VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Walk-in Selection Drive for 460+ Posts

VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Walk-in Selection Drive for 460+ Posts

Looking for a government training job this year? A new recruitment notification has been released by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, which works under the Indian Space Research Organisation. This recruitment offers around 460 apprentice training positions. Candidates from all over India can apply, though preference goes to southern states first. Before attending the selection drive, check the eligibility, stipend, age limit and selection process explained below.

This is not a permanent job. It is a one-year apprenticeship training program under the Apprentices Act. Even then, it is a golden chance for fresh engineering and degree holders to get hands-on experience inside one of India’s top space research centres. There is no online form here. You simply walk in with your documents on the fixed date.

VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Highlights

This table gives you the full snapshot in one look. VSSC is one of the main centres of ISRO, and it trains apprentices every year across engineering, hotel management and general administrative streams.

Do note that this is a training program, not a regular job. Still, many candidates use this apprenticeship to build strong experience before applying for permanent roles in government or private companies later.

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Who Can Apply

Only Indian citizens can apply for this apprenticeship. Fresh engineering graduates, diploma holders, hotel management graduates and general stream graduates can all try, depending on which category matches their qualification.

Candidates who finished their degree or diploma very long ago are not eligible. If it has been more than 5 years since you passed your final exam, you cannot apply. Also, if you are still waiting for your final year result or currently studying M.Tech or M.E, you are not eligible this time. Candidates who already completed one year of apprenticeship elsewhere also cannot apply again.

Educational Qualification

The qualification required depends on the discipline you choose. Here is a simple breakdown.

• Graduate Apprentice (Engineering): Engineering degree in a relevant branch like Aeronautical, Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Production or Fire & Safety, with at least 65% marks or 6.84 CGPA.
• Hotel Management/Catering: First Class degree in Hotel Management or Catering Technology with at least 60% marks.
• General Stream (Non-Engineering) Graduates: Any bachelor’s degree with at least 60% marks or 6.32 CGPA. Training will be in Administration, Finance, Accounts or Purchase.
• Technician Apprentice (Engineering Diploma): First Class Diploma in Engineering branches like Automobile, Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Instrument Technology or Mechanical.
• Technician Apprentice (Commercial Practice): Diploma in Commercial Practice with at least 6.32 CGPA.

One important rule to remember. If your university shows both CGPA and percentage on your mark sheet, only one of them needs to meet the cut-off. But converting CGPA into percentage using any formula is not allowed for checking eligibility.

Age Limit

Your age is calculated as on 31 July 2026, and it changes based on your category and the type of apprenticeship you choose.

Persons with benchmark disability get 10 extra years added to their respective category limit. For example, a UR candidate with disability applying for Graduate Apprentice gets an upper age limit of 38 years instead of 28.

Application Fee

The notification does not mention any application fee for this selection drive. Since there is no online form and no portal payment involved, candidates do not need to pay anything to attend the walk-in selection process.

Salary (Stipend)

As an apprentice, you receive a monthly stipend rather than a regular salary. Graduate Apprentices get Rs. 12,300 per month. Technician Apprentices get Rs. 10,900 per month. This stipend continues for the full one-year training period.

Along with the stipend, canteen and transport facilities are available during training. However, you will need to arrange your own accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram during this period.

Selection Process

The whole process happens in person on a single day, which makes it faster than typical recruitment drives.

1. Candidates report to the venue on 25 July 2026 with original documents.
2. VSSC officials check your certificates and marks against the eligibility criteria.
3. If your documents match, you are given an application form to fill on the spot.
4. You submit the filled form along with your certificate copies to VSSC officials.
5. Final selection is based on the highest marks scored by candidates in their qualifying exam, with due weightage given to reservation categories.

Your position in the final merit panel decides whether you get inducted, and this also depends on how many vacancies are actually available at that time.

Documents Required

Carry your original certificates plus one set of self-attested photocopies. Do not forget any of these on the selection drive day.

• Degree or Diploma certificate (Provisional or Final)
• Consolidated mark list of your qualifying degree or diploma
• SSLC/10th certificate as proof of date of birth
• Experience certificate, if you have any prior work experience
• One recent passport size photograph
• Valid Caste Certificate from Tahsildar, for SC/ST candidates
• Valid Non-Creamy Layer Certificate from Tahsildar, for OBC candidates
• Valid Income and Asset Certificate for FY 2026-27, for EWS candidates
• Disability Certificate from a competent authority, for PwBD candidates

Keep your documents arranged in the same order mentioned above. This makes the on-spot verification faster and reduces your waiting time at the venue.

