The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has released a fresh notification for direct recruitment to 2,510 Helper posts on a fixed-pay basis, with the online application window opening 7th September 2026.
This is an ITI-qualification recruitment aimed at candidates from technical trades like Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Fitter, Electrician, and Welder, among others.
This guide breaks the recruitment down into distinct sections — eligibility, the unique 90:10 merit weightage system, the exact exam pattern, the complete subject-wise syllabus, salary, and a realistic preparation strategy, all sourced directly from the official notification.
GSRTC Helper Recruitment 2026 — Quick Overview
Before the syllabus and pattern, here’s the recruitment’s basic shape in one place — useful for orientation, not preparation detail (that comes further below).
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) |
| Post | Helper (Technical/Mechanical) |
| Total Vacancies | 2,510 |
| Engagement Type | Fixed pay, contractual basis for 5 years, then eligible for regular appointment |
| Application Window | 7 September 2026 – 6 October 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Exam Mode | OMR-based or CBRT (as decided by GSRTC) |
| Total Questions/Marks | 100 MCQs, 100 Marks |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Fixed Pay | ₹21,100 per month (for first 5 years) |
| Official Website | ojas.gujarat.gov.in / gsrtc.in |
GSRTC Helper Vacancy Breakup 2026 (Category-Wise)
| Category | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 1,003 | 673 | 330 |
| EWS | 261 | 175 | 86 |
| SEBC | 659 | 442 | 217 |
| SC | 170 | 114 | 56 |
| ST | 417 | 280 | 137 |
| Total | 2,510 | 1,684 | 826 |
GSRTC Helper Eligibility Criteria 2026
This section is distinct from the syllabus below — it covers who can apply, not what’s tested.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed at least a one-year ITI course from a government-recognised institution in any of the following trades:
Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Mechanic Diesel, General Mechanic, Fitter, Turner, Electrician, Sheet Metal Worker, Automobile Body Repairer, Welder, Welder cum Fabricator, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter General, or Automobile Paint Repairer.
Preference weightage: candidates who have additionally completed Apprenticeship training in the same trade as their ITI qualification (with NCVT certificate and marksheet) receive extra weightage in the merit calculation — but only if the apprenticeship trade exactly matches the ITI trade. An Electrician-ITI candidate with a Fitter apprenticeship, for example, would not qualify for this bonus.
Age Limit (as on 6 October 2026)
| Category | Max Age (Male) | Max Age (Female) |
|---|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 35 Years | 40 Years |
| Reserved (SC/ST/SEBC/EWS) | 40 Years | 45 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 45 Years | 45 Years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 45 Years | 45 Years |
Minimum age: 18 Years. Regardless of category or relaxation stacking, the maximum age in any case cannot exceed 45 years as on the cut-off date.
GSRTC Helper Selection Process 2026
- Written Examination — 100 MCQ objective test (OMR or CBRT, as decided by GSRTC).
- Merit List Preparation — combining written exam score and apprenticeship weightage (detailed below).
- Document Verification — candidates called in a ratio of 1:1.5 (1.5 times the number of vacancies).
- Final Selection & Waiting List — prepared after document verification is complete.
GSRTC Helper Merit Weightage — The 90:10 System Explained
This is the single most distinctive feature of GSRTC’s Helper selection process, and it directly rewards candidates who’ve completed matching apprenticeship training over those who’ve only completed the base ITI qualification.
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Written Examination Score | 90% |
| Apprenticeship Certificate (same trade as ITI) | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Practical implication: a candidate scoring 80/100 in the written exam with a matching apprenticeship certificate could out-rank a candidate scoring 85/100 without one, once the 10% weightage is factored in. If you’ve completed apprenticeship training in the same trade as your ITI, ensure the certificate and marksheet are ready well before document verification — this bonus is only granted if it’s verified at that stage.
Separately, Widow candidates (who haven’t remarried) and Sports candidates (National/International/University level or All India School Federation participants) receive an additional 5% weightage on their exam marks — a distinct benefit from the apprenticeship weightage above, and one worth claiming if applicable to you.
