Indian Oil Corporation Limited invited applications for the engagement of Trade Apprentices and Technician Apprentices at seven refinery units under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprentices Rules.
The combined recruitment covered 2,337 apprenticeship seats at Barauni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Gujarat, Paradip, Mathura and Haldia refineries. Opportunities were available for candidates possessing Class 12, ITI, Diploma, B.Sc., B.Com. or another prescribed qualification, depending on the selected trade or discipline.
Applications for Barauni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Gujarat, Paradip and Mathura refineries were accepted from 29 June to 28 July 2026. The Haldia Refinery application window remained open from 1 July to 30 July 2026.
The application periods have ended. Candidates who applied should now monitor the official IndianOil apprenticeship page, their registered email address and the NAPS or NATS dashboard for the document-verification shortlist and subsequent engagement updates.
IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Oil Corporation Limited |
| Division | Refineries Division |
| Engagement | Trade Apprentice and Technician Apprentice |
| Total seats covered in this article | 2,337 |
| Number of refinery units | 7 |
| Refineries | Barauni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Gujarat, Paradip, Mathura and Haldia |
| Training law | Apprentices Act, 1961/1973 and applicable Apprentices Rules |
| Qualification | Class 12, ITI, Diploma, B.Sc., B.A. or B.Com., depending on trade |
| General age limit | 18 to 24 years |
| Eligibility cut-off date | 30 June 2026 |
| Selection method | Merit in the prescribed qualification |
| Written examination | No |
| Application fee | No fee specified |
| Training period | 12 to 24 months, depending on trade |
| Stipend | As prescribed under the Apprentices Act and IOCL guidelines |
| Employment guarantee | No |
| Official website | https://iocl.com/apprenticeships |
This is an apprenticeship training engagement and not a regular appointment. Completion of training does not create a right to permanent employment with IndianOil.
Refinery-Wise Vacancy Details
| Refinery | State | Advertisement number | Apprentice seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barauni Refinery | Bihar | Barauni-BR/HR/APPR/2026-27/I | 432 |
| Guwahati Refinery | Assam | GR/P/APP/2026-27 | 102 |
| Bongaigaon Refinery | Assam | BGR/Appr/2026/03 | 144 |
| Gujarat Refinery | Gujarat | JR/01/2026-27 | 647 |
| Paradip Refinery | Odisha | PDR/HR/01/Apprentices-26 | 582 |
| Mathura Refinery | Uttar Pradesh | MR/HR/APP1/2026-27 | 151 |
| Haldia Refinery | West Bengal | HR/RECTT/01/2026-27(APP) | 279 |
| Total | 2,337 |
The number of seats was tentative and could be increased, reduced or redistributed according to management requirements and applicable reservation rules.
Important Dates
Six refineries with the 29 June application opening
The following schedule applied to Barauni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Gujarat, Paradip and Mathura refineries:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification and online application opening | 29 June 2026 at 10:00 AM |
| Last date to complete NAPS/NATS application and additional form | 28 July 2026 at 5:00 PM |
| Tentative publication of document-verification shortlist | 5 August 2026 |
| Tentative document verification | 11 to 18 August 2026 |
Haldia Refinery schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 30 June 2026 |
| Online application opening | 1 July 2026 at 10:00 AM |
| Last date to complete the application | 30 July 2026 at 5:00 PM |
| Tentative publication of document-verification shortlist | 5 August 2026 |
| Tentative document verification | 11 to 18 August 2026 |
The shortlist and document-verification dates were tentative. Candidates should rely on the latest notice issued by the concerned refinery.
