Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, a shipbuilding company under the Ministry of Defence, has issued Employment Notification No. 2026/05(J&OP) for 58 posts: 55 Journeyman in 14 trades and 3 Driver (Vehicle) Skilled, Grade-III. Online applications opened on 30 October 2026 (2:00 PM) and close on 28 November 2026 (11:59 PM).
Candidates with only a Class 10 pass plus NAC or NTC in the trade can apply for Journeyman, and Class 10 pass drivers with a commercial licence and 6 years of experience can apply for the Driver post. Candidates with a Graduate or higher professional degree cannot apply. This guide explains the 2-year Journeyman training with stipend, vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern with qualifying marks, age maths and a 4-week plan. Today is 1 November, so 27 days are left.
GRSE Journeyman and Driver Recruitment 2026 (Notification No. 2026/05(J&OP)) — Complete Guide
58 Posts for 10th Pass + ITI/NAC Candidates | Apply Online 30 October to 28 November 2026 | Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, Ministry of Defence |
| Notification Number | 2026/05(J&OP) |
| Posts | Journeyman (various trades) and Driver (Vehicle) Skilled, Grade-III |
| Total Vacancies | 58 (Journeyman 55 + Driver 3) |
| Qualification | Matriculation + NAC/NTC in the trade (Journeyman); Matriculation + Commercial LMV licence + 6 years’ experience (Driver) |
| Age Limit | Journeyman: up to 26 years. Driver: up to 32 years (as on 1 October 2026) |
| Application Fee | ₹472 for General/OBC/EWS. Exempt for SC/ST/PwBD/internal candidates |
| Selection | Written Test, Practical (Trade) Test, Document Verification, and PET for some posts |
| Application Start | 30 October 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Last Date | 28 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Official Website | grse.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date and Time |
| Application Starts | 30 October 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Application Closes | 28 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 28 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Age Counted As On | 1 October 2026 |
| Written Test | To be announced |
The window is 30 days (30 October to 28 November), and about 27 days remain from today. Since a trade certificate, an experience letter and a fee must all be ready before the form is complete, start collecting documents this week.
Vacancy and Category-Wise Details
| Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
| Journeyman (Various Trades) | 23 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 55 |
| Driver (Vehicle) Skilled, Grade-III | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | 3 |
| Grand Total | 25 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 58 |
The vacancies include reservations for PwBD and Ex-Servicemen, as per Government rules, and also include backlog posts. The trade-wise breakup of the 55 Journeyman posts is given in the official PDF.
Journeyman has 95% of all posts (55 of 58). UR has 25 posts (about 43%), SC 12 (21%), OBC 11 (19%), EWS 7 (12%) and ST 3 (5%). The Driver post has only 3 seats, so it is a very narrow door for experienced drivers.
The 14 Journeyman Trades
| Trades (1 to 7) | Trades (8 to 14) |
| Carpenter | Machine Operator |
| Crane Operator | Painter |
| Diesel Mechanic | Pipe Fitter |
| Driver (Material Handling) | Rigger |
| Electrician | Structural Fitter |
| Electronic Mechanic | Welder |
| Fitter | GRP/FRP Worker |
For Driver (Material Handling), Rigger and Crane Operator posts, a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) is also held. The notification gives the PET standards, so read them if you are applying for these trades.
Journeyman vs Driver — Which Post Is for You?
| Point | Journeyman | Driver (Vehicle) Skilled Gr-III |
| Vacancies | 55 | 3 |
| Education | Matriculation + NAC/NTC in the trade | Matriculation + valid Commercial LMV licence (Heavy licence desirable) |
| Experience | Not required | 6 years of post-qualification driving of light and heavy motor vehicles on direct employment |
| Age Limit | 26 years | 32 years |
| Written Qualifying Marks | 50% overall | 40% overall |
| Start | 2-year training on stipend | Appointed in Skilled grade |
| Pay | ₹24,000 and ₹26,000 stipend, then ₹19,900 – ₹69,650 | ₹20,110 – ₹70,390 |
The Driver post is better for experienced drivers who want a direct pay scale from day one, while Journeyman is a training route with a stipend that can lead to a permanent post. Choose the one that matches your certificate and experience, because you cannot swap later.
