The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), along with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) Chennai and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) Tamil Nadu, has released a recruitment notification for the engagement of apprentices for the year 2025-26 under the Apprenticeship (Amendment) Act 1973. This opportunity is open for Graduate Apprentices (Engineering and Non-Engineering) and Diploma Apprentices across various TNSTC regions including Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Salem, Madurai, Tirunelveli, MTC Chennai, and SETC Tamil Nadu.
This is a golden chance for candidates who have completed their degree or diploma between 2021 and 2025 to gain valuable training and industry exposure in one of the largest transport networks of the country. The apprenticeship will be for one year, during which candidates will receive a monthly stipend ranging from ₹8,000 to ₹9,000.
Important Dates
- Starting date of online application: 18th September 2025
- Last date for online application submission: 18th October 2025
- Declaration of shortlisted candidates: 29th October 2025
- Certificate verification for shortlisted candidates: Second week of November 2025 (tentative)
Candidates are advised not to wait until the last date, as late or incomplete applications will be rejected.
Total Vacancies
A total of 1588 apprenticeship slots are available across multiple regions. The details are given below:
Graduate Apprentices (Engineering / Technology) – 458 slots
- TNSTC Villupuram – 100
- TNSTC Kumbakonam – 72
- TNSTC Salem – 47
- TNSTC Madurai – 20
- TNSTC Tirunelveli – 66
- MTC Chennai – 123
- SETC Tamil Nadu – 30
Diploma (Technician) Apprentices – 561 slots
- TNSTC Villupuram – 40
- TNSTC Kumbakonam – 136
- TNSTC Salem – 45
- TNSTC Madurai – 51
- TNSTC Tirunelveli – 22
- MTC Chennai – 237
- SETC Tamil Nadu – 30
Non-Engineering Graduate Apprentices – 569 slots
- TNSTC Villupuram – 90
- TNSTC Kumbakonam – 300
- TNSTC Madurai – 37
- TNSTC Tirunelveli – 93
- MTC Chennai – 19
- SETC Tamil Nadu – 30
Grand Total: 1588 Apprenticeship Training Slots
Stipend (Salary Scale)
- Graduate Apprentices (Engineering / Non-Engineering): ₹9,000/- per month
- Diploma (Technician) Apprentices: ₹8,000/- per month
No additional allowances like lodging, boarding, or travel expenses will be provided. Apprentices will strictly receive the stipend mentioned above during the training period.
Eligibility Criteria
Category I – Graduate Apprentices (Engineering / Technology)
- Degree in Engineering or Technology (full-time, regular) from a recognized university or institution in relevant discipline with First Class.
- Degrees awarded by statutory universities, institutions established by Parliament Acts, or professional bodies recognized by Central/State Government are acceptable.
Category II – Technician (Diploma) Apprentices
- Diploma in Engineering or Technology (full-time, regular) awarded by State Councils, Boards of Technical Education, or recognized universities/institutions in relevant disciplines.
Category III – Non-Engineering Graduate Apprentices
- Full-time degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Humanities, such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BBM, BCA, etc. from a recognized statutory or deemed university (UGC approved).
Age Limit
- Age limit will be followed as per the Apprenticeship Rules 20-28 years.
- Relaxation in age is applicable as per Government of India guidelines for reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, PwD).
Reservation of Vacancies
- Reservation is applicable for SC, ST, OBC, and PwD candidates as per the Apprenticeship Act and Government rules.
- Candidates must produce valid certificates in the prescribed format to claim reservation benefits.
- OBC candidates must provide a valid Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate.
Physical Standards
- Candidates must meet the minimum physical standards as prescribed in Clause 4 of the Apprenticeship Rule, 1992 and its amendments.
Duration of Training
- The apprenticeship training will be for one year only.
- After completion of training, apprentices cannot claim permanent employment with TNSTC, MTC, or SETC.
Previous Training / Experience
- Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship training or have work experience of one year or more are not eligible to apply.
Selection Process
- Shortlisting of Candidates
- Conducted by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT – Southern Region).
- Based on percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination (Degree or Diploma).
- Publication of Shortlist
- Shortlisted candidates will be notified via their registered email ID.
- The list will also be displayed on the apprenticeship portal.
- Certificate Verification
- Shortlisted candidates must appear for certificate/document verification at TNSTC Trichy Region office.
- Dates will be announced in the official schedule.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)
Applications must be submitted online through the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal.
Step 1 – Enrolment on NATS Portal
- New users must register on the NATS portal.
- Fill in basic details and complete the registration process.
- A unique 12-digit enrollment number will be generated.
Step 2 – Login and Apply
- Login with your email ID and password.
- Go to “Apply Against Advertised Vacancies”.
- Search for the relevant TNSTC, MTC, or SETC organization name.
- Select the preferred region and click on “Apply”.
- Your application status will be marked as “Applied”.
Important Instructions
- Incomplete or erroneous applications will be rejected.
- No TA/DA will be paid for attending the certificate verification process.
- Boarding and lodging will not be provided during the training.
- Apprentices cannot demand employment after completing training.
- Canvassing or influence in the selection process will lead to disqualification.
- Candidates must rely only on the official BOAT (SR) notifications for updates.
Why Choose TNSTC Apprenticeship
- Opportunity to gain practical industry experience in one of India’s largest public transport corporations.
- Hands-on exposure in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Computer Science, and various non-technical domains.
- A stepping stone for a career in the government/public transport sector.
- Monthly stipend to support learning and skill development.
