The last date to apply was 28.10.2026. Online applications for this recruitment are no longer accepted. If the date is extended, we will update this post.
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National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) is recruiting 321 Administrative Officers (Scale I): 200 generalists and 121 specialists across seven disciplines. Online applications ran from 08.10.2026 and closed on 28.10.2026, so what matters now is the exam trail: Phase I on 17.11.2026 and Phase II on 22.12.2026. Candidates from SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) and PwBD (persons with benchmark disabilities) categories who opted for it also get online pre-recruitment training from 09.11.2026 to 12.11.2026.
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Recruitment Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Administrative Officer (Scale I) — Generalist and Specialist (Finance, Legal, Information Technology, Automobile Engineers, Risk Engineers, Company Secretaries, Agriculture) |
| Organization | National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), a Govt. of India Undertaking — Head Office, Kolkata |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Not specified in notification (detailed advertisement dated 07.10.2026) |
| Location | All India / Central Govt |
| Total Vacancies | 321 (Generalist 200, Specialist 121) — UR 138, OBC 86, SC 43, ST 22, EWS 32, including PwBD seats |
| Qualification | Graduate or postgraduate in any stream with 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) for generalist posts; specialist posts need CA, CMA, law, engineering, ACS/FCS or agriculture qualifications — see table below |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years as on 01.10.2026 |
| Selection Process | Phase I online exam → Phase II online exam (objective and descriptive) → Interview |
| Pay Scale | Basic pay Rs. 82,485 a month; about Rs. 1,14,000 a month in metro centres |
| How to Apply | Online only — applications closed on 28.10.2026 |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | nationalinsurance.nic.co.in/recruitment |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Detailed advertisement dated | 07.10.2026 |
| Online registration starts | 08.10.2026 (Thursday) |
| Last date for online registration | 28.10.2026 (Wednesday) |
| Fee payment window | 08.10.2026 to 28.10.2026 (both days included) |
| Online pre-recruitment training (for those who opted) | 09.11.2026 to 12.11.2026 |
| Phase I (Preliminary) online exam | 17.11.2026 (Tuesday) |
| Phase II (Main) online exam | 22.12.2026 (Tuesday) |
| Call letter download | To be notified later on the NICL website |
NICL says any change in exam dates will be announced on its website, so keep checking the recruitment page.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 250/- (intimation charges only and GST) |
| All other candidates | Rs. 1,000/- (application fee including intimation charges and GST) |
Bank transaction charges, if any, are paid by the candidate. The fee is not refundable and cannot be moved to a future recruitment.
Vacancy Details
| Discipline | Posts | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generalist | 200 | 80 | 55 | 30 | 15 | 20 |
| Finance (CA and CMA) | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Legal | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Information Technology | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Automobile Engineers | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Risk Engineers | 28 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Company Secretaries | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Agriculture | 20 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Information Technology (specialist backlog) | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Total Specialist | 121 | 58 | 31 | 13 | 7 | 12 |
| Grand Total | 321 | 138 | 86 | 43 | 22 | 32 |
UR means Un-Reserved (general), and EWS means Economically Weaker Section. The PwBD seats come out of the numbers above — they are not extra. In the table below, 1 + [2*] means 1 regular seat plus 2 backlog seats, which the notification marks with an asterisk.