Trade and Discipline Details
The exact trades available varied by refinery. The recruitment generally covered the following codes:
| Code | Trade or discipline | Prescribed qualification | Training period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Trade Apprentice – Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant) | Three-year B.Sc. with Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry | 12 months |
| 102 | Trade Apprentice – Fitter | Matriculation with regular two-year ITI in Fitter trade | 12 months |
| 103 | Trade Apprentice – Boiler | Three-year B.Sc. with Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry | 24 months |
| 104 | Technician Apprentice – Chemical | Three-year Diploma in Chemical, Petrochemical, Chemical Technology or Refinery and Petrochemical Engineering | 12 months |
| 105 | Technician Apprentice – Mechanical | Three-year Diploma in Mechanical Engineering | 12 months |
| 106 | Technician Apprentice – Electrical | Three-year Diploma in Electrical or Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 12 months |
| 107 | Technician Apprentice – Instrumentation | Three-year Diploma in an accepted Instrumentation-related branch | 12 months |
| 108 | Trade Apprentice – Secretarial Assistant | Regular three-year B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com. | 15 months |
| 109 | Trade Apprentice – Accountant | Regular three-year B.Com. | 12 months |
| 110 | Trade Apprentice – Data Entry Operator, Fresher | Class 12 pass | 12 months |
| 111 | Trade Apprentice – Data Entry Operator, Skill Certificate Holder | Class 12 pass with a recognised Domestic Data Entry Operator skill certificate | 12 months |
Not every refinery necessarily advertised every trade in the same number. Candidates must refer to the notification of the refinery for which they applied.
Educational Qualification Rules
Candidates had to possess the prescribed qualification by the eligibility cut-off date of 30 June 2026. Applicants awaiting the result of their qualifying examination were not eligible.
The following general rules applied:
- Class 12, graduation and engineering diploma qualifications had to be completed as regular full-time courses from a recognised board, university or institute.
- General candidates generally needed at least 50% aggregate marks in the prescribed qualification.
- SC, ST and PwBD candidates considered against reserved seats generally needed at least 45% aggregate marks.
- For ITI Fitter, pass marks in a regular full-time course recognised by NCVET or SCVT were accepted.
- Only the branch, subject or trade specifically mentioned in the refinery notification was eligible.
- Part-time, correspondence and distance-mode qualifications were not accepted.
- Diploma holders admitted through a recognised lateral-entry route could be considered when they met the prescribed aggregate-mark requirement.
- Candidates had to provide a conversion certificate when their institute awarded CGPA, OGPA or letter grades instead of percentage marks.
Higher Qualification and Experience Restrictions
Possessing a higher professional qualification could make a candidate ineligible for this apprenticeship drive.
The notifications stated that candidates possessing or completing qualifications such as BE, B.Tech., MBA, CA, LLB, MCA or another equivalent higher professional qualification before joining apprenticeship training were not eligible.
Engineering graduates, diploma holders and vocational certificate holders with one year or more of job experience after obtaining the prescribed qualification were also not eligible for apprenticeship engagement.
Candidates who had completed five years after acquiring the prescribed qualification as of 30 June 2026 were not eligible.
Applicants were required to declare their qualification, experience and previous apprenticeship history truthfully. Discovery of an incorrect declaration could result in cancellation even after engagement.
Previous Apprenticeship Conditions
Candidates who had already completed apprenticeship training in another trade or discipline could be considered only when they satisfied the conditions stated in the refinery notification.
Important conditions included:
- A minimum one-year gap generally applied after completion of an earlier apprenticeship.
- No gap was required when the previous contract ended because of failure on the employer’s part.
- A three-month gap could apply where the apprentice terminated the earlier contract because of specified hardship or career-related reasons.
- The prescribed waiting period did not apply to women in the stated termination category.
- Candidates whose previous contract was terminated because they failed to perform the apprenticeship obligations were not eligible.
- Preference was given to candidates applying for apprenticeship training for the first time.
- Selected candidates with previous apprenticeship history had to submit the prescribed affidavit during document verification.
