Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has released the official notification for direct recruitment of 120 Senior Executive Trainee (SET) posts in Telecom and Finance streams. Engineering graduates with a minimum 60% in relevant disciplines and qualified CAs or CMAs are eligible to apply online through the official BSNL examination portal. Check eligibility, salary, selection process, and application steps below before the current deadline.
Last verified on: 23 March 2026 (IST). The application deadline has been extended multiple times; always confirm the current last date at externalexam.bsnl.co.in before applying.
Key Highlights
| Organisation | Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) |
| Post Name | Senior Executive Trainee (SET) |
| Advertisement No. | BSNLCO-11/12(11)/1/2025-RECTT-CO-Part (1) |
| Total Vacancies | 120 (Telecom: 95 | Finance: 25) |
| Notification Date | 29 January 2026 |
| Application Start | 05 February 2026 |
| Current Last Date (Extended) | 15 April 2026 (verify at official portal) |
| CBT Exam Date | To be notified (was tentatively 29 March 2026; check official portal) |
| Pay Scale | IDA E-3: ₹24,900 – ₹50,500 |
| Application Mode | Online only — externalexam.bsnl.co.in |
| Job Type | Central PSU (Government of India undertaking) |
Vacancy Details
BSNL has announced a total of 120 vacancies split across two streams under Advertisement No. BSNLCO-11/12(11)/1/2025-RECTT-CO-Part (1):
- Telecom Stream: 95 posts
- Finance Stream: 25 posts
Reservation in vacancies for SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), EWS, and PwBD categories is provided as per Government of India norms. PwBD eligibility is stream-specific; candidates should refer to the official notification PDF for the applicable disability categories under each stream. Category-wise vacancy breakdowns are available in the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Telecom Stream: A full-time regular BE or B.Tech degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of 60% marks in any of the following disciplines: Electronics and Telecommunication, Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical, or Instrumentation. Combinations of these disciplines are also considered as per the notification.
Finance Stream: Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, or Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) qualification awarded by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. No minimum percentage criterion is stated separately for this stream in available sources; refer to the official notification PDF for the exact condition.
Age Limit
The age is calculated as on 07 March 2026 (the original cutoff date stated in the notification). Minimum age: 21 years. Maximum age: 30 years. Age relaxation as per the official notification:
| Category | Relaxation |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Departmental Candidates | 13 years |
| Widows / Divorced Women (UR) | 8 years |
| Widows / Divorced Women (SC/ST) | 13 years |
| Meritorious Sportsperson | 5 years |
| PwBD | As per BSNL/GoI rules — refer to notification |
Nationality: Only Indian nationals are eligible.
Salary and Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be placed in the IDA Pay Scale E-3: ₹24,900 – ₹50,500 per month. In addition to basic pay, employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA, revised quarterly), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and other perquisites admissible under BSNL’s service rules for executive-grade employees.
Service Bond: All selected candidates must sign a bond of ₹9 lakhs, committing to serve BSNL for a minimum of five years from the date of appointment. Candidates who exit before completing this period will be required to pay the bond amount. A two-year probation period applies, which includes a structured 52-week internal training programme. Failure to clear training within the extended probation period will result in termination of appointment.
Selection Process
The selection for BSNL Senior Executive Trainee Recruitment 2026 follows a multi-stage process:
- Computer-Based Test (CBT): An objective-type online exam divided into two parts. Part-I is an Aptitude Test (40 questions) covering general mental ability, reasoning, and quantitative aptitude — common for both streams. Part-II is stream-specific: Technical Test for Telecom (160 questions on core engineering and telecom subjects) or Finance (160 questions on financial management, accounting, and auditing). Each correct answer carries 1 mark; there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Candidates must qualify each part separately. If the exam is held in multiple sessions, marks may be normalised.
- Merit List: Shortlisting based on CBT performance, subject to minimum qualifying marks specified in the notification.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates appear for verification of original documents at a venue and date notified by BSNL.
- Medical Examination: Final selection is contingent on passing the medical examination per BSNL’s prescribed medical standards.
Important Dates
| Short Notice | 27 October 2025 |
| Full Notification | 29 January 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 05 February 2026 |
| Last Date (current, extended) | 15 April 2026 — verify at externalexam.bsnl.co.in |
| CBT Exam Date | Not yet confirmed (originally tentative: 29 March 2026) |
| Admit Card | To be notified on the official portal |
Note on date extensions: The original deadline was 07 March 2026, extended to 31 March 2026, and subsequently to 15 April 2026. Given the pattern of extensions, always check the official portal for any further revision before applying.
