Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora announces 2,500 lineman apprentices for PSPCL & PSTCL, plus major reforms to simplify new power connections.
2,500 apprentices (interns) in the lineman trade, including 100 for Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) and 2,500 for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), were selected successfully, according to Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora.
The Punjab government, led by Bhagwant Singh Mann, is always working to improve PSPCL and PSTCL’s technological and human resources, Arora underlined. With the recent hiring of 2,106 people (including 2,023 Assistant Linemen, 48 Internal Auditors, and 35 Revenue Accountants), he noted, the government’s commitment to creating jobs and enhancing the state’s electrical infrastructure is reflected in the 8,984 new hires since April 2022.
As part of a significant pro-consumer reform to promote the “Ease of Doing Business,” Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora declared that the state government has made it easier to apply for new power connections and load capacity adjustments.
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Under the new system, applicants or consumers seeking new connections or changes in load up to 50 kW under the LT (Low Tension) category will not need to submit any test report from a licensed electrical contractor or any self-certification/signed document for the electrical installation of the premises, under Arora’s announcement, which highlighted the change. “That the internal wiring at the premises has been got executed and tested by a Licensed Electrical Contractor/Designated Officer of the Govt. and test certificate is available with the applicant” is what the applicant will be stating in the online application form instead. Importantly, 99.5% of all connections in PSPCL (apart from AP) have loads under 50KW.
It will still be necessary for customers with loads more than 50 kW on LT supply to submit a test report, but PSPCL authorities won’t have to check these reports. Similar to this, he stated that all new HT (High Tension) and EHT (Extra High Tension) applicants will still be required to submit an inspection report from the Chief Electrical Inspector (CEI); however, the test report will no longer be required.
“The CEI inspection will only be necessary when a new transformer is installed in the category of existing HT/EHT consumers seeking load extension,” Arora noted. In every other situation, CEI certification won’t be necessary. This decision, he underlined, would reduce procedural delays, improve transparency, and allow for a quicker release of connections.
In order to obtain a new connection, additional load, demand, name change, etc., Arora stated that PSPCL should not verify the test report that the application or customer filed (if appropriate) through a licensed electrical contractor. The Power Minister reaffirmed that maintaining safety compliance is still of utmost importance. To guarantee compliance with safety regulations, the CEI will continue to conduct yearly inspections of all current HT/EHT users. Agricultural Power (AP) category clients will not be affected by these guidelines, he noted.
Arora described the reform as a positive move toward efficiency and trust-based government, stating that it supports Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s goal of delivering customer-friendly, transparent, and timely public services.
With over 30,000 workers today, he noted, PSPCL is subject to the Apprentices Act, 1961, which mandates that all establishments with 30 or more workers hire apprentices (interns) at a rate of 2.5% to 15% of their total workforce. In keeping with this, PSPCL has finished choosing Apprentices (Interns) for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, guaranteeing adherence to national standards and laying the groundwork for young people to cultivate their skills and find future employment.
Eligible candidates for the one-year Apprenticeship Training in Lineman Trade must have completed their matriculation, have an ITI qualification in the trade of electrician or wireman, and have at least a Matric level of Punjabi language proficiency. The chosen applicants are assigned to different divisions for both theoretical and practical training in accordance with the approved schedule after the selection process, which is carried out through a Computer Based Test (CBT). Their monthly salary during the training duration would be Rs. 7700.
According to the Power Minister, 1,500 Apprentices (Interns) successfully finished their training in October 2024 during FY 2023–2024. The new group will go through a rigorous 52-week training program that aims to convey both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, building on that success.
Safe working procedures on high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) lines, first aid procedures, and the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) are all covered in the first technical and safety classes of the training program. The following weeks will teach trainees how to measure voltage, current, and resistance as well as how to install and maintain HT/LT lines, cable jointing, earthing systems, and meter installations. Advanced modules include emergency response following storms or rain, transformer repair, fault detection, and line patrolling.
Throughout the program, apprentices (interns) will be supervised by seasoned PSPCL staff members while keeping daily diaries that are reviewed by their managers once a week. Following satisfactory completion, candidates will be assessed theoretically and practically before the National Apprenticeship Council (NAC), New Delhi, issues certificates.
Arora emphasized the significance of the program by saying, “This apprenticeship program not only provides Punjab’s youth with specialized technical skills but also establishes a direct pipeline of trained manpower for the power sector.” It guarantees that our youthful workforce is competent, fit for the workforce, and prepared to handle new problems.
In order to be considered for the position of Assistant Lineman (ALM) at PSPCL, he said, apprentices (interns) must successfully complete apprenticeship training in the lineman trade. This provides them with a clear and merit-based career development within the power industry.