Power Grid Corporation of India Limited — a Maharatna CPSE under the Ministry of Power, and one of the largest transmission utilities in the world — notified 668 non-executive posts under Advertisement No. CC/01/2026.
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An ITI holder absorbed as a Junior Technician reaches an annual CTC of approximately ₹10.9 lakh. A diploma holder reaches ₹12.7 lakh. Both after a one-year training period, and both selected 100% on a Computer Based Test — there is no interview.
Applications ran 20 April to 11 May 2026 and have closed. This guide serves candidates in the current pipeline and those preparing for the next cycle.
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And it carries the strictest over-qualification rule in this series — one that applies at the time of application and again at the time of joining.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organisation | POWERGRID — Maharatna CPSE, Ministry of Power; plus subsidiary CTUIL |
| Advertisement | CC/01/2026 |
| Vacancies | 668 — 630 + 8 backlog (POWERGRID) + 30 (CTUIL) |
| Posts | Diploma Trainee (Electrical/Civil/Survey) · Junior Officer Trainee (HR/F&A) · Junior Technician Trainee (Survey) |
| Selection | CBT — 100% of merit → Skill/Trade Test (qualifying) → DV → PEME |
| Interview | None |
| Training | 1 year — ₹24,000 (DT/JOT) · ₹21,000 (JTT) |
| After absorption | ₹12.7 lakh CTC (DT) · ₹10.9 lakh CTC (JTT) |
| Service bond | 3 years — ₹2.5 lakh (DT/JOT) · ₹1.25 lakh (JTT) |
| Portal | careers.powergrid.in — the PRAVESH portal |
1. The Over-Qualification Rule — Stricter Than Anywhere Else
POWERGRID states it twice, and both times without qualification:
“Higher technical qualification like B.E./B.Tech/M.Tech/M.E. etc. with or without Diploma is not allowed.”
“Higher technical qualification like Diploma/B.E./B.Tech etc. with or without ITI, is not allowed — either at the time of application or at the time of joining.”
Three things make this the strictest version of a rule that recurs across this series.
First, it cascades. A B.Tech holder cannot apply for Diploma Trainee. And a Diploma holder cannot apply for Junior Technician Trainee — the ITI post. Each tier excludes the tier above it.
Second, it applies at joining, not only at application. A candidate who acquires a higher qualification between applying and joining is disqualified. No other recruiter covered in this series states this.
Third, it extends beyond engineering. Junior Officer Trainee (F&A) requires the Intermediate level of CA (ICAI) or CMA (ICMAI) — and “candidates with full membership (final level) of CA/CMA are not eligible, as higher qualifications are not permitted for this post.”
Set the pattern out across the series:
| Employer | Rule |
|---|---|
| RRB Technician | Diploma not accepted in lieu of ITI for Level 2 |
| IOCL Apprentice | B.E./B.Tech, MBA, MCA, CA, LLB not eligible |
| BHEL Apprentice | Prior apprenticeship or 1 year’s work experience disqualifies |
| POWERGRID | Higher qualification barred at application and at joining — and cascades down every tier |
The principle is now unmistakable across the technical tier: your qualification is a ceiling, not merely a floor. For an ITI or diploma holder, that is protection — the entire tier above you is excluded from competing.
2. Eligibility
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Diploma Trainee (Electrical) — DTE | Full-time regular 3-year Diploma in Electrical / Electrical (Power) / Electrical and Electronics / Power Systems Engineering / Power Engineering (Electrical) from a recognised Technical Board or Institute — minimum 70% for General/OBC(NCL)/EWS; pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD |
| Diploma Trainee (Civil) — DTC | 3-year Diploma in Civil Engineering |
| Diploma Trainee (Survey) — DTS | 3-year Diploma in the relevant discipline |
| Junior Technician Trainee (Survey) — JTT | Two-year full-time ITI (Surveyor) from a recognised board |
| Junior Officer Trainee (HR) | BBA / BBM / BBS |
| Junior Officer Trainee (F&A) | Intermediate level of CA (ICAI) or Intermediate level of CMA (ICMAI) — full members not eligible |
The 70% Bar — And the Differential
DTE requires 70% for General, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates — and pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD.