Application Fee
| UR / OBC (NCL) / EWS | ₹2,500 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹1,250 |
Payment is accepted online only — via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. Applications without successful fee payment will not be accepted. The fee is non-refundable.
How to Apply
- Visit the official BSNL external examination portal: externalexam.bsnl.co.in
- Click on the BSNL Senior Executive Trainee (SET) Recruitment 2026 registration link.
- Complete new registration by entering your valid name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number. A unique Registration Number and Password will be generated and sent to your registered contact details.
- Log in with the Registration Number and Password. Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD as applicable), and other required information.
- Upload scanned documents in the prescribed format and size: recent passport-size photograph (white background, 20 KB–50 KB), signature, educational certificates, and category/PwBD certificates if applicable.
- Pay the application fee online using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
- Review all details carefully. Note: once submitted, the application cannot be modified except during the designated correction window.
- Submit the form and save or print a copy of the submitted application and fee receipt for future reference.
- If you applied more than once, BSNL will consider only the latest Registration Number; all previous applications will be rejected.
Correction Window: A limited editing window was provided after the original deadline. Whether a correction window will follow the April 15 extended deadline has not been confirmed at the time of this writing. Check the official portal for any such announcement.
Documents Required
- Recent passport-size photograph (white background, 20 KB–50 KB)
- Scanned signature
- BE / B.Tech degree certificate and mark sheets (Telecom stream) or CA / CMA membership certificate (Finance stream)
- Date of birth proof (10th certificate or equivalent)
- SC / ST / OBC (NCL) / EWS certificate in the format prescribed by the Government of India (if claiming reservation)
- PwBD certificate from a competent authority (if applicable)
- Any other document specified in the official notification PDF
All uploaded documents must match originals exactly. Discrepancies found during document verification will lead to disqualification.
How to Verify an Offer and Avoid Scams
BSNL issues all recruitment communications exclusively through bsnl.co.in and the examination portal externalexam.bsnl.co.in. Any offer letter, appointment communication, or “selection list” shared via WhatsApp, Telegram, private email, or unofficial websites should be treated as suspect until verified on the official portals. BSNL does not charge any amount outside the official online application fee; any demand for money for “processing,” “verification,” or “posting preference” is fraudulent. The official advertisement number is BSNLCO-11/12(11)/1/2025-RECTT-CO-Part (1) — cross-check this in any document you receive. For any doubt, contact BSNL Corporate Office directly through the contact details listed on bsnl.co.in.
Official Links
- BSNL Official Website — bsnl.co.in
- Apply Online — externalexam.bsnl.co.in (Official BSNL Examination Portal)
- BSNL SET Registration Portal (IBT Examination — check if active)
Download the official notification PDF directly from bsnl.co.in or externalexam.bsnl.co.in. Do not use PDFs circulated on unofficial channels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the total number of vacancies in BSNL SET Recruitment 2026?
A total of 120 vacancies have been announced — 95 for the Telecom stream and 25 for the Finance stream — under Advertisement No. BSNLCO-11/12(11)/1/2025-RECTT-CO-Part (1).
Q2. What is the current last date to apply for BSNL SET 2026?
As of 23 March 2026, the deadline has been extended to 15 April 2026. This date has been revised twice since the original 07 March 2026 deadline. Candidates must verify the current status at externalexam.bsnl.co.in before applying.
Q3. Is GATE score required for BSNL Senior Executive Trainee 2026?
No. The official notification and application portal confirm that GATE score is not required for this recruitment. Selection is based on BSNL’s own Computer-Based Test (CBT).
Q4. What is the service bond requirement for selected candidates?
Selected candidates must sign a ₹9 lakh service bond committing to a minimum of five years of service with BSNL from the date of appointment. Early departure before completing this period requires payment of the bond amount.
Q5. What is the exam pattern for the CBT?
The CBT has two parts. Part-I (40 questions) covers aptitude and is common for both streams. Part-II (160 questions) is stream-specific — engineering and telecom subjects for Telecom candidates, and financial management and accounting subjects for Finance candidates. Each correct answer carries 1 mark; 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer. Candidates must qualify each part separately.
Q6. Can I correct my application after submission?
A correction window was provided during the initial registration phase (08–15 March 2026). Whether a similar window will be available after the April 15 extended deadline has not been confirmed. Monitor the official portal at externalexam.bsnl.co.in for any announcement.
