Career Opportunities at SAIL: 2025–2026 Recruitment Guide

300 words summary without pointsThe Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is currently executing a major recruitment drive for the 2025–26 cycle, offering significant opportunities for engineering graduates and technical professionals. The most prominent focus remains on the Management Trainee (Technical) cadre, with 124 vacancies currently being processed. Following the application window that closed in December 2025, candidates are preparing for the upcoming Computer-Based Test scheduled for February 23, 2026. This recruitment covers essential engineering disciplines including Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgy, and Civil.

Successful candidates enter the organization at the E1 grade, benefiting from a competitive salary structure that begins with a ₹50,000 monthly basic pay during training and scales up to a maximum of ₹1,80,000 upon confirmation.Beyond direct recruitment, SAIL is heavily utilizing GATE 2025 scores for upcoming technical roles, with official notifications for these positions typically surfacing around mid-2025. This strategy ensures that the Maharatna PSU continues to onboard top-tier talent from across the country. Simultaneously, SAIL’s regional plants, such as the Rourkela Steel Plant, are actively fulfilling their training mandates through massive apprentice drives. Recent notifications for over 800 apprentice positions across graduate and technician categories emphasize a merit-based selection process intended to bolster the local technical workforce.

Eligibility across these diverse roles generally requires a full-time engineering degree with a minimum of 65% marks, while the age limit is strictly maintained at 28 years for general category applicants. As the February exam date approaches, candidates should prioritize downloading their hall tickets from the official SAIL Careers Portal, as these became available on February 7, 2026. The selection process remains rigorous, combining the written technical exam with subsequent group discussions and interviews to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of both technical proficiency and leadership potential within the steel industry.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DATES

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is conducting major recruitment for 2025–2026, primarily focused on Management Trainee (Technical) roles. The computer-based test (CBT) for the most recent cycle is scheduled for 23 February 2026.

Notification Released	12 November 2025
Application Period	15 November to 15 December 2025 (Extended)
Admit Card Release	7 February 2026
CBT Exam Date	23 February 2026

APPLICATION FEES

The application fees for the SAIL Management Trainee (Technical) 2025 recruitment vary by category and must be paid online via the SAIL Careers Portal.

General, OBC (NCL), and EWS Candidates	₹1,050
SC, ST, PwBD, ESM, and Departmental Candidates	₹300

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility criteria for the SAIL Management Trainee (Technical) 2025–2026 recruitment are strictly defined by educational qualifications, age limits, and medical standards.

Educational Qualifications

Candidates must possess a full-time Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (B.E./B.Tech) from a recognized University/Institute.

● Eligible Disciplines : Chemical, Civil, Computer (CS/IT/MCA), Electrical, Instrumentation, Mechanical, and Metallurgy.

● Minimum Marks (Aggregate) :

○ General / OBC (NCL) / EWS : Minimum 65% marks (average of all semesters)

○ SC / ST / PwBD / Departmental : Minimum 55% marks.

Age Limits (as of 05 December 2025)

● General/UR : Upper age limit of 28 years (born on or after 05.12.1997).

● Relaxations :

○ SC/ST : Up to 5 years (max 33 years)

○ OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) : Up to 3 years (max 31 years).

○ PwBD : 10 years for General, 15 years for SC/ST, and 13 years for OBC-NCL.

● Departmental Candidates : Upper age limit is 45 years, regardless of category.

Physical & Medical Standards

Selected candidates must pass a medical examination as per the SAIL Medical & Health Manual.

● General Health : Sound physique and free from any physical defects.

● Minimum Height : 155 cm (relaxed for female candidates).

● Minimum Weight : 45 kg (relaxed for female candidates).

● Vision : Myopia or hypermetropia must not exceed ±4.00 D in each eye. No squint or color blindness (partial or full) is permitted.

● PwBD Suitability: Recruitment for this role is only open to orthopedically disabled candidates (OA, OL, OAL) with at least 40% disability or those with Dwarfism (DW).

Other Requirements

● Nationality : Candidates must be Indian Nationals.

● GATE Requirement : For the current 124-vacancy drive with the exam on 23 February 2026, a GATE score is not mandatory; selection is via a direct Computer-Based Test (CBT).

HOW TO FILL THE FORM ?

