Indian Oil Corporation Limited has opened the doors for 500 apprentice posts in its Pipelines Division, and this one is worth a close look for a simple reason: there is no written exam, no interview and no application fee. The notification, Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026), came out on 6 November 2026, and online applications will stay open till 5 December 2026. Candidates who have passed Class 12, hold an ITI certificate, a diploma in engineering or a graduation degree can apply, depending on the trade they pick.
Apprenticeships in a public sector giant like Indian Oil are among the most searched government job openings every year, and the Pipelines Division drive covers all five of its regions, from Assam and West Bengal in the east to Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west. Selection will be purely on merit, based on the marks in the qualifying examination, which makes this a genuine chance for candidates who may not be comfortable with competitive exams.
500 posts across five pipeline regions
The 500 seats are spread across the five pipeline regions of Indian Oil. The Western Region has the largest share with 149 posts, followed by the Eastern Region with 116, the Northern Region with 110, the South Eastern Region with 79 and the Southern Region with 46. Within each region, training will take place at pipeline stations and installations in several states, including Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
The vacancies cover three broad categories. Technician Apprentice posts are open in Mechanical, Electrical and Telecommunication and Instrumentation trades. Trade Apprentice posts are available for Assistant-Human Resource and Accountant. There are also Data Entry Operator posts for Class 12 pass candidates, including a separate stream for skill certificate holders in Domestic Data Entry Operations.
Who can apply
Eligibility depends on the trade. Technician Apprentice posts need a three-year full-time diploma in the relevant engineering discipline, with at least 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for SC, ST and PwBD candidates). For Assistant-HR, a full-time graduation degree in any stream is enough, while Accountant needs a B.Com degree. Data Entry Operator posts are open to candidates who have passed Class 12 and are not graduates.
There is one important exclusion to note. Candidates with higher qualifications such as BE or B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB or MCA are not eligible for these apprentice posts, so applicants should check the notification carefully before applying. Age must be between 18 and 24 years as on 30 November 2026, which means candidates should have been born between 30 November 2002 and 30 November 2008. Relaxation of five years applies to SC and ST candidates, three years to OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates and up to ten years to PwBD candidates.
No exam, no fee: selection on merit
Unlike most government recruitments, this drive has no written test and no interview. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of marks obtained in their qualifying examination, and the final merit list will decide who gets a seat. There is also no application fee for any category, so candidates from every background can apply without paying anything.
The apprenticeship will run for 12 months from the date of engagement. Stipend will be paid as prescribed under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Apprenticeship Rules, along with Indian Oil guidelines. The notification makes it clear that no additional allowances such as accommodation, house rent allowance, conveyance or medical facilities will be provided during the training period.
How to apply for IOCL Apprentice 2026
Applying takes two steps, and candidates must complete both before the 5 December deadline.
- Step 1: Register on the government apprenticeship portal for your trade. Data Entry Operator candidates should register on the NAPS portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in, while Technician and Graduate trade candidates should register on the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in. Then apply for the IOCL opening using the Establishment ID of your region.
- Step 2: Complete the application on the Indian Oil Pipelines portal at plapps.indianoilpipelines.in. Fill Part-I registration with basic details to generate a registration number, then log in for Part-II, enter qualification details and upload a scanned photograph and signature.
- Step 3: Check every detail before final submission, because the form cannot be changed afterwards. Remember that a candidate can apply for only one trade code.
Candidates should keep a printout of the final application form safe, since it will be needed at the document verification stage. The last date to apply and the last date to complete both the portal registration and the IOCL portal form is 5 December 2026.
Why this drive stands out
Apprentice recruitments with no exam are rare among large public sector companies, and Indian Oil is one of the most recognised names in the energy sector. For diploma holders and graduates who have been waiting for a government-linked training opportunity, a year of hands-on work inside the pipelines network can add real weight to a resume. With 500 seats spread across the country and no fee to apply, the drive is likely to draw a large number of applications before the December deadline.
Candidates are advised to read the full official notification on the Indian Oil website before applying and to verify their eligibility, especially the marks criteria and the list of ineligible higher qualifications. The official application portal is plapps.indianoilpipelines.in.
FAQs
How many posts are open in IOCL Pipelines Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
There are 500 apprentice posts across five pipeline regions: Western 149, Eastern 116, Northern 110, South Eastern 79 and Southern 46.
What is the last date to apply for IOCL Apprentice 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 5 December 2026. Applications opened on 6 November 2026.
Is there any exam or application fee for IOCL Apprentice posts?
No. There is no written test, no interview and no application fee. Selection is purely on merit based on marks in the qualifying examination.
What is the age limit for IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must be between 18 and 24 years as on 30 November 2026. Age relaxation applies to SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates as per government rules.
How do I apply for IOCL Pipelines Apprentice posts?
First register on the NAPS or NATS portal as per your trade, apply for the IOCL opening there, then complete Part-I and Part-II registration on plapps.indianoilpipelines.in before 5 December 2026.
Indian Oil Pipelines Division apprentice applications close on 5 December 2026, so interested candidates should not wait till the last day to apply.