GSRTC Helper Exam Pattern 2026
The exam pattern tells you how the 100 total marks are split across five subjects, while the syllabus further below tells you what is asked within each.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge / Gujarat History / Geography / Current Affairs (Class 10 level) | 30 |
| Gujarati Grammar (Class 10 level) | 05 |
| English Grammar (Class 10 level) | 05 |
| Trade/Technical Questions (based on your ITI trade) | 50 |
| Basic Computer Knowledge | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Duration: 2 hours for all 100 questions. Negative marking: the official notification does not specify a negative marking policy — candidates should verify this detail directly in the notification PDF before assuming either way, since exam-day guessing strategy depends heavily on it.
Notice that Trade/Technical Questions alone carry half the total marks (50 out of 100) — more than General Knowledge, Gujarati, English, and Computer Knowledge combined. This single fact should anchor your entire preparation strategy: your ITI trade knowledge is the exam’s real center of gravity, not the general-knowledge portion.
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — General Knowledge (30 Marks)
- Gujarat History — key events, dynasties, and freedom movement contributions
- Gujarat Geography — districts, rivers, terrain, and natural resources
- Current Affairs — national and Gujarat-specific developments
- Indian History and Polity (general, Class 10 level)
- Basic Science and everyday general awareness
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — Gujarati Grammar (5 Marks)
- Sandhi, Samas (word formation rules)
- Vibhakti and sentence structure
- Vocabulary and word usage
- Idioms and proverbs (Class 10 level)
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — English Grammar (5 Marks)
- Tenses, articles, prepositions
- Basic sentence correction and construction
- Vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms) at Class 10 level
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — Trade/Technical Questions (50 Marks, Trade-Specific)
This is the exam’s largest and most decisive section, drawn from your specific ITI trade’s NCVT curriculum. Since 13 different trades are eligible for this recruitment, only the questions relevant to your own applied trade will appear — study your specific trade’s syllabus, not a generic technical overview.
| ITI Trade | Core Technical Areas |
|---|---|
| Mechanic Motor Vehicle | Engine systems, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical systems in vehicles |
| Mechanic Diesel | Diesel engine components, fuel injection systems, cooling & lubrication systems |
| General Mechanic | General machine maintenance, basic fitting, and mechanical assembly |
| Fitter | Filing, fitting, measuring instruments, hand & machine tools |
| Turner | Lathe operations, turning processes, precision measurement |
| Electrician | Wiring, motors, transformers, basic circuit theory, safety practices |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Sheet metal cutting, bending, joining techniques |
| Automobile Body Repairer | Body panel repair, dent removal, alignment techniques |
| Welder / Welder cum Fabricator | Welding processes (arc, gas), fabrication techniques, safety precautions |
| Machinist | Machine tool operation, precision machining, quality inspection |
| Carpenter | Woodworking tools, joinery techniques, basic furniture/structure work |
| Painter General / Automobile Paint Repairer | Surface preparation, paint application techniques, finishing |
Since GSRTC operates and maintains a large bus fleet, expect Trade/Technical questions — especially for Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Mechanic Diesel, and Electrician trades — to lean toward automotive and heavy-vehicle applications of your trade knowledge, not just generic workshop theory.
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — Basic Computer Knowledge (10 Marks)
- Computer fundamentals and terminology
- Basic hardware and software concepts
- MS Office basics (Word, Excel)
- Internet and email basics
Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (General) | ₹300 + GST |
| Reserved (SC/ST/SEBC/EWS/Ex-Servicemen/PwD/Females) | ₹200 + GST |
How to Apply for GSRTC Helper Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official OJAS website: ojas.gujarat.gov.in
- Click on “Apply Online” for GSRTC Helper Recruitment, then select the Helper post
- Fill in personal details, minimum and additional educational qualification, and computer knowledge details
- Read and accept the self-declaration
- Save the form to generate your Application Number
- Upload photograph (5×3.6 cm, max 10 KB, JPG) and signature (2.5×7.5 cm, max 10 KB, JPG)
- Confirm the application to generate your Confirmation Number
- Pay the applicable category-wise fee online
- Print the final application form for your records
GSRTC Helper Salary & Benefits 2026
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixed Pay (first 5 years) | ₹21,100 per month |
| Contract Duration | 5 Years (contractual basis) |
| After 5 Years | Eligible for regular appointment as per GSRTC rules |
How to Prepare for GSRTC Helper 2026 — Section-Wise Strategy
Trade/Technical Questions (50 marks — the largest section)
Since this single section equals half the paper, revisit your ITI trade textbooks and workshop practical notes systematically rather than relying on memory from your training period. Focus particularly on the practical, applied aspects of your trade — tools, safety procedures, and common maintenance procedures — since these translate well into objective-format questions.
