If you have been putting off that Canara Bank application, this is your final call. Canara Bank is shutting registration for its Graduate Apprentice 2026-27 drive today, 17 October 2026, closing the door on 3,500 training seats across states and Union Territories. The online link at canarabank.bank.in goes offline once the day ends.
This one deserves attention for a simple reason: there is no written exam. Selection runs on a state-wise merit list built from your Class 12 or diploma marks. For fresh graduates who keep missing banking exams by a few marks, that single detail changes the whole calculation.
Key details at a glance
- Organisation: Canara Bank (public sector bank)
- Post: Graduate Apprentice, FY 2026-27, under the Apprentices Act, 1961
- Total seats: 3,500 across all states and UTs
- Training period: 12 months
- Monthly stipend: Rs 16,650
- Application window: 1 October to 17 October 2026 (closes today)
- Application fee: Rs 500 for UR, OBC and EWS; nil for SC, ST and PwBD
- Where to apply: canarabank.bank.in, under Careers and then Recruitment
Who can apply
Canara Bank has drawn a tight but fair eligibility frame, clearly aimed at recent graduates:
- You must hold a graduation degree in any discipline, completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 September 2026. That keeps the drive focused on fresh graduates rather than seasoned job seekers.
- You need at least 60% marks in Class 12 or a diploma (55% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates), because the merit list is built on exactly those marks.
- Age must be 20 to 28 years as of 1 September 2026, which means born between 2 September 1998 and 1 September 2006. Standard government relaxations apply for reserved categories.
- You must not have completed an apprenticeship earlier, and you should not have one or more years of job experience after graduation.
- You can apply for training seats in only one state. Choose it carefully, because the merit list is prepared state-wise and the local language test follows your choice.
Stipend and training
Selected apprentices receive Rs 16,650 per month during the 12-month training: Rs 10,500 from the bank and a Rs 6,150 Government of India subsidy credited through DBT. There are no other allowances, PF or bonus, but apprentices do get 12 casual leaves in the year.
Training happens at Canara Bank branches in your chosen state, with hands-on exposure to counters, customer service, digital banking and back-office work. On completion, you get a joint certificate from the bank and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme. One honest caveat the notification states clearly: apprentices are not
bank employees and the programme carries no job guarantee. But a year inside a major public sector bank is a CV line worth plenty.
No written exam: selection on merit
This is the part that makes the drive stand out. Canara Bank will prepare a state-wise merit list based on the percentage of marks in Class 12 or diploma. If two candidates tie, the older candidate ranks higher. Shortlisted candidates then go through document verification, a local language test wherever applicable, and a medical fitness examination.
The absence of a written test cuts both ways. Applying is quick and painless, but competition will be fierce among high-scoring candidates, especially in the states with the largest seat counts. Karnataka leads with 581 seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 409 and Tamil Nadu with 391, together nearly 40% of all 3,500 seats.
How to apply before the deadline
Do not go straight to the bank’s website first. The notification makes one step mandatory before anything else:
- Register on the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in and complete your profile to 100%. You will receive an Enrollment ID.
- Head to canarabank.bank.in, open Careers, then Recruitment, and find the link for Engagement of Graduate Apprentices 2026-27.
- Fill the form, mention your NATS Enrollment ID, pick your state and district preferences, and pay the fee online if applicable.
- Submit and download the confirmation page. The bank says submitted forms can be printed until 1 November 2026.
Read the full official notification PDF before you apply. Details on category-wise reservations, document lists and the exact state-wise break-up are all in it, and the bank will verify everything at the document stage.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any written exam for Canara Bank Apprentice 2026?
No. Selection is based on a state-wise merit list prepared from Class 12 or diploma marks, followed by document verification, a local language test and medical fitness.
What is the stipend for the apprentice posts?
Rs 16,650 per month for 12 months, comprising Rs 10,500 from the bank and a Rs 6,150 government subsidy via DBT.
Can final-year students apply?
The notification requires the graduation degree to have been completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 September 2026, so final-year students who have not yet graduated are not covered by this window.
Can I apply for seats in two different states?
No. Candidates can opt for training seats in only one state or UT. Within that state, you can give district preferences.
When does the application link close?
Today, 17 October 2026. The window opened on 1 October 2026, and the bank closes registrations at the end of the day.
To sum it up: 3,500 seats, no exam, Rs 16,650 a month, and the clock runs out tonight. If you meet the criteria and a banking career interests you, today is the day to act.
