PSU & Engineering

PGCIL Recruitment 2026

PGCIL Recruitment 2026 exam is scheduled for Diploma Trainee CBT: 1 Jul 2026 (Completed); Engineer Trainee shortlisted via GATE 2026 score, GD/PI to follow with 660 (tentative, Diploma Trainee/Junior Officer Trainee/Junior Technician Trainee) + Engineer Trainee via GATE 2026 (varies by discipline) vacancies.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID/PGCIL)

Mode

Online

Level

Graduate

Vacancies

660 (tentative, Diploma Trainee/Junior Officer Trainee/Junior Technician Trainee) + Engineer Trainee via GATE 2026 (varies by discipline)

Fee

₹500 (General/OBC/EWS); Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women

Last updated: July 4, 2026

Key dates

PGCIL Engineer Trainee (ET-2026) Notification

27 Sep 2025

ET Application via GATE 2026

Feb–Mar 2026 (Closed)

Diploma Trainee Notification & Application

20 Apr 2026 – 11 May 2026 (Closed)

Diploma Trainee CBT

1 Jul 2026 (Completed)

ET GD/Interview & Final Result

To be announced

Quick Summary

PGCIL Recruitment 2026 covers two parallel tracks at Power Grid Corporation of India, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Power and India's largest power transmission utility: Engineer Trainee (ET-2026) posts in Electrical, Electronics, Civil and Computer Science/IT, notified 27 September 2025 and filled via GATE 2026 score (weighted 85% GATE, 3% GD, 12% PI, applications closed Feb-Mar 2026) with CTC up to roughly Rs. 22.5 lakh per annum; and a separate Diploma Trainee/Junior Officer Trainee/Junior Technician Trainee (Non-Executive) drive for around 660 tentative vacancies, with applications open 20 April to 11 May 2026 and the CBT (own PGCIL exam, no GATE required) held on 1 July 2026. Application fee is Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS with exemptions for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women. Age limit for Engineer Trainee is 28 years, with standard category relaxations across both routes. GD/Interview and final results for the Engineer Trainee route are yet to be announced.

Eligibility

Engineer Trainee (ET): Full-time B.E./B.Tech in Electrical, Electronics, Civil or Computer Science/IT with a valid GATE 2026 score in the corresponding discipline
Diploma Trainee/Junior Officer Trainee/Junior Technician Trainee (Non-Executive): Diploma in the relevant engineering trade (Electrical, Civil, Electronics, Computer Science) from a recognized institute, recruited via PGCIL's own written exam without GATE
Minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in the qualifying degree/diploma (relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD as per norms)
Age limit: 28 years (upper limit) for Engineer Trainee; standard limits with government relaxation for Diploma Trainee/Non-Executive posts
Indian citizenship required

Syllabus

Engineer Trainee route: GATE syllabus of the concerned discipline (Electrical, Electronics, Civil or Computer Science/IT) — no separate written exam conducted by PGCIL
Group Discussion and Personal Interview for GATE-shortlisted Engineer Trainee candidates
Diploma Trainee/Non-Executive route: Computer Based Test covering General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and diploma/trade-specific technical knowledge
Power transmission sector fundamentals and general knowledge of PGCIL's operations
Document verification and medical examination for all shortlisted candidates

Exam Pattern

Engineer Trainee: Selection weighted as GATE score (85%), Group Discussion (3%) and Personal Interview (12%) — no separate PGCIL written test for this route
Diploma Trainee/Junior Officer Trainee/Junior Technician Trainee: PGCIL conducts its own Computer Based Test (objective, multiple choice) for shortlisting
CBT-qualified Diploma/Non-Executive candidates undergo document verification and, where applicable, a skill/aptitude assessment
Final merit for Engineer Trainee based on combined GATE + GD + PI weightage; for Diploma Trainee based on CBT score plus document verification
Medical fitness examination mandatory for all selected candidates across both routes

Exam overview

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID/PGCIL) is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power and India's largest electric power transmission utility, responsible for planning, implementing, operating and maintaining the inter-state and inter-regional transmission network that forms the backbone of the National Grid, along with a growing telecom infrastructure business.

PGCIL recruits Engineer Trainees in Electrical, Electronics, Civil and Computer Science/IT disciplines almost entirely through valid GATE scores, with selection weighted 85% GATE score, 3% Group Discussion and 12% Personal Interview, offering a CTC of up to roughly Rs. 22.5 lakh per annum. Separately, PGCIL runs a large-scale Non-Executive recruitment drive for Diploma Trainee, Junior Officer Trainee and Junior Technician Trainee posts (660 tentative vacancies for the 2026 cycle) filled through its own Computer Based Test, without requiring a GATE score, making it accessible to diploma holders across the country.

Preparation tip

Start with the syllabus topics listed above, then practice timed mock tests and revise previous year questions weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PGCIL recruit without a GATE score?▼

Yes. While Engineer Trainee (ET) posts are recruited almost entirely through valid GATE scores, PGCIL's Diploma Trainee, Junior Officer Trainee and Junior Technician Trainee (Non-Executive) posts are filled through PGCIL's own Computer Based Test, which does not require a GATE score. The 2026 Diploma Trainee cycle notified around 660 tentative vacancies.

What is the salary of a PGCIL Engineer Trainee?▼

A PGCIL Engineer Trainee draws a Basic Pay of around Rs. 40,000 per month during the one-year training period, with a total CTC of approximately Rs. 11 lakh per annum during training, rising to a CTC of up to roughly Rs. 22.5 lakh per annum on regularization, depending on posting and applicable allowances.

Which disciplines does PGCIL recruit through GATE?▼

PGCIL's Engineer Trainee-2026 recruitment covers Electrical, Electronics, Civil, and Computer Science/IT disciplines through the corresponding GATE 2026 papers. The exact vacancy distribution by discipline is notified each year in PGCIL's official recruitment advertisement on powergrid.in.

What is the selection process for PGCIL Diploma Trainee posts?▼

PGCIL Diploma Trainee, Junior Officer Trainee, and Junior Technician Trainee posts are filled through PGCIL's own Computer Based Test covering General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, and diploma/trade-specific technical knowledge, followed by document verification and medical examination. For the 2026 cycle, the CBT for roughly 660 tentative vacancies was held on 1 July 2026.

What is the age limit for PGCIL Engineer Trainee recruitment?▼

The maximum age limit for PGCIL Engineer Trainee (ET-2026) posts is 28 years as on the notified date, with standard government-mandated age relaxation for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates as per prevailing norms.

Official Resources

↗

Official Website

https://powergrid.in

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