IREL Manavalakurichi Apprentice Training 2026: 39 Vacancies for ITI, Diploma and BE Candidates
IREL (India) Limited, a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, has released notification IREL (India) Limited/MK/Apprentices Engagement/2026/01 dated 3 August 2026 for the engagement of 39 Apprentice Trainees at its Manavalakurichi (MK) Unit in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. The intake covers 4 Graduate Apprentices, 4 Technician (Diploma) Apprentices and 31 Trade (ITI) Apprentices. For ITI, Diploma and BE candidates in and around Kanyakumari, this is a strong chance to train inside one of India’s most strategic rare-earth and atomic-mineral organisations.
Applications close on 31 August 2026 — and note carefully that the filled hard copy must physically reach IREL by that date, not merely be posted by then. You must also register on the relevant apprenticeship portal before applying, because applications without portal registration are not accepted. There is no written examination and no application fee mentioned in this notification. Read this full article for the trade-wise vacancy list, qualification, age limit, selection priority and the complete apply process, and keep GovtJobsAlert.in bookmarked for every PSU job update.
Key Highlights — IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
IREL (India) Limited is a Mini-Ratna Central PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, engaged in mining and processing of beach sand minerals and rare earths. Its Manavalakurichi Unit sits in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu and is a highly protected area — police verification is required even for entry. Apprenticeship training here is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
- Post Names: Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice, Trade (ITI) Apprentice
- Total Vacancies: 39 apprentice seats
- Training Duration: 1 year for most trades (2 years for Plumber/Fitter and Carpenter)
- Job Location: IREL MK Unit, Manavalakurichi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu
- Application Mode: Portal registration plus hard copy by post
- Last Date to Apply: 31 August 2026
IREL Apprentice Vacancy 2026: Trade-Wise Breakdown of 39 Seats
Graduate and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices — 8 seats
| Apprentice Type | Discipline | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | Electrical | 2 |
| Graduate | Civil | 1 |
| Graduate | Mechanical | 1 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Civil | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Mechanical | 1 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Electrical | 1 |
Trade (ITI) Apprentices — 31 seats
| Trade | Vacancies | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fitter | 10 | 1 year |
| Electrician | 5 | 1 year |
| Welder | 4 | 1 year |
| PASAA (COPA) | 3 | 1 year |
| Electronic / Instrument Mechanic | 2 | 1 year |
| Plumber / Fitter | 2 | 2 years |
| Carpenter | 2 | 2 years |
| Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) | 1 | 1 year |
| Refrigeration & AC Mechanic | 1 | 1 year |
| Turner | 1 | 1 year |
Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwD applies as per the prescribed percentages applicable to the State of Tamil Nadu — the notification does not publish a category-wise numeric split, so do not rely on any unofficial category table. Candidates looking for similar openings can also browse our ITI government jobs listings.
IREL Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification & Age Limit
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Apprentice: BE in Electrical & Electronics, BE in Civil or BE in Mechanical, as per the discipline applied for. Registration on the NATS portal is mandatory.
- Technician Apprentice: Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical or Civil engineering. Registration on the NATS portal is mandatory.
- Trade Apprentice: ITI pass in the corresponding trade — Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Turner, Carpenter, Plumber, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Instrument Mechanic, Refrigeration & AC Mechanic, or Computer Operator and Programming Assistant. Registration on the apprenticeshipindia portal is mandatory.
Some important exclusions to note. Qualifications acquired through distance learning, part-time or correspondence mode are not accepted. Candidates who have already undergone or are currently undergoing apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act in any government, public sector or private organisation are not eligible. You may apply for only one trade at a time, and candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as ME, M.Tech, MCA, MBA, CA, ICWA, PhD or LLB need not apply.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on 31 August 2026, the last date of application. The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum is 25 years.
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| UR / General / EWS | 25 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 28 years |
| SC / ST | 30 years |
| PwD | 35 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
The application proforma itself asks you to state your age as on 31 August 2026, which confirms that date as the reckoning point.
