NPCIL 2026 Bharti: A Permanent Path into India’s Nuclear Power Workforce
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, has announced a major recruitment for 255 Category-II Stipendiary Trainee / Technician (ST/TN) posts under Advertisement Number NPCIL/KKNPP/HRM/01/2026. The drive covers 8 trades — Plant Operator, Electronics Mechanic, Instrumentation Mechanic, Electrician, Fitter, Turner, Machinist and Welder. Selected candidates undergo 2 years of paid training with a stipend of Rs 20,000 per month in Year 1 and Rs 22,000 per month in Year 2, and on successful completion are absorbed as Technician/B at Pay Level-3 (basic Rs 21,700 + DA, approximately Rs 34,720 per month total).
Online applications open on 08 June 2026 at 10:00 hrs and close on 29 June 2026 at 16:00 hrs. The selection runs in two CBT stages on the same day — Preliminary and Advanced — followed by Document Verification. The exam paper is trilingual (Tamil, Hindi and English), which is a huge help for candidates across South India. Postings are primarily at KKNPP (Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu) with a 5-year service bond of Rs 5,07,000. Full eligibility, trade-wise vacancies, selection stages and the apply link are below. Bookmark GovtJobsAlert.in for daily updates and also check our PSU government jobs page.
Key Highlights — NPCIL Kudankulam Stipendiary Trainee 2026
NPCIL is the public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that operates India’s nuclear power plants. A Stipendiary Trainee posting puts you on the technical floor of one of India’s largest power stations, with strong job security, pension benefits and excellent medical / housing perks after training.
- Recruiting Body: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. — KKNPP, Tamil Nadu
- Advertisement Number: NPCIL/KKNPP/HRM/01/2026
- Total Vacancies: 255 (Current 208 + Backlog 47)
- Training Stipend: Rs 20,000 (Year 1) / Rs 22,000 (Year 2) + one-time Rs 3,000 book allowance
- Pay After Training: Technician/B, Level-3 (basic Rs 21,700 + DA, approx Rs 34,720/month)
- Job Location: Kudankulam, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu (with all-India transfer liability)
- Last Date: 29 June 2026 (16:00 hrs)
Vacancy Breakdown — NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026
The 255 posts are distributed across 8 trades. PwBD horizontal reservation of 11 posts is included within these 255, adjusted across categories.
| Trade | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Plant Operator | 136 |
| Electrician | 47 |
| Fitter | 30 |
| Electronics Mechanic | 15 |
| Instrumentation Mechanic | 15 |
| Turner | 5 |
| Machinist | 5 |
| Welder | 2 |
| Total | 255 |
Category-wise distribution across all trades — UR: 91, OBC (NCL): 77, SC: 62, EWS: 20, ST: 5 — adding up to the total of 255. PwBD reservation: 11 (Blind / Low Vision 3, Deaf / Hard of Hearing 3, OA / OL 3, ASD / SLD / MI / MD 2).
Eligibility Criteria — NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026
Educational Qualification
- Plant Operator (136 posts): HSC (10+2) or ISC with Science Stream (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) and a minimum 50% aggregate. English at SSC (10th) level.
- All other 7 ITI trades (Electronics Mechanic, Instrumentation Mechanic, Electrician, Fitter, Turner, Machinist, Welder): SSC (10th) with minimum 50% marks individually in Science and Mathematics + 2-year ITI certificate in the relevant trade. For trades of less than 2 years duration, 1 year of relevant working experience after the course is required.
Plant Operator pulls in 12th pass candidates from the Science stream, while the ITI trades are excellent for ITI government jobs aspirants.
Age Limit (as on 29.06.2026)
- Minimum Age: 18 years (born on or before 29.06.2008)
- Maximum Age: 24 years (born on or after 29.06.2002)
- Age Relaxation: OBC (NCL) — 3 years; SC / ST — 5 years; PwBD (UR / EWS) — 10 years; PwBD (OBC) — 13 years; PwBD (SC / ST) — 15 years
- NPCIL contract / fixed-term employees: Up to 5 years additional, commensurate with experience
- Maximum cumulative cap: 56 years
Physical Standards
- Minimum Height: 160 cm
- Minimum Weight: 45.5 kg
- Physical standards are relaxable if the candidate is otherwise medically fit.
