Diploma in Electrical? KSEB Sub Engineer, PWD Overseer and Workshop Instructor compared
With a Diploma in Electrical Engineering, three Kerala PSC posts are worth planning around: KSEB Sub Engineer, Overseer Grade I (Electrical) in PWD, and Workshop Instructor / Demonstrator in the Technical Education Department. Here they are side by side, from the official notifications.
The three posts at a glance
| KSEB Sub Engineer | Workshop Instructor / Demonstrator | PWD Overseer Grade I | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiting for | Kerala State Electricity Board | Technical Education Department | Public Works / Irrigation Department |
| Last notification | Cat. No. 553/2021 | Cat. No. 048/2026 | Cat. No. 198/2020 |
| Pay (as notified) | ₹41,600–82,400 | ₹41,300–87,000 | ₹26,500–56,700 (2020, pre-revision scale) |
| Age limit | 18–40 | 18–40 | 19–37 in 2020 |
| Status | Next notification expected; ranked list 976/2023 nears expiry | Applications closed, exam awaited | About 75 advised from the last list, which expired July 2026; new notification awaited |
Age limits carry the usual Kerala PSC relaxations for reserved categories. Pay and age change between notifications, so always read the current one.
One syllabus, two posts
Kerala PSC uses the same syllabus for KSEB Sub Engineer and Workshop Instructor / Demonstrator (Electrical): 100 marks in six modules. Prepare once and you are ready for both. With Workshop Instructor's exam still to come and a new KSEB notification expected, the timing works in your favour.
Which one suits you?
- KSEB Sub Engineer is with the Kerala State Electricity Board, on power distribution work.
- Workshop Instructor / Demonstrator is in the Technical Education Department, a good fit if you enjoy practical, lab-based work with students.
- PWD Overseer Grade I is with the Public Works Department, on its electrical works.
You do not have to choose. If you are eligible, write every one of these as it is notified.
Preparing while working
Many of our Sub Engineer students prepare alongside a job or a family. That is why our Sub Engineer level course is live Monday to Friday, 7 to 8 pm, with every class recorded, printed textbooks, 10 questions a day and a weekly mock with negative marking. For a month-by-month plan, read KSEB Sub Engineer: how to prepare in 6 months.