Electronics engineers who cleared GATE 2026 have a fresh window to join the power sector. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has opened applications for 33 Trainee Engineer (Electronics) posts, and the recruitment is being held for its wholly owned subsidiary, Power Grid Teleservice Limited, better known as PowerTel. The notification, Advertisement No. CC/04/2026, was released on 13 November 2026, and the online application window opened the same evening at 5 pm.
The last date to apply and pay the fee is 27 November 2026. With only two weeks to apply, candidates who meet the eligibility conditions should not wait until the final day, when portal traffic usually peaks.
33 vacancies across categories
POWERGRID has announced 33 vacancies for the Trainee Engineer (Electronics) post, all in the Electronics discipline. The category-wise break-up is 14 posts for unreserved candidates, 7 for OBC (non-creamy layer), 6 for Scheduled Castes, 3 for Scheduled Tribes and 3 for Economically Weaker Sections. The notification also provides horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
One point candidates should note carefully: this is a separate recruitment from the 319-post Engineer Trainee drive POWERGRID announced earlier in November. That drive and this one have different advertisement numbers, different vacancy counts and different eligibility conditions, so applicants should read Advertisement No. CC/04/2026 on its own terms before applying.
Who can apply
Applicants must hold a full-time BE, BTech or BSc (Engineering) degree in an Electronics discipline from a recognised university or institute, with at least 60% marks or an equivalent CGPA. Eligible disciplines include Electronics, Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Telecommunication, Electronics and Electrical Communication, and Telecommunication Engineering.
The GATE condition is strict. Candidates must have appeared for and qualified in the Electronics and Communication (EC) paper of GATE 2026. Only the valid GATE 2026 score will be considered, and scores from earlier GATE examinations will not be accepted. The qualifying marks declared by the GATE 2026 organising body will apply.
The age limit is 18 to 28 years as on 27 November 2026. Relaxation in the upper age limit is 3 years for OBC (NCL) candidates, 5 years for SC and ST candidates, and 10 years for PwBD candidates, in addition to the applicable category relaxation.
Pay, training and the service bond
Selected candidates will undergo one year of training under PowerTel. The advertised pay scale is Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,20,000, along with IDA, HRA and perks at 12% of basic pay per month. The approximate annual CTC is Rs 14.33 lakh, as stated in the recruitment details.
After successful completion of training, candidates will be designated as Assistant Engineers at the E0 level, subject to the prescribed conditions. The compensation package includes basic pay and dearness allowance, house rent allowance or company accommodation, performance related pay, medical facilities, provident fund and gratuity, insurance and retirement benefits, and leave encashment.
There is one condition applicants should weigh before applying. Selected candidates must sign a service agreement bond to serve for at least three years after completing training. The bond amount is Rs 5 lakh for General, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates, and Rs 2.5 lakh for SC, ST and PwBD candidates.
How selection will work
Selection will be based on GATE 2026 performance, followed by a behavioural assessment, a group discussion and a personal interview, and finally a pre-employment medical examination. The final score carries 85% weightage for the GATE 2026 score, 3% for the group discussion and 12% for the personal interview.
Candidates must obtain minimum qualifying marks in the interview: 40% for General and EWS vacancies and 30% for reserved vacancies. The group discussion does not carry separate qualifying marks. Shortlisting for the later stages will be done on the basis of GATE 2026 EC normalised marks.
Application fee and how to apply
The application fee is Rs 500 for General, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwBD and departmental candidates are exempted from the fee. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online before the closing date.
To apply, visit powergrid.in, open the Careers section, and find the notification titled Trainee Engineer (Electronics) for PowerTel through GATE 2026. Register using the GATE 2026 application and registration numbers, fill in personal and educational details, upload the photograph, signature and required certificates, pay the fee if applicable, and submit the form. Candidates should enter their name and other details exactly as mentioned on the GATE 2026 admit card or scorecard, and keep their registered email ID and mobile number active through the recruitment process.
Applicants should also remember that recruitment is for PowerTel, and selection does not provide an automatic employment or absorption claim in POWERGRID itself. Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India or abroad, according to PowerTel’s requirements.
Important dates at a glance
- Official notification: 13 November 2026
- Online applications open: 13 November 2026, 5 pm
- Last date to apply and pay fee: 27 November 2026, 11:59 pm
- Eligibility cut-off date: 27 November 2026
- Official website: powergrid.in
FAQs
How many vacancies are there in POWERGRID Trainee Engineer Recruitment 2026?
There are 33 vacancies for Trainee Engineer (Electronics) under PowerTel, POWERGRID’s wholly owned subsidiary.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date for online applications and fee payment is 27 November 2026.
Is GATE 2026 compulsory?
Yes. Candidates must have qualified in the GATE 2026 Electronics and Communication (EC) paper. Earlier GATE scores are not accepted.
What is the salary offered?
The advertised pay scale is Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,20,000, with allowances. The approximate annual CTC is Rs 14.33 lakh.
What is the application fee?
The fee is Rs 500 for General, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwBD and departmental candidates are exempted.
With the application window open for just two weeks, eligible GATE 2026 EC qualifiers should check the official notification on powergrid.in and apply well before 27 November 2026.
