Indian Rare Earths (IREL), Manavalakurichi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Apprentice (Technician, Trade and Graduate Apprentice) Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 :
IREL (India) Limited has released the IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification for the engagement of 39 Graduate Apprentice, Technician Apprentice and Trade Apprentice posts at its Manavalakurichi unit in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. The recruitment is being conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, through Notification No. IREL (India) Limited/MK/Apprentices Engagement/2026/01, dated 03 August 2026.

Eligible candidates with B.E./B.Tech, Diploma or ITI qualifications in the relevant discipline or trade can apply for the apprenticeship opportunities. The application process requires candidates to complete registration on the appropriate Government apprenticeship portal and then submit the prescribed hardcopy application form to IREL by post.
The IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 application process is open from 03 August 2026, and the completed application must reach the company on or before 31 August 2026. Candidates should carefully check the qualification, age limit, trade-specific eligibility, documents and selection conditions before applying.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview :
Organization Name: IREL (India) Limited.
Unit: Manavalakurichi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.
Notification Number: IREL (India) Limited/MK/Apprentices Engagement/2026/01.
Notification Date: 03 August 2026.
Recruitment Type: Apprentice Engagement.
Total Apprentice Seats: 39.
Graduate Apprentice Posts: 4.
Technician Apprentice Posts: 4.
Trade Apprentice Posts: 31.
Educational Qualification: B.E./B.Tech, Diploma or ITI, depending on the post and trade.
Age Limit: 18 to 25 years for General candidates, subject to applicable relaxation.
Application Mode: Government apprenticeship portal registration followed by offline submission of the hardcopy application.
Application Fee: No application fee is specified in the provided notification details.
Training Location: IREL (India) Limited, Manavalakurichi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.
Selection Process: Merit based selection, document verification, medical examination and police verification.
Written Examination: No written examination is conducted.
Last Date: 31 August 2026.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Dates :
Candidates interested in the IREL Apprentice Vacancy 2026 should keep the following dates in mind :
Notification Date: 03 August 2026.
Application Start Date: 03 August 2026.
Last Date for Receipt of Application: 31 August 2026.
Document Verification Date: To be communicated to shortlisted candidates.
Medical Examination Date: To be notified by IREL.
Joining or Training Date: Will be communicated to selected candidates.
Candidates must understand that the application should reach IREL on or before 31 August 2026. Merely posting the application on or before the last date does not guarantee acceptance. Therefore, applicants should send their forms sufficiently early to avoid postal delays.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details :
IREL has announced a total of 39 apprenticeship seats under three categories: Graduate Apprentice, Technician Apprentice and Trade Apprentice.

Graduate Apprentice: 4 Posts :
The Graduate Apprentice category includes the following disciplines :
Electrical: 2 posts. Candidates should possess B.E./B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Civil: 1 post. Candidates should possess B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering.
Mechanical: 1 post. Candidates should possess B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering.
The training duration for Graduate Apprentices is one year.

Technician Apprentice: 4 Posts :
The Technician Apprentice vacancies are distributed as follows :
Mechanical: 1 post. Diploma in Mechanical Engineering is required.
Electrical: 1 post. Diploma in Electrical Engineering is required.
Civil: 2 posts. Diploma in Civil Engineering is required.
The Technician Apprenticeship training duration is one year.

Trade Apprentice: 31 Posts :
The Trade Apprentice category contains the highest number of vacancies. The trade-wise details are :
Fitter: 10 posts. ITI qualification in Fitter trade is required.
Electrician: 5 posts. ITI qualification in Electrician trade is required.
Mechanic Motor Vehicle: 1 post. ITI qualification in Mechanic Motor Vehicle trade is required.
Welder: 4 posts. ITI qualification in Welder trade is required.
Electronic/Instrument Mechanic: 2 posts. ITI qualification in Instrument Mechanic trade is required.
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic: 1 post. ITI qualification in the relevant trade is required.
Turner: 1 post. ITI qualification in Turner trade is required.
Plumber/Fitter: 2 posts. ITI qualification in Plumber trade is required.
Carpenter: 2 posts. ITI qualification in Carpenter trade is required.
PASAA: 3 posts. ITI qualification in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant is required.
The training period varies according to the trade. Most trades have a one-year training period, while Plumber/Fitter and Carpenter have a two-year training period as specified in the vacancy details.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria :
The eligibility requirements for IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 depend on the apprenticeship category and designated trade.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Educational Qualification :
Graduate Apprentices: Candidates should have the prescribed full-time B.E./B.Tech qualification in the relevant engineering discipline.
Technician Apprentices: Candidates should possess the prescribed Diploma qualification in the relevant engineering discipline.
Trade Apprentices: Candidates should have passed ITI in the relevant designated trade.
The qualification must correspond to the trade or discipline for which the candidate is applying.
Candidates should provide the required mark sheets and pass certificates during document verification.