Important Dates

Mark 25 July 2026 clearly on your calendar. This is the only date given for the entire process, and no other mode of application will be accepted. If you miss this date, you will have to wait for the next recruitment cycle.

How to Apply

There is no online application for this recruitment. Follow these steps instead.

1. Download and read the official notification PDF carefully.
2. Prepare your original certificates and self-attested photocopies as listed above.
3. Reach Karthika Thirunal Govt. V&GHSS for Girls, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala by 9:30 AM on 25 July 2026.
4. Visit the VSSC pavilion set up at the venue.
5. Get your documents verified by VSSC officials.
6. Collect and fill the application form provided on the spot.
7. Submit your filled form along with the certificate copies before the end of the drive.

Reach the venue early to avoid long queues. Since the drive runs only for one day, arriving late could cost you your chance.

Why You Should Apply

VSSC is one of the most important centres of ISRO, India’s space agency. Getting apprenticeship experience here adds real value to your resume, whether you plan to continue in the space sector or move to another engineering field later.

With around 460 training positions open across many disciplines, your chances are quite good if your qualification and marks match the criteria. The stipend is also decent for a training role, and the exposure to a premier research organisation is hard to find elsewhere.

Preparation Tips

• Recheck your mark sheets and CGPA well in advance to confirm you meet the cut-off.
• Get your caste, income or disability certificates ready early, since these take time from local offices.
• Make two sets of photocopies of every document, just to be safe.
• Reach the venue at least 30 minutes before the reporting time.
• Carry extra passport size photographs, in case more are needed on the spot.
• Dress neatly and carry a pen, folder and clipboard for filling the form comfortably.

Small preparation steps like these can save you a lot of stress on the actual day. Since everything happens within a single working day, being organised gives you a real advantage.

Important Links

Download the official PDF first and read it fully before you travel to the venue. For more government job and apprenticeship updates like this one, download the NaukriPatra app and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels.

FAQs – VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. What is the last date to apply for VSSC Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

There is no last date because there is no online application. You must attend the walk-in selection drive on 25 July 2026 between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

2. How many vacancies are there in this recruitment?

There are approximately 460 tentative apprentice training positions across Graduate Apprentice and Technician Apprentice categories.

3. What is the stipend for VSSC Apprentice posts?

Graduate Apprentices get Rs. 12,300 per month, and Technician Apprentices get Rs. 10,900 per month.

4. Is this a permanent job at ISRO?

No. This is a one-year apprenticeship training program. It does not guarantee any permanent employment at VSSC or ISRO.

5. Can candidates from outside South India apply?

Yes, but candidates from Southern Region institutions (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry) are given priority. Others are considered only if there is a shortage of applications.

6. Is there any application fee?

No application fee is mentioned in the notification.

7. What is the age limit for this recruitment?

The age limit as on 31 July 2026 ranges from 26 to 35 years depending on your category and the apprenticeship type, with extra relaxation for PwBD candidates.

8. Where will the selection drive be held?

At Karthika Thirunal Govt. V&GHSS for Girls, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala.

9. What is the selection process for this recruitment?

Candidates are shortlisted through document verification, and final selection is based on the highest marks scored in the qualifying exam with weightage to reservation categories.

10. Can final year students or M.Tech candidates apply?

No. Candidates awaiting final year results or currently pursuing M.E/M.Tech are not eligible for this recruitment.

11. Can candidates who already did an apprenticeship apply again?

No. Candidates who already completed or are undergoing apprenticeship training elsewhere are not eligible.

12. Will accommodation be provided during training?

No. Canteen and transport facilities are available, but candidates must arrange their own accommodation.

13. What documents should I carry for the selection drive?

Carry your degree/diploma certificate, mark list, SSLC certificate, category certificates if applicable, experience certificate if any, and a passport size photo, along with original documents and self-attested copies.

14. Does completing this apprenticeship guarantee a job at ISRO?

No. The notification clearly states that completing the apprenticeship does not confer any right to permanent employment in ISRO or its units.

15. How do I register after being selected?

Selected candidates must register under a contract on the NATS 2.0 portal through the Ministry of Education’s website soon after induction.