IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has been officially released by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Pipelines Division) on 06 November 2026. IOCL, a Maharatna Fortune Global 500 Government of India Undertaking, invites online applications from eligible Indian Nationals for 500 Apprentice posts across 7 trades and 5 pipeline regions. This guide is for Diploma holders, Graduates, and 12th-pass candidates between 18–24 years who want to join India’s largest commercial enterprise as an Apprentice under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Read on for the official vacancy breakdown, eligibility criteria, application process, important dates, and direct links.
IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Pipelines Division) is open for 500 posts across 7 trades in 5 regions. Online applications run from 06 November to 05 December 2026 via NATS/NAPS portal and plapps.indianoilpipelines.in. Age limit is 18–24 years as on 30.11.2026. No written test — selection is merit-based on qualifying exam percentage.
- Organisation: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Pipelines Division
- Advertisement No.: PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026), Dated 06.11.2026
- Total Vacancies: Around 500 (Tentative)
- Post Names: Technician Apprentice (Mechanical / Electrical / T&I), Trade Apprentice (Asst-HR / Accountant), Data Entry Operator, Domestic Data Entry Operator
- Application Start Date: 06 November 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 05 December 2026
- Age Limit: 18 – 24 years as on 30.11.2026
- Training Duration: 12 months from date of engagement
- Selection Process: Merit List based on qualifying exam percentage — No Written Test, No Interview
- Application Mode: Online (NATS / NAPS Portal + IOCL Pipelines Portal)
- Application Fee: No fee mentioned in official notification
- Official Portal: plapps.indianoilpipelines.in
📋 Table of Contents
- What Is IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
- IOCL Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – Region-Wise & Trade-Wise Breakdown
- Eligibility Criteria – Qualification, Age & Category Relaxation
- Selection Process – How Merit List Is Prepared
- How to Apply Online for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Important Dates & Timeline
- Important Links
- Frequently Asked Questions About IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
What Is IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 and Why Should You Apply?
IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is an official Apprenticeship Engagement Drive by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Pipelines Division), a Government of India Undertaking and India’s largest commercial enterprise. Under Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026) dated 06.11.2026, IOCL invites around 500 eligible Indian Nationals to undertake 12-month Apprenticeship Training across Technical and Non-Technical Trades at pipeline locations spread across 19 states.
The engagement is governed by The Apprentices Act, 1961 (as amended). This is a Skill Building Initiative by IOCL under its Skill Development Mission. Apprentices gain hands-on operational and technical training at some of India’s most critical petroleum pipeline infrastructure sites. No employment is guaranteed after completion — the engagement is purely for training purposes as per the Act.
IOCL Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – Region-Wise and Trade-Wise Breakdown
IOCL Pipelines Division has announced around 500 tentative Apprentice seats spread across 5 pipeline regions — ERPL, WRPL, NRPL, SRPL, and SERPL — covering 19 states and multiple pipeline locations. The region-wise distribution is as per the official notification.
Region-Wise Vacancy Distribution
| Region | States Covered | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) | Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal | 116 |
| Western Region Pipelines (WRPL) | Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan | 149 |
| Northern Region Pipelines (NRPL) | Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand | 110 |
| Southern Region Pipelines (SRPL) | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu | 46 |
| South Eastern Region Pipelines (SERPL) | Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana | 79 |
| Pipelines Division Total | 19 States | 5 Regions | 500 |
Trade-Wise Posts Available
| Trade / Post Name | Applicable Portal | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Technician Apprentice (Mechanical) | NATS Portal | 3-year Diploma – Mechanical / Automobile Engineering |
| Technician Apprentice (Electrical) | NATS Portal | 3-year Diploma – Electrical / Electrical & Electronics Engineering |
| Technician Apprentice (Telecom & Instrumentation) | NATS Portal | 3-year Diploma – Electronics / Instrumentation Engineering |
| Trade Apprentice (Assistant-Human Resource) | NATS Portal | Full-time Bachelor’s Degree (any discipline) |
| Trade Apprentice (Accountant) | NATS Portal | Full-time B.Com (Commerce Graduate) |
| Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentices) | NAPS Portal | Minimum 12th Pass (below Graduate) |
| Domestic Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holders) | NAPS Portal | 12th Pass + Domestic DEO Skill Certificate (NSQF recognized) |
Note: Candidates can apply for one Trade Code only. Applications for more than one trade will be summarily rejected as per the official notification.
IOCL Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Qualification, Age & Relaxations
All eligibility criteria are verified as on the cut-off date: 30 November 2026. Candidates whose results are awaited on the cut-off date are not eligible to apply.
Educational Qualification
- Technician Apprentice posts: Full-time 3-year Diploma in the relevant Engineering discipline from a Govt. recognized Institute. Minimum 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD against reserved seats).
- Trade Apprentice (Asst-HR / Accountant): Full-time Bachelor’s Degree (any discipline / B.Com) from a Govt. recognized University/Institute. Minimum 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD).
- Data Entry Operator: Minimum 12th Pass (but below Graduate). No percentage requirement specified in the official notification.
- Domestic DEO: 12th Pass + Valid Skill Certificate in ‘Domestic Data Entry Operator’ from an NSQF-recognized awarding body (less than 1-year training course).
- Part-time / distance / correspondence mode qualifications are NOT eligible.
- Higher qualifications (BE/B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB, MCA) disqualify a candidate if completed before joining.
Age Limit (as on 30.11.2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / UR / EWS | 18 years | 24 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 18 years | 27 years (3 years relaxation) |
| SC / ST | 18 years | 29 years (5 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (General) | 18 years | 34 years (10 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (OBC-NCL) | 18 years | 37 years (10+3 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 18 years | 39 years (10+5 years relaxation) |
Other Eligibility Conditions
- Candidates must be Medically Fit as per IndianOil’s pre-engagement medical standards. Guidelines are available under the Downloads section at plapps.indianoilpipelines.in.