Qualification and Experience Rules in Detail
- Journeyman: Matriculation (Class 10) with NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) or NTC (National Trade Certificate) in your own trade
- Driver: Matriculation with a valid Commercial LMV Driving Licence. A valid Heavy Vehicle licence is desirable
- Driver experience: at least 6 years after qualification, in an organisation, firm or rental agency, on a direct employment basis, driving light and heavy motor vehicles
- Not eligible: candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as a Graduate or Post Graduate degree in Engineering or Technology, MBA, CA, CS, LL.B, MCA or Ph.D.
| Certificate | What It Means |
| NTC (National Trade Certificate) | Given to candidates who pass the ITI trade exam under NCVT |
| NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) | Given to candidates who complete apprenticeship training and pass the exam |
The rule against higher professional degrees is important. A B.Tech or MBA holder cannot apply even if he or she also has an ITI certificate, so this job is meant for Class 10 plus trade candidates.
Age Limit and Relaxation — Worked Out for You
| Category | Journeyman (Base 26) | Driver (Base 32) |
| General / UR / EWS | 26 years | 32 years |
| OBC (NCL) — 3 years | 29 years | 35 years |
| SC/ST — 5 years | 31 years | 37 years |
| PwBD (UR) — 10 years | 36 years | 42 years |
| PwBD and OBC (NCL) — 13 years | 39 years | 45 years |
| PwBD and SC/ST — 15 years | 41 years | 47 years |
- Ex-Servicemen: the period of service plus 3 years
- Ex-Agniveers: 3 years (up to 5 years for the first batch)
- Ex-Trade Apprentices of GRSE: 3 years
- After all relaxations, the maximum age cannot be more than 56 years on 1 October 2026
These upper limits are simple additions of the stated relaxation to the base age, and the official PDF is the final word. For example, a SC candidate who is 30 years old can apply for Journeyman (limit 31), but a General candidate of the same age cannot (limit 26).
Selection Process and Qualifying Marks
- Written Test of 100 marks (OMR or CBT, as decided by GRSE)
- Practical (Trade) Test of 50 marks, shortlisted from the written test in the ratio of 1:5, and it is qualifying in nature
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for Driver (Material Handling), Rigger and Crane Operator
- Document Verification
| Test | Maximum Marks | Qualifying Marks |
| Written Test — Journeyman | 100 | 50% overall (45% for SC/ST/OBC and 40% for PwBD) |
| Written Test — Driver | 100 | 40% overall (35% for OBC and 30% for PwBD) |
| Practical Test | 50 | 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC and 40% for PwBD) |
| Category | Journeyman Written (Out of 100) | Practical (Out of 50) |
| General / UR / EWS | 50 | 25 |
| SC / ST / OBC | 45 | 22.5 |
| PwBD | 40 | 20 |
Journeyman candidates of the General category need 50 out of 100 in the written test and 25 out of 50 in the practical test. A strong written score can be wasted if the practical is below the line, so give your hands-on skill the same attention as the book theory.
Written Test Pattern
| Part | Subjects | Marks |
| Part-I | Trade-related questions as per the syllabus of your trade | 80 |
| Part-II | General Knowledge, General Aptitude, Reasoning, Mental Ability, Numerical Ability | 20 |
| Total | 100 objective type MCQs | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours | — |
| Medium | English and Hindi (English prevails if there is any doubt) | — |
80% of the written test is your own trade, so strong trade knowledge decides the result. At 100 questions in 120 minutes, you get 72 seconds per question. The notification does not mention negative marking in the information available, so check the official PDF before deciding whether to guess.
Stipend, Pay and Benefits
| Post | Pay Details |
| Journeyman: 1st Year | ₹24,000 per month (stipend) |
| Journeyman: 2nd Year | ₹26,000 per month (stipend) |
| Journeyman: After Training | May be absorbed in the Semi-Skilled (SSK) grade, ₹19,900 – 3% – ₹69,650, with Industrial DA, HRA, allowances, CPF and gratuity as per company rules |
| Driver (Skilled, Grade-III) | ₹20,110 – 3% – ₹70,390, with applicable allowances and benefits |
A Journeyman trainee earns ₹6,00,000 in the two training years (₹24,000 × 12 plus ₹26,000 × 12), which is a good amount for a Class 10 plus trade candidate. Note that absorption on the permanent roll is stated as “may be absorbed”, so it is not an automatic promise.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹472 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Internal Candidates | Exempt |
The fee is non-refundable and is paid online through the payment gateway before 28 November 2026, 11:59 PM.
