Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has released the Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification on 10 June 2026 at the official website https://mazagondock.in. As per Advertisement No. MDL_ATS/01/2026 dated 10 June 2026, the online application process begins from 11 June 2026 and closes on 01 July 2026. This MDL Trade Apprentice Recruitment is for candidates who want trade-based apprenticeship training inside a Navratna defence shipbuilding company.
MDL has announced a total of 495 Trade Apprentice vacancies for 2026 under the Apprentices Act 1961. The posts are split into Group A with 100 vacancies across five trades for Class 10 passed candidates, Group B with 355 vacancies across eleven trades for ITI passed candidates, and Group C with 40 vacancies across two trades for Class 8 passed candidates. The place of posting is Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Dock Yard Road, Mazagaon, Mumbai 400010. Candidates should check all details from the below article.
Read this article carefully and go through the official notification before applying. Information verified from official Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited notification No. MDL_ATS/01/2026 dated 10 June 2026.
Quick Summary of MDL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation / Employer | Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) |
| Name of the Post | Trade Apprentice (18 trades across Group A, B and C) |
| Total Vacancy | 495 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Eligibility | Class 8, Class 10, or ITI Pass, depending on group and trade |
| Selection Process | Online Examination, Document Verification & Trade Allotment, Medical Examination |
| Place of Posting | Dock Yard Road, Mazagaon, Mumbai 400010 |
| Last Date of Application | 01 July 2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Freshers, age 14 to 21 years depending on group |
| Interview / Exam Date | 25 July 2026 (Online Examination, tentative) |
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About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a listed Navratna company under the Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production. The company runs an Apprentice Training School that trains candidates under the Apprentices Act 1961. MDL builds and maintains warships and submarines for the Indian Navy from its yard at Dock Yard Road, Mazagaon, Mumbai. For a candidate, training at MDL means working inside an active shipyard rather than a classroom-only setup, since apprentices split their time between practical shop floor work and related theory classes. Visit official website of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for more information
How This Compares
This is editorial context, not part of the official notification — confirm specifics with the hiring office. MDL’s 2026 intake of 495 posts is larger than most single-cycle PSU apprentice notifications, which typically fall in the 100 to 300 range. The spread across 18 distinct trades, instead of two or three, also means the qualification bar varies sharply within the same advertisement: a Class 8 passed candidate and an ITI Electrician both have a route into the same notification, just under different groups. One practical difference from many other PSU apprentice drives is that the online exam centres are limited to eight cities, all within Maharashtra (Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nagpur, Latur, Kolhapur and Nashik), even though the nationality criteria allow candidates from across India to apply. A candidate based outside Maharashtra will need to budget travel and stay for the exam day, since MDL does not list out-of-state centres.
Important Dates
The application window runs for about three weeks, and the notification also confirms that requests to change an exam centre will not be entertained once submitted, so candidates should select their two preferred centres carefully at the application stage itself.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration & Application | 11 June 2026 to 01 July 2026 |
| Payment of Application Fee (Online) | 11 June 2026 to 01 July 2026 |
| Declaration of Eligible / Not Eligible List (Tentative) | 10 July 2026 |
| Submission of Representation on Ineligibility (Tentative) | 15 July 2026 |
| Release of Admit Card / Hall Ticket (Tentative) | 15 July 2026 (printed as 15-07-2025 in the source notification; this appears to be a typographical error since it falls before the 2026 application window closes) |
| Online Examination (Tentative) | 25 July 2026 |
Vacancy Details & Salary
Here’s the breakdown of posts, total vacancy and salary for your reference.
| Group | Trade | Total Vacancy |
|---|---|---|
| A | Draftsman (Mechanical) | 20 |
| A | Electrician | 20 |
| A | Fitter | 20 |
| A | Pipe Fitter | 20 |
| A | Structural Fitter | 20 |
| B | Fitter Structural (Ex. ITI Fitter) | 50 |
| B | Draftsman (Mechanical) | 20 |
| B | Electrician | 50 |
| B | ICTSM | 20 |
| B | Electronic Mechanic | 30 |
| B | Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) | 30 |
| B | Painter (General) | 25 |
| B | Pipe Fitter / Plumber | 30 |
| B | Welder | 40 |
| B | Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) | 30 |
| B | Wood Work Technician / Carpenter | 30 |
| C | Rigger | 20 |
| C | Welder (Gas & Electric) | 20 |
| Total | 495 |
The notification does not state a stipend figure and instead says stipend, leave and holidays will follow the Apprentices Act 1961. Based on comparable Apprentices Act stipend slabs notified by the Ministry of Skill Development for 2025-26, monthly stipends for Class 10 and Class 8 pass trade apprentices in PSUs commonly fall in the range of roughly ₹9,000 to ₹12,000, while ITI pass apprentices are usually placed slightly higher. This figure is an external benchmark and not an MDL-confirmed number; candidates should treat it only as a reference point.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for MDL Trade Apprentice 2026 include education and age requirements. Candidates should make sure they meet all the conditions before applying.
Educational Qualification
- Group A — Draftsman (Mechanical), Electrician, Fitter, Pipe Fitter, Structural Fitter: Class 10 (SSC) passed. Draftsman (Mechanical) requires SSC with Science and Mathematics. Minimum 50% aggregate marks for General, OBC, SEBC, EWS, Divyang and AFC candidates; pass class only for SC/ST candidates. Deaf and Hearing Impaired (HI) category candidates will be considered only in the Pipe Fitter trade.