That is not a five-point relaxation. It is the removal of the bar entirely.
For an SC/ST/PwBD candidate with a diploma, there is no percentage threshold for the Electrical Diploma Trainee post. This is the widest qualification differential in this series, and it should be acted on.
Age: up to 27 years for Junior Technician Trainee, with relaxation for reserved categories per government norms.
3. Selection — CBT Decides Everything
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Computer Based Test | 100% weightage for merit |
| 2. Computer Skill Test | JOT posts only — qualifying |
| 3. Trade Test | JTT (Survey) only — qualifying |
| 4. Document Verification | At the regional office — originals |
| 5. Pre-Employment Medical Examination | POWERGRID medical standards |
“There is no interview. Final selection is based 100% on the marks scored in the Computer Based Test, subject to qualifying the Computer Skill Test or Trade Test (wherever applicable) and passing the Pre-Employment Medical Examination.”
The CBT
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 170 objective |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Technical / Professional | 120 questions |
| Aptitude / Reasoning / English / General Awareness | 50 questions |
| Negative marking | ¼ mark for incorrect or multiple answers |
Note the weighting: 120 of 170 questions are technical. Roughly 70% of the paper is your own diploma or ITI syllabus.
As one source puts it: “Exam will be on your Diploma/ITI stuff and a bit aptitude. No need pricey coaching — if your basics are clear.”
The Trade Test for JTT (Survey) is a practical proficiency test assessing practical surveying knowledge. Qualifying in nature — marks are not added to merit.
This is now the established pattern across the technical tier: written test decides, practical test is qualifying but must be cleared — identical to DRDO CEPTAM Technician-A and NTPC’s Artisan Trainee route.
CBT Cities
Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Dehradun, Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Cuttack, Lucknow, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Patna, Ranchi, Mumbai, Raipur, Guwahati, Shillong and others listed in the notification.
4. Salary — Training and After
During Training — One Year
| Post | Basic | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma Trainee / JOT | ₹24,000 per month | S0 level — pay scale ₹24,000–3%–₹1,08,000 (IDA), plus IDA, HRA and perks at 12% of basic pay |
| Junior Technician Trainee | ₹21,000 per month | Plus IDA, HRA and perks |
After Absorption
| Post | Grade | Pay scale | Annual CTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma Trainee | S1 — Junior Engineer Gr-IV / Junior Officer Gr-IV | ₹25,000–3%–₹1,17,500 (IDA) | ~₹12.7 lakh |
| Junior Technician Trainee | W3 | — | ~₹10.9 lakh |
An ITI holder reaching an annual CTC of approximately ₹10.9 lakh is the headline figure of this recruitment, and it is the highest ITI-entry package covered in this series.
As with NTPC, POWERGRID follows the IDA pay pattern, with the 3% annual increment built into the scale.
Benefits on Regularisation
Dearness Allowance · Perquisites and allowances on a cafeteria approach · Performance Related Pay · Company quarters or HRA · Reimbursement of conveyance, mobile and laptop · PF · Gratuity · Pension (NPS) · Leave encashment · Group Insurance · Free medical treatment · Loans and advances, including house building advance · 60-day annual leave
5. The Service Bond
All selected candidates must sign a service agreement bond — for 3 years after training.
| Post | General / OBC / EWS | SC / ST / PwBD |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma Trainee / JOT | ₹2,50,000 | ₹1,25,000 |
| Junior Technician Trainee (Survey) | ₹1,25,000 | ₹62,500 |
“The service bond of ₹2,50,000 for general category candidates makes exit painful for three years after training.”
Compare: NTPC’s Engineering Executive Trainee bond is ₹5,00,000 for General/EWS/OBC over the same 3-year period. POWERGRID’s is half that — but it is real, and it should be factored before applying.
6. The Posting Reality — Stated Honestly
This is the section most guides omit, and it is the one that should decide whether you apply.
“POWERGRID installs and operates transmission lines across remote locations in Rajasthan, Ladakh, Northeast India, and coastal zones. Junior engineers here are not desk workers. You will be posted where the grid needs you, not where you want to be.”
