IREL Tradesman Trainee Recruitment 2026: 131 Technical Vacancies Across Atomic Energy Units
⚡ Official Recruitment Notice: IREL (India) Limited—a premier Mini-Ratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India—has published Advertisement No. CO/HRM/36/2026 announcing 131 Tradesman Trainee vacancies across six major industrial production complexes in Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The advertised trades comprise Fitter (93 posts), Electrician (12 posts), Instrumentation (6 posts), and Attendant Operator Chemical Plant - AOCP (20 posts).
Training & Regular Pay Scale: Selected trainees will undergo one (01) year of structured institutional and shop-floor training carrying a consolidated monthly stipend of ₹34,200/-. Upon successful completion of training and passing the prescribed qualifying assessment, trainees will be absorbed into regular service in the W-3 Grade Pay Scale of ₹22,000 – ₹88,000/- with Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA), HRA, performance incentives, and comprehensive DAE medical benefits.
Registration Schedule Advisory: While the recruitment advertisement was formally notified on 19 October 2026, the online application portal commencement has been temporarily rescheduled. The revised activation schedule will be published shortly on the official portal at www.irel.co.in.
1. Corporate Profile: Strategic Nuclear & Rare Earths Mandate of IREL
Pivotal role in India's nuclear power programme, mineral sands extraction, and rare earth value chains.
Incorporated in August 1950 as Indian Rare Earths Limited, IREL (India) Limited functions as a CPSE under the administrative purview of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The enterprise is uniquely chartered with mining, processing, and upgrading strategic beach sand minerals along India's coastal stretches.
Heavy Beach Sand Minerals Processing
IREL separates and refines critical mineral concentrates including Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Garnet, Sillimanite, and Monazite. Monazite represents the primary domestic source of Thorium, the foundational fuel for Stage 3 of India's indigenous Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme.
High-Tech Rare Earths & Permanent Magnets
Through specialized plants in Aluva, Visakhapatnam, and Bhopal, IREL produces nuclear-grade rare earth compounds and Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) permanent magnets vital for aerospace, atomic reactors, defence telemetry, and green energy applications.
2. Geographic Unit Breakdown & Plant Functions
Operational context across the six participating production facilities under Advt. CO/HRM/36/2026.
OSCOM, Chhatarpur (Odisha)
Odisha Sands Complex is IREL's largest mining and mineral separation unit featuring heavy dredging, wet concentration plants, dry mill separation, and a modern Synthetic Rutile Plant. Allocated 32 Fitter, 4 Electrician, and 4 Instrumentation vacancies.
Chavara (Kollam) & RED (Aluva)
Chavara (33 posts: 26 Fitter, 3 Electrician, 4 AOCP) operates high-grade coastal mineral extraction. Rare Earths Division (RED) in Aluva (25 posts: 13 Fitter, 1 Electrician, 11 AOCP) processes monazite into rare earth chlorides and thorium concentrates.
MK (Tamil Nadu), REPM (AP) & RETTP (MP)
Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu (24 posts: 20 Fitter, 4 Electrician); Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant in Visakhapatnam (5 posts: 1 Fitter, 1 Inst, 3 AOCP); and Rare Earth Theme Park in Bhopal (4 posts: 1 Fitter, 1 Inst, 2 AOCP).
3. One-Year Trainee Framework, Monthly Stipend & W-3 Regularization
Comprehensive roadmap from trainee orientation to regular non-executive cadre induction.
1 Year Training @ ₹34,200/- Per Month
During the 1-year training period, candidates receive a fixed consolidated monthly stipend of ₹34,200/-. Trainees are rotated across production plants, safety drills, preventive maintenance workshops, and mineral dressing circuits.
W-3 Grade Scale (₹22,000 – ₹88,000/-)
Upon successful completion of the 1-year training and qualifying the institutional test, trainees are absorbed in Tradesman (W-3 Grade). Regular remuneration includes Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA), HRA, Cafeteria cafeteria allowances, Contributory Provident Fund, Gratuity, and DAE medical coverage.
