Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Mini Ratna Schedule ‘A’ Company under the Government of India, has released Notification No. CSL/P&A/APPE/SEL. DESIGNTD/DEGREE_DIPLOMA_2023_2024/2023/4 dated 12 August 2026, inviting applications for 139 apprenticeship seats — 61 for Graduate Engineers and 78 for Technician (Diploma) holders — under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973. Applications are open from 12 August to 1 September 2026.
1. Recruitment Overview
CSL builds and repairs ships, and this apprenticeship is genuinely one of the more direct routes into India’s shipbuilding sector for engineering graduates and diploma holders from Kerala. There’s a hard eligibility filter worth knowing upfront: this recruitment is open only to candidates who are domicile of Kerala — no exceptions are mentioned anywhere in the notification for candidates from other states.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) |
| Notification No. | CSL/P&A/APPE/SEL. DESIGNTD/DEGREE_DIPLOMA_2023_2024/2023/4 |
| Notification Date | 12 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 139 (61 Graduate + 78 Technician/Diploma) |
| Duration of Training | 1 Year |
| Eligibility (Domicile) | Kerala domicile candidates only |
| Passing Years Eligible | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online, via NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) |
| Application Fee | Nil |
| Official Website | cochinshipyard.in |
With five full passing years (2022 through 2026) eligible in one cycle, this notification is notably more generous on the passing-year window than most similar apprenticeship drives — worth knowing if you assumed only recent graduates could apply.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 12 August 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 12 August 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 1 September 2026 |
| Age Reckoning Date | 1 September 2026 |
You get roughly three weeks to apply. Since call letters for the next stage go out only by email or website notice — never by post — keep checking your registered email and the CSL careers page regularly once the window closes, rather than waiting for a physical letter that won’t arrive.
3. Vacancy Details
Category I — Graduate Apprentices (Degree holders): 61 Seats — Stipend ₹15,000/month
| Discipline | Training Seats |
|---|---|
| Electrical & Electronics Engineering | 12 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 22 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | 5 |
| Civil Engineering | 6 |
| Computer Science / Information Technology | 4 |
| Fire & Safety Engineering | 4 |
| Marine Engineering | 4 |
| Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding | 4 |
| Total | 61 |
Category II — Technician (Diploma) Apprentices: 78 Seats — Stipend ₹13,000/month
| Discipline | Training Seats |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering | 15 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 23 |
| Electronics Engineering | 8 |
| Instrumentation Technology | 4 |
| Civil Engineering | 13 |
| Computer Engineering | 5 |
| Commercial Practice | 10 |
| Total | 78 |
Grand Total: 139 seats
Mechanical Engineering carries the single largest opening in both categories combined (22 Graduate + 23 Technician = 45 seats) — clearly the widest door in this notification for candidates from that discipline.
Important caveat from CSL: The number of training seats reflects the company’s current requirement and can vary based on future need. CSL has also explicitly reserved the right not to fill all notified seats, and filling them depends on candidate suitability and the availability of training facilities at the time.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Domicile Requirement: Only candidates who are domicile of Kerala will be considered — this is stated as a hard filter in the selection procedure itself, not just a preference.
Educational Qualification — Category I (Graduate Apprentices):
- A Degree in Engineering or Technology from a Statutory University, in the relevant discipline; OR
- A Degree in Engineering or Technology from an institution empowered by an Act of Parliament to grant such degrees; OR
- A graduate-level examination from a professional body recognised by the State or Central Government as equivalent to the above.
Educational Qualification — Category II (Technician/Diploma Apprentices):
- For Sl. No. 1–6 (Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Civil, Computer Engineering): A Diploma in Engineering or Technology from a State Council/Board of Technical Education, a University, or an institution recognised as equivalent.
- For Sl. No. 7 (Commercial Practice): A Diploma in Commercial Practice from a State or Central Government-recognised institution.
On CGPA conversion: If your university/institute doesn’t award a direct percentage and instead uses CGPA/OGPA/CPI, and that institution has its own defined conversion formula, that formula will be used. If no such formula exists, your Grade Point will simply be multiplied by 10 to calculate the equivalent percentage.
Equivalent qualifications: If your qualification doesn’t exactly match what’s listed above but you believe it’s equivalent, you must submit an Equivalency Certificate from the competent authority — without it, your application won’t be considered at all.
Passing Years Eligible: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Age: Above 18 years as on 1 September 2026.
Previous Apprenticeship Bar: Candidates who have already completed, or are currently undergoing, an apprenticeship under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 — in any Government, Public Sector, or Private organisation — are not eligible to apply.
Reservation: Government of India directives on reservation apply for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates, strictly followed.
Physical Standards: As prescribed under Clause 4 of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and any subsequent amendments.
