The highest paying PSU through GATE for CSE depends on how you measure pay. On annual CTC, POWERGRID states ₹11.00 lakh during training and ₹22.50 lakh after successful completion, the highest among the CS-eligible GATE notices we opened.
On starting basic pay, DRDO leads with ₹56,100 a month at Level 10, and its total emoluments are about ₹1,00,000 a month at joining. DRDO is a government research body, not a PSU, so read its figures with that in mind.
These are the latest notices we could open as of 9 October 2026. POWERGRID’s notice is for GATE 2026 and DRDO’s is from 2025, and we could not open GATE 2027 notices from either. Gate At Zeal Indore checked every figure here against the official notice, not a salary site.
Which PSUs hire CSE through GATE 2027
PSU jobs through GATE depend on each notice’s discipline list. For computer science, the GATE paper is CS (Computer Science and Information Technology). The table covers the notices we opened on 9 October 2026.
| Organisation | Route | CSE eligible? | Notice we checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWERGRID | Through GATE | Yes, paper CS | Engineer Trainee through GATE 2026 |
| DRDO (research body) | Through GATE, then interview | Yes, paper CS | Scientist ‘B’, Advt No. 156 (2025) |
| NTPC | Through GATE 2027 | Not confirmed | Advt 11/26 is listed; advertisement not opened |
| GAIL | Through GATE 2027 | No: Chemical, Instrumentation, Electrical, Mechanical | GATE 2027 first advertisement, 1 Sept 2026 |
| NPCIL | Through GATE | No: six engineering disciplines, no CS | Executive Trainee 2025 |
| ONGC | Computer-based test | Not confirmed | E1 Geologists and Engineers, Advt 2/2026 |
| BEL | BEL’s own written test | Yes, Trainee Engineer-I; not GATE | Trainee Engineer-I and Project Engineer-I, 2025 |
| ISRO | Written test | Yes, Computer Science post BE-003; not GATE | Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’, 2026 |
Read the discipline line in the notice, not just the job title. POWERGRID accepts Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Information Technology degrees. DRDO asks for a first-class engineering degree in Computer Science and Engineering, or the 60% equivalent.
BEL and ISRO recruit computer science candidates through their own tests, so they sit outside the GATE comparison. NTPC’s GATE 2027 notice (Advt 11/26) appears on its careers page, last updated 7 October 2026. We could not open the advertisement, so its disciplines and pay are not confirmed here.
Also Read: GATE Cutoff Trends: What Score Do You Need to Get Into IITs and PSUs in 2027
Comparison table: starting pay for each PSU that lists CSE
This table compares the highest paying PSU through GATE for CSE options we could open. Every figure comes from its official notice.
| Organisation and notice | Starting basic pay | Stated CTC or total pay | Notice year |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWERGRID, Engineer Trainee through GATE | ₹40,000 to ₹1,40,000, rising in 3% steps, during one-year training; ₹50,000 to ₹1,60,000 after absorption | ₹11.00 lakh a year during training; ₹22.50 lakh after successful completion (approximate) | GATE 2026 cycle |
| DRDO, Scientist ‘B’ through GATE | ₹56,100 (Level 10, 7th CPC pay matrix) | About ₹1,00,000 a month total emoluments at joining, including HRA and all allowances | 2025 cycle (Advt No. 156) |
Basic pay is the fairest like-for-like figure, because the notices state pay in different ways. On starting basic pay, DRDO is higher. On the annual CTC a notice states, POWERGRID’s post-training figure of ₹22.50 lakh is the highest among the notices opened here, but it applies only after the training year.
DRDO’s joining figure works out to about ₹12 lakh a year (₹1,00,000 × 12). NPCIL also sets engineers at Level 10, but its 2025 notice does not take computer science, so it is not in this table.
How PSU pay is built: pay scale, DA, HRA and what CTC includes
A PSU offer has four parts to check: basic pay, dearness allowance (DA), house rent allowance (HRA) and other allowances. Basic pay follows the pay scale in the notice. DA is a percentage of basic pay, revised twice a year on 1 January and 1 July, as NPCIL’s pay page explains.
NPCIL’s 2025 Executive Trainee notice gives DA at 53% of pay as on 1 July 2024. On DRDO’s ₹56,100 basic, 53% DA adds ₹29,733 a month, so basic plus DA comes to ₹85,833 before HRA and other allowances. The rate changes at each revision, so treat this as an example.
CTC is the total cost a company shows on an offer, and each notice defines it differently. POWERGRID’s notice says its CTC ‘shall vary depending on location of posting and other terms and conditions of appointment’. Some notices add perquisites, so ask for the break-up in writing before you accept.
The pay levels in the DRDO and NPCIL notices follow the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix. The Cabinet approved the terms of reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission in October 2025 (PIB), and it must report within 18 months of its constitution. Its March 2026 invitation for representations (PIB) does not show any recommendations.
Also Read: Top PSU Jobs Through GATE CS Score 2027 | Salary, Eligibility & Career Guide
Research bodies: DRDO and ISRO
DRDO’s Scientist ‘B’ notice (Advt No. 156) listed 34 computer science posts: 29 in DRDO and 5 in other units named in the notice. Each post is at Level 10, with a basic pay of ₹56,100. Candidates are shortlisted at about 10 per vacancy on GATE score, and the final result gives 80% weight to GATE and 20% to a personal interview.
