India Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a premier Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, has issued its 2026‑27 apprenticeship notification on 10 February 2026. The announcement opens 89 apprenticeship slots across Trade, Graduate, Technician and General‑Stream Executive categories at the Chavara unit in Kollam, Kerala. Stipends range from ₹7,000 to ₹9,000 per month as per the Government’s Apprenticeship Rules. Candidates holding ITI, diploma or degree qualifications must submit a hard‑copy application before 24 February 2026. This article breaks down the vacancy details, eligibility, stipend, selection process and the exact steps to apply.
Recruitment Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Department/Board | Department of Atomic Energy – IREL (India) Limited |
| Post Name | Trade Apprentice, Graduate Apprentice, Technician Apprentice, General‑Stream Executive |
| Exam Name | Apprenticeship Engagement 2026‑27 (no written exam) |
| Total Vacancy | 89 |
| Category | New Recruitment |
| Application Mode | Offline (post‑al) – registration on online portals required |
| State | Kerala (Chavara, Kollam) |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 10 Feb 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (post) | 24 Feb 2026 |
| Document Verification | To be announced |
| Stipend Release (first month) | Upon joining |
Application Fee details
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹0 |
| SC / ST / PH | ₹0 |
| Payment Mode | Nil – No fee required |
Vacancy & Eligibility Criteria
- Age Limit: Minimum 18 years and maximum 25 years as on 24 Feb 2026. Age relaxation: SC/ST – +5 years, OBC (NCL) – +3 years, PWD – +10 years.
- Educational Qualification:
- Trade Apprentices – Valid ITI certificate in the listed trade (or M.Sc Chemistry for AAO(P) and VHSE MLT for MLT).
- Graduate Apprentices – B.Tech/BE in the specified engineering stream.
- Technician Apprentices – Diploma in the relevant discipline.
- General‑Stream Executives – B.Com, BA, BBA, BSc or BSc (Geology).
Note: Distance‑learning, part‑time or correspondence degrees are ineligible. Candidates already undergoing an apprenticeship elsewhere are also disqualified.
Detailed Vacancy Table
| Category | Post (Trade/Discipline) | Qualification Required | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Trade Apprentices | Fitter | ITI – Fitter | 10 |
| Electrician | ITI – Electrician | 9 | |
| MRAC | ITI – MRAC | 2 | |
| Instrumentation | ITI – Instrumentation | 1 | |
| Electronics | ITI – Electronics | 1 | |
| Diesel Mechanic | ITI – Diesel Mechanic | 2 | |
| Plumber | ITI – Plumber | 8 | |
| Welder | ITI – Welder | 3 | |
| Machinist | ITI – Machinist | 2 | |
| Carpenter | ITI – Carpenter | 2 | |
| Draughtsman (Civil) | ITI – Draughtsman Civil | 3 | |
| Surveyor | ITI – Surveyor | 4 | |
| AAO(P) | M.Sc Chemistry | 3 | |
| MLT | VHSE (MLT) | 1 | |
| B. Graduate Apprentices | Mechanical | B.Tech/BE Mechanical | 6 |
| Electrical | B.Tech/BE Electrical | 2 | |
| Civil | B.Tech/BE Civil | 3 | |
| Computer Science | B.Tech/BE Computer Science | 1 | |
| Instrumentation | B.Tech/BE Instrumentation | 1 | |
| Mining | B.Tech/BE Mining | 2 | |
| C. Technician Apprentices | Mechanical | Diploma Mechanical | 6 |
| Instrumentation | Diploma Instrumentation | 1 | |
| Mining | Diploma Mining | 2 | |
| D. General‑Stream Executives | Executive (B.Com) | B.Com | 2 |
| Executive (BA/BBA/BSc) | BA / BBA / BSc | 9 | |
| Executive (BSc Geology) | BSc Geology | 3 | |
| Total | — | — | 89 |
Reservation percentages will follow Kerala state guidelines for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD.
Stipend & Benefits
Apprentices will receive a monthly stipend as per the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992:
| Category | Minimum Stipend (per month) |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice (B.Tech/BE) | ₹9,000 |
| Technician Apprentice (Diploma) | ₹8,000 |
| Trade Apprentice (ITI) | ₹7,000 |
If the apprenticeship extends beyond one year, the stipend rises by 10 % in the second year and a further 15 % in the third year. Apart from the stipend, IREL does not provide additional financial benefits.
