The CPCL JEA exam date 2026 is confirmed as Saturday, 31 October. CPCL will hold the Computer-Based Test in Chennai, as per its notice of 6 October. The recruitment covers 60 Junior Engineering Assistant-IV posts.
The admit card has not come out yet. The exam centre and reporting time will be printed on it.
About three and a half weeks remain, and the paper has 120 questions in two hours. This page from Engineers Academy and Nimbus Learning gives the dates, vacancies, eligibility, pattern and syllabus. It ends with a revision plan for the days left.
When Will the CPCL JEA CBT Be Held?
Saturday, 31 October 2026, in Chennai. The test lasts two hours. Centre details and reporting time will be printed on the admit card, so they are not available yet.
| Event | Date |
| Notification | 14 August 2026 |
| Online application opened | 14 August 2026 |
| Online application closed | 30 September 2026 |
| Exam date and city notice | 6 October 2026 |
| Admit card | Awaited |
| CBT | 31 October 2026 |
CPCL JEA Admit Card 2026: What Is Known
No release date has been announced. Past practice for this recruitment points to about 10 days before the CBT, which would be near 21 October. Treat that as an estimate only.
The link will come on the CPCL Careers page. On release day, candidates should:
- Download and print the admit card.
- Read the centre address twice.
- Note the reporting time
CPCL Junior Engineering Assistant Exam Date 2026 Notice – Click Here
How Many CPCL JEA Vacancies Are There in 2026?
Sixty posts are open. Production leads with 40. Mechanical has 10, while Electrical and Instrumentation have 5 each. Because Production holds two of every three seats, that discipline will see the heaviest competition.
| Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Backlog SC | Backlog ST | Backlog OBC | Total |
| Production | 19 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Mechanical | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Instrumentation | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 26 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 60 |
Who Is Eligible for CPCL Junior Engineering Assistant-IV?
A three-year diploma in the matching discipline is the base requirement. Marks must be at least 60%, or 55% for SC candidates. On top of that, three years of relevant experience after qualifying are needed.
Production also accepts a B.Sc. with Chemistry as a major subject. Its experience must come from continuous process units. All conditions are counted as on 1 July 2026.
| Discipline | Accepted qualification | Gen / OBC / EWS | SC | PwBD |
| Production | Diploma in Chemical, Petroleum or Petrochemical Engineering/Technology; or B.Sc. (Chemistry major) | 60% | 55% | – |
| Mechanical | Diploma in Mechanical Engineering | 60% | 55% | 55% |
| Electrical | Diploma in Electrical or Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 60% | 55% | 55% |
| Instrumentation | Diploma in Instrumentation, Instrumentation and Electronics, Instrumentation and Control, or Electronics and Communication | 60% | 55% | – |
Age Limit
Unreserved candidates must not be older than 30 years.
| Category | Relaxation | Maximum age |
| UR | Nil | 30 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 35 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 3 years | 33 years |
| PwD (UR) | 10 years | 40 years |
| PwD (OBC-NCL) | 13 years | 43 years |
| PwD (SC/ST) | 15 years | 45 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government policy | As per Government policy |
Application Fee
Women, ex-servicemen and SC, ST and PwBD candidates paid nothing. Everyone else paid ₹500. The window is now shut.
CPCL JEA Exam Pattern: Marks, Sections and Negative Marking
The paper has 120 questions and 120 marks. Part I tests general aptitude for 50 marks. Part II is the technical paper for the candidate’s own discipline, worth 70 marks.
| Part | Section | Questions | Marks |
| I | Numerical ability | 10 | 10 |
| I | Reasoning ability | 10 | 10 |
| I | General knowledge | 10 | 10 |
| I | Verbal ability (English) | 20 | 20 |
| II | Technical discipline | 70 | 70 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Marking is simple. A right answer gives 1 mark. A wrong answer takes away 0.25.
Put differently, four wrong answers wipe out one correct answer. Random guessing is a poor strategy here.
Selection Process After the CBT
Three stages decide the final list.
