IREL Tradesman Trainee Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern & Qualifying Marks

IREL Tradesman Trainee Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 – Overview

IREL Tradesman Trainee Syllabus 2026 — Latest Update in Simple Words

IREL (India) Limited has announced 131 Tradesman Trainee posts in four trades: Fitter, Electrician, Instrumentation and Attendant Operator Chemical Plant (AOCP). The written exam is a Computer Based Test (CBT). It has 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks and you get 2 hours. There is no negative marking, so you can attempt every question.

The paper has two sections. Section I is Professional Knowledge of your own trade (100 questions). Section II is general aptitude (50 questions): General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Numerical Ability and English.

Important: You must score the minimum marks in each section. A very high score in the trade section will not help if you fail the general section, and the reverse is also true.

Important Dates 2026

• Notification Released: 16–17 October 2026 (different websites show different days)
• Online Application: Open now on irel.co.in
• Cut-off Date for Age, Qualification and Experience: 9 November 2026
• Last Date to Apply (as reported): 9 November 2026
• CBT Date: Will be announced later
• Skill Test Date: Will be announced after the CBT result
• Days left from today (18 October 2026): about 22 days

Post-Wise Vacancy Details

Who Can Apply? — Quick Eligibility

IREL Tradesman Trainee Exam Pattern 2026

A small mistake on some websites: One popular page lists ‘150 questions’ in its overview table but also says ‘100 questions of 100 marks’ in its FAQ. The two-section table (100 + 50 = 150) and several other sources agree on 150 questions and 150 marks, so that is what we use here. Please confirm in the official notice.

Minimum Qualifying Marks (Section-Wise Cut Off)

Selection Process 2026 — Step by Step

1. Computer Based Test (CBT): 150 MCQs. This is the main stage and decides your merit
2. Skill Test (Trade Test / Computer Proficiency Test): Candidates who do well in the CBT are called. As reported, up to 5 candidates per post (1:5 ratio) may be called, based on CBT merit
3. Skill Test is qualifying only: It has no marks in the merit list. You only need to pass it
4. Final merit: Among those who pass the Skill Test, selection is made on CBT marks
5. Document verification and medical examination for provisionally selected candidates

Simple meaning: Your CBT score is everything for rank. The skill test is a pass-or-fail check of your practical work.

Subject-Wise Syllabus — Section I: Professional Knowledge (100 Marks)

This section is based on your chosen trade. Questions are expected at ITI / NAC level. They test trade theory, tools, equipment, measurements, safety and simple trade calculations. The official notice does not give a topic-by-topic list. The trade-wise topics below are our study guide made from the usual scope of each trade.

Tradesman Trainee (Fitter) — Study Guide

• Workshop tools: hammers, chisels, files, hacksaws, vices, spanners
• Measuring instruments: steel rule, vernier caliper, micrometer, dial gauge, feeler gauge
• Marking out, scribing, punching and surface plate work
• Filing, sawing, drilling, reaming, tapping and threading
• Limits, fits and tolerances
• Engineering drawing: lines, symbols, views and dimensions
• Bearings, couplings, gears, belts and chains
• Lubrication and basic maintenance and alignment
• Welding and cutting basics, if included in your ITI trade
• Workshop safety and handling of tools

Tradesman Trainee (Electrician) — Study Guide

• Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, series and parallel circuits
• Power, energy, resistance, capacitance and inductance
• AC and DC fundamentals, single phase and three phase supply
• Wiring systems, cables, switches, fuses and MCBs
• Transformers, DC machines and induction motors
• Starters, relays and contactors, control circuits
• Measuring instruments: ammeter, voltmeter, multimeter, megger, energy meter
• Earthing, protection and electrical safety
• Fault finding and maintenance
• Indian Electricity rules and safety practices (basic)

Tradesman Trainee (Instrumentation) — Study Guide

• Basics of measurement: accuracy, range, error, calibration
• Pressure measurement: gauges, transmitters
• Temperature measurement: thermocouples, RTD, thermometers
• Level and flow measurement basics
• Sensors, transducers and signal types (including 4–20 mA)
• Control valves, actuators and positioners
• Basic control loops: on-off, P, PI, PID idea
• PLC and basic electronics at ITI level
• P&ID symbols and instrument drawings
• Calibration, troubleshooting and plant safety

Tradesman Trainee (Attendant Operator Chemical Plant (AOCP)) — Study Guide

• Basic chemistry: elements, compounds, acids, bases, salts, pH
• Unit operations: mixing, filtration, distillation, evaporation, drying
• Pumps, valves, pipes and fittings
• Heat exchangers, reactors, tanks and basic process equipment
• Monitoring of pressure, temperature, flow and level
• Process control and operating parameters
• Safe handling, storage and labelling of chemicals
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), fire safety and first aid
• Plant operation, shutdown and startup basics
• Environment and waste handling

Section II: General Aptitude Syllabus (50 Marks)

This section has 50 questions in all. The notice names four areas: General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Numerical Ability and English. The topic lists are guidance based on references available online.