Selection Process
Selection is purely merit‑based, relying on the marks obtained in the qualifying qualification, provided the candidate is medically fit. The priority order for shortlisting is:
- Applicants from the Land‑Affected Category (certificate from Resources Department).
- Residents of the mining area or villages within 10 km of the Chavara unit.
- Wards of current IREL employees or members of the IREL forum.
- Candidates from Kollam District.
- Candidates from Kerala State.
- All other applicants.
In case of equal marks, the higher score in the qualifying examination decides; if still tied, the older candidate (date of birth) gets preference. Shortlisted candidates must clear a medical examination conducted by IREL’s Medical Officer.
How to Apply – Step‑by‑Step Offline Procedure
Important: Registration on the relevant portal is mandatory before sending the hard copy.
- Create an online account
- Trade/ITI candidates – Register on the Apprenticeship India portal:
https://apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. - Graduate, Technician & General‑Stream candidates – Register on the NATS portal:
https://nats.education.gov.in.
- Trade/ITI candidates – Register on the Apprenticeship India portal:
- Locate the establishment code – Use E08153200007 while filling the online form.
- Download the Application Form (Annexure A) from the official notification PDF (link provided below) and print it.
- Complete the form – Fill all fields legibly, paste one recent passport‑size photograph (3 × 4 cm) in the designated box, and sign where required.
- Gather supporting documents – Prepare self‑attested photocopies of:
- 10th (Matric) certificate
- 12th (HSC) mark sheet
- Qualification certificate & mark sheet (ITI/Diploma/Graduation)
- Category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD) certificate, if applicable
- Nativity certificate (Kerala) – optional but recommended
- Aadhaar card
- Any other certificates mentioned in the notification
- Prepare the outer envelope – Write on the front:
APPLICATION FOR ENGAGEMENT OF APPRENTICE AGAINST NOTIFICATION NO. IREL(India) Limited / Chavara / Apprentices Engagement / 2026‑27 DATED 10‑02‑2026 - Dispatch the application – Send the envelope via Speed Post (or any reliable courier) to:
The DGM (HRM), IREL (India) Limited, Chavara, Kollam District, Kerala – 691583 - Confirm receipt – Keep the Speed Post receipt and a photocopy of the filled form for future reference.
Remember: Only one trade/discipline per candidate. Applications without prior portal registration will be rejected.
Important Links
| Link Name | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| Apply – Trade/ITI (Apprenticeship India) | Register Here |
| Apply – Graduate/Technician/General (NATS) | Register Here |
| Download Notification (PDF) | IREL Apprentice 2026 Notification |
| Official IREL Website | IREL (India) Limited |
| Join WhatsApp Group | Join Now |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Now |
Conclusion
The IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 presents a rare opportunity to train with a leading central PSU in the rare‑earth sector. With 89 positions spanning ITI, diploma and degree holders, eligible candidates from Kerala and across India should act swiftly. Verify all details in the official notification, register on the appropriate portal, and dispatch the hard‑copy application before 24 February 2026 to secure a chance at hands‑on industry exposure and a government‑backed stipend.
FAQs.
Q1. Who can apply for the Trade Apprentice positions at IREL?
Ans: Candidates must possess a valid ITI certificate in the specific trade mentioned in the vacancy table (e.g., Fitter, Electrician, Welder, etc.). Distance‑learning ITI qualifications are not accepted.
Q2. Is there any fee to submit the apprenticeship application?
Ans: No. The IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 does not require any application fee. Registration on the online portals is free, and the offline application is sent via post at the candidate’s own cost.
Q3. What is the minimum stipend for a Graduate Apprentice?
Ans: Graduate Apprentices (B.Tech/BE holders) receive a minimum stipend of ₹9,000 per month as prescribed under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
Q4. Can I apply for more than one trade or discipline?
Ans: No. Each candidate is allowed to apply for only a single trade/discipline. Submitting multiple applications will lead to disqualification.
Q5. How is the merit list prepared for this apprenticeship?
Ans: Merit is calculated based on the marks obtained in the qualifying academic qualification. If two candidates have identical marks, the older candidate (by date of birth) gets preference. Priority categories (land‑affected, mining‑area residents, etc.) are considered before the merit ranking.
