CSL Ship Draftsman Trainee Recruitment 2026 — 60 Posts, Apply by 04 Sep

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has released its Ship Draftsman Trainee Recruitment 2026 notification under Notification No. CSL/P&A/RECTT/TRAINEES/GENERAL/2023/1 dated 18 August 2026, inviting applications for 60 posts across two disciplines. The online application process runs from 19 August 2026 to 04 September 2026. Eligible candidates need a pass in SSLC plus a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from a State Board of Technical Education with a minimum of 60% marks, along with an aptitude for draftsmanship and proficiency in CAD. The 60 vacancies are distributed as 47 posts for Ship Draftsman Trainee (Mechanical) and 13 posts for Ship Draftsman Trainee (Electrical). The upper age limit is 25 years as on 04 September 2026, with 3 years' relaxation for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates and 5 years for SC/ST candidates on reserved seats. Selection for these CSL posts is entirely through a Practical Test carrying 100 marks, where candidates prepare a drawing using CAD software at CSL, Kochi. Selected candidates will undergo a two-year training period, receiving a monthly stipend of Rs. 14,000 in the first year and Rs. 20,000 in the second year, with the second year offered only to candidates who clear a performance evaluation at the end of year one. The application fee is Rs. 300 for UR/OBC/EWS candidates, with SC/ST candidates exempted. Interested candidates should apply online through the CSL SAP application portal well before the 04 September 2026 deadline. This CSL Ship Draftsman Trainee Recruitment 2026 offers Mechanical and Electrical Engineering diploma holders with CAD proficiency a structured two-year training pathway at one of India's premier shipbuilding PSUs in Kochi, Kerala, with the possibility of contractual extension for up to 5 years based on performance. The Ship Draftsman Trainee role at CSL is a specialized technical drafting position within India's shipbuilding sector, requiring trainees to translate engineering designs into precise technical drawings using CAD software — a skill set that combines diploma-level engineering knowledge with hands-on drafting proficiency, making this a good fit for diploma holders who have specifically developed CAD skills during or after their technical education rather than general mechanical or electrical diploma holders without drafting exposure. Since selection depends entirely on a Practical Test where candidates prepare a drawing using CAD software, applicants should ensure they are comfortable working under test conditions on CAD platforms commonly used in shipbuilding and marine engineering, such as AutoCAD or similar software, well before the practical test date, which will be scheduled separately after certificate verification. With 47 Mechanical posts against just 13 Electrical posts, candidates from a Mechanical Engineering diploma background have a notably larger pool of vacancies to compete for compared to their Electrical counterparts. Candidates currently employed as Ship Draftsman Trainees on CSL's rolls are explicitly barred from reapplying, and CSL has clarified that neither the two-year training period nor any subsequent contractual extension guarantees regular, permanent employment — a distinction candidates should weigh carefully against the training stipend and skill-building opportunity this role offers at one of India's most prominent Navratna-adjacent shipbuilding PSUs. Applicants should also note that CSL has reserved the right to increase or decrease the number of seats or not fill up any vacancy at all, depending on organizational requirements — a standard clause in PSU trainee recruitment that candidates should keep in mind when assessing their odds of selection across the 60 advertised posts. Given the online-only, single-window nature of this recruitment, with no provision for postal submissions of documents, applicants should ensure a stable internet connection and have all required scanned documents ready well before attempting the SAP portal application, especially since technical support may not be available in the final hours before the 04 September 2026 deadline.

• Ship Draftsman Trainee (Mechanical): SSLC + 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (60%+ marks), draftsmanship aptitude, CAD proficiency
• Ship Draftsman Trainee (Electrical): SSLC + 3-year Diploma in Electrical Engineering (60%+ marks), draftsmanship aptitude, CAD proficiency

• Upper Age Limit: 25 years (as on 04 Sep 2026)
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years' relaxation
• SC/ST: 5 years' relaxation

• SSLC + 3-year Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering (as applicable), 60%+ marks
• CAD proficiency and draftsmanship aptitude
• Age up to 25 years, with category-wise relaxation
• Not currently employed as CSL Ship Draftsman Trainee

Rs. 300 for UR/OBC/EWS; Nil for SC/ST

• First Year: Rs. 14,000 per month
• Second Year: Rs. 20,000 per month, subject to performance evaluation

1. Visit www.cochinshipyard.in and go to the Career page → CSL, Kochi
2. Go through the User Manual and FAQ published on the career page before filling the application
3. Complete the One-Time Registration on the SAP Online portal
4. Fill in the online application form against the applicable post
5. Upload all required certificates — proof of age, educational qualification, caste certificate (if applicable), and a recent passport-size colour photograph
6. Pay the applicable application fee online (Debit Card/Credit Card/Internet Banking)
7. Review all entries carefully, since changes are not allowed after final submission, and submit the application
8. Confirm the application status shows "In process" and retain a soft copy or printout with the registration number