Numerical Ability

• Number system, LCM and HCF, simplification and approximation
• Percentage, ratio and proportion, average
• Profit and loss, simple and compound interest
• Time and work, time and distance, trains, boats and streams, pipes and cisterns
• Mixtures and allegations, ages
• Mensuration (area and volume)
• Simple and quadratic equations, indices and surds
• Permutations, combinations and probability (basic)

Tip: Learn tables up to 20 and squares up to 30. It saves a lot of time.

Logical Reasoning

• Number series, letter series
• Coding-decoding
• Analogy, classification (odd one out)
• Venn diagrams and relationships
• Clocks, calendar, direction sense, blood relations
• Non-verbal reasoning: mirror images, shapes, figure series
• Analytical and arithmetical reasoning

General English

• Grammar: tenses, articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement
• Fill in the blanks and spotting errors
• Sentence improvement and transformation
• Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech
• Synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases
• Sentence arrangement and para completion
• Spelling correction and vocabulary
• Reading comprehension

General Knowledge

• National and international current affairs
• Indian history and the national movement
• Indian economy, budget and policies
• Important days, books and authors, awards
• Sports
• Science and technology, inventions and discoveries
• National and international organisations, abbreviations
• Countries and capitals
• Basic facts about IREL and rare earth minerals (good to know)

Practice Mini-Quiz (With Answers)

Try these 14 simple questions to check your basics. They are our own practice questions at an easy level.

1. Ohm’s law says V = ?
   Answer: I × R
2. SI unit of electrical power?
   Answer: Watt
3. An ammeter is connected in which way in a circuit?
   Answer: In series
4. What is the main purpose of earthing?
   Answer: Safety, by sending leakage current to the ground
5. A metric vernier caliper commonly has a least count of?
   Answer: 0.02 mm
6. Pitch of a screw thread means?
   Answer: Distance between two neighbouring threads, measured along the axis
7. Which sensor is commonly used to measure temperature in industry?
   Answer: Thermocouple (or RTD)
8. pH of pure neutral water at 25°C?
   Answer: 7
9. Which gas is released when zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid?
   Answer: Hydrogen
10. What is 20% of 250?
    Answer: 50
11. A vehicle moves at 60 km/h for 2.5 hours. Distance covered?
    Answer: 150 km
12. Find the next number: 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
    Answer: 32
13. National Science Day in India is observed on?
    Answer: 28 February
14. Synonym of ‘rapid’?
    Answer: Quick / Fast

How to Use Your 2 Hours in the CBT

• 150 questions in 120 minutes means about 48 seconds per question
• Suggested plan: about 70 minutes for Section I (trade), about 35 minutes for Section II, and 15 minutes for review
• Start with the section where you feel strongest to build confidence, but make sure you do not skip either section
• Because there is no negative marking, never leave a question blank. If unsure, remove wrong options and pick the best one
• Mark difficult questions for review and return to them if time remains
• Remember the separate minimum marks in each section: 25 marks (UR/EWS) in Section II is easy to miss if you ignore it

3-Week Study Plan (Till the Last Date)

How to Prepare for the Skill Test

• The skill test is qualifying only, but you must pass it to be selected
• Fitter: Practise marking, filing to size, drilling and measuring with a vernier caliper
• Electrician: Practise simple wiring, reading circuit diagrams, using a multimeter, and safety steps
• Instrumentation: Practise instrument identification, calibration steps and simple loop checking
• AOCP: Know common plant equipment, valve operation, safety gear and basic process readings
• Also practise basic computer skills in case a computer proficiency test is held for your post
• Always follow safety rules during any practical test

Documents to Keep Ready

• ITI / NAC certificate and marksheets of your trade
• Experience certificates showing 2 years of post-qualification work, as required
• 10th certificate for date of birth
• Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS / PwBD), if applicable
• Electrician license, if required for the Electrician trade
• Photo, signature and ID proof in the required size and format
• Active mobile number and e-mail ID
• NOC from your employer if you are working in a government or PSU job

Tip: Experience certificate should clearly show the trade, the dates and the employer’s name and signature. This is a common reason for rejection.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Section II because you are confident in your trade
• Not reading the official notice about experience and certificates before applying
• Choosing a trade that does not match your ITI trade
• Leaving questions blank, even though there is no negative marking
• Practising only theory and not preparing for the skill test
• Applying on the last day when the website may be slow
• Trusting unofficial websites for dates and rules without cross-checking

Beware of Fraud and Fake Agents

IREL selection is done through the CBT and skill test. Nobody can arrange a job for money. Do not pay any agent and do not share your password or OTP. Apply only through the official website, www.irel.co.in.

Quick Summary

IREL has 131 Tradesman Trainee posts in Fitter (93), Electrician (12), Instrumentation (6) and AOCP (20). The CBT has 150 MCQs, 150 marks, 2 hours, and no negative marking. Section I is trade knowledge (100) and Section II is general aptitude (50). You need at least 50% (UR/EWS) or 45% (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) in each section. A qualifying skill test follows, and final selection is on CBT marks. Cut-off date for age and qualification is 9 November 2026.

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