TNSTC Apprenticeship 2026-27 Notification: 1,518 Training Slots Across Tamil Nadu Transport Corporations
This is one of the biggest apprenticeship openings in Tamil Nadu this year. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations — Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Salem, Madurai and Tirunelveli — along with MTC Chennai and SETC Tamil Nadu Ltd have released a joint notification for around 1,518 apprentice training slots for the year 2026-27. Apprentices earn a monthly stipend of ₹10,900 to ₹12,300 for one year of training. If you are searching for government jobs in Tamil Nadu, this notification covers engineering, diploma and ordinary degree holders all together.
Online applications opened on 28 July 2026 and close on 28 August 2026. The best part — there is no application fee and no written exam. Shortlisting is done purely on the percentage of marks in your qualifying degree or diploma. Candidates who passed in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or May 2026 and who hail from Tamil Nadu can apply. In this complete guide from GovtJobsAlert.in, we explain the discipline-wise slots, stipend, eligibility conditions and the NATS application process step by step.
Key Highlights — TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) runs the state’s public bus network through regional corporations, while MTC operates Chennai city services and SETC runs long-distance express services. Together they maintain one of India’s largest bus fleets, which means real workshop and technical exposure for apprentices. Shortlisting is handled by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region). For engineering government jobs seekers in the state, this is a strong first step.
- Post Names: Graduate Apprentice (Engineering), Technician (Diploma) Apprentice, Graduate Apprentice (Non-Engineering)
- Total Vacancies: about 1,518 apprentice slots
- Monthly Stipend: ₹12,300 (Graduate) / ₹10,900 (Diploma)
- Training Period: 1 year
- Job Location: across Tamil Nadu — Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Salem, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Chennai
- Application Start Date: 28 July 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 28 August 2026
TNSTC Apprentice Vacancy 2026: Discipline-Wise Breakdown
The slots are divided into three apprentice categories. Find your discipline in the table below.
| Apprentice Category | Discipline | Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate (Engineering) | Mechanical / Automobile | 360 |
| Graduate (Engineering) | Electrical & Electronics | 41 |
| Graduate (Engineering) | Computer Science / IT | 30 |
| Graduate (Engineering) | Civil | 26 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Mechanical / Automobile | 338 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Computer Science / IT | 53 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Electrical & Electronics | 30 |
| Technician (Diploma) | Civil | 20 |
| Graduate (Non-Engineering) | Arts, Science, Commerce, Humanities | 623 |
Category-wise printed totals are Graduate (Engineering) — 457, Technician (Diploma) — 438 and Graduate (Non-Engineering) — 623.
Please note one thing honestly: in the Technician (Diploma) section the notification’s own figures do not reconcile. The four discipline slots listed above add up to 441, while TNSTC prints a section total of 438, and the corporation-wise rows inside the PDF add up to 491. We have used TNSTC’s own printed section totals to arrive at the 1,518 headline figure. Treat the count as approximate and always confirm the slots for your own corporation and discipline in the official PDF. The corporations have also stated that they may increase or decrease the number of slots at any time.
Eligibility Criteria for TNSTC Apprentice 2026
Please read this section very carefully. TNSTC has some strict eligibility conditions that disqualify many applicants.
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Apprentice (Engineering): A regular full-time Degree in Engineering or Technology with FIRST CLASS from a statutory university, or from an institution empowered by an Act of Parliament, or an equivalent graduate examination of a recognised professional body
- Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: A regular full-time Diploma in Engineering or Technology from a State Council or Board of Technical Education, a university, or a recognised equivalent institution
- Graduate Apprentice (Non-Engineering): A regular full-time degree in Arts, Science, Commerce or Humanities — B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., BBA, BBM, BCA and similar — from a UGC-approved statutory or deemed university
Note that First Class is compulsory only for B.E./B.Tech. candidates. No class requirement is stated for Diploma or Non-Engineering graduates, which opens the door for many graduate job seekers.