Age Limit
The minimum age was 18 years and the maximum age for General and EWS candidates was 24 years as of 30 June 2026.
| Category | Maximum-age relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC and ST | 5 years |
| OBC Non-Creamy Layer | 3 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD belonging to SC or ST | Additional relaxation according to the notification |
| PwBD belonging to OBC-NCL | Additional relaxation according to the notification |
The Class 10 or Matriculation certificate issued by the recognised education board was the accepted proof of date of birth.
Candidates can verify their completed age as of 30 June 2026 with the Recruitment Age Calculator.
Application Fee
The refinery apprentice notifications did not prescribe an application fee.
Candidates were required to complete the online process through the appropriate apprenticeship portal and the additional refinery form. They should not pay money to an agent or unofficial website claiming to guarantee shortlisting or engagement.
Selection Process
There was no written examination or interview for this apprentice engagement.
Selection was based on the aggregate percentage obtained in the qualification prescribed for the selected trade or discipline.
The process generally involved:
- Verification of registration and application on NAPS or NATS
- Verification of the additional Microsoft or online refinery form
- Preparation of a trade-wise merit list
- Shortlisting according to merit and available seats
- Document verification
- Pre-engagement medical examination
- Issue of an offer of engagement to eligible and medically fit candidates
Tie-breaking rules
When two or more candidates had the same percentage in the prescribed qualification:
- The candidate older in age received the higher position.
- If the date of birth was also the same, the candidate with the higher Matriculation percentage received preference.
IOCL retained the discretion to leave seats vacant when suitable candidates were not available.
NAPS and NATS Registration
Applicants were required to possess an active apprentice registration or enrolment number.
NAPS portal
Candidates applying for applicable trade-apprentice opportunities had to register at:
The candidate had to search for the concerned IndianOil refinery and apply for the correct trade opportunity.
NATS portal
Candidates applying for applicable technician-apprentice opportunities had to register at:
After registration, the candidate had to apply for the relevant IndianOil opportunity displayed on the dashboard.
Registration on NAPS or NATS alone was not sufficient. Applicants also had to complete the additional refinery form linked from the official IndianOil apprenticeship page. Details such as the registration number, email address and mobile number had to match across both stages.
Documents Required for Verification
Shortlisted candidates should keep the following original documents and self-attested copies ready:
- Class 10 certificate as proof of date of birth
- Class 12 marksheet and certificate, where applicable
- ITI marksheets and certificate, where applicable
- Diploma semester-wise marksheets and final certificate
- Graduation marksheets and degree certificate
- CGPA or grade-to-percentage conversion certificate
- Certificate showing the result-publication date, where it is not printed on the marksheet
- Certificate confirming regular full-time study and good conduct, where required
- SC or ST certificate
- OBC-NCL certificate and declaration
- EWS Income and Asset Certificate or prescribed undertaking
- PwBD certificate
- Domestic Data Entry Operator skill certificate for Code 111
- NAPS or NATS registration printout
- Prescribed affidavit regarding previous apprenticeship
- Valid photo identity proof
- Additional document requested by the concerned refinery
Medical Fitness
Document verification alone does not guarantee engagement.
Shortlisted candidates must satisfy the minimum physical and medical-fitness requirements prescribed under the Apprentices Act and IndianOil guidelines. Only candidates found medically fit will be considered for the final apprenticeship offer.
Candidates with an earlier medical unfitness finding from a refinery or another public-sector organisation were required to declare it. Suppression of a medical condition or previous unfitness decision could result in cancellation.
Stipend and Training Benefits
The monthly stipend will be paid according to the Apprentices Act, the Apprentices Rules and applicable IndianOil guidelines.
Technical apprentices in specified plant-related trades may receive safety shoes and a returnable helmet where applicable.
The notifications also provide for:
- General leave during the apprenticeship period
- Casual leave on a pro-rata basis
- Holidays observed by the concerned refinery
- Suitable accident-insurance coverage
Company accommodation and House Rent Allowance are not provided to apprentices.
The final stipend and conditions will be governed by the apprenticeship contract and current statutory rates.