To apply for the SAIL MT (Technical) 2025 recruitment, follow these 12 steps on the official SAIL Careers Portal:Access the Portal: Visit the SAIL Careers Page and locate the “Recruitment of Management Trainee (Technical)” link.

● New Registration : Click on “Apply Online” and select “New User” to register with a valid email ID and mobile number.

● Basic Details : Enter your name, date of birth, and father’s name exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate.

● Create Password : Set a strong password and complete the OTP verification sent to your email or mobile.

● Log In : Use your newly generated Registration ID and password to log into the application dashboard.

● Select Discipline : Choose the engineering branch you are applying for (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgy).

●Personal Information : Fill in your permanent address, category (General/OBC/SC/ST), and physical disability status (if applicable).

● Educational Qualification : Enter your B.E./B.Tech marks, university details, and year of passing. Ensure your aggregate percentage meets the eligibility threshold (65% for Gen/OBC, 55% for SC/ST).

● Upload Documents : Upload a recent scanned passport-size photograph and your signature in the specified JPG/JPEG format and size.

● Preview Application : Review all entered data carefully. Once submitted, most fields cannot be edited.

● Pay Application Fee : Complete the payment (₹1,050 for Gen/OBC/EWS or ₹300 for others) via the integrated Online Payment Gateway.

● Print Confirmation : After a successful transaction, download and print the Final Application Form and payment receipt for future reference during the interview.

SUBJECT DETAILS

Part I: Domain Knowledge (Technical)

This section carries the highest weightage and tests core engineering expertise.

● Total Questions : 50 (weighted to 100 marks)

● Duration : 40 minutes

● Core Engineering Subjects :

○Mechanical : Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, Strength of Materials, and Manufacturing Processes.

○ Electrical : Circuit Theory, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, and Measurement Instruments.

○ Civil: Structural Analysis, Building Materials, Concrete Technology, Surveying, and Environmental Engineering.

○ Computer Science : Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Networking, and Database Management (DBMS).

○ Chemical/Metallurgy: Process Calculations, Extractive Metallurgy, Thermodynamics, and Reaction Engineering.

Part II: Aptitude Test (Non-Technical)

This part consists of four segments, each with 25 questions/marks.

● Total Questions : 100 (100 marks)

● Duration : 80 minutes

● Segments :

○ Quantitative Aptitude : Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation, Time & Work, and Profit & Loss.

○ Reasoning Ability : Verbal/Non-Verbal Reasoning, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Seating Arrangement, and Syllogisms.

○ English Language : Reading Comprehension, Grammar (Tenses, Prepositions), Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms), and Error Spotting.

○ General Awareness : National & International Current Affairs, Indian Polity/Constitution, Economy, Geography, and Steel Sector updates.

Selection Note

Candidates must score at least 50 percentile (General/EWS) or 40 percentile (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) in both parts separately to qualify for the Group Discussion and Interview stages.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ques : 1. Can final-year engineering students apply ?

Ans : No. Candidates must have already completed their B.E./B.Tech degree with the required minimum aggregate (65% for General/OBC, 55% for SC/ST/PwBD) at the time of application. SAIL requires the degree to be already awarded SAIL Careers Portal.

Ques : 2. Is a GATE 2026 score mandatory for the February exam ?

Ans : No. The recruitment drive for 124 vacancies (exam on 23 February 2026) is a direct recruitment process based on SAIL’s own Computer-Based Test (CBT). However, separate recruitments via GATE 2026 scores are expected later in the year.

Ques : 3. Is there negative marking in the CBT exam ?

Ans : Yes. For the Management Trainee (Technical) exam, there is typically a penalty for wrong answers. Each incorrect response usually results in a deduction of 1/4th (0.25) marks assigned to that question.

Ques : 4. What is the “Bond” requirement after selection ?

Ans : Selected Management Trainees must execute a Service Agreement Bond to serve the company for at least 3 years. The bond amount is typically ₹2,00,000 for General/OBC/EWS and ₹1,00,000 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

Ques : 5. Can I apply for more than one engineering discipline ?

Ans : No. Candidates are allowed to apply for only one discipline that matches their qualifying degree. Attempting to submit multiple applications may lead to the cancellation of your candidature.