What is the Salary and Stipend for IREL Apprentice 2026?
We want to be completely honest with you here rather than quote a number that does not exist in the notification.
The IREL notification does not print any rupee stipend figure. Clause 6 states only that the “rate of stipend of the apprentices will be as prescribed under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 and as notified by Government from time to time.”
- Stipend: as prescribed under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 — no fixed amount is published in this advertisement
- Other benefits: Clause 7 states clearly that during training, IREL will not provide any other benefit or financial assistance to apprentices
If you see a specific monthly stipend amount quoted for this recruitment anywhere else, treat it carefully — it has not come from this notification. What you do gain here is one to two years of hands-on industrial training at a Department of Atomic Energy unit, which carries real weight on your CV afterwards.
What is the Selection Process for IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
There is no written examination and no interview. Selection is purely merit-based on your qualifying examination marks, subject to a defined priority order.
Stage 1: Eligibility Screening
Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the eligibility criteria are treated as rejected outright. Make sure every field of the proforma is filled and every certificate is enclosed.
Stage 2: Merit List and Selection Priority
A merit list is drawn on the basis of marks scored in the specified educational qualification. Where two candidates tie, the higher qualifying-exam marks decide, and if still tied, seniority by date of birth applies. However, the notification lays down a priority order that is applied ahead of general merit:
- Candidates belonging to the land-affected category who have given land to the company, regardless of marks obtained.
- Wards of IREL employees, including wards of employees who died in service, regardless of marks obtained.
- Permanent residents of Chinnavilai, Periavilai, Puthoor and Kottilpadu villages.
- Permanent residents of Midalam, Keezhmidalam and Kurumpanai villages of Kanyakumari District.
- Other candidates from Tamil Nadu, followed by candidates from other states.
Stage 3: Document Verification, Medical and Police Verification
Selected candidates must clear physical verification of original documents, be found medically fit by IREL’s Medical Officer, and pass police verification, since the MK Unit is a protected defence-adjacent area.
How to Apply for IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
This application has two mandatory parts — online portal registration and a posted hard copy. Registering online alone will not get you screened.
- Register on the apprenticeshipindia portal if you are applying for a Trade (ITI) apprenticeship, or on the NATS portal if you are applying as a Graduate or Technician apprentice (portal links given in the Essential Links section below).
- Apply against the correct Establishment Registration Number — E05203301006 for Trade apprentices and STNKKC000004 for Graduate and Technician apprentices.
- Download the application proforma given as Annexure A in the official notification.
- Fill the proforma, preferably typewritten on A4 paper, and affix a recent passport-size photograph in the space provided.
- Enter your portal registration number, Aadhaar number, educational details and marks, and tick the applicable priority category if any.
- Attach self-attested copies of all certificates — qualification marksheets, community certificate, and land-affected or ward-of-employee proof if applicable.
- Post the complete hard copy so that it reaches IREL by 31 August 2026.
Once selected, a provisional offer letter of training is sent by email, and originals are verified before your joining date.
IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 3 August 2026 |
| Portal registration | Before applying |
| Last date for hard copy to reach IREL | 31 August 2026 |
| Age reckoned as on | 31 August 2026 |
| Document verification | Before joining, to be intimated |
Since the deadline is based on receipt and not despatch, post your application at least a week in advance so it is not rejected for arriving late.
IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All categories | No fee mentioned in the notification |
The notification does not refer to any application fee, payment mode, challan or demand draft anywhere in its pages. If anyone asks you to pay money for this apprenticeship, do not respond — it is not part of the official process.
Essential Links — IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Register on NATS Portal for Graduate & Technician Apprentices
- Register on Apprenticeship India Portal for Trade Apprentices
- Visit IREL (India) Limited Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
No exam, no interview and no fee — your marksheet does the talking here, which makes this a clean and fair opportunity. Complete your portal registration today and post your hard copy early so it reaches IREL comfortably before 31 August 2026. Training at a Department of Atomic Energy unit is a genuinely valuable start to a technical career. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Tamil Nadu job notifications and apprenticeship updates.