The job profile: “Diploma Trainees and Junior Engineers are responsible for maintenance, inspection, and operation of transmission lines and substations. The role involves field work, site inspections, fault handling, and coordination with technical teams. Expect outdoor work in challenging environments.”
And the transfer rule: “This recruitment is conducted on a regional basis, and selected candidates are generally not entitled to inter-region transfer on request.”
Read those together. You apply to a region, you are posted within it, and you cannot request a transfer out of it. The region you select on the application form is, in practical terms, where your career will be.
The ₹12.7 lakh CTC is real. So is the posting.
7. The Competition — And Where the Arbitrage Is
“POWERGRID recruitments historically attract 50 to 200 applicants per vacancy in the Electrical discipline.”
| Post | Competition |
|---|---|
| DTE (Electrical) | High to Very High |
| DTC (Civil) | Medium — lower applicant pool |
| JOT (F&A) | Medium — lower applicant pool |
“The DTE (Electrical) alone has 630+ vacancies across all regions, but when you split that region-wise, many areas have 10 to 30 seats, and you will be fighting a pool that includes diploma holders from every engineering college in that zone.”
Region-wise vacancy concentration: Western Region-II carries the highest count at 111 posts, followed by Northern Region-I at 92 and Southern Region-II at 81.
The arbitrage is stated plainly by the sources themselves: DTC (Civil) and JOT (F&A) draw medium competition due to lower applicant pools. A civil diploma holder faces a materially smaller field than an electrical one — for the same S1 grade and the same ₹12.7 lakh CTC.
And the honest test: “If you have 70% or above in your diploma and you are willing to relocate within the region you apply for, this is genuinely worth pursuing. But if you are banking on a soft exam or expecting SSC-level competition, this is where expectations break.”
8. Application
Applications are online only, through the official POWERGRID portal.
- Visit www.powergrid.in → Careers → Job Opportunities → Non-Executive Positions.
- Find “Detailed Advertisement” or the advertisement number — CC/01/2026. Download that specific PDF and read it.
- Apply through the POWERGRID PRAVESH portal at careers.powergrid.in.
- New Registration → enter details → log in with the credentials generated.
- Complete the form, upload photograph, signature and documents in the prescribed format and size.
- Verify the details entered and pay the fee.
- Submit.
Offline applications are not accepted. Fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
“Pay only through the official online payment gateway linked at powergrid.in.”
Fee
| Post | General / OBC (NCL) / EWS | SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen |
|---|---|---|
| DTE / DTC / DTS / JOT | ₹300 | Nil |
| JTT (Survey) | ₹200 | Nil |
Payment by Debit Card, Credit Card or Net Banking.
A practical note from the sources: “Don’t wait for 10th May. The powergrid.in site gets slow — or crashes from crowd. Apply in first week itself.” And: “Apply at least 3–5 days before the deadline to avoid last-minute server issues, payment failures, or form correction mistakes.”
9. Documents Checklist
- ☐ 3-year full-time regular Diploma — with 70% for General/OBC/EWS, pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD
- ☐ Two-year full-time ITI (Surveyor) — for JTT
- ☐ CA/CMA Intermediate certificate — for JOT (F&A); full members are ineligible
- ☐ BBA / BBM / BBS — for JOT (HR)
- ☐ Class 10 certificate — age proof
- ☐ Caste / category certificate
- ☐ PwBD certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Ex-Servicemen documentation, where applicable
- ☐ Photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size
- ☐ Originals for Document Verification at the regional office
10. Assessment
In favour:
- An ITI holder reaches ~₹10.9 lakh annual CTC after training — the highest ITI-entry package in this series
- A diploma holder reaches ~₹12.7 lakh
- CBT carries 100% of the merit — no interview, no subjective stage
- 120 of 170 questions are your own technical syllabus
- Higher qualifications are barred — B.Tech holders cannot compete for diploma posts, and diploma holders cannot compete for the ITI post
- SC/ST/PwBD candidates face no percentage bar on the Electrical Diploma Trainee post
- DTC (Civil) and JOT (F&A) draw medium competition — the same grade and CTC, a smaller field
- Maharatna CPSE, one of the world’s largest transmission utilities
- Benefits are extensive — company quarters, free medical, PRP, NPS, 60-day annual leave, house building advance
- Fee ₹200–₹300, nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen
Against:
- 50 to 200 applicants per vacancy in Electrical
- 70% minimum for General/OBC/EWS diploma candidates
- Field-heavy work — Rajasthan, Ladakh, the Northeast, coastal zones. Not a desk job
- Regional recruitment — no inter-region transfer on request
- 3-year service bond — ₹2.5 lakh for General/OBC/EWS
- ₹300 fee, non-refundable
- One year of training before absorption
Recommendations:
If you hold a civil diploma, note that DTC draws medium competition against DTE’s high-to-very-high — for the same S1 grade and the same ₹12.7 lakh CTC. That is the clearest arbitrage in this recruitment.