Candidates should note that qualifications obtained through Distance Learning Mode, Part-Time Mode or Correspondence Mode are not considered for the advertised apprenticeship positions.
Candidates who have already completed or are currently undergoing apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, in a Government, Public Sector or private industrial organization are not eligible. Applicants must also apply for only one trade at a time.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Higher Qualification Restrictions :
IREL has specified restrictions regarding higher or professional qualifications. Candidates holding qualifications such as M.E./M.Tech, MCA, MBA or equivalent, CA/ICWA, Ph.D. or LLB should not apply where such qualification is considered higher than the prescribed induction-level qualification.

Candidates must disclose relevant educational qualifications correctly. Suppression of information regarding a higher qualification or pursuing a higher qualification can result in rejection of candidature or termination of engagement at a later stage.
Where the final aggregate percentage is not mentioned on the pass certificate or final mark sheet, the average marks obtained across all semesters or years will be considered. Candidates whose institutions award CGPA or grades instead of percentages must provide the equivalent percentage according to the applicable university or institute norms, along with supporting certification when required.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Age Limit :
The prescribed age requirement for IREL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is :
Minimum Age: 18 years.
Maximum Age: 25 years.
Age Calculation: Age will be considered as on the last date of application.
SC/ST Relaxation: Up to 5 years.
OBC Non-Creamy Layer Relaxation: Up to 3 years.
PwD Relaxation: Up to 10 years.
Candidates should ensure that they satisfy the age requirement before submitting the application. Relevant category certificates must be produced wherever age relaxation is claimed.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Stipend :
The stipend for selected apprentices will be paid according to the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and the rates notified by the Government of India from time to time.
The exact stipend amount is not specified in the recruitment notification. Candidates should therefore refer to the applicable apprenticeship rules and official updates for the prevailing stipend rates.
During the apprenticeship training period, IREL will not provide additional benefits or financial assistance apart from the applicable apprenticeship stipend.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Selection Process :
The IREL Apprentice selection process is primarily merit based. There is no written examination for these apprenticeship posts.
The selection process includes :
Verification of educational qualification and eligibility.
Preparation of a merit list based on qualifying examination marks.
Application of the prescribed priority categories.
Document verification.
Medical examination.
Police verification.
Final engagement as an Apprentice.
Candidates are selected on the basis of marks obtained in the prescribed educational qualification, subject to medical fitness. In case of a tie in marks, higher marks in the specified qualification are considered first; if the tie continues, seniority based on date of birth is considered.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Priority for Selection :
IREL has specified certain priority categories for preparation of the final merit list. The priority structure includes:
Land Affected Category: Candidates who have provided land to IREL and possess the required documentary proof receive priority as specified.
Wards of IREL Employees: Preference is provided to eligible wards of IREL employees.
Wards of Employees Who Died in Service: Eligible candidates belonging to this category receive the prescribed preference.
Peripheral Village Candidates: Permanent residents of Chinnavilai, Periavilai, Puthoor and Kottilpadu villages receive priority over candidates from other villages within the prescribed 10 km radius.
Kanyakumari District Priority: Permanent residents of Midalam, Keezhmidalam and Kurumpanai villages receive preference over candidates from other areas of Kanyakumari District.
Tamil Nadu State Candidates: Candidates belonging to Tamil Nadu receive the prescribed state-level preference.
Other Candidates: Remaining eligible candidates are considered under the applicable selection conditions.
Candidates claiming priority must provide appropriate documentary evidence. Priority benefits cannot be claimed without valid supporting documents.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Document Verification and Medical Examination :
Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification according to the merit and priority criteria.
Candidates must bring :
Original educational certificates.
Original mark sheets.
Date of birth proof.
Category certificate, wherever applicable.
Disability certificate, if applicable.
Nativity certificate.
Land affected or land loser certificate, where applicable.
Other documents specified by IREL.
Candidates who fail to produce original documents or are found ineligible during verification may have their candidature rejected.
Selected candidates must also undergo a medical examination and obtain a Medical Fitness Certificate from the authorized Medical Officer of IREL. Final engagement is subject to medical fitness.
Because the Manavalakurichi unit is a highly protected area, selected apprentices must also submit a Police Verification Certificate issued by the concerned police authorities. This certificate is mandatory before joining the apprenticeship training.

