KITTS: Guide training deadline reportedly moved to 23 Nov

The Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies (KITTS) set 9 November 2026 at 5.30 pm as the application deadline for its State Level and Local Level Guide training programmes, but TV9 Malayalam reports an extension to 23 November 2026 at 5.30 pm. The courses offer 27 state-level seats and 141 local-level seats, according to the KITTS notification dated 19 October 2026.

The date of the reported amendment is not established, leaving uncertainty over whether the extension had been announced by 9 November. TV9 Malayalam explicitly describes 23 November as a revision of the original deadline, rather than a separate application round.

The KITTS notification invites online applications for training at the institute’s headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. It says the Kerala Department of Tourism initiated the Guide Training and Licence Programme to address the state’s requirement for professionally trained tourist guides and improve visitor services.

Admission to training does not itself confer a guide licence. Under the notification, candidates who complete the prescribed training and qualify in the final written examination and viva voce, or oral examination, will be considered for the relevant licence, subject to the Tourism Department’s rules and procedures.

Two courses with different entry requirements

The State Level Guide programme lasts nine weeks and has 27 seats, according to KITTS. Its course fee is Rs 32,745, including Goods and Services Tax (GST).

For this course, the notification accepts a degree in any subject from a university or institute recognised by the University Grants Commission. Alternatively, candidates can qualify with Class 12 or an equivalent certificate and a regular foreign-language course lasting at least six months. The language qualification must be from a recognised university, approved institution, recognised organisation, embassy or cultural centre of the kind specified in the notification.

State-level applicants must be natives of Kerala and fluent in English. They must also have been at least 20 years old on 1 January 2026, KITTS states.

The Local Level Guide programme lasts four weeks and has 141 seats. KITTS lists SSLC, SSC, CBSE or Class 10 pass as the educational requirement and sets the course fee at Rs 20,355, including GST. Local-level applicants must also be Kerala natives and meet the same minimum-age requirement.

The notification separately fixes an application fee of Rs 590, plus applicable transaction charges. This is distinct from the course fees.

Local seats are tied to the district of residence

KITTS requires Local Level Guide applicants to apply only against the quota for their district of residence. Applications against another district’s quota will be rejected, the notification states.

The district allocation gives Thiruvananthapuram 15 seats and Malappuram six. Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod each have 10 seats, according to the notification’s annexure.

There is a separate provision for districts that receive too few applicants. KITTS says seats in such a district may be allocated from other districts’ rank lists on the direction of the Director of Kerala’s Department of Tourism. That provision does not change the restriction on candidates applying outside their district of residence.

Written-test threshold comes before the interview

Admission is based on a written test and personal interview, with selection strictly on merit, according to KITTS. Candidates must score at least 50 per cent in the written test to be called for interview.

For State Level Guide applicants, the selection scheme assigns 50 marks to knowledge of monuments around the area, 50 marks to history and 100 marks to general knowledge. The interview carries another 50 marks, bringing the selection total to 250 marks.

For Local Level Guide applicants, the scheme assigns 25 marks each to knowledge of monuments and history, and 50 marks to general knowledge. The interview carries 50 marks, taking the total to 150 marks.

These admission assessments are separate from the final written examination and oral examination required after training for consideration for a licence. Both stages are described in the KITTS notification.

Certificates and uploads can determine acceptance

A valid Police Clearance Certificate is mandatory for joining either training programme, KITTS states. The notification places this requirement at the joining stage.

For educational qualifications, applicants must upload an original certificate or a provisional certificate issued by the competent authority. KITTS says mark sheets, consolidated mark sheets and statements will not be accepted as substitutes, and applications using them instead of certificates will be rejected.

Candidates relying on a qualification equivalent to one prescribed in the notification must submit an equivalency certificate from the competent authority. Without that certificate, their applications will not be considered.

KITTS also specifies the upload formats: the latest photograph must be a JPG file smaller than 200 KB, while the scanned signature must be a JPG file smaller than 50 KB. The signature must be complete, made by the candidate and not written in capital letters.

The notification warns that incomplete or incorrect applications, illegible photographs or signatures, and unclear certificates can lead to rejection. It also says discrepancies between application particulars and original documents can result in cancellation of candidature.

According to KITTS, only shortlisted candidates will receive selection-related communications by email, SMS or telephone. The 19 October notification does not specify dates for the admission test, interviews or commencement of training.