General Knowledge (30 marks)
Build a dedicated Gujarat-specific GK notes file — covering the state’s history, geography, and current government schemes — alongside general national current affairs, since Gujarat-specific content is a recurring theme across GSRTC and other Gujarat state recruitment exams.
Gujarati & English Grammar (5 marks each)
Given the small mark allocation, a focused Class 10-level grammar revision (the exact level specified in the notification) should be sufficient — don’t over-invest time relative to these sections’ modest weight.
Basic Computer Knowledge (10 marks)
A compact, well-defined syllabus — one focused revision pass covering fundamentals, MS Office basics, and internet/email concepts should comfortably cover this section.
Apprenticeship Documentation
If you’ve completed apprenticeship training in the same trade as your ITI, organise your certificate and marksheet well ahead of document verification — this 10% weightage can be the difference between selection and missing out by a narrow margin, so don’t leave it as a last-minute scramble.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Under-preparing Trade/Technical Questions relative to General Knowledge — since the technical section alone carries half the total marks, treating it as “just one of five subjects” badly under-invests preparation time.
- Studying a generic technical syllabus instead of your specific ITI trade’s curriculum — with 13 different eligible trades, only your own trade’s content will appear in your paper.
- Assuming the apprenticeship bonus applies regardless of trade match — the 10% weightage is granted only if the apprenticeship was completed in the exact same trade as your ITI qualification.
- Delaying apprenticeship certificate collection until after results — since this affects your final merit position, ensure the paperwork is ready well before the document verification stage.
- Ignoring the maximum age ceiling — regardless of category-based relaxations, no combination of relaxations pushes the maximum age past 45 years as on the cut-off date.
GSRTC Helper Syllabus 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many questions and marks does the GSRTC Helper exam carry?
100 MCQs for 100 marks, to be completed within 2 hours.
Q2: Is there negative marking in the GSRTC Helper exam?
The official notification does not specify a negative marking policy. Candidates should verify this directly in the notification PDF before finalising their exam-day strategy.
Q3: How many total vacancies are there in this 2026 notification?
2,510 vacancies for the Helper post, across General, EWS, SEBC, SC, and ST categories.
Q4: What is the minimum educational qualification required?
A one-year ITI course from a government-recognised institution in one of 13 specified technical trades.
Q5: Which subject carries the highest weightage in the exam?
Trade/Technical Questions, carrying 50 out of 100 total marks — half the entire paper.
Q6: How is the final merit list calculated?
Using 90% weightage from the written exam score and 10% weightage from an apprenticeship certificate in the same trade as the ITI qualification, where applicable.
Q7: What is the age limit for GSRTC Helper 2026?
Minimum 18 years; maximum 35 years (General Male) to 45 years (with maximum relaxation), calculated as on 6 October 2026.
Q8: What is the salary for GSRTC Helper?
A fixed pay of ₹21,100 per month for the first 5 years, after which selected candidates are eligible for regular appointment.
Q9: Is there an interview for this post?
No. The selection process consists of only a Written Examination followed by Document Verification — no separate interview stage.
Q10: Where can I download the official GSRTC Helper notification and syllabus PDF?
From the official OJAS website, ojas.gujarat.gov.in, or GSRTC’s website, gsrtc.in, under the current recruitment notifications section.
This article is based on the official GSRTC Helper Recruitment 2026 notification. Candidates should cross-verify exact vacancy figures, dates, negative marking policy, and any syllabus updates against the latest official notification on ojas.gujarat.gov.in before finalising their preparation plan.