KSRTC SWIFT Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online for 1040 Driver, Conductor and More Posts

KSRTC SWIFT, the Kerala Government company that runs KSRTC's long-distance bus services, has invited online applications for 1,040 posts on daily-wage basis: 385 Driver, 345 Conductor and 310 Driver-cum-Conductor. The posts are temporary engagements under a contract with KSRTC SWIFT, paid at Rs. 715 per eight-hour duty plus overtime at Rs. 130 an hour and allowances, with EPF and ESI. They carry no claim to permanent appointment, and selected candidates deposit Rs. 30,000 as refundable security and must serve two years after training.

Drivers need a 9th pass and a Heavy Motor Vehicle licence with passenger and goods endorsements; Conductors a 10th pass and a conductor licence; Driver-cum-Conductors a 10th pass, an HMV licence and five years' heavy passenger vehicle experience. The age limit is 21 to 55. Applications, with a Rs. 100 fee, are accepted only online at cmd.kerala.gov.in until 22 October 2026, 5:00 PM, a window of about two weeks from the notice date. Selection is by driving skill test, written test or both, followed by an interview.

Download KSRTC SWIFT Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF

KSRTC SWIFT Recruitment 2026 Quick Facts

Vacancy Details

Who Can Apply

Driver (385 posts)

• 9th class pass from a recognised board or institution.
• A valid Heavy Motor Vehicle licence is mandatory, with Heavy Goods and Heavy Passenger vehicle endorsements.
• At least 7 years since obtaining a motor vehicle licence, of which at least 3 years holding the HMV licence. This condition does not apply to ex-servicemen who hold an HMV licence.
• The valid HMV licence must be in hand for the ground test and road test.
• Desirable: knowledge of vehicle operation and the ability to identify and fix minor faults.

Conductor (345 posts)

• 10th class pass from a recognised board or institution.
• A valid conductor licence under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. Candidates who do not hold one at the time of selection must produce a valid licence within one month of appointment.

Driver-cum-Conductor (310 posts)

• 10th class pass.
• A valid heavy driving licence under the MV Act 1988; if selected, a conductor licence must be obtained from the Motor Vehicles Department within the time fixed.
• At least 5 years' experience driving heavy passenger vehicles with more than 30 seats, proved by a copy of Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund contribution or experience certificates from Government institutions.
• Desirable: knowledge of vehicle operation and the ability to fix minor faults.

Standards common to all three posts

• Age: 21 to 55 years on the last date for submitting the application. No relaxation is mentioned.
• Physical: height 158 cm; chest 76 cm (normal).
• Vision (Driver and Driver-cum-Conductor): distant vision 6/6 Snellen and near vision 0.5 Snellen in each eye; full vision in each eye is required. Colour blindness, any disease of the eye or eyelids, or any defect of vision in either eye is disqualifying. A medical certificate stating these vision details must be obtained from an ophthalmologist in Government service.
• Health: the fitness and eyesight needed to work duties of up to 10 hours under the MV Act, certified by a doctor not below the rank of Civil Surgeon and an ophthalmologist. A fitness certificate is produced to KSRTC SWIFT at the time of appointment.
• Conductor and Driver-cum-Conductor: must be able to read and write Malayalam and English and know basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Police clearance: selected candidates must produce a Police Clearance Certificate from the police station of their residence within 10 days.

Who need not apply

Anyone removed from service after appointment in KSRTC SWIFT, or who left KSRTC SWIFT without authorisation after signing its contract, is not eligible under this notification.

Serving KSRTC employees

KSRTC employees may work in KSRTC SWIFT on working arrangement or deputation under a separate agreement. They continue to draw their KSRTC salary from KSRTC and receive only the eligible incentives, allowances and batta from SWIFT. KSRTC employees with five or more years' experience are given preference.

