TNSTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — 1588 Vacancies

TNSTC, MTC Chennai and SETC Tamil Nadu are together hiring 1,588 Apprentices for the 2025-26 training cycle under the Apprentices Act. If you have a B.E./B.Tech degree, an Engineering Diploma, or a graduate degree in Arts/Science/Commerce, you can apply online through the NATS portal. The last date to apply is 28 August 2026. You will get a monthly stipend of Rs. 9,000 during the one-year training period.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 - 1588 Posts

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), along with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) Chennai and State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) Tamil Nadu, has released a joint notification to engage 1,588 apprentices across five TNSTC regions — Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Salem, Madurai and Tirunelveli — plus MTC Chennai and SETC Tamil Nadu. The training is offered under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 and is open to Graduate Engineers, Diploma holders, and Non-Engineering Graduates across Mechanical/Automobile, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, and Computer Science/IT disciplines, as well as Arts, Science, Commerce, BBA, BBM and BCA streams. No written exam is required — candidates are shortlisted purely on their qualifying marks. This is a good opportunity for fresh graduates and diploma holders who want a year of hands-on training experience with a state transport undertaking.

The training slots are spread across seven establishments: TNSTC Villupuram Region (covering Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Thiruvallur & Kancheepuram), TNSTC Kumbakonam Region (covering Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, Trichy, Karur, Karaikudi & Pudukottai), TNSTC Salem Region (covering Salem & Dharmapuri), TNSTC Madurai Region (covering Madurai, Dindigul & Virudhunagar), TNSTC Tirunelveli Region (covering Tirunelveli, Tuticorin & Nagercoil), plus MTC Chennai and SETC Tamil Nadu. Together, these seven undertakings run the bulk of Tamil Nadu's state-owned bus services, which makes this one of the largest apprenticeship drives in the state's public transport sector this year.

Vacancy Breakdown by Apprentice Category

• General Graduate Apprentices (Arts/Science/Commerce/BBA/BBM/BCA): 569 posts
• Diploma (Technician) Apprentices (Mechanical/Automobile, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, Computer Science/IT): 561 posts
• Graduate Engineering Apprentices (Mechanical/Automobile, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, Computer Science/IT): 458 posts

MTC Chennai has the highest share of training slots, followed by TNSTC Kumbakonam and TNSTC Villupuram. The corporation can increase or decrease the number of vacancies at its discretion, regardless of what is mentioned in the notification.

Who Can Apply?

For Graduate Engineering Apprentices:

• A regular, full-time B.E./B.Tech degree with First Class from a statutory university, in Mechanical/Automobile, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, or Computer Science/IT Engineering

For Diploma (Technician) Apprentices:

• A regular, full-time Diploma in Engineering/Technology from a State Board of Technical Education or a university, in the same disciplines listed above

For General Graduate Apprentices:

• A regular, full-time Bachelor's degree in Arts/Science/Commerce/Humanities (BA/B.Sc./B.Com./BBA/BBM/BCA etc.) from a UGC-approved university

You must not have already completed or currently be undergoing an apprenticeship under this Act, and you must not have one year or more of prior work experience. Candidates claiming BC/MBC reservation under the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) category must bring an OBC(NCL) certificate in the government-approved format from the certificate-issuing authority — otherwise their application will be treated as General category only.

Age Limit

• Age limit will be as per the Apprenticeship Rules — no specific minimum or maximum age is mentioned in this notification.
• Reservation: SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates must submit category certificates in the government-prescribed format; otherwise they will be considered under the General category only.
• Physical Standards: As prescribed under Clause 4 of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and its amendments.

Salary

• Graduate Apprentices (both Engineering and Non-Engineering) get a monthly stipend of Rs. 9,000 during the one-year training period.
• Diploma (Technician) Apprentices are paid a stipend as per Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT), Southern Region norms (exact rate not specified in this notification).
• No boarding, lodging, or travelling allowance (TA/DA) is paid, including for attending certificate verification.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

The selection will be done in 2 stages:

1. Shortlisting on Merit: The Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region) prepares a shortlist based on the percentage of marks you scored in your qualifying degree or diploma.
2. Certificate Verification: Shortlisted candidates are informed by email and must appear for certificate verification at the TNSTC Trichy Regional Office.

No travelling allowance is paid for attending certificate verification.

How to Apply

The registration process depends on whether you have used the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal before:

• If you already enrolled on the old portal (mhrdnats.gov.in): Use the Forgot Password option on the new portal, reset your password, and complete your profile after migration.
• If you already enrolled on the new portal (nats.education.gov.in): Simply log in using your registered email ID and password.
• If you are a first-time user: Click Student Register, complete your profile, and note your unique 12-digit Enrollment Number (ATN) for future logins.

1. Go to the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal at nats.education.gov.in and log in or register as above.
2. Once logged in, click "Apply against advertised vacancies."
3. Search for your preferred establishment — TNSTC Villupuram, TNSTC Kumbakonam, TNSTC Salem, TNSTC Madurai, TNSTC Tirunelveli, MTC Chennai, or SETC Tamil Nadu.
4. Click Apply — your application status will show as "Applied."

Important Dates

• Online Application Start: 28 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 28 August 2026

• Undergo hands-on apprenticeship training in your assigned engineering or non-engineering discipline
• Assist senior staff and engineers with day-to-day departmental tasks at the depot or regional office
• Learn practical processes and workplace systems as per Apprenticeship (Amendment) Act, 1973 guidelines
• Maintain attendance and training records as required by the Board of Apprenticeship Training
• Complete assigned project or on-the-job tasks and prepare training progress reports
• Follow safety rules and workplace discipline set by TNSTC, MTC and SETC
• Attend orientation and skill-building sessions organized by the corporation