• Service Agreement Bond: Candidates selected for Tradesman Trainee posts may be required to execute a Service Agreement Bond to serve the corporation for a minimum stipulated period following training completion.
• Posting Flexibility: Appointees are liable to be posted to any unit, plant, office, or project of IREL across India in the interest of the corporation.
4. Technical Qualifications, Licensing & Experience Benchmarks
Critical compliance guidelines governing ITI/NAC certificates, statutory wireman licences, and experience validity.
Tradesman Trainee (Fitter) – 93 Posts
Must possess an ITI / National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in Fitter trade issued by NCVT / SCVT, along with a minimum of two (02) years of post-qualification experience in the Fitter trade/discipline in a reputed industrial establishment, which may include on-the-job training or apprenticeship training.
Tradesman Trainee (Electrician) – 12 Posts (Statutory Licence Mandatory)
Must hold an ITI / NAC in Electrician trade. Additionally, candidates must possess a valid statutory electrical licence (Wireman / Electrical Supervisor permit) issued by a competent State Licensing Board, accompanied by 2 years of relevant industrial maintenance or apprenticeship experience.
Tradesman Trainee (Instrumentation) – 6 Posts
Requires ITI / NAC in Instrumentation / Instrument Mechanic trade with 2 years of hands-on experience in calibrating industrial sensors, control valves, PLC loops, pressure transmitters, and DCS interfaces.
Tradesman Trainee (Attendant Operator Chemical Plant - AOCP) – 20 Posts
Offers dual eligibility: Candidates must possess either an ITI / NAC in Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant), OR must have passed 10+2 / Intermediate Science with Chemistry as one of the subjects having secured at least 50% marks in aggregate. Both streams require 2 years of operational experience in chemical/mineral process plants or apprenticeship training.
5. Computer Based Test (CBT) Blueprint & Sectional Qualifying Dynamics
Strategic advantages of the 150-question format, absence of negative penalty, and independent sectional criteria.
150 MCQs
1 Mark Per Question (150 Marks)120 Minutes
Single 2-Hour Computer SittingNO PENALTY
Zero Deduction for Incorrect Answers- Section I (Professional Trade Knowledge - 100 Marks): 100 questions testing core craft principles (Fitter engineering drawing, machining, limits & fits; Electrician circuits, motors, transformers; Instrumentation automation loops; AOCP chemical unit operations, fluid mechanics, distillation).
- Section II (General Ability - 50 Marks): 50 questions evaluating General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Basic General English.
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Independent Sectional Cutoff Requirement: Candidates must achieve the minimum prescribed benchmark separately in both Section I and Section II:
• UR / EWS Candidates: Minimum 50% in each section (min 50/100 in Sec I and min 25/50 in Sec II).
• SC / ST / OBC (NCL) Candidates: Minimum 45% in each section (min 45/100 in Sec I and min 22.5/50 in Sec II). - Merit Determination: While the subsequent Trade/Skill Test is purely qualifying, the final selection merit list is formulated solely on the marks secured in the 150-mark written CBT.
6. Registration Rescheduling Notice & Candidate Advisory
Official guidance regarding the deferred online registration window and portal readiness.
IREL (India) Limited officially released draft advertisement CO/HRM/36/2026 on 19 October 2026. However, the commencement of online registration—which was tentatively slated for 19 October—was deferred for technical alignment. Candidates are strongly advised to note:
- Revised Date Announcement: The rescheduled online registration start and closing dates will be published through an official Addendum/Corrigendum on the IREL Careers portal at irel.co.in/careers.
- Document Organization: Aspirants should utilize this buffer period to ensure that their ITI/NAC trade certificates, electrical statutory wireman licences (for Electricians), post-qualification experience credentials from registered employers, and updated Central OBC-NCL / EWS certificates are ready for uploading.
- Closing Date for Age & Experience: As stipulated in the official notification, eligibility benchmarks including the 35-year upper age limit and 2-year experience threshold will be determined as on the revised final closing date of online application submission.
