IOCL Pipelines Apprentice Recruitment 2026 OUT – Apply Online for 500 Post

This post was cross-checked against the official notification before publishing. Last verified: 10/11/2026, 12:07 IST. Found an error? Report it here — corrections are published openly.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Pipelines Division, has released Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026) dated 06 November 2026 for the engagement of around 500 apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The seats are in Technical and Non-Technical trades at pipeline locations across five regions of India. Online applications are open from 06 November 2026 to 05 December 2026 through the NATS/NAPS portals and the Indian Oil Pipelines portal. The minimum qualification is 12th pass for Data Entry Operator trades, a Diploma for Technician Apprentice trades and a Bachelor’s degree for Trade Apprentice posts. Selection is purely merit-based — there is no written test and no interview. This is apprenticeship training, not permanent employment. Read the notification for eligibility, selection process, stipend and all other information.

The qualification must already be passed on the cut-off date, 30 November 2026. Candidates whose qualifying examination result is awaited on that date are not eligible to apply.

The notification does not mention any application fee for this apprenticeship engagement. Candidates should check the official notification and the Indian Oil Pipelines portal before applying.

The seats are in seven trades: Technician Apprentice (Mechanical), Technician Apprentice (Electrical), Technician Apprentice (Telecommunication & Instrumentation), Trade Apprentice (Assistant-Human Resource), Trade Apprentice (Accountant), Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentices) and Domestic Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holders). The notification gives seats by region and location only; it does not split them trade-wise or category-wise. Reservation is as per applicable Government guidelines.

Technician Apprentice (Mechanical): 3-year full-time Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or Automobile Engineering. Technician Apprentice (Electrical): 3-year full-time Diploma in Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Technician Apprentice (Telecommunication & Instrumentation): 3-year full-time Diploma in Electronics & Communication, Electronics & Telecommunication, Electronics & Radio Communication, Instrumentation & Control, Instrumentation & Process Control, or Electronics Engineering. Diploma holders need a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate (45% for SC/ST and PwBD candidates for reserved posts). Lateral entry after Class-XII (Science) or ITI admitted in the 2nd year of the Diploma course is accepted.

Trade Apprentice (Assistant-Human Resource): Full-time Bachelor’s degree (Graduation) from a Government recognised Institute or University. Trade Apprentice (Accountant): Full-time Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from a Government recognised Institute or University. Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentices): Minimum 12th pass, but below Graduate. Domestic Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holders): Minimum 12th pass, but below Graduate, plus a Skill Certificate of ‘Domestic Data Entry Operator’ for training of less than one year issued by an awarding body recognised under the National Skill Qualifications Framework or another authority recognised by the Central Government.

Candidates holding a qualification acquired through part-time, correspondence or distance education mode are not eligible. Candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as BE/B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB or MCA, or pursuing a higher qualification, are not eligible. Candidates who have undergone apprenticeship training earlier, or who have one year or more of job experience after attaining the qualification, are not eligible. Candidates who completed five years after acquiring the prescribed qualification as on 30 November 2026 are also not eligible.

The minimum prescribed qualification marks are relaxed by 5% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates considered against reserved positions.

The rate of stipend payable to apprentices per month is as prescribed under the Apprentices Act, 1961/1973 and the Apprentices Rules 1992/2019, as amended from time to time, and the Corporation’s guidelines. The notification does not give a rupee figure for the stipend. The duration of apprenticeship training is 12 months from the date of engagement. Apart from the monthly stipend, no other monetary or non-monetary benefit such as accommodation, HRA, conveyance or medical facility is admissible to apprentices.

  1. Panel cum Merit List: A merit list of all eligible candidates is prepared on the percentage of marks in the essential qualification, in descending order. In case of a tie, the candidate with the earlier date of birth (older in age) is placed higher; if the date of birth is also the same, the candidate with the higher percentage of marks in Matriculation is placed higher.
  2. There is no written test and no personal interview.
  3. Document Verification: Verification of original documents is done before joining. The list of provisionally selected candidates is published on the IOCL website.
  4. Medical Fitness: The offer of engagement is issued only to candidates whose documents, including the medical fitness certificate, are found in order.

There is no written examination for this engagement. Selection is on the basis of the percentage of marks in the essential qualification only, as described in the Selection Process above.

  1. Read Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026) carefully before filling the form.
  2. Register as a Technician, Trade or Graduate Apprentice on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) for Technician/Trade Apprentice trades, or on the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) for Data Entry Operator trades, using the Establishment ID of your region.
  3. Apply for the apprenticeship opportunity on the NATS/NAPS portal between 06 November and 05 December 2026.
  4. After applying on NATS/NAPS, complete the Part-I and Part-II registration on the Indian Oil Pipelines portal at plapps.indianoilpipelines.in using the same email ID and mobile number.
  5. In Part-I, fill the basic details and create a password; note the system-generated registration number sent to your email and SMS.
  6. In Part-II, upload the scanned photograph and signature and furnish educational qualification and experience details, then submit.
  7. Mention the NAPS/NATS registration or enrolment number while applying on the Indian Oil Pipelines portal.
  8. Take a printout of the filled-in online application for future reference.

Candidates can apply for one Trade Code only. Applications for more than one Trade Code will be summarily rejected. Only one mobile number and one email ID can be used for one application.

Interested candidates can read the full notification before applying.

Q1. How many apprentice seats are there in IOCL Pipelines Division Recruitment 2026?
There are around 500 tentative apprentice seats across five pipeline regions — Eastern 116, Western 149, Northern 110, Southern 46 and South Eastern 79.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date for registration on the portals is 05 December 2026. Applications opened on 06 November 2026.

Q3. Is there a written exam for IOCL Pipelines Apprentice 2026?
No. Selection is through a Panel cum Merit List based on the percentage of marks in the essential qualification. There is no written test and no interview.

Q4. What is the age limit for IOCL Apprentice 2026?
Minimum 18 years and maximum 24 years as on 30 November 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (NCL) (3 years) and PwBD (10 years).

Q5. What is the qualification for IOCL Technician Apprentice?
A 3-year full-time Diploma in the relevant engineering discipline with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD for reserved posts).

Q6. How do I apply for IOCL Pipelines Apprentice 2026?
First register and apply on the NATS or NAPS portal with your region’s Establishment ID, then complete Part-I and Part-II registration on plapps.indianoilpipelines.in before 05 December 2026.

Q7. Is this a permanent job?
No. This is a 12-month apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The Corporation has no obligation to offer employment after the apprenticeship.

Sources: IOCL Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026) dated 06.11.2026 (official PDF on iocl.com); iocl.com/apprenticeships; GovtJobsAlert; Examera

JobsPlane wishes all candidates the very best for their application.