1,500 PSU jobs up for grabs

About 1,500 jobs are up for grabs at 13 public sector undertakings (PSUs). For these, the PSUs would recruit candidates through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (Gate), administered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The 13 PSUs include Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Power Grid Corporation, NTPC, Gas Authority of India Limited and National Aluminium Company Limited.

While Bhel plans to fill about 500 vacancies (300 mechanical, 150 electrical and 50 electronics), HPCL plans to recruit 250 candidates for the mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation and electronics

 

& telecommunication engineering segments. NTPC would recruit 209 engineers.

For these posts, which range from graduate engineers and trainee engineers and management trainees, salaries would be between Rs 7,00,000 and Rs 10,00,000 a year.

“In 2010, when the aptitude test was introduced in Gate, we decided to shortlist students appearing for Gate, as it helps us outsource the examination process to Gate and concentrate on interviews and selection of students,” said the human resource head of one of the PSUs.

Last year, about 7,50,000 applicants had registered for Gate, and it is expected this year, the number would rise 20 per cent. With more colleges accepting Gate, the numbers would increase further, say industry sources.

“Till 2009, these companies had their own examination, which was similar to Gate. In 2011, IOC decided to consider the Gate scores of candidates on an experimental basis. Besides, for companies, the access to the talent pool is much bigger this way,” said Prudhvi Reddy, course director (Gate) at Triumphant Institute of Management Education.

Reddy added the recession had led to a rise in the number of candidates appearing for the examination, as students have decided to broad-base their job search. “The recession made people scout for safe and stable jobs. Besides, with the Sixth Pay Commission in place, emoluments have become handsome,” said Reddy.

Gate, an all-India examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of undergraduate subjects in the fields of engineering and technology, is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and IITs. Gate scores are also considered for admission to various post-graduate programmes.