India Optel Limited Recruitment 2026: 155 Junior Project Engineer and Project Technician Posts on Fixed-Term Contract

India Optel Limited (IOL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, is recruiting 57 Junior Project Engineers and 98 Project Technicians, 155 posts in total. These are fixed-term contract jobs, not permanent posts and not apprenticeships. Applications are offline only: download the form from the IOL website, fill it in, and send it by Speed Post to the Corporate Headquarters in Raipur, Dehradun. There is no application fee.

This summary draws on a Karmasandhan report that links to IOL's two advertisements (Advertisement No. IOLHqrs/100(6)/2026-Rectt) and on a short Eenadu Pratibha note. We have not been able to confirm every detail against the official PDFs, so check them before you apply.

Key facts at a glance

Is this a permanent job or an apprenticeship?

Neither. Both posts are engagements on a Fixed Term Contract. The initial period is up to 2 years. It can be extended by up to 1 year at a time, to a maximum total of 5 years including extensions. IOL can end the contract early for unsatisfactory performance or misconduct.

Project Technician applicants need a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) or National Trade Certificate (NTC) as a qualification. The job itself is a contract position, not an apprenticeship.

Application deadline and status as of 3 October 2026

The notification has already been published. The reports do not agree on how the closing date is expressed:

• Karmasandhan says applications must be received by the 21st day after the advertisement appears in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar. It gives no calendar date.
• Eenadu Pratibha gives 3 October 2026 as the last date.

If 3 October 2026 is correct, today is the final day, and a Speed Post application sent now may not be received in time. We could not verify the date from the official notice, so we have not listed a fixed deadline here. Check the IOL advertisement for the exact closing date. The cut-off date for age, qualification and experience is the closing date of the advertisement.

Vacancy details

Junior Project Engineer: 57 posts

Project Technician: 98 posts

We have left out category-wise (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD/Ex-SM) splits. In the source report, some of these figures do not add up to the stated totals. Use the official advertisement for reservation details.

Eligibility

Junior Project Engineer

Every discipline asks for 5 years of relevant post-qualification experience, along with these qualifications:

• Chemical: first-class (60%) full-time regular B.Sc. in Chemistry.
• Electrical: full-time regular 3-year Diploma in Electrical, Electrical & Electronics, or Plant Maintenance Engineering, with at least 60%.
• Electronics: full-time regular 3-year Diploma in Electronics & Communication, Electronics & Instrumentation, or Industrial Electronics & Instrumentation, with at least 60%.
• Mechanical: full-time regular 3-year Diploma in Mechanical, Production Engineering, or Mechatronics, with at least 60%.
• Optics & Coating: first-class (60%) full-time regular B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics as major subjects.

The report notes that General, OBC (NCL) and EWS candidates need at least 60% aggregate marks, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates need at least 50%.

Project Technician

• Matriculation plus an NTC or NAC from the National Council for Vocational Training in the relevant trade (Instrument Mechanic, Electronics Mechanic, Machinist, Optical Worker or Electroplater).
• Engineering degree or diploma holders without an NAC/NTC are not eligible under this advertisement.
• Ex-Servicemen with upgraded Class-III (equivalent to NAC) or Class-II/Class-I (equivalent to NTC) qualifications, endorsed for civil equivalence, can also apply.

Age limit

• Junior Project Engineer: 18 to 35 years.
• Project Technician: 18 to 32 years.

Relaxation follows Government of India norms. The Eenadu note gives 27 to 45 years for Junior Project Engineer, which conflicts with the Karmasandhan figure. Eenadu also lists Welfare Officer and Consultant posts (160 in total), which are not part of the two advertisements summarised here. Confirm the age limit in the official Junior Project Engineer advertisement.

Pay and benefits

Selected candidates also get Industrial Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance where applicable, and a Medical Allowance of Rs. 1,500 per month. A 3% annual increment on basic pay is admissible, subject to satisfactory performance.

Selection process

Junior Project Engineer

1. A screening committee screens applications.
2. Candidates are shortlisted for interview, up to twice the number of vacancies, based on percentage of marks in the Diploma or B.Sc.
3. Documents are verified before the personal interview. Shortcomings lead to rejection.
4. Final merit gives 75% weightage to Diploma/B.Sc. marks and 25% to the interview.
5. Ties go to the older candidate, then to alphabetical order of names.

Interviews are in person, not virtual, and requests to change the date, time or venue will not be entertained.

Project Technician

1. Candidates are shortlisted for a Trade Test, up to twice the number of vacancies, based on marks in the final NTC/NAC examination. If a candidate holds both, the NTC percentage counts.
2. The practical Trade Test is qualifying only. Candidates who fail are disqualified.
3. Final merit rests solely on the percentage of marks in the NTC/NAC final examination.
4. Ties go first to Ex-Trade Apprentices of Ordnance Factories, then to the older candidate, then to alphabetical order.

How to apply

1. Download the application form (Annexure-A) from the Career section of indiaoptel.in.
2. Fill it in BLOCK LETTERS.
3. Attach self-attested photocopies of age proof, mark sheets and certificates, experience certificates, and salary or pay proof.
4. Send it by Speed Post only to: The Chairman & Managing Director, India Optel Limited, OFILDD Campus, Raipur, Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – 248008.
5. Write "APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF ……… ON FIXED TERM CONTRACT BASIS" on the envelope.

If you are applying for more than one post, send a separate application for each. Ex-Servicemen applying for Project Technician must also submit a signed undertaking in Annexure-B.

The official advertisements are available as PDFs for Junior Project Engineer and Project Technician.

Job role and place of posting

• Junior Project Engineer: production and shop-floor work, production quality work, and lab work in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Metallurgical or Chemical areas, depending on the position.
• Project Technician: technical trade work on the Project/Augmentation of capacity of TPDK-1, T-90 (OH) and T-72 at OLF Dehradun.

Posting is at OLF and Ordnance Factory Dehradun. Selected candidates may be transferred or posted to any unit, project or establishment of the company across the country.

FAQs

How many vacancies are there?

There are 155 across the two advertisements: 57 Junior Project Engineer and 98 Project Technician. Eenadu's figure of 160 adds Welfare Officer and Consultant posts that are outside these two advertisements.

Is there an application fee?

No. The fee is nil for both posts.

Can I apply online?

No. The reports describe offline applications by Speed Post only.

Can an engineering graduate apply for Project Technician?

Not without an NAC or NTC in the relevant trade. Degree and diploma holders without these certificates are not eligible for this post.