- Candidates who have completed 5 years after acquiring the prescribed qualification as on 30.11.2026 are not eligible.
- Candidates with job experience of 1 year or more after attaining the qualification are also not eligible.
- OBC (NCL) certificate should not be more than 12 months old from 30.11.2026 and must be in the Central List of OBCs for the respective State.
IOCL Apprentice Selection Process 2026 – Merit-Based, No Written Test
IOCL Pipelines Division follows a 100% merit-based selection process. There is no written test and no personal interview for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026, as confirmed in the official notification.
- Merit List: A Panel cum Merit List is prepared based on the percentage of marks in descending order in the essential qualifying examination (aggregate of all subjects, all years/semesters).
- Tie-breaking Rule 1: In case of same percentage, the candidate with an earlier date of birth (older in age) is ranked higher.
- Tie-breaking Rule 2: In case of the same date of birth, the candidate with a higher percentage in Matriculation (10th) is ranked higher.
- CGPA / Letter Grade: Candidates must upload a certificate from their Board/University showing equivalent percentage. If no conversion formula exists, aggregate grade score divided by total semesters is used.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification and medical fitness examination. The list is published on the IOCL website.
- EWS unfilled seats: If EWS-reserved seats cannot be filled, they are offered to Unreserved (UR) category candidates from the merit list.
How to Apply Online for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Step-by-Step Process
The application process for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 involves two mandatory steps: first on the Government Apprenticeship Portal (NATS or NAPS), and then on the IOCL Pipelines Portal (plapps.indianoilpipelines.in). Both steps must be completed before 05 December 2026.
- Identify Your Portal: Based on your trade, determine which portal to register on — NAPS (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) for DEO / Domestic DEO posts, or NATS (nats.education.gov.in) for all Technician Apprentice, Trade Apprentice (Asst-HR), and Trade Apprentice (Accountant) posts.
- Register on NATS / NAPS Portal: Create a new student profile with your personal details, educational details, and category. Ensure all details match your original documents exactly.
- Apply for IOCL Opportunity: Login to your NATS/NAPS account and apply for the IOCL Pipelines Division opportunity using the correct Establishment ID for your region (see the Establishment ID table in the official notification).
- Note Your Registration Number: After successfully applying on NATS/NAPS, note down your NATS/NAPS Registration/Enrolment Number. This is mandatory for the next step.
- Part-I Registration on IOCL Pipelines Portal: Visit plapps.indianoilpipelines.in. Fill in basic details (name, category, DOB, mobile, email) and create your own password. A system-generated Registration Number will be sent to your registered email/SMS.
- Part-II Registration on IOCL Pipelines Portal: Log in with your Registration Number and password. Upload your scanned photograph (20–50 KB, JPG) and signature in black ink (10–30 KB, JPG). Enter educational qualification and experience details. Enter your NATS/NAPS Registration Number. Verify all details carefully before final submission — no changes are allowed after submission.
- Print Application: After successful submission, take a printout of the filled-in application for future reference.
IOCL Establishment IDs for NATS / NAPS Portal
| Region | Establishment ID (NATS) | Establishment ID (NAPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) | EWBKOC000079 | E11181900005 |
| Western Region Pipelines (WRPL) | WGJRAC000006 | E11182400087 |
| Northern Region Pipelines (NRPL) | NHRPPC000001 | E12180600006 |
| Southern Region Pipelines (SRPL) | STNCHC000040 | E12183300008 |
| South Eastern Region Pipelines (SERPL) | EORBBSC000001 | E02252100002 |
Documents Required for Document Verification
- 10th Standard / Matriculation certificate and marksheet (for Date of Birth proof — no other document accepted)
- Semester-wise / year-wise marksheets of Diploma / Graduation / ITI / HSC
- Final Diploma / Degree / ITI Certificate issued by recognized Board / University
- Latest Caste certificate (for reserved category candidates) in Govt. prescribed format
- OBC-NCL Certificate: must not be more than 12 months old from 30.11.2026
- Bank passbook (first page) of Aadhaar-seeded account, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, cancelled cheque
- Pre-Engagement Medical Fitness Certificate
- CGPA / Letter Grade conversion certificate from Board/University (if applicable)
- Disability certificate in Form V / Form VI / Form VII (for PwBD candidates)
Important Dates & Timeline for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification / Advertisement | 06 November 2026 |
| Opening of Online Application (NATS/NAPS + IOCL Portal) | 06 November 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 05 December 2026 |
| Cut-off Date for Age & Qualification Eligibility | 30 November 2026 |
| Document Verification Date | As per official notification on iocl.com/apprenticeships |
| Commencement of Apprenticeship Training | After document verification and medical fitness clearance |
| Duration of Training | 12 months from date of engagement |
Important Links – IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
What is the last date to apply online for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Pipelines Division and where to apply?
What is the total number of vacancies in IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 and which regions are covered under this drive?
What is the age limit and educational qualification required for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Pipelines Division posts?
Is there a written exam or interview for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026, and what is the selection process for all 500 posts?
What is the stipend and training duration for IOCL Apprentice 2026, and is there any job guarantee after Pipelines apprenticeship?
Last Updated: November 2026. This page is reviewed and updated when official data changes. Bookmark examera.in for the latest Govt Job updates and notifications.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. All data has been sourced from the official IOCL notification (Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026) dated 06.11.2026). Always verify details on the official portal iocl.com/apprenticeships and plapps.indianoilpipelines.in before taking any action.
