Indian Oil Corporation Limited has opened 409 apprentice posts in its Eastern Region, and the window is short. The notification, Advertisement No. IOCL/MKTG/ER/APPR/2026-27, was released on Friday, 13 November 2026, and online applications opened the same morning. Candidates can apply till 5 pm on 12 December 2026.
The drive covers Trade, Technician, Graduate and Data Entry Operator apprentices in the Marketing Division of the Eastern Region. There is no written examination, no interview and no application fee. Selection will be made purely on merit, based on the marks in the qualifying examination.
409 posts at a glance
- Organisation: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Marketing Division, Eastern Region
- Advertisement No.: IOCL/MKTG/ER/APPR/2026-27
- Total vacancies: 409 (as announced in the notification)
- Posts: Technician Apprentice, Trade Apprentice (ITI), Graduate Apprentice, Data Entry Operator Apprentice
- Notification date: 13 November 2026; applications open 13 November 2026, 10 am
- Last date to apply: 12 December 2026, 5 pm
- Training duration: 12 months; selection: merit-based, no written test or interview
- Age limit: 18 to 24 years as on 30 November 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories as per government rules
- Application fee: None; official website: iocl.com
Who can apply
- Technician Apprentice: A three-year regular, full-time diploma in a relevant engineering discipline such as Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Civil, Electrical and Electronics or Electronics, with 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC and ST candidates).
- Trade Apprentice (ITI): Class 10 pass along with a regular, full-time two-year ITI course in the relevant trade, recognised by NCVT or SCVT.
- Graduate Apprentice: A regular, full-time graduation degree in BA, B.Com, B.Sc or BBA.
- Data Entry Operator Apprentice: For freshers, Class 12 pass but below graduation. Candidates holding a Domestic Data Entry Operator skill certificate can also apply with Class 12.
The age limit is 18 to 24 years as on 30 November 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories under government rules. Candidates should check the exact relaxation in the official notification before applying.
How the 409 seats are split
As per the category-wise break-up reported from the notification, the 409 seats include 206 Technician Apprentice posts, 97 Trade Apprentice (ITI) posts, 70 Graduate Apprentice posts and 20 Data Entry Operator posts. One discrepancy is worth noting: the detailed state-wise tables in the notification add up to 393 seats, while the notification text announces 409. Applicants should go by the official notification and watch for any clarification from IOCL.
Where the training happens
The drive covers 12 states and one Union Territory: West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Candidates are asked to give three preferred training locations when they apply.
How selection works
There is no written examination and no interview. IOCL will draw up a merit list from the marks in the qualifying course. The apprenticeship runs for 12 months under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It is a training engagement, not a permanent appointment, and the stipend is paid as prescribed under the Apprentices Act and the Apprenticeship Rules. The notification does not state a fixed stipend figure, so candidates should not go by any amount quoted on unofficial pages.
How to apply
Applications are online only, through the government apprenticeship portals, plus a separate IOCL form.
- Step 1: Register on the right portal. Technician and Graduate Apprentices apply through the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in, while Trade (ITI) and Data Entry Operator candidates apply through the NAPS portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
- Step 2: Log in and search for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Marketing Division), Eastern Region, using the establishment ID. The NATS establishment ID is EWBKOC000077 and the NAPS establishment ID is E05201900011.
- Step 3: Submit the application on the portal, then fill the separate Microsoft Form linked by IOCL, giving your preferred training locations and other required details.
- Step 4: Submit the Microsoft Form before the same deadline, 12 December 2026 at 5 pm, and save a copy of both submissions for reference.
Do not pay anyone who asks for money in IOCL’s name. There is no application fee for this drive, and applications are accepted only through the NAPS or NATS portals. The deadline is 12 December 2026, but waiting till the last day is a bad idea, since the process has two parts and portal traffic spikes near closing dates.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for IOCL Eastern Region Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date is 12 December 2026, till 5 pm. Applications opened on 13 November 2026 at 10 am.
How many vacancies are there?
IOCL has announced 409 apprentice posts in its Eastern Region, covering Technician, Trade (ITI), Graduate and Data Entry Operator apprentices.
Is there a written exam or interview?
No. Selection is purely merit-based, on the marks in the qualifying examination. There is no written test, no interview and no application fee.
Who can apply?
ITI holders, diploma holders in engineering, graduates in BA, B.Com, B.Sc or BBA, and Class 12 pass candidates for Data Entry Operator posts. The age limit is 18 to 24 years as on 30 November 2026.
How do I apply?
Apply on the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) for ITI and Data Entry Operator trades, or the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) for Technician and Graduate apprentices, using the IOCL Eastern Region establishment IDs. Then submit the separate Microsoft Form with your three preferred training locations.
Read the official notification, Advertisement No. IOCL/MKTG/ER/APPR/2026-27, on iocl.com before applying.