Year of Passing and Domicile
You must have passed your qualifying examination during 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or May 2026, and you must hail from Tamil Nadu. Both conditions are compulsory.
Who Cannot Apply
- Candidates who have already completed an apprenticeship, or are currently undergoing one
- Candidates with one year or more of work experience
Age Limit
The notification does not print any minimum or maximum age. It states only that age limit will be followed as per the Apprenticeship Rules. So there is no specific age number to worry about here — focus on your passing year and your marks instead.
What is the Stipend and Salary for TNSTC Apprentice 2026?
The notification prints the stipend figures directly, with no ambiguity.
- Graduate Apprentices (Engineering and Non-Engineering): ₹12,300 per month
- Technician (Diploma) Apprentices: ₹10,900 per month
Apprentices receive a monthly stipend of ₹10,900 to ₹12,300 for the full one-year training period.
Be clear about one thing before you apply: this is apprenticeship training, not employment. The notification states plainly that on completion of the apprenticeship, TNSTC, MTC and SETC have no obligation to offer a job, and an apprentice cannot claim employment as a right. What you do get is one year of paid, certified, hands-on experience in a large transport organisation — and that carries real weight in future interviews and PSU recruitment.
What is the Selection Process for TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
There is no written exam and no interview. The whole process rests on your academic marks.
Stage 1: Shortlisting by BOAT (SR)
The Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region) prepares the shortlist directly from your online application data. Shortlisting is based on the percentage of marks obtained in the prescribed qualifying examination for your discipline.
Stage 2: Email Intimation
Shortlisted candidates are informed through their registered email ID only. So enter your email address carefully and check it regularly, including the spam folder.
Stage 3: Certificate Verification
Shortlisted candidates must attend certificate verification at the TNSTC Trichy Region office, tentatively in the fourth week of September 2026. Please note that no TA or DA is paid, and boarding and lodging expenses are not admissible.
One important warning from the notification: BOAT (SR) has not authorised any individual or organisation to coordinate or liaise for this work. Beware of touts — and remember that canvassing or applying pressure through any source will disqualify your candidature. You can track similar openings on our exam calendar page.
How to Apply Online for TNSTC Apprentice 2026?
Applications are accepted online only through the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal. Keep your mark sheets, degree or diploma certificate, photo and bank details ready.
- Visit the NATS student portal (direct link in Essential Links below) and choose your student category
- If you are a new candidate, complete the fresh student registration and fill the enrolment form
- If you registered on the old portal, use the forgot-password option with your registered email to reset your password, then log in and complete the migration
- If you already have new-portal login details, simply log in with your email ID and password
- On successful enrolment, a unique 12-digit Enrolment Number is generated — note it down
- Go to “Apply against advertised vacancies” and search for your establishment — TNSTC Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Salem, Madurai, Tirunelveli, MTC Chennai or SETC TN Ltd
- Enter your percentage of marks correctly — if your institute gives CGPA, convert it as CGPA × 10. This field is mandatory; leaving it wrong or blank means rejection
- Submit the application before 28 August 2026 and save a copy for your records
TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 28 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 28 August 2026 |
| Shortlist Declaration | Second week of September 2026 |
| Certificate Verification (Tentative) | Fourth week of September 2026 |
| Training Duration | 1 year |
TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories | No fee mentioned in the notification |
The notification does not mention any application fee or payment mode. Applications are submitted free of cost through the NATS portal, so you should not pay money to anyone for this application.
Essential Links — TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Visit TNSTC Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Tamil Nadu Government Jobs Telegram Channel
More than fifteen hundred paid training slots, no fee, no exam, and selection only on your marks — for a fresh graduate or diploma holder in Tamil Nadu, this is as accessible as it gets. Just make sure your NATS enrolment and marks percentage are entered correctly, because that single field decides your shortlist. The last date is 28 August 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Tamil Nadu government job updates and apprenticeship notifications.