India Ship Technology Centre
Contractual / Regular

ISTC Personal Secretary Recruitment 2026

Sourced from Official Government PDF
Oct. 23, 2026
Personal Secretary (Trainee)

Required Qualification

Graduate181
B.Sc51
B.Com15
★
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Quick Recruitment Snapshot

Key recruitment parameters at a glance before you apply

Vacancies
2
Pay Scale
₹20,000/- per month (Stipend)
Age Limit
Up to 25 Years (born on or after 05 November 2001)
Job Location
Kerala20Kochi6

Crucial Recruitment Dates

Official schedule & key deadlines

Published

Oct 23, 2026

2

Starts

Oct 23, 2026

3

Deadline

Nov 4, 2026

4

Exam Date

TBA

Application Window23 Oct – 4 Nov 2026
Exam / Test DateTo Be Announced

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications

Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment? Check essential educational qualifications, branch/stream criteria, and age limits.

Educational Qualification

Pass in three years Bachelor’s Degree in Arts (other than fine arts/performing arts) or Commerce or Science or Computer Applications or Business Administration with minimum 75% of marks from a recognized university. Desirable: Proficiency in Computer Applications like SAP, MS Project, MS Office etc. Applicants without prescribed qualification, but having higher qualifications such as B.Tech, M.Sc etc. shall not be considered.

Age Limit & Relaxations

The upper age limit prescribed shall not exceed 25 years as on 04 November 2026 (applicants must be born on or after 05 November 2001). Age relaxation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) shall be as per Government of India guidelines.

Check Your Age Eligibility

Selection Procedure & Screening Stages

Verified Official Source

How will candidates be selected? Multi-stage screening roadmap from application to final merit list.

Objective Type Online Test

OnlineMerit Scored

Descriptive Type Online Test

OnlineMerit Scored

Skill Test & Certificate Verification

OfflineQualifying Only

The method of selection shall be through Objective Type Online Test, Descriptive Type Online Test, and Skill Test with total marks of 100. The answer sheets of the Descriptive Test of only those candidates who are shortlisted based on marks in the Objective Type Test in order of merit shall be evaluated. The rank list shall be prepared based on aggregate marks secured across the selection tests. In case of a tie, marks scored in the Discipline part of the Objective Type Online Test determine rank order, followed by seniority in age.

Syllabus & Exam Pattern Overview

Verified Official Source

What is the examination structure? Mode of test, total marks, duration, and negative marking rules.

Exam Tier / Mode

Objective & Descriptive Online Test and Skill Test (Total 100 Marks)

Total Duration

120 Minutes

Negative Marking

As prescribed by ISTC examination guidelines

Subject / SectionQuestionsMax Marks
Discipline Knowledge (Secretarial Practice & Office Administration)3030
Computer Applications Proficiency (MS Office, MS Project, SAP Basics)2020
General English & Business Correspondence2020
Reasoning Ability & Quantitative Aptitude1010
Descriptive Drafting, Letter Writing & Précis220
Total82100

Aspirant Ground Reality & Career Trajectory

Verified Official Source

Practical service rules, posting locations, transfer policy, and promotion ladder curated from official gazettes.

Work Culture & Environment

Office/fieldwork balance, duties, organizational environment.

India Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) is an apex Section 8 maritime technology enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, working at the forefront of indigenous shipbuilding design and marine innovation at Kochi, Kerala. As a Personal Secretary (Trainee), the daily responsibilities involve executive-level secretarial and administrative support to senior scientists and directors: coordinating executive schedules, drafting high-level maritime and official communications, preparing boardroom meeting minutes, maintaining project records, and liaising with Ministry and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) officials. The work atmosphere is corporate and structured with day shifts, with strict workplace guidelines including restrictions on personal smartphone usage during working hours.

Posting & Transfer Policy

Initial posting criteria, zone preferences, transfer liability.

Initial engagement is strictly as a Trainee for 1 year with a consolidated monthly stipend of ₹20,000. Depending on organizational requirements, vacancy availability, and individual performance evaluation, successful trainees may be considered for contractual posts for a maximum tenure of up to 5 years (extendable). The primary and sole place of posting is at ISTC, Kochi, Kerala. The rank list generated from this recruitment remains valid for 18 months from reporting.