- Computer-Based Test
- Document verification
- Skill, proficiency or physical test (SPPT), where applicable
Merit comes from CBT marks alone. The SPPT is only qualifying. Since Part II carries 58% of the paper, the technical section matters most.
25-Day Revision Plan for the CPCL JEA CBT
Start with weak technical topics. Mocks come after that. The sequence matters, because a mock on half-revised topics only shows what is already known.
- Rate every syllabus topic: strong, average or weak.
- Days 1 to 10: work on weak technical topics. Solve numericals by hand.
- Practise English daily. Verbal ability has 20 marks, the biggest single block.
- From day 11: one full 120-question mock every second day, in two hours.
- Review each mock within 24 hours.
- Last three days: revision only.
Mock analysis needs some care. Sort each wrong answer under one of three heads: concept gap, careless slip, or time lost. In most cases the lost marks gather in a few chapters. Those chapters get the remaining days.
Preparation Support from Engineers Academy and Nimbus Learning
Most applicants already work in plants or workshops. Study hours are few, so each hour needs a purpose.
Engineers Academy and Nimbus Learning provide online classes, test series and study material for PSU and technical recruitment exams. A candidate comparing options should check for:
- Technical tests that follow a 70-mark, discipline-wise format.
- Mocks timed at two hours.
- Solutions that explain the method.
- A way to clear doubts before 31 October.
Current batches are listed on the Nimbus Learning website. For guidance, call 07374000888. Check pricing on the website.
CPCL JEA Syllabus 2026
Part I covers general knowledge, English and numerical ability. Part II depends on the candidate’s discipline. The topics below follow the commonly used list.
| Subject | Important topics |
| General knowledge | Current affairs, Indian history, geography, Constitution, economy, science and technology, awards, books and authors, important days, sports |
| English | Grammar, vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, reading comprehension, sentence correction, error detection |
| Numerical ability | Number system, simplification, percentage, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, time and work, time and distance, average, simple and compound interest, mensuration, data interpretation |
| Production (Chemical) | Chemical thermodynamics, process calculations, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, mass transfer, chemical kinetics, petroleum refining, organic and inorganic chemistry |
| Mechanical | Strength of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing technology, machine design, theory of machines, heat engines, industrial engineering |
| Electrical | Electrical machines, power systems, network theory, control systems, power electronics, basic electronics, electrical measurements, AC and DC circuits |
| Instrumentation | Process control, industrial instrumentation, sensors and transducers, PLC and SCADA, electronics, control systems, measurement techniques |
CPCL JEA Salary 2026 and Job Profile
The pay scale runs from ₹25,000 to ₹1,05,000 under the IDA structure. Starting basic pay is ₹25,000. The post sits in the non-supervisory cadre, Grade IV. Allowances and benefits follow the rules in the detailed notification.
CPCL is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise and a group company of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Its Chennai refinery has a capacity of 10.5 MMTPA.
Candidates get:
- PSU job security.
- IDA-linked pay.
- Growth within the cadre.
- Work in the energy sector.
Next Step for CPCL JEA Candidates
The CPCL JEA exam date 2026 gives about three and a half weeks. Watch the CPCL Careers page from around 21 October for the admit card. Finish technical revision first. Attempt one timed mock this week. Test series from Engineers Academy and Nimbus Learning are one option to compare
FAQs
Can a fresher apply for CPCL JEA 2026?
No. A three-year diploma and three years of relevant experience are both required. Production also accepts a B.Sc. with Chemistry. Experience is counted as on 1 July 2026.
What is the negative marking in the CPCL JEA exam?
Each wrong answer costs 0.25 mark. Each correct answer earns 1 mark.
When will the CPCL JEA admit card be out?
CPCL has not announced it. Around 21 October 2026 is the estimate, about 10 days before the CBT. The CPCL Careers page will carry the link.
Is there an interview in CPCL JEA selection?
The listed stages are CBT, document verification and SPPT. No interview is mentioned.
How can Engineers Academy help with CPCL JEA preparation?
Engineers Academy and Nimbus Learning offer classes, test series and study material for PSU aspirants. Check current batches on the Nimbus Learning website or call 07374000888.