5. Selection Process
Like most Act Apprentice recruitments, there’s no written test here — selection runs entirely on academic merit and document verification, with a domicile filter applied first.
- Domicile Screening — Only Kerala-domicile candidates are considered at all; this is checked before merit ranking even begins.
- Merit Shortlisting — Based purely on the percentage of marks obtained in your basic qualifying degree/diploma, discipline by discipline.
- Tie-breaker Rule — If two candidates have identical marks, the one who passed in an earlier year ranks higher. If the passing year is also identical, the older candidate (by date of birth) gets precedence.
- Certificate Verification — Shortlisted candidates must bring original certificates (proof of age, qualification, marks percentage, caste, disability, where applicable) along with self-attested copies. Fail to produce originals, and your candidature is rejected outright — no exceptions.
- Provisional Selection — Candidates who clear certificate verification are provisionally selected against notified seats, in order of merit and reservation, subject to medical fitness.
A hard rule on marks entry: If the marks you enter online don’t match your uploaded mark sheet, your application is summarily rejected — there’s no correction window mentioned, so double-check this field carefully before submitting.
6. Salary & Stipend Structure
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentices (Category I) | ₹15,000 |
| Technician/Diploma Apprentices (Category II) | ₹13,000 |
No travel allowance: CSL has explicitly stated that no travel expenses are admissible during the apprenticeship period.
No boarding or lodging: CSL does not provide accommodation or boarding facilities — apprentices need to arrange their own stay for the training duration.
No employment guarantee: Completing the apprenticeship creates no obligation on CSL’s part to offer employment, and apprentices cannot claim any right to a job on the basis of having completed their training.
7. Application Fee
Nil. There is no application fee for this recruitment — a genuinely candidate-friendly detail worth highlighting compared to several other PSU apprenticeship drives that charge ₹100–250.
8. How to Apply
Applications go entirely through the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in), and the process differs slightly depending on whether you’re already registered on the older portal.
If you already have an old NATS registration (portal.mhrdnats.gov.in):
- Activate your account on the new portal, nats.education.gov.in, using the “Forgot Password” option at the student login page.
- Log in and complete your application form, making sure every detail is accurate.
- Search for “Cochin Shipyard Limited” under “Apply against advertised vacancies.”
- Click “Apply” — your status will show as “Applied” once done.
If you have no prior NATS registration:
- Go to nats.education.gov.in.
- Click “Student,” then “Student Register.”
- Complete the registration form — a unique Enrolment Number gets generated for you.
- Log in, search for “Cochin Shipyard Limited” under “Apply against advertised vacancies,” and click “Apply.”
For any NATS portal issues: Contact the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT), Southern Region, Chennai, at studentquery@boatsrp.com.
Documents to keep ready for certificate verification:
- Original degree/diploma certificate and mark sheets
- Proof of age (birth certificate or equivalent)
- Caste/category certificate, where applicable
- Disability certificate, where applicable
- Equivalency Certificate, if your qualification isn’t an exact match to what’s listed
- Self-attested photocopies of all the above
Important reminders:
- All correspondence happens only through your registered email ID — call letters are never sent by post.
- Submitting your application counts as unconditional acceptance of every term and condition in the notification.
- Any dispute arising from this recruitment falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of Courts/Tribunals in Ernakulam.
- “Canvassing in any form” is explicitly stated as grounds for disqualification.
- Only Indian nationals may apply.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many total vacancies are there? | 139 seats — 61 for Graduate Apprentices and 78 for Technician (Diploma) Apprentices. |
| What is the last date to apply? | 1 September 2026. Applications opened on 12 August 2026. |
| Is this recruitment open to candidates from all states? | No — only candidates who are domicile of Kerala are eligible to apply. |
| Which passing years are eligible? | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. |
| Is there a written exam? | No. Selection is based purely on merit — the percentage of marks in your qualifying degree/diploma. |
| What is the stipend? | ₹15,000/month for Graduate Apprentices; ₹13,000/month for Technician/Diploma Apprentices. |
| Is there an application fee? | No, the application is completely free. |
| Are travel or accommodation expenses covered by CSL? | No — CSL does not provide travel allowance, boarding, or lodging during the apprenticeship period. |
| Can candidates with prior apprenticeship experience apply? | No — anyone who has completed or is currently undergoing an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act elsewhere is not eligible. |
| Does completing this apprenticeship guarantee a job at CSL? | No — CSL has no obligation to offer employment, and apprentices cannot claim any employment right based on completing training. |
10. Official Links
- Official Notification PDF: Click Here
- Application Portal (NATS): https://nats.education.gov.in
- Official CSL Careers Page: https://cochinshipyard.in/careersummary/career_locations/1
- Queries/Clarification: apprenticeship@cochinshipyard.in
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