and show thecircumferential stress?
12. If a shaft is rotating can it fail? And if does fail what could be the mode of failure and where?
13. Showed a plate with some design on a small plastic plate. Asked " How can you make this part? "
14. What are improvements in the modern day automobile from mileage point of view?
15. How would you model a system in which you know you produce some product and you have history of fluctuating demad?
Project
Be thorough with your project. Expect very detailed questions.
General questions
1. Brief introduction of yourself
2. Work experience
3. Special contribution at work or during academics
Interview lasts for almost an hour. Make sure that you get to talk more than them. Try to explain each question with example and in dept. Paper is available to draw diagrams and equations.
I hope this is helpful. All the best