How to Apply for GRSE Journeyman and Driver 2026
- Open grse.in and go to the careers section, or use the application portal link in the links box
- Create your login with a valid e-mail ID and mobile number
- Fill in your personal, educational and trade details exactly as in your certificates
- Upload your photograph, signature, certificates, category certificate and experience certificate (for Driver)
- Pay the fee online if you are not exempt
- Submit the form and keep a printout of the application and the payment receipt
Documents to Keep Ready
- 10th certificate and marksheet for date of birth proof
- NAC or NTC certificate in your trade (Journeyman)
- Commercial LMV licence, Heavy licence if you have one, and experience letters showing 6 years (Driver)
- Caste, EWS, PwBD or Ex-Servicemen certificate, if you claim any relaxation
- Recent photograph and signature in the size required by the portal
Trade-Wise Study Guide for the 80-Mark Trade Part (Suggested)
| Trade | Topics to Revise |
| Fitter, Pipe Fitter, Structural Fitter | Measuring tools, marking, limits and fits, hand tools, pipe fittings and joints, safety |
| Welder | Arc and gas welding, electrodes, welding symbols, joints, defects and safety |
| Electrician | Ohm’s law, AC/DC circuits, transformers, motors, wiring, earthing and protective devices |
| Electronic Mechanic | Semiconductors, digital electronics, amplifiers, power supplies, soldering and test instruments |
| Diesel Mechanic | Diesel engine parts, fuel injection, cooling and lubrication, fault finding and servicing |
| Carpenter and GRP/FRP Worker | Wood and joints, tools, drawing reading, fibre-reinforced plastic materials and moulding basics |
| Painter | Surface preparation, paints and primers, spraying and coating methods, safety |
| Rigger, Crane Operator, Driver (Material Handling) | Lifting gear, slings and knots, load capacity, crane safety signals and operation, plus PET preparation |
| Machine Operator | Machine tools, cutting tools, speeds and feeds, measuring instruments |
| Driver (Vehicle) | Motor Vehicles Act, traffic signs, vehicle maintenance basics and road safety |
This topic list is made from the trade names and is not an official syllabus, which is given for each trade in the notification.
4-Week Plan Before the Last Date
| Week | Focus |
| Week 1 (1 – 7 Nov) | Read the PDF, choose your trade, collect certificates and apply early |
| Week 2 (8 – 14 Nov) | Revise your trade theory from your ITI books, 90 minutes daily |
| Week 3 (15 – 21 Nov) | Part-II: reasoning, numerical ability and general knowledge for 45 minutes daily. Practise trade skills with your hands |
| Week 4 (22 – 28 Nov) | Final check of the submitted form and fee receipt. Take mock tests of 100 questions in 120 minutes |
Do not wait until 28 November to submit, and complete the form with at least three days in hand.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with a degree in Engineering, Technology, MBA, CA, CS, LL.B, MCA or Ph.D., which makes you ineligible
- Applying for a trade that is not on your NAC or NTC certificate
- Driver applicants counting experience without proof of direct employment
- Ignoring the practical test and PET, which are separate qualifying hurdles
- Entering the wrong age category or relaxation
- Paying the fee late or not at all, when you are not exempt
Important Links |
|
| Apply Online — New Registration | click here |
| Apply Online — Already Registered Login | click here |
| Download Official Notification PDF | click here |
| GRSE Official Website | click here |
| firstjob24 jobs | click here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | click here |
| Subscribe on YouTube | click here |
GRSE Journeyman and Driver Recruitment 2026 — FAQs
Q. How many vacancies are there?
There are 58 vacancies: 55 Journeyman and 3 Driver (Vehicle) Skilled, Grade-III.
Q. What is the last date to apply?
28 November 2026, 11:59 PM. The application opened on 30 October 2026.
Q. What is the qualification for Journeyman?
Matriculation with NAC or NTC in the respective trade.
Q. What is the qualification for Driver?
Matriculation, a valid Commercial LMV driving licence and 6 years of post-qualification driving experience.
Q. Can B.Tech or graduate candidates apply?
No. Candidates with Graduate or Post Graduate professional degrees such as Engineering, MBA, CA, CS, LL.B, MCA or Ph.D. are not eligible.
Q. What is the age limit?
Up to 26 years for Journeyman and 32 years for Driver, as on 1 October 2026, with relaxation as per rules and a maximum of 56 years.
Q. What is the stipend of a Journeyman trainee?
₹24,000 per month in the first year and ₹26,000 per month in the second year.
Q. What is the application fee?
₹472 for General, OBC and EWS. SC, ST, PwBD and internal candidates are exempt.
Q. What is the exam pattern?
A written test of 100 marks (80 trade and 20 general) in 2 hours, followed by a qualifying practical test of 50 marks.
Q. Is there a physical test?
A PET is held for Driver (Material Handling), Rigger and Crane Operator posts.
Q. How are candidates called for the practical test?
On written test merit in the ratio of 1:5.