Pay and Terms of Engagement

• Wage: Rs. 715 for an 8-hour duty including sign-in and sign-off, fixed under Government Order G.O.(Rt) 81/2019/Fin dated 9 July 2019. One duty a day and one weekly off; attendance as per the approved duty roster.
• Overtime: Rs. 130 per hour beyond 8 hours, in proportion to the extra time worked. More than 5 extra hours counts as the next duty. Rest time between services is not counted as additional duty, but extra batta is considered.
• Allowances: kilometre allowance, night allowance and collection batta at the rates in force; incentive batta under SWIFT's incentive scheme on additional revenue; incentives for accident-free, damage-free and punctual service, clean buses, proper uniform and good passenger relations.
• EPF and ESI apply.
• Duty pattern follows the Motor Transport Workers Act 1961 and Rules 1962. Duty assignment, route selection and duty pattern are decided by management.
• Security deposit: at the time of signing the contract, a demand draft for Rs. 30,000 in favour of the Chairman and Managing Director, KSRTC-SWIFT, held as interest-free security for the whole period of temporary service and refunded per the contract on resignation or on retirement at 56.
• Service bond: candidates who complete training must serve KSRTC SWIFT for two years, with at least 240 duties a year; otherwise the Rs. 30,000 deposit is not refunded.
• No guarantee of work or permanency: the company is not bound to engage everyone on the rank list; work is given by rotation and no claim lies against this. Service under this notification gives no right to permanent appointment in KSRTC, KSRTC SWIFT or any Government institution.
• Removal: the company may remove, without notice, employees who are irregular in attendance, breach discipline or break the contract; such persons are not re-engaged and the deposit is not refunded.

KSRTC SWIFT Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

Application Fee

Rs. 100, paid online with the application. No exemption is mentioned.

How to Apply for KSRTC SWIFT Recruitment 2026

1. Open cmd.kerala.gov.in, the Centre for Management Development portal that handles this recruitment, and open the KSRTC SWIFT Driver / Conductor / Driver-cum-Conductor application.
2. Fill in the online form and upload self-attested copies of certificates proving educational qualification, experience and age, and a passport-size photograph.
3. Pay the Rs. 100 fee online.
4. Submit on or before 22 October 2026, 5:00 PM. Applications sent by any other mode are not accepted for any reason.

Before you apply

• Read the annexure of service and wage conditions (summarised below); applying is treated as willingness to work on those terms.
• Drivers: check that both the Heavy Goods and Heavy Passenger endorsements appear on your licence, and that the 7-year and 3-year licence conditions are met by the last date.
• Driver-cum-Conductor applicants: obtain the Welfare Fund contribution copy or Government experience certificates now; they are the only proof of experience the notice accepts.
• Arrange the ophthalmologist's certificate from a Government doctor early; it must certify 6/6 distant and 0.5 near vision in each eye.
• Keep Rs. 30,000 available for the demand draft if selected.

Selection Process

Applications are scrutinised and a shortlist is prepared. Shortlisted candidates then complete, before a selection committee constituted for this appointment:

A rank list of successful candidates is published, and temporary appointments are made in rank order as vacancies arise. The rank list is valid for one year from the date it comes into force. Selected candidates sign a contract with KSRTC SWIFT, submit the security deposit, undergo training and then serve the two-year bond.

Service Conditions to Know Before Applying

The annexure sets out the working terms in detail. The points most likely to affect a decision to apply:

• Buses run on a bus crew management system: two sets of crew (four persons) per bus, with a reserve pool to cover leave. Crew must report to the bus bay an hour before departure, check the bus inside and out, keep it clean, display destination boards and wear the prescribed uniform.
• Unauthorised absence or late reporting that causes a service cancellation or delayed departure is the crew's full responsibility, and the loss is recovered from them.
• Damage to a bus above Rs. 1 lakh caused by the crew can lead to dismissal with no liability on the company; damage below that is recovered proportionately. Buses carry cameras.
• Operating or taking part in a service under the influence of alcohol means immediate dismissal without notice.
• Conductors remit the day's collection to KSRTC's ticket and cash section or the designated bank account and submit the receipt. Passengers found without tickets by checking inspectors lead to fines or dismissal.
• Crew handle passenger luggage, contact online-reservation passengers in advance, help elderly and disabled passengers, change a punctured tyre with the stepney during a breakdown, and keep a visitors' book available.
• Repeated complaints that damage public confidence in SWIFT services lead to forfeiture of the deposit and recovery of losses.

Official Links

• KSRTC SWIFT notification PDF
• Online Application Link Portal
• KSRTC official website