No Guarantee of Permanent Employment
The apprenticeship provides structured industrial training and practical experience. It is not a regular recruitment appointment.
IndianOil has no obligation to offer permanent employment after completion of training, and an apprentice cannot claim a job merely because the apprenticeship has been completed.
Candidates should consider the opportunity as skill development and industrial exposure rather than a guaranteed route to regular IOCL employment.
How to Check the Shortlist
- Visit the official IndianOil apprenticeship page.
- Find the name of the refinery for which the application was submitted.
- Check for a document-verification shortlist or recruitment notice.
- Open the candidate’s registered NAPS or NATS dashboard.
- Check the registered email address and mobile messages.
- Download the shortlist or call letter when published.
- Verify the reporting date, venue and required documents.
- Attend document verification with originals and self-attested copies.
Candidates should continue checking the refinery-specific section because shortlist and verification dates may be revised.
Important Instructions
- The application windows for the seven refineries have closed.
- A candidate could apply for only one eligible trade or discipline in the concerned recruitment.
- Applications for more than one trade could be rejected.
- NAPS or NATS registration and the additional refinery form were both mandatory.
- Details entered at both stages had to match.
- The registered email address and mobile number should remain active during the apprenticeship process.
- Part-time and distance qualifications were not accepted.
- Candidates with specified higher professional qualifications were not eligible.
- Candidates must disclose previous apprenticeship and employment history.
- Shortlisting is provisional and subject to document verification.
- Final engagement depends on medical fitness.
- Apprenticeship does not guarantee permanent employment.
- Candidates should rely only on the official IndianOil website and apprenticeship portals.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official IndianOil apprenticeship page | View Detail |
| NAPS portal | View Detail |
| NATS portal | View Detail |
| Barauni Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Guwahati Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Bongaigaon Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Gujarat Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Paradip Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Mathura Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Haldia Refinery notification | View Detail |
| Regal Career Application Tools | View Detail |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many apprentice seats are covered in this IOCL recruitment article?
The seven refinery notifications together advertised 2,337 apprentice seats.
Which refineries were included?
The recruitment covered Barauni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Gujarat, Paradip, Mathura and Haldia refineries.
Is the application form still open?
No. Applications for six refineries closed on 28 July 2026, while the Haldia Refinery application closed on 30 July 2026.
Was there an application fee?
The refinery notifications did not prescribe an application fee.
Is there a written examination?
No. Selection is based on merit in the qualification prescribed for the selected trade, followed by document verification and a medical examination.
What is the general age limit?
General and EWS candidates had to be between 18 and 24 years old as of 30 June 2026. Relaxation applies to eligible reserved categories.
Can a B.Tech. candidate apply?
The notifications state that candidates possessing or completing specified higher professional qualifications such as BE or B.Tech. before engagement are not eligible.
Can candidates with distance qualifications apply?
No. The prescribed qualification had to be completed through a regular full-time course.
What is the training period?
Most trades have a 12-month training period. Secretarial Assistant generally has 15 months, while the Boiler trade generally has 24 months.
Will IOCL provide permanent employment after training?
No. Completion of apprenticeship does not create a right to regular employment.
Where will the shortlist be published?
Candidates should check the official IndianOil apprenticeship page, the relevant NAPS or NATS dashboard and their registered email.
What happens after document verification?
Eligible candidates must satisfy the pre-engagement medical-fitness requirements before an offer of apprenticeship engagement is issued.
Final Summary
IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 offered 2,337 Trade and Technician Apprentice seats across seven refinery units.
The drive covered candidates with Class 12, ITI, engineering diploma and specified graduate qualifications. Selection is merit-based, without a written examination, followed by document verification and medical fitness.
Applications have closed. Candidates should now monitor the official IndianOil apprenticeship page and their NAPS or NATS dashboard for refinery-wise shortlists, document-verification instructions and final engagement updates.