| Posts | a: Blindness and low vision | b: Deaf and hard of hearing | c: Locomotor disability | d and e: Autism, intellectual or learning disability, mental illness, multiple disabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist (all disciplines together) | 2 | 1 + [2*] | 1 | 1 |
| Generalist | 1 | 3 + [1*] | 2 | 2 |
The vacancies are tentative and NICL can change them to match its actual needs. EWS seats can also change with further government directions. OBC candidates who fall in the creamy layer get no OBC reservation or age relaxation and must apply as Un-Reserved.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan; or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01.01.1962 to settle here; or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam to settle in India. Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan and migrant candidates need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India. |
| Educational qualification | Depends on the discipline — see the next table. The final result must have been declared on or before 01.10.2026, and the degree must be from a university recognised by UGC or an institute approved by AICTE. |
| Minimum marks | 60% in either degree exam (55% for SC/ST/PwBD). The percentage is total marks across all years divided by total maximum marks. A fraction is ignored, so 59.99% counts as below 60%. If your university gives CGPA grades, you need a certificate that converts them into a percentage. |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years as on 01.10.2026 — born between 02.10.1996 and 01.10.2005, both days included |
| Application restriction | One discipline only. If you apply more than once, only your latest completed application is kept and the fees for the others are lost. |
Qualification by Discipline
| Discipline | Minimum qualification |
|---|---|
| Finance (CA and CMA) | Chartered Accountant (ICAI) or Cost and Management Accountant (Institute of Cost Accountants of India), plus graduation or post-graduation in any discipline |
| Legal | Graduate or postgraduate in Law |
| Information Technology | B.E. / B.Tech / M.E. / M.Tech in Computer Science or Information Technology, or MCA |
| Automobile Engineers | B.E. / B.Tech / M.E. / M.Tech in Automobile Engineering; or the same degree in any branch of engineering together with a diploma (at least one year) in Automobile Engineering |
| Risk Engineers | Engineering degree (graduation or post-graduation) in any discipline except the IT and Automobile qualifications above |
| Company Secretaries | ACS or FCS from ICSI, plus graduation or post-graduation in any discipline |
| Agriculture | Graduate (4 years) or postgraduate in Agriculture, Agricultural Biotechnology or Agricultural Engineering |
| Generalist Officers | Graduate or postgraduate in any stream |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| Ex-servicemen and commissioned officers, including Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs), with at least 5 years of military service as on 01.10.2026, who have been released on completing their assignment (not by dismissal or discharge for misconduct or inefficiency), or because of a physical disability linked to military service, or on invalidment | 5 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with a foreign country or in a disturbed area, and released because of it | 3 years |
| Confirmed employees of public sector general insurance companies (including GIC and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.) | 8 years |
If you qualify for more than one relaxation, they add up, but your age can never go past 45. There is no reservation for ex-servicemen in the officer cadre. So an OBC (non-creamy layer) candidate could be up to 33 on 01.10.2026, and an SC or ST candidate up to 35.
Who Should Apply
- This is a regular officer post, not a contract job: the starting basic pay is Rs. 82,485 a month, and NICL puts the total at about Rs. 1,14,000 a month in a metro centre.
- Selected candidates sign a bond to serve at least four years, counting the one-year probation. Leaving earlier means paying damages equal to one year’s gross salary, which can be reduced in proportion to the service already done.
- The first posting can be anywhere in India, and you must stay at that place for at least 5 years. Specialist officers may be asked to stay in the same specialisation for at least 10 years.
- To be confirmed in the job, you must pass the non-life Licentiate Examination of the Insurance Institute of India within the probation period, including any extension.
- Anyone whose final degree result had not been declared by 01.10.2026 could not apply, because that is the cut-off date for qualification.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Phase I — Preliminary exam (online) | 100 marks in 60 minutes. Multiple-choice test with three sections, each timed separately for 20 minutes: English Language, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. You must clear the passing marks in every section. About 15 times the number of vacancies in each category go on to Phase II. |
| Phase II — Main exam, objective test (online) | 250 marks in 3 hours. Generalists have five sections and specialists six, the sixth being a 50-mark test of their own discipline. You need a minimum score in each section and in total, set by NICL. Your thumb impression, iris scan and photograph are captured on the day of this exam. |
| Phase II — Descriptive test (online) | 30 marks in 30 minutes, taken right after the objective test. It is an English test (essay 10, précis 10, comprehension 10) typed on the computer. It is qualifying only: it has its own cut-off, but its marks do not count for interview shortlisting or the final result. It is checked only if you clear the objective test sections. |
| Interview | Candidates are shortlisted on their overall marks in the Phase II objective test, after clearing the descriptive test. NICL holds the interview at select centres and puts the call letter on its website. You must score the minimum qualifying marks. |
| Final selection | Phase II objective marks and interview marks are combined in the ratio 80:20. If scores tie, higher interview marks win, then the older date of birth. NICL may also keep a waiting list of up to 50% of the vacancies. Appointment depends on medical fitness. |
| Pre-exam training (optional) | Online training for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) and PwBD candidates who opted for it while applying. Joining it gives no right to a job, and candidates attend at their own cost. |
In short: Phase I only screens you for Phase II. Your final rank comes from the Phase II objective test (80%) and the interview (20%), and the descriptive paper is pass-or-fail.