- Group B — Fitter Structural, Draftsman (Mechanical), Electrician, ICTSM, Electronic Mechanic, RAC, Painter (General), Pipe Fitter/Plumber, Welder, COPA, Wood Work Technician/Carpenter: A valid ITI certificate from a Government or Government-recognised Industrial Training Institute, in the same trade applied for. Minimum 50% aggregate marks for General, OBC, SEBC, EWS, Divyang and AFC candidates; pass class only for SC/ST. For Fitter Structural (Ex. ITI Fitter), only candidates holding ITI Fitter are eligible. Candidates appearing in their final ITI exam may apply but must clear it on or before 01 October 2026; ITI cleared after that date will not be considered.
- Group C — Rigger, Welder (Gas & Electric): Class 8 passed (under the 10+2 system) with Science and Mathematics. Minimum 50% aggregate marks for General, OBC, SEBC, EWS, Divyang and AFC candidates; pass class only for SC/ST.
- ITI passed or ITI-appearing candidates are not eligible for Group A or Group C trades. If this is found at any stage of selection, the candidature will be rejected without notice.
- A candidate may apply for both Group A and Group C, but only with two separate application forms. One application form covers one group only.
Age Limit
As on 01-10-2026:
| Group | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| A | 15 to 19 years |
| B | 16 to 21 years |
| C | 14 to 18 years |
Age relaxation in the upper limit will be given as 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years for Divyang (Persons with Disability) candidates, on submission of a valid certificate issued by a competent authority.
Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The online exam (CBT) carries 100 multiple-choice questions and runs for 2 hours. The subject split depends on the group.
Group A and Group C
| Subject | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| English & General Knowledge | 25 |
| Physics | 25 |
| Chemistry | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
Group B
| Subject | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| English & General Knowledge | 25 |
| Trade Theory | 25 |
| Workshop Calculation & Science | 25 |
| Engineering Drawing | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
For the COPA trade specifically, the question split is different: 75 questions from Trade Theory and 25 from English & General Knowledge.
Exam centres (tentative): Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Nagpur, Latur, Kolhapur and Nashik. Each applicant selects two centres at the time of applying, and MDL reserves the right to allot a centre other than the one chosen.
Selection Process
Selection for MDL Trade Apprentice 2026 is completed in three stages.
- Online Examination (CBT): Only eligible candidates in Group A, B and C are called for the computer-based test described above.
- Document Verification & Trade Allotment: Candidates securing the highest marks, group and category wise, are called for document verification. Trade allotment happens on the same day, in order of merit, based on availability of seats in each trade.
- Medical Examination: Shortlisted candidates must be declared medically fit as per the Apprentices Rules 1992 before joining.
One practical insight directly from the notification: if a candidate is absent during trade allotment, or does not accept the available trade in their merit slot, the candidature is rejected immediately and the next candidate in the merit order is called instead. Such rejected cases are not reconsidered.
Application Fee
Candidates from General (UR), OBC, SEBC, EWS and AFC categories must pay an application fee of ₹100 plus applicable bank charges. SC, ST and Divyang category candidates are exempted from the fee, but must upload a valid caste or disability certificate with the application, failing which the application will not be accepted. The fee, once paid, is not refunded.
Also Read | Latest Government Job Alerts
How to Apply for MDL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Candidates can apply only through the online portal. The steps are as follows.
- Visit the official MDL website at https://mazagondock.in.
- Go to Careers → Online Recruitment → Apprentice.
- Click on Create New Account to register.
- Log in to the newly created account.
- Fill in the online application form with personal, educational and category details.
- Pay the application fee online, where applicable.
- Upload the required certificates and submit the application before 01 July 2026.
Documents Checklist Before You Leave Home (Upload-Ready List):
- Class 8, Class 10, or ITI mark sheet and passing certificate, as applicable to the trade
- Caste certificate for SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/SEBC/EWS, if claiming category benefit
- Disability certificate (minimum 40% benchmark disability), if applying as Divyang
- Service certificate of parent, if applying under the AFC (Armed Forces children) category
- A valid photo identity proof
Important Links
Candidates applying for MDL Trade Apprentice 2026 are advised to visit the important links below for the official PDF and application form.
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Official website of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited apprentice PDF |
| Apprenticeship India Portal (mandatory registration after selection) | Register at apprenticeship India |
| Latest Defence & PSU Apprentice Jobs | Apprentice Jobs in India |
Should You Apply?
This recruitment suits candidates who have just completed Class 8, Class 10 or an ITI course and are looking for structured, paid trade training inside a defence sector PSU, since the trades on offer (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Draftsman and others) feed directly into core shipbuilding skills. It is not a good fit for candidates looking for an immediate permanent job, since apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act does not guarantee absorption into a regular MDL post after training. Given 495 vacancies spread across 18 trades and the relatively common Class 8/10/ITI qualification bar, competition is likely to be high in popular trades such as Electrician, Welder and Fitter Structural, where vacancy counts are largest. Based on typical patterns at large defence shipyards, candidates who complete this apprenticeship often use the certificate and trade test result to apply for similar apprenticeships or junior technician posts at other shipyards, naval dockyards or engineering PSUs; this is a general trend and not a guarantee from MDL. One trade-off worth weighing is the exam centre list, limited to eight cities in Maharashtra, which adds a travel cost for candidates from other states even though the nationality criteria are all-India.
FAQs — MDL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Does MDL provide hostel accommodation for apprentices?
No. The official notification states that no hostel accommodation will be provided by the company, so selected apprentices need to arrange their own stay near Mazagaon, Mumbai.
Can one candidate apply for both Group A and Group C trades?
Yes, but only by submitting two separate application forms, one for each group. A single application form is considered for one group only.
Is a PAN card mandatory for apprentices?
Yes. The notification requires every apprentice receiving stipend to hold a PAN card; if not provided, income tax will be deducted from the stipend as per prevailing rates.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more