Career & Promotion Ladder

Promotion timeline, seniority ladder, pay grade scaling.

Following the 1-year training period, candidates assessed as meritorious may transition into contractual Personal Secretary roles. Career advancement in contractual setups follows institutional service rules and performance appraisal bands, with potential consideration for senior secretarial assistance or regular administrative cadres subject to ISTC sanctioned cadre strength and Ministry approvals.
Crucial Application Warnings & Eligibility Traps

Avoid common application rejection triggers, photo/signature guidelines, and certificate validity windows.

  • Strict 75% Graduation Benchmark: Candidates must possess at least 75% aggregate marks in their 3-year Bachelor’s Degree (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, BCA, or BBA). Even 74.9% will lead to rejection; conversion from CGPA must follow university formula or multiplication by 10.
  • B.Tech / M.Sc Disqualification: Candidates possessing technical degrees like B.Tech, M.Sc, or fine/performing arts degrees are explicitly ineligible and barred from applying under Clause VIII(a)(iii).
  • Age Ceiling of 25 Years: Upper age limit is strictly 25 years as of 04 November 2026 (born on or after 05 November 2001). No age relaxations apply for General/OBC/SC/ST categories except for PwBD candidates.
  • Kerala Test Centres Only: All online tests (Objective and Descriptive) and Skill Tests will be conducted exclusively within Kerala (primarily Kochi), and no TA/DA is provided for attending the selection process.
  • No Physical Application Dispatch: Do not send hard copies of application forms or fee challans by post. Candidature is verified digitally, and original certificates are audited at the time of certificate verification.

Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Scale

Detailed post distribution across UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST quotas and 7th CPC Pay Matrix / Monthly Stipend.

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

  • Total2
Total Vacancies2

Pay Scale & Monthly Remuneration

Consolidated stipend of ₹20,000/- per month during the first year of training. Contractual appointments follow based on performance and vacancy for up to 5 years.

Consolidated stipend of ₹20,000 per month during the first year of training. Depending upon organizational requirements, availability of vacancies, and individual performance, successful candidates may be considered for contractual posts for a maximum period of 5 years (extendable).

How to Apply Online Step-by-Step?

Follow this verified step-by-step application procedure on the official recruitment portal.

Application Procedure

  1. Visit the official website at https://istcindia.org and proceed to Career page → ISTC.
  2. The application process consists of two phases: Registration and Submission of application. Complete Registration using a valid email and mobile number.
  3. Ensure all required certificates towards proof of age, educational qualifications (minimum 75% marks), caste, disability, a recent passport size colour photograph, and signature are scanned and ready for uploading.
  4. Remit the non-refundable application fee of ₹600 (SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempt) through online payment options (Debit Card/Credit Card/Internet Banking).
  5. Submit the application online before the deadline of 04 November 2026. Retain a soft copy and printout containing the unique system-generated registration number for future reference. Do not send physical applications by post.

Application Fee & Category Concessions

Application fee of ₹600/- (Non-refundable, plus bank charges extra) remitted using online payment options (Debit Card/Credit Card/Internet Banking) from 23 October 2026 to 04 November 2026. Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates are exempted from payment of fee.

Official Notification & Portal Verification

Direct links to the authorized government portal, official notification PDF, and career portal.

Verified Official Domain
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Frequently Asked Questions & Crucial Aspirant Queries

5 Queries Resolved

Clear, verified answers to top eligibility, exam format, salary calculation, and application queries for this notification.

No. Applicants must already hold a completed 3-year Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Commerce, Science, BCA, or BBA with a minimum of 75% marks on or before 04 November 2026. Engineering graduates (B.Tech) and M.Sc degree holders are explicitly barred from applying.

Sarkari Job Khojo is an independent information service and job discovery platform. All recruitment insights, syllabi, previous year exam cutoffs, and selection stages are compiled from official government notifications, gazettes, and recruitment portals. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, or an official representative of any government agency or recruitment board. Always verify details in the official advertisement PDF before applying.

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