What is the Salary for NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026?
The pay structure has two distinct phases — the 2-year training stipend, and the post-training Technician/B grade.
- Training Stipend (Year 1): Rs 20,000 per month
- Training Stipend (Year 2): Rs 22,000 per month
- Book Allowance: Rs 3,000 (one-time)
- Post-Training Pay: Technician/B, Pay Level-3 — Basic Rs 21,700 + DA (currently 60%) = approx Rs 34,720 per month
- Allowances: Transport, HRA / Housing, Site Location Allowance, Professional Update Allowance, LTC, Leave Encashment, CHSS Medical, Children Education Assistance, Performance Linked Incentive
- Retirement Benefits: EPF, Gratuity, Post-Retirement Medical, Group Insurance, NPCIL Defined Contribution Pension Scheme 2025
Trainees who score less than 60% during the 2-year training will not be absorbed. A 5-year indemnity bond of Rs 5,07,000 must be signed before joining. The duty involves round-the-clock shift work at the nuclear plant.
What is the Selection Process for NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026?
The selection has three stages, with both CBT papers held on the same day.
- Stage 1 — Preliminary CBT (Screening): 60 minutes, 50 questions, 150 marks. Subjects — Mathematics (20), Science (20), General Awareness (10). Marking +3 / -1. Qualifying mark 40% (UR) or 30% (Reserved / PwBD).
- Stage 2 — Advanced CBT (Merit-Determining): 120 minutes, 50 questions, 150 marks. Trade-specific syllabus — HSC level for Plant Operator; ITI-trade level for other 7 trades. Marking +3 / -1. Qualifying mark 30% (UR) or 20% (Reserved / PwBD).
- Stage 3 — Document Verification: Shortlisting at up to 3× vacancies per post (1:3 separately within each PwBD disability category).
- Examination Languages: Tamil, Hindi and English (trilingual question paper).
- Final Merit: Based on Stage 2 (Advanced Test) marks only.
For exam preparation, you can use NPCIL’s official syllabus and our syllabus page on GovtJobsAlert.in to map the trade-wise topics.
How to Apply Online for NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026?
- Visit the official NPCIL Careers portal: www.npcilcareers.co.in.
- Click “Online Registration” and enter Name, Date of Birth, Category, Email and Mobile.
- Activate your account via the link sent to your registered email.
- Log in and fill in Educational Qualifications, Work Experience and Personal Details carefully.
- Upload your photograph (JPG, 10–50 KB, 240×180 to 640×480 pixels) and signature (JPG, max 20 KB, 80×100 to 160×560 pixels).
- Submit the application form.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of Rs 100 via Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI — applicable only to male UR / EWS / OBC candidates. All other categories are exempted.
- Print and save the submitted application for future reference. Do NOT send any hard copy to NPCIL.
Outstation SC / ST candidates (not employed in Govt / PSU) called for the exam or document verification can claim 2nd-class rail or ordinary bus fare beyond 30 km on production of original tickets and caste certificate.
Important Dates — NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 08 June 2026 (10:00 hrs) |
| Last date to apply online | 29 June 2026 (16:00 hrs) |
| Age & qualification cut-off | 29 June 2026 |
| Admit card / exam date | To be announced on NPCIL Careers portal |
Application Fees — NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male UR / EWS / OBC | Rs 100 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen / Female (all categories) / NPCIL Employees | Exempted |
Payment is only through Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Essential Links — NPCIL Stipendiary Trainee Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online on NPCIL Careers Portal
- Visit NPCIL Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Tamil Nadu Government Jobs Telegram Channel
NPCIL recruitments come once every 2-3 years and are highly competitive — 255 posts will easily draw 2-3 lakh applications. Apply within the first few days of the window to avoid last-minute portal slowdowns. For more PSU recruitments and exam updates, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in and our PSU government jobs page daily.