The minimum interview mark is 70% for General candidates and 60% for EWS, OBC, SC, ST and Divyangjan candidates. Only shortlisted candidates reach the interview, so the GATE score decides who gets there.
ISRO’s 2026 Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’ recruitment includes a Computer Science post, BE-003 and BE-003A. Its FAQ describes a written test, not a GATE route, and gives no pay level or CTC. Check its notice for pay before you apply.
On starting basic pay, DRDO’s ₹56,100 is well above POWERGRID’s ₹40,000 training scale. DRDO’s route rests mainly on GATE score and one interview, and its 2025 notice offered 34 computer science posts. POWERGRID’s notice does not give a vacancy count in the part we read.
A higher CTC is not always the best offer
The highest number on paper can still be the weaker offer. POWERGRID’s notice says its CTC depends on where you are posted and on other terms, so a figure quoted for one city may not hold in another.
The training year matters too. POWERGRID’s ₹11.00 lakh figure applies during the one-year training, on a scale of ₹40,000 to ₹1,40,000. The ₹22.50 lakh figure applies only after successful completion, so plan your first year on the lower number.
The work differs as well. DRDO’s posts are research and development roles, POWERGRID works in power transmission, and NPCIL works in nuclear power. Choose the field you can stay in for years, not only the highest figure.
Read the terms before you accept. Check the training terms, service conditions and any service bond in the notice and the offer letter. We did not verify bond terms for every PSU, so read each notice yourself.
How to target the highest paying PSUs
Start with the notices that list CS, then check each line below against your own profile.
- Take GATE paper CS (Computer Science and Information Technology). Every CS-eligible GATE notice above uses this code.
- Check your degree. POWERGRID accepts Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Information Technology. DRDO asks for a first-class degree in Computer Science and Engineering, or the 60% equivalent.
- Check your marks. POWERGRID asks for 60% or an equivalent CGPA. DRDO also accepts 60% where a college has no first-class criterion.
- Check your age on the closing date. DRDO allows 35 years for General and EWS, 38 for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 40 for SC and ST candidates. POWERGRID’s notice set an upper limit of 28 years as on 31 December 2025.
- Plan around the GATE score. The notices we checked publish no cutoff, and DRDO weights GATE at 80%, so the score decides most of the result. Our cutoff trends guide covers past trends.
- Track each PSU’s GATE 2027 notice. GAIL’s application window opens on 17 February 2027, and NTPC’s notice is already listed.
GATE 2027 dates that decide the PSU timeline
The official GATE 2027 dates page, checked on 8 October 2026, sets the timeline. If you have not registered yet, the late window is the last registration window.
- 5 October 2026: regular registration closed.
- 12 October 2026: late registration closes, with a ₹500 extra fee.
- 4 January 2027: city allotment.
- 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027: exam days over three weekends.
- 17 February to 18 March 2027: GAIL’s Executive Trainee application window, per its GATE 2027 notice.
- 19 March 2027: GATE 2027 results.
The admit card date is not yet announced on the official page. Check the page for changes before you plan travel.
Mistakes that cost CSE candidates a PSU offer
Several of these mistakes are avoidable, and each one can cost you an offer.
- Skipping the branch list. Each notification names the disciplines it accepts, and that list can change from one cycle to the next.
- Missing the document rules. Photo, signature, certificates and degree proof must meet the size and format rules in the notification.
- Reading only the CTC. A higher package with a distant posting or a bond can be a weaker offer for you.
- Missing a deadline. Late applications are usually not accepted, so set reminders for every notification you target.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest paying PSU through GATE for CSE?
Among the CS-eligible GATE notices we opened, POWERGRID states the highest annual CTC: ₹11.00 lakh during training and ₹22.50 lakh after successful completion. DRDO has the highest starting basic pay, ₹56,100 at Level 10, but it is a research body rather than a PSU.
Do any PSUs take CSE through GATE 2027?
POWERGRID and DRDO have taken CSE through GATE in recent cycles, but we have not yet confirmed a GATE 2027 notice that includes CSE. GAIL’s GATE 2027 notice does not list computer science, and NTPC’s notice is listed on its careers page, but we could not open the advertisement.
Does GATE 2027 registration make me eligible for a PSU job?
No. GATE 2027 registration only makes you eligible to appear for the exam. Each PSU runs its own application, with its own window and eligibility rules, after you check its notice.
What GATE score do I need for a PSU job?
The notices we checked do not publish a cutoff. DRDO shortlists about 10 candidates per vacancy on GATE score and gives GATE 80% weight in the final result. Check each PSU’s notice and past cutoffs before you set a target.
Is CTC the best way to compare PSU jobs?
Not on its own. Compare starting basic pay on the same scale first, then check the CTC each notice states. POWERGRID says its CTC varies with location and terms, so ask for the break-up before you accept.
Also Read:
- GATE cutoff trends, linked from the checklist. Re-check its PSU cutoff figures first.
- How to score 80+ in GATE CSE, for the GATE score section.
- Gate At Zeal Indore home