Exam Pattern
Phase I — Preliminary
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | English |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Phase II — Main objective test for Generalists
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of English Language | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English |
| Test of Computer Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Total | 250 | 250 | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Phase II — Main objective test for Specialists
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Test of English Language | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes | English |
| Test of Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Technical and professional knowledge of your discipline | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes | English / Hindi |
| Total | 250 | 250 | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Every wrong answer costs one-fourth of that question’s marks. A question you leave blank costs nothing. If the exam runs in more than one session, scores are equated, which means they are adjusted for small differences in difficulty between sessions. Cut-offs apply twice: on each section score and on the total score.
Exam Centres
The centres below are provisional. NICL can cancel or add centres, and it can give you a centre other than the one you chose. The notification says no request to change centre, date or session will be entertained. The full city-wise list for Phase I is on pages 11 to 14 of the notification.
| Zone | Phase I — states and UTs with centres |
|---|---|
| East 1 | Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha |
| East 2 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal |
| North 1 | Delhi (Delhi/NCR), Haryana (Faridabad, Gurugram), Uttar Pradesh (Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Noida), Uttarakhand |
| North 2 | Uttar Pradesh (Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Faizabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Varanasi) |
| North 3 | Rajasthan |
| North 4 | Chandigarh, Haryana (Ambala), Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab |
| South 1 | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana |
| South 2 | Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu |
| West 1 | Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra |
| West 2 | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh |
| State / UT | Phase II (Main) — provisional centres |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh / Telangana | Hyderabad, Guntur / Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam |
| Assam | Guwahati |
| Bihar | Patna, Muzaffarpur |
| Chandigarh | Mohali |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur, Bhilai / Bhilai Nagar |
| Delhi | Delhi-NCR |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Rajkot |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Solan |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi, Dhanbad |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Hubballi / Dharwad |
| Kerala | Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai / Navi Mumbai / Thane / MMR, Pune, Nashik |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar, Berhampur-Ganjam |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur, Udaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Madurai |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Burdwan |
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting basic pay | Rs. 82,485 a month |
| Pay scale | 82485-4050(14)-139185-4390(4)-156745: pay starts at Rs. 82,485, rises in 14 steps of Rs. 4,050, then 4 steps of Rs. 4,390, up to Rs. 1,56,745 |
| Total emoluments | About Rs. 1,14,000 a month in metropolitan centres, with other allowances as per company rules |
| Other benefits | Pension under the New Pension Scheme (governed by PFRDA), gratuity, LTS, medical benefits and group personal accident insurance, as per the rules when you join |
| Accommodation | Company or leased accommodation as per norms |
In plain terms, you start at a basic of Rs. 82,485 a month, and NICL puts the total pay at about Rs. 1,14,000 a month in a metro city once allowances are added.
Service Conditions and Bond
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Probation | One year from joining, which can be extended twice by six months each, up to a further year. You must pass the non-life Licentiate Examination of the Insurance Institute of India to be confirmed. NICL can end your service during probation if it finds you unsuitable. |
| Posting | Anywhere in India. Minimum stay at the first place of posting is 5 years. Company Secretaries are posted mainly at Head Office, Kolkata. |
| Specialist officers | May have to stay in the same specialisation for at least 10 years, and stay eligible for promotion as per company norms. |
| Guarantee bond | Serve for at least four years including probation. Resign earlier and you pay damages equal to one year’s gross salary, reduced in proportion to the service done. You also submit a stamped bond with two sureties (not blood relatives) of sound financial standing, for an amount equal to one year’s gross salary. |
| Leaving or removal during probation | You pay back the gross salary you received during your whole service, plus Rs. 25,000 towards part of the training cost. No leave salary or pension contribution is paid. |
How to Apply
Applications closed on 28.10.2026 and NICL accepted no other mode. This is how the online process worked, for candidates who want to match it with their records.
- Open the NICL website and go to Recruitment, then Apply Online.
- Choose Click here for New Registration, enter your name, contact details and email, and note the provisional registration number and password the system gives you.
- Fill in the form and upload your photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration, then capture a live photograph by webcam or phone.
- Preview the form and click COMPLETE REGISTRATION only when everything is correct, because nothing can be changed after that.
- Pay the fee online by debit card, credit card, internet banking, IMPS, cash card or mobile wallet, and keep a printout of the e-receipt and the application form.
Note: Call letters for Phase I, Phase II and the interview are downloaded from the NICL recruitment page using your registration or roll number and your password or date of birth.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Photograph | Recent passport-style colour photo, 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm, on a light or white background. JPG or JPEG, 200 x 230 pixels preferred, 20 KB to 50 KB. No caps, hats or dark glasses. |
| Live photograph | Captured during the application by webcam, or on a phone by scanning a QR code. |
| Signature | Black ink on white paper. JPG or JPEG, 140 x 60 pixels preferred, 10 KB to 20 KB. Capital letters are not accepted. |
| Left thumb impression | Black or blue ink on white paper, clear and not smudged (right thumb if you have no left thumb). JPG or JPEG, 240 x 240 pixels at 200 DPI, 20 KB to 50 KB. |
| Handwritten declaration | In English, black ink, white paper, in your own handwriting and not in capital letters. JPG or JPEG, 800 x 400 pixels at 200 DPI, 50 KB to 100 KB. Text: I, (your name), hereby declare that all information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required. |
Documents to Carry to the Exam and Interview
| Stage | What to bring |
|---|---|
| Phase I and Phase II exam | Call letter, plus your original photo ID and a photocopy of it. The name must match the call letter exactly. Accepted IDs include PAN card, passport, driving licence (permanent), voter card, Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar with photo, bank passbook with photo, employee ID and a recent college or university ID. Ration card and learner’s driving licence are not accepted. |
| Interview | Interview call letter and application printout; proof of date of birth (birth certificate or Class 10 certificate); photo ID with photocopy; mark sheets and certificates for Class 10, Class 12 and graduation, showing results declared on or before 01.10.2026; and experience certificates, if any. |
| Category and special certificates | Caste certificate with caste validity certificate (SC/ST/OBC); OBC non-creamy layer certificate; disability certificate and UDID card (PwBD); income and asset certificate (EWS); ex-servicemen certificates (Proformas A to D, as applicable); certificate of eligibility from the Government of India for the nationality categories (b) to (e). |
| If you work for the government, a PSU or a bank | A No Objection Certificate from your employer at the time of interview, otherwise your candidature may not be considered. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Name mismatch: the name on your call letter must match your photo ID exactly, or you will not be allowed to take the exam. If you changed your name after marriage, carry the original gazette notification, marriage certificate or affidavit.
- Reaching late: after the reporting time on the call letter, you will not be allowed in, and that time is earlier than the test start.
- Banned items: mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, earphones, belts, caps, rings and other jewellery, metallic items and opened or packed food are not allowed inside the exam centre, and NICL cannot keep them safe for you.
- Wrong ID: a ration card or learner’s driving licence is not accepted as photo ID.
- Old certificates: the OBC non-creamy layer certificate and the EWS certificate must have been issued after 31.03.2026. Without a valid OBC certificate you will not be allowed to appear for the interview.
- Handwriting: if the handwriting on your uploaded declaration looks different from yours at a later stage, an expert check can cancel your candidature.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Download Notification PDF |
| Pre-Recruitment Training Notice (04.11.2026) | Download Training Notice PDF |
| Official Website / Recruitment Page | nationalinsurance.nic.co.in/recruitment |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many posts is NICL recruiting for in 2026?
NICL is hiring 321 Administrative Officers (Scale I): 200 generalists and 121 specialists, which includes 1 backlog seat in Information Technology.
Can I still apply for NICL AO 2026?
No, online registration closed on 28.10.2026, and NICL accepts no other mode of application.
When is the NICL AO Phase I exam?
The Phase I (Preliminary) online exam is on 17.11.2026 and the Phase II (Main) online exam is on 22.12.2026, with call letters to be put on the NICL website later.
What is the age limit for NICL AO 2026?
You must be 21 to 30 years old on 01.10.2026, with extra years for SC/ST (5), OBC non-creamy layer (3), PwBD (10 to 15) and a few other groups.
What qualification do I need?
Generalist officers need a graduate or postgraduate degree in any stream with at least 60% marks (55% for SC, ST and PwBD), while specialist posts need CA, CMA, law, IT, engineering, company secretary (ACS/FCS) or agriculture qualifications.
How much was the application fee?
SC, ST and PwBD candidates paid Rs. 250, and everyone else paid Rs. 1,000.
What is the salary of an NICL Administrative Officer?
The starting basic pay is Rs. 82,485 a month, and the total is about Rs. 1,14,000 a month in a metro centre.
Who can attend NICL’s pre-recruitment training?
Only SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) and PwBD candidates who opted for it while applying can attend, it is online from 09.11.2026 to 12.11.2026, and attending gives no right to a job.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