Documents Required for Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 :
Candidates should prepare self-attested copies of the required documents before sending the application. Important documents include :
10th pass certificate or Matriculation certificate as proof of date of birth.
10th or HSC mark sheet.
Semester-wise or year-wise mark sheets.
Pass certificate in the relevant discipline or trade.
SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer/EWS certificate, where applicable.
Disability certificate, where applicable.
Income and Assets Certificate for EWS candidates.
Nativity Certificate.
Land Affected Category proof, if applicable.
Land Loser Certificate, if applicable.
Aadhaar Card.
Ten recent passport-size photographs.
Police Verification Certificate.
The notification specifically states that the 10th certificate or birth certificate issued by the concerned Education Board or authority is required for date of birth verification.

How to Apply for Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 :
Candidates must complete two important stages before their application can be considered: registration on the relevant Government apprenticeship portal and submission of the prescribed hardcopy application to IREL.
Step-by-Step Application Process :
Candidates applying for Trade Apprentice posts should register on the appropriate apprenticeship portal of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Candidates applying for Graduate or Technician Apprentice posts should register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal of MHRD.
Candidates must complete the portal registration before applying against the IREL notification.
Trade Apprentices should use IREL Establishment Registration Number E05203301006.
Graduate and Technician Apprentices should use IREL Establishment Registration Number STNKKC000004.
After completing the mandatory portal registration, download and fill the application form provided as Annexure A in the notification.
The application form should preferably be typed on A4-size paper.
Affix a recent passport-size photograph in the designated space.
Attach self-attested copies of all required documents.
Write the prescribed recruitment notification number on the envelope.
Send the completed application through post, preferably Speed Post.
The application should be addressed to The Chief Manager - HRM (Legal & ER), IREL (India) Limited, Manavalakurichi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu - 629252.
The completed application must reach IREL on or before 31 August 2026.
Candidates should retain a copy of the application form and postal receipt for future reference.
The hardcopy application is mandatory even after completing online apprenticeship portal registration. Applications received after the last date will not be considered.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions :
Candidates should carefully read the following conditions before applying :
Candidates who have already undergone or are currently undergoing apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, in IREL or another organization are not eligible.
Selected candidates may be assigned to any department of the Manavalakurichi unit according to training requirements.
Selected candidates must execute the prescribed apprenticeship contract.
Apprenticeship engagement does not guarantee regular employment with IREL.
IREL is not obligated to offer permanent employment after completion of training.
Future corrigenda, addenda and recruitment updates will be published on the official IREL website.
Candidature remains provisional until all certificates and eligibility conditions are verified.
False information, forged documents or suppression of material facts can result in cancellation of candidature or termination.
Incomplete applications and applications that do not satisfy eligibility conditions will be rejected.
Apprentices will be governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, as amended from time to time.

Indian Rare Earths (IREL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Key Points for Applicants :
Before applying for the IREL Apprentice Vacancy 2026, candidates should remember these important points :
There are 39 apprenticeship opportunities in total.
The vacancies are divided into 4 Graduate, 4 Technician and 31 Trade Apprentice posts.
B.E./B.Tech candidates can apply for relevant Graduate Apprentice disciplines.
Diploma candidates can apply for relevant Technician Apprentice disciplines.
ITI candidates can apply for the designated Trade Apprentice vacancies.
The general age limit is 18 to 25 years.
Applicable relaxation is available for reserved categories as per the notification.
There is no written examination.
Selection is based on educational merit and prescribed priority categories.
Document verification, medical fitness and police verification are mandatory stages.
Candidates must register on the relevant Government apprenticeship portal.
Hardcopy submission of the application form is compulsory.
The completed application must reach IREL by 31 August 2026.
Candidates should apply for only one trade.
Higher qualifications may make candidates ineligible for the advertised induction-level apprenticeship positions.
Apprenticeship training does not create any automatic right to permanent employment with IREL.