If you are SC/ST/PwBD with a diploma, there is no percentage bar on DTE. Apply.
If you hold an ITI (Surveyor), the JTT post is worth ₹10.9 lakh CTC — and diploma and B.Tech holders are excluded from competing with you.
Prepare the technical section. 120 of 170 questions are your own diploma or ITI syllabus, and the CBT is 100% of the merit. Basics, not coaching.
And be honest about the region. You apply to one, you are posted within it, and you cannot request a transfer out. The ₹12.7 lakh is real; so is Ladakh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can a B.Tech holder apply for POWERGRID Diploma Trainee? No. “Higher technical qualification like B.E./B.Tech/M.Tech/M.E. etc. with or without Diploma is not allowed” — and the rule applies “either at the time of application or at the time of joining.” Similarly, a diploma holder cannot apply for the Junior Technician Trainee (ITI) post, and full members of CA/CMA cannot apply for Junior Officer Trainee (F&A), which requires the Intermediate level only.
Q2. What is the POWERGRID Diploma Trainee salary? During the one-year training: ₹24,000 per month basic at S0 level, plus IDA, HRA and perks at 12% of basic. After absorption: S1 level — Junior Engineer Gr-IV — on a scale of ₹25,000–3%–₹1,17,500 (IDA), with an annual CTC of approximately ₹12.7 lakh.
Q3. What does an ITI holder earn? Junior Technician Trainee: ₹21,000 per month during training, then absorption at W3 level with an annual CTC of approximately ₹10.9 lakh.
Q4. What is the selection process? A Computer Based Test carrying 100% of the merit — 170 objective questions in 2 hours, comprising 120 technical/professional and 50 aptitude/reasoning/English/General Awareness, with ¼ negative marking. Followed by a Computer Skill Test (JOT) or Trade Test (JTT) — both qualifying only — then Document Verification and a Pre-Employment Medical Examination. There is no interview.
Q5. What marks does the Diploma Trainee post require? Minimum 70% for General/OBC (NCL)/EWS candidates and pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD candidates, in a full-time regular 3-year Diploma from a recognised Technical Board or Institute.
Q6. Is there a service bond? Yes — 3 years after training. Diploma Trainee and JOT: ₹2,50,000 (Gen/OBC/EWS) and ₹1,25,000 (SC/ST/PwBD). JTT (Survey): ₹1,25,000 (Gen/OBC/EWS) and ₹62,500 (SC/ST/PwBD).
Q7. Can I transfer to another region later? Generally not. “This recruitment is conducted on a regional basis, and selected candidates are generally not entitled to inter-region transfer on request.” The work is field-heavy, across remote locations in Rajasthan, Ladakh, Northeast India and coastal zones.
Q8. How competitive is it? POWERGRID recruitments historically attract 50 to 200 applicants per vacancy in the Electrical discipline. Competition is high to very high for DTE (Electrical) and medium for DTC (Civil) and JOT (F&A) due to lower applicant pools. Western Region-II carried the highest vacancy count at 111 posts.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Applications for Advertisement No. CC/01/2026 closed on 11 May 2026. Vacancy numbers, eligibility, percentage requirements, pay, bond amounts, fees, selection stages and dates are set by the official POWERGRID notification and are revised each cycle; secondary sources vary on the total vacancy figure (660 to 668). Candidates must read the official advertisement on powergrid.in before applying and treat it as the final authority.