National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) has opened 200 one-year apprentice seats for graduates in 14 states. An apprentice is a trainee, not an employee, so you get a stipend of Rs 15,000 a month but no job is promised at the end. You apply on the NATS portal (the government’s National Apprenticeship Training Scheme website), and the last date is 18.11.2026.
National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), Kolkata, a Government of India undertaking
Notification / Advertisement No.
Not specified in notification (NATS Enrolment ID: EWBPNC096867)
Location
Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal (you can apply for one state only)
Less than 1 year of work experience as on 01.04.2026
NATS Profile
Your NATS profile must be 100% complete
Application Restriction
You can apply for one state only
Reservation
As per the Apprentices Act. OBC candidates need an NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate, which proves your family income is under the OBC limit. It must be issued on or after 01.04.2026, in the prescribed format.
Not Eligible
Post graduates (including integrated PG degrees), graduates of unrecognised institutions, and anyone who has done, is doing or was terminated from an apprenticeship earlier
Category
Age Relaxation
SC / ST
5 years
OBC (non-creamy layer)
3 years
PwBD (General / EWS)
10 years
PwBD (SC / ST)
15 years
PwBD (OBC)
13 years
So the upper limit goes up to 33 years for OBC and 35 years for SC or ST candidates. PwBD means persons with benchmark disabilities, and EWS means the Economically Weaker Section.
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
Enter your date of birth, the 01.04.2026 cut-off date and your category relaxation to see instantly whether you fall inside the 21 to 30 year band.
This is a 12-month training, not a regular job. Apprentices are not NICL employees, so there is no PF (provident fund), no ESI (employee medical scheme) and no bonus, and the notification gives no job guarantee at the end.
You choose the state but not the district. NICL can post you anywhere in that state, and it gives no travel allowance or stay for document verification.
There is no exam and no interview. Only your percentage of marks in graduation counts for shortlisting.
Do not apply if you did an apprenticeship before, are doing one now, hold a PG degree, or have worked for a year or more as on 01.04.2026.
Selection Process
Stage
Details
1. Shortlisting
BOPT (ER), the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) office that runs NATS for this recruitment, shortlists candidates on their percentage of marks in graduation. The percentage is taken to two decimals. A CGPA is converted using your university formula. If marks tie, the older candidate comes first. There is no written exam or interview.
2. Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates come in person to NICL offices with their documents. NICL sends the call letter to your registered email. It gives no TA/DA (travel allowance) and no boarding.
3. Apprenticeship Contract
The contract of apprenticeship is approved on the NATS portal.
In short: there is no exam. Your graduation percentage alone decides the shortlist, so enter it carefully on NATS.
Salary and Benefits
Component
Detail
Stipend
Rs 15,000 a month (Rs 8,850 from NICL and Rs 6,150 from the Government through DBT, or Direct Benefit Transfer)
Duration
12 months
Leave
1 day per month, and no more than 4 days at a time
Not an Employee
No PF, no ESI, no bonus and no job guarantee
In plain terms, you earn Rs 15,000 a month for one year, about Rs 1.8 lakh in all. It is training pay, not a salary with allowances.
How to Apply
Open the NATS portal and log in, or register if you are new.
Complete your NATS student profile to 100% and upload the six documents listed below.
Find the NICL graduate apprentice opening (Enrolment ID EWBPNC096867) and choose one state.
Enter your graduation percentage in the “% of marks / CGPAx10” field. Without it, your application will not be considered.
Submit before 18.11.2026, then watch your registered email for the call letter.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
NATS needs your passport photo on your profile. Resize your photo and signature to the exact pixel and KB size the form will accept.
For help, write to natssupport_student@aicte-india.org (NATS support) or ho.pers@nic.co.in (NICL).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving the “% of marks / CGPAx10” field blank. The notification says such applications are not considered.
Applying for more than one state. You can pick one state only.
Typing names, parents’ names or the Aadhaar number differently from your certificates.
Uploading an OBC NCL certificate issued before 01.04.2026 or in the wrong format.
Asking anyone to put in a word for you. Canvassing disqualifies a candidate.
Staying away without permission after you join. Absence of 15 days in a row without approval brings a 3-day email notice and can end your apprenticeship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026? The last date is 18.11.2026, and you apply online on the NATS portal.
How many seats are there? There are 200 provisional seats across 14 states, and Assam has the most with 30.
Who can apply? Any regular full-time graduate aged 21 to 30 years as on 01.04.2026 can apply, with extra years for reserved categories.
Is there any exam or interview? No, BOPT (ER) shortlists candidates only on their percentage of marks in graduation, and then NICL checks documents in person.
How much is the stipend? You get Rs 15,000 a month for 12 months.
Is there an application fee? The notification does not mention any fee.
Can I apply for more than one state? No, you can apply for one state only, and NICL can post you to any district in that state.
Is this a permanent job? No, apprentices are not NICL employees, they get no PF, ESI or bonus, and the notification gives no job guarantee.
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.
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