Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has released its Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification (Advertisement No. HRDD/APPR/01/2026-27, dated 6 July 2026) for engagement of 750 Apprentices across almost every state and Union Territory in India, under the Apprentices Act, 1961, for FY 2026-27. Online applications opened on 7 July 2026 and close on 20 July 2026, with the fee payment window on the BEEP portal remaining open till 22 July 2026. The online examination is tentatively scheduled for 2 August 2026.
This is one of the largest apprentice engagement drives by a Public Sector Bank this year. While apprentices are not treated as regular Bank employees, the one-year exposure to banking operations, the monthly stipend, and the Apprenticeship Certificate on completion make this a valuable stepping stone for graduates preparing for banking and PSU exams.
IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Central Office, Chennai |
| Advertisement No. | HRDD/APPR/01/2026-27 |
| Notification Date | 6 July 2026 |
| Post Name | Apprentice (Apprentices Act, 1961) |
| Total Vacancies | 750 |
| Engagement Type | One-year apprenticeship (not a regular Bank job) |
| Application Mode | Online via NAPS/NATS portal, then BEEP (BFSI SSC) |
| Application Start | 7 July 2026 |
| Last Date (NAPS/NATS) | 20 July 2026 |
| Fee Payment Window (BEEP) | 7 July 2026 – 22 July 2026 |
| Online Examination | Tentatively 2 August 2026 |
| Age Limit | 20 to 28 years (as on 1 July 2026) |
| Qualification | Graduation (any discipline) |
| Stipend | ₹14,000 to ₹15,500 per month |
| Official Website | www.iob.bank.in / www.bfsissc.com |
Why This Recruitment Matters
With 750 seats distributed across the country, this drive gives graduates from nearly every state a shot at hands-on banking exposure. It’s important to understand upfront that this is not a regular Bank recruitment — apprentices work under the Apprentices Act, 1961, meaning there’s no automatic right to a permanent job afterward. But the practical training, monthly stipend, and certificate of completion carry real value for anyone building a career path toward banking exams like IBPS or SBI.
Good to know: Candidates must first register on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) or National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal before applying through the BEEP portal run by the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India, which is handling this process on IOB’s behalf.
State/UT-Wise Vacancy Breakdown (750 Posts)
Candidates may apply for only one State/UT — preferably their home state.
| State/UT | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | GEN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 63 | 4 | 67 | 12 | 54 | 200 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 34 | 0 | 41 | 6 | 29 | 110 |
| Maharashtra | 9 | 12 | 25 | 6 | 33 | 85 |
| Delhi | 9 | 7 | 27 | 1 | 9 | 53 |
| Bihar | 8 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 13 | 35 |
| West Bengal | 8 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 35 |
| Kerala | 5 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 33 |
| Punjab | 7 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 24 |
| Odisha | 4 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 22 |
| Gujarat | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Haryana | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| Rajasthan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| Pondicherry | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Jharkhand | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Uttarakhand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Karnataka | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Telangana | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Assam | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Chandigarh | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Manipur | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| J&K, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura (each) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| A&N Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman & Diu, HP, Nagaland (each) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Goa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| All-India Total | 176 | 63 | 247 | 32 | 232 | 750 |
PwBD horizontal reservation (within the above total): Hearing Impaired – 19, Orthopedically Challenged – 16, Visually Impaired – 17, Intellectual Disability – 16.
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra together account for over half of all 750 posts.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit (as on 1 July 2026):
| Category | Relaxation | Max Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | — | 28 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years | 33 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | +3 years | 31 years |
| PwBD | +10 years | 38 years |
Minimum age is 20 years for all categories. NAPS-registered candidates must additionally be under 34 years as on the cut-off date.
Educational Qualification: A Degree (graduation) in any discipline from a recognised university, with results declared on or before 31 July 2026. NATS-registered candidates must have graduated between 1 March 2022 and 31 July 2026.
Important disqualifying condition: Candidates who have already completed one year or more of job or training experience after graduation are not eligible. Candidates who previously served an apprenticeship (with IOB or elsewhere), or whose apprenticeship was terminated due to their own fault, are also barred from applying.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (incl. 18% GST) |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹236 |
| GEN / OBC / EWS (Female) | ₹708 |
| GEN / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹944 |
Fee is payable only through the BEEP portal between 7 and 22 July 2026, and is strictly non-refundable, even if the application is rejected or not submitted.
Stipend Structure
Under NAPS (full amount, including govt. subsidy):
| Branch Category | Stipend/Month |
|---|---|
| Metro | ₹15,500 |
| Urban | ₹14,500 |
| Semi-Urban / Rural | ₹14,000 |
Under NATS (Bank pays only its portion after govt. share):
| Branch Category | Total Stipend | Govt. Share (DBT) | Bank-Paid Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | ₹15,500 | ₹6,150 | ₹9,350 |
| Urban | ₹14,500 | ₹6,150 | ₹8,350 |
| Semi-Urban / Rural | ₹14,000 | ₹6,150 | ₹7,850 |
Editorial note: Under NATS, the ₹6,150 government portion is credited directly to the apprentice’s bank account via DBT — separately from what IOB pays. No other allowances apply, and unauthorised absence results in a proportionate stipend cut.
Selection Process
Stage 1 – Online Written Examination (100 marks, 90 minutes):
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| General English | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative & Reasoning Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| Computer/Subject Knowledge | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
No sectional cut-offs — only an overall qualifying percentage with 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD. The exam is conducted remotely; candidates need a front-camera-enabled device and must display the same photo ID uploaded during application.
Stage 2 – Local Language Test: Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in a local language of the state applied for, at the document verification stage. Those who studied that language up to Class 10 or 12 are exempted.
Stage 3 – Document Verification / Personal Interaction: Final selection depends on satisfactory verification of documents, character, and antecedents, subject to medical fitness clearance.
Merit and tie-break rule: Selection is purely merit-based within each state-category combination. In case of a tie at the cut-off, the older candidate ranks higher. A state-category-wise waitlist is maintained for one year or until the next recruitment cycle, whichever is earlier.
Nature of Engagement — Key Terms
- Apprentices are not Bank employees and get no employee benefits.
- The Bank has no obligation to offer regular employment during or after training.
- 1 day casual leave per month (12/year); no other leave type; max 4 days consecutively.
- Ex-servicemen are not eligible and have no reservation in this drive.
- The contract can be terminated for unauthorised absence, poor performance, or misconduct, and ends automatically when the training period expires.
- On completion, apprentices undergo a final assessment and receive an Apprenticeship Certificate.
Documents Required at Verification
- Printout of the call letter and the BFSI SSC application confirmation email
- Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or Class 10 certificate)
- Photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Driving Licence, or Voter ID)
- Consolidated mark sheets and degree certificate
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in prescribed Central Government format, where applicable
- Disability certificate from a District Medical Board, for PwBD candidates
OBC candidates need an NCL certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026; EWS candidates need an Income and Asset Certificate valid for FY 2026-27.
How to Apply Online
- Register on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) or NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) first.
- Note your NATS/NAPS enrolment number — required in the application.
- Visit beep.bfsissc.com and locate the Indian Overseas Bank opportunity.
- Fill personal, educational, and category details, entering your enrolment number.
- Select only ONE State/UT — preferably your home state.
- Pay the fee online (7–22 July 2026).
- Preview, submit, and save the confirmation email from BFSI SSC.
Deadline reminder: Application closes 20 July 2026 on NAPS/NATS; fee payment on BEEP closes 22 July 2026. No other application mode is accepted, and submitted applications can’t be withdrawn.
Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 6 July 2026 |
| Application Opens | 7 July 2026 |
| Application Closes (NAPS/NATS) | 20 July 2026 |
| Fee Payment Window (BEEP) | 7–22 July 2026 |
| Online Exam (Tentative) | 2 August 2026 |
| Local Language Test & DV | To be announced |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many total vacancies are there in IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
IOB has announced 750 apprentice vacancies for FY 2026-27 under Advertisement No. HRDD/APPR/01/2026-27, spread across nearly all states and UTs.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The online application closes on 20 July 2026 on the NAPS/NATS portals; fee payment on BEEP remains open until 22 July 2026.
Q3. What is the age limit for IOB Apprentice 2026?
20 to 28 years as on 1 July 2026 for General/EWS. SC/ST get 5 years relaxation, OBC-NCL get 3 years, PwBD get 10 years.
Q4. What is the stipend for IOB Apprentices in 2026?
₹14,000 (Semi-Urban/Rural) to ₹15,500 (Metro) per month. NATS candidates get their stipend split between the Bank and a direct ₹6,150 government DBT share.
Q5. What is the selection process for IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
An online written test (100 marks, four sections), a local language test, and document verification/personal interaction, subject to medical fitness.
Q6. Is IOB Apprentice a permanent job?
No. It’s a one-year apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Apprentices aren’t Bank employees, and there’s no guarantee of regular employment afterward.
Q7. What is the application fee?
₹236 for SC/ST/PwBD; ₹708 for GEN/OBC/EWS female; ₹944 for GEN/OBC/EWS male, all inclusive of GST. Non-refundable.
Q8. Can a candidate apply for more than one state?
No. Candidates can apply for only one State/UT, preferably their home state.
Important Links
- Official Notification PDF: https://www.iob.bank.in/documents/d/guest/web-ad-750-vac-2026-27
- Apply Online (BEEP Portal): beep.bfsissc.com
- NAPS Registration: apprenticeshipindia.gov.in
- NATS Registration: nats.education.gov.in
Disclaimer: Based on the official IOB notification (Advt. HRDD/APPR/01/2026-27, dated 6 July 2026). Vacancy numbers and dates are subject to change at the Bank’s discretion — always verify